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Journeyman electrician practice test

20 questions written from the 2026 NEC, covering the topics journeyman exams lean on. Check each one as you go. Every answer comes with the section that settles it, so you can find it in your own book.

2026 NEC · 20 questions · Free, no sign-up · Updated October 2026

Keep your code book open, the way you will on exam day. Try to find each answer in the book before you check it.

0 of 20 answered0 correct
  1. 1.A disconnect can only be reached by using a portable ladder. Is it readily accessible?
  2. 2.A line in the code book is labeled an informational note. Can an inspector enforce it as a requirement?
  3. 3.What is the minimum ampere rating of the service disconnecting means for a one-family dwelling? (amperes)
    A
  4. 4.May a service disconnecting means be installed inside a bathroom?
  5. 5.What is the minimum length of a rod or pipe grounding electrode? (feet)
    ft
  6. 6.What is the minimum size copper equipment grounding conductor for a circuit protected at 60 A? (AWG)
    AWG
  7. 7.Does the branch circuit or outlet supplying a 120-volt, 20-ampere dishwasher need GFCI protection?
  8. 8.In a dwelling unit, a hallway must be at least how long before it needs a receptacle outlet? (feet)
    ft
  9. 9.Absent a specific exception, what is the maximum overcurrent protection for 10 AWG copper? (amperes)
    A
  10. 10.On a 20-ampere multioutlet branch circuit, one cord-and-plug-connected appliance that is not fastened in place may be rated at no more than what percent of the circuit rating? (percent)
    %
  11. 11.When you use the standard dwelling unit load method rather than the optional one, how many volt-amperes do you count per 2-wire small-appliance branch circuit? (volt-amperes)
    VA
  12. 12.May Type NM cable be embedded in poured cement, concrete, or aggregate?
  13. 13.Which PVC conduit must be used where the conduit is subject to physical damage?
  14. 14.What is the maximum total of bends, in any combination, allowed in a single conduit or tubing run between pull points? (degrees)
    degrees
  15. 15.How must a receptacle with an isolated equipment grounding conductor connection be identified on its face?
  16. 16.Can the required working space in front of a panelboard be used to store boxes and materials?
  17. 17.Conductors supply a single ac motor used in continuous duty. Their ampacity must be at least what percent of the motor full-load current? (percent)
    %
  18. 18.Is a multiwire branch circuit allowed to serve emergency lighting and power circuits?
  19. 19.What wording (or equivalent) must be permanently marked on each PV system disconnecting means?
  20. 20.A box contains 8 insulated 12 AWG conductors, two 12 AWG equipment grounding conductors, and two device yokes, with no internal cable clamps. What is the minimum required box volume? (cubic inches)
    in³

What this test covers

  • Code definitions and how informational notes work
  • Services and grounding
  • Branch circuits, GFCI protection, and overcurrent protection
  • Wiring methods, raceways, boxes, and cables
  • Receptacles, devices, and working space
  • Motors, emergency systems, and solar
  • Basic calculations like box fill and dwelling loads

Taking the exam in Texas?

Texas exams switched to the 2026 NEC on September 1, 2026. See the format, time limits, and what you can bring.

Texas exam guide

Questions about the exam

Is this practice test on the 2026 NEC?

Yes. Every question is written from the 2026 edition and checked against its text. Some states still test on the 2023 code, so check which edition your exam uses.

Is the journeyman exam open book?

It depends on the state. In Texas it is: you bring a soft-bound 2026 NEC, and only the publisher's tabs are allowed. Check your state's candidate bulletin, and practice finding answers in the book you'll take in.

How many questions are on the journeyman electrician test?

It depends on the state. Texas has two parts: 59 NEC knowledge questions in 130 minutes and 26 calculation questions in 110 minutes. Minnesota has 80 questions in 5 hours 30 minutes. California's general electrician exam has 100 questions in 4 hours 30 minutes.

Is the journeyman electrician test hard?

Texas, Minnesota, and California each set the passing score at 70%. The exams are timed, so the skill to build is finding the right section in your code book fast. Take the free 20-question test on this page, then check each answer against its section.

How many times can you take the journeyman electrician test?

It depends on the state. In Texas the fee to retake after failing a part is $78. In Minnesota you can apply to retake 30 days after the state notifies you that you didn't pass. Check your state's candidate bulletin for its limit.

What score do I need to pass?

It depends on the state. Texas requires 70% on each of its two parts, NEC knowledge and calculations. Your state's candidate bulletin lists the passing score.

Where can I practice more questions?

The Ask Shorty iPhone app has the full bank of more than 300 questions, chapter tests, and timed practice at finding answers in your book.

How these questions are made

Questions are drafted with AI help, then admitted only if the answer is backed by the 2026 NEC text or recomputed with the same calculators the app uses. Before publishing, each question on this page was read against the section it cites. We show section numbers, not code text, so you learn where to look in your own book.

More on how questions are checked. Spot a problem? Tell us and we’ll check it against the code.

Teaching a class?

Have your students practice on the job-site simulations, then build a lesson and quiz on any NEC topic, with a section number behind every claim.

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