How to Prepare for the Journeyman Electrician Test?

Last Updated on October 11, 2022

You’ve spent years working as an apprentice electrician, and now you’re ready to move on to the next step in your career; a Journeyman Electrician. To become a Journeyman Electrician, you must meet specific training requirements and pass the Journeyman Electrician Test.

One of the tools you’ll need to prepare for this test is electrician practice tests. These practice tests will help you and other applicants like you become familiar with the test format and the questions you’ll be asked during the test.

Below, we’ll share with you the information you need about the Journeyman Electrician Practice Tests and the Journeyman Electrician Exam.

What is an Electrician?

As you may know, an electrician is someone who handles all aspects of electrical systems. An electrician will plan, install, repair, and manage indoor and electrical systems.

Electricians are tradespeople that work with circuits, fixtures, outlets, and wiring and ensure system components are easier to access. The responsibilities of an electrician will include the following:

• Interpreting blueprints
• Installing, connecting, checking, and repairing electrical systems
• Upgrading outdated systems
• Ensuring that electrical systems meet code requirements.
• Have a thorough understanding of electrical code requirements

An electrician can work in an industrial, commercial and residential environment. As an electrician, you might choose to work in a factory, or you could choose to work in construction.

Electricians are generally divided into two broad categories; wiremen and linemen. The wiremen will work on indoor electrical work. In contrast, linemen will work on outdoor electrical work.

Different Electrician Levels

An electrician’s career has three levels: apprentice, journeyman and master. You’ll need to meet specific training requirements that reflect your job experience with each level.

Apprentice Electrician

As an apprentice electrician, you are still considered to be someone who is training and learning the trade. To become an apprentice electrician, you need a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification.

When you are an apprentice, a licensed electrician will supervise you while you work, and they will teach you everything you need to know about being an electrician. You might be expected to complete the following tasks:

• Troubleshooting any wiring issues
• Electrical installations
• Installing wiring and other wiring methods

You will be asked to perform more advanced and complex tasks as your apprenticeship continues. Even when you complete these tasks, the supervising licensed electrician will have to review and approve any work you complete.

You can spend four years working as an apprentice electrician, and you’ll need to work a minimum of 8000 hours of work. But it’s important to remember that the apprenticeship requirements will differ from state to state.

Being an apprentice electrician, you will be able to enroll in different trade school programs before or during your apprenticeship. Some states will allow you to have on-the-job experience instead of classroom experience. In contrast, other states will require that you spend a certain amount of time in a classroom.

Journeyman Electrician Vs. Master Electrician

Now that we’ve gone over what an apprentice electrician is, you’ll need to know all about a Journeyman and a Master Electrician.

A journeyman electrician will need to have 8000 hours of work experience. To be a journeyman electrician, you’ll need to have spent more than four years working as an apprentice.

As a journeyman electrician, you’ll need to learn the following:

• Ground, bond and how to use protective devices
• Understand fire alarm systems
• Know to follow, maintain and install electrical equipment and power supplies
• Interpret mechanical drawings and blueprints
• You’ll need to know how to follow electrical regulations and codes.

When you’ve become a licensed journeyman electrician, you’ll need to work towards becoming a master electrician. To do this, you’ll need to complete an extra 4000 hours of work in two years. You’ll also need to pass the journeyman to master electrician test.

As a master electrician, you’ll need to prove that your skills in the following tasks:

• Being a point of contact for vendors and owners
• Creating electrical blueprints and building plans
• Planning and executing projects with engineers, architects, general contractors and other tradespeople.
• Finding solutions for complicated electrical system failures
• Supervising, training and assessing other electricians

Even though a journeyman electrician and a master electrician start their careers with the same training, their training and working requirements will change. Master electricians differ from journeyman electricians in that they take on more responsibilities. They are also expected to understand more complex electrical concepts.

About the Journeyman Electrician Test

States and local municipalities will ask apprentice electricians to pass the Journeyman Electrician Test to work as an electrician. Passing this test will prove that you have the knowledge and the skills to perform the duties of an electrician in public with your client’s safety in mind.

Who Is Eligible for the Journeyman Electrician Test?

To be eligible to complete the Journeyman Electrician Test, you’ll need to have worked as an electrician for a specific amount of time. In some states and local governments, you’ll be required to have completed a particular education program.

Typically, you also must complete your apprenticeship as an electrician while being supervised by a master electrician. In most states, you might be asked to work for four years as an apprentice and have 8000 hours of work experience under your belt.

You must contact your state’s licensing agency or testing company to ensure that you’ve met all the requirements to be eligible to take this test. The agency will be able to tell you what you’ll need to know to apply for the Journeyman Electrician license. They will also be able to tell you how to register and schedule the test.

Different Types of Questions Asked in the Journeyman Electrician Test

The questions in the Journeyman Electrician Test are related to the National Electric Code. This code is recognized as the standard of electrical safety in all states. In some cases, the test will be open-book tests. In these open-book tests, you will be able to bring a national codebook.

In other states, you might be allowed to bring other help materials such as a state codebook in the exam room. These rules about bringing other materials into the exam room, so you’ll need to check with your local licensing agency. You will also get a 15-minute tutorial which won’t be counted in the overall test time.

The exam will be slightly different, depending on the state you’ll be taking the test. Contact your licensing agency or the testing company to ensure you know what to expect with your journeyman electrician test.

But in most cases, the tests are very similar. The tests will consist of approximately 80 to 100 multiple-choice and true or false questions. In some cases, there might be some non-scored items in the test.

During the test, you won’t know which questions are “non-scored” questions. When you get your results, you will only know which ones are non-scored items. Typically, you’ll only have 240 minutes, but this will depend on the number of questions in your test.

In the test, you’ll be assessed on the following subjects: 

• Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors such as a grounded conductor and circuit breakers
• Definitions, calculations, plans and theories
• Electrical control devices and disconnecting means
• Electrical equipment and devices
• Electrical feeders
• Electrical services, service equipment and separately derived systems
• Electrical wiring methods and electrical materials
• Generators and Motors including motor control centers including emergency systems
• Renewable energy technology
• Special occupancies, conditions and equipment

How to Prepare for the Journeyman Electrician Test

The Journeyman Electrician Test and the electrician practice test will consist of multiple-choice questions and true or false questions. The questions will give you an idea of how the tests are structured all over the country.

The questions in the Electrician Practice Test will set an example of the questions that will be in the actual test. So you’ll need to prepare for the Journeyman Electrician test with two things in mind:

1. You need to prepare for any opportunity that may arise. 
2. In this business, learning is earning.

Preparing for the Journey Electrician Test is an essential step to passing the test. Your preparation strategy will need to include attending classes at your local community college, seminars, electric code updates, and company-sponsored programs. In most cases, local unions and electrical suppliers will sponsor classes at no cost to you.

Another way to prepare for this test is to become familiar with the National Electrical Code(r); and the NEC(r). The National Electrical Code (NEC)(r) has its own language, and understanding this language will give you a better chance of interpreting the NEC(r).

You shouldn’t get overwhelmed by the NEC(r) length. You should especially become familiar with the definitions in Chapter One. These definitions will make understanding the rest of NEC(r) easier.

How to Study for the Journeyman Electrician Test

To study for the Journeyman Electrician Test, you need to get into the right mindset and relax. It will be best if you study in a quiet place that’s suited to learning. You can visit your local library if you don’t have a place like that in your home.

It’s recommended that you study for several short lengths of time. This method is better suited to learning instead of very few but long study periods. For example, you can study for an hour every evening leading up to the actual test.

When you’re studying for the Journeyman Electrician Test materials, such as the NEC(r), you should make a note of the crucial points. These notes will make it easier to find the NEC(r) references when completing the test.

You must use a six-inch ruler when you’re using the NEC(r) charts and tables. During the test, easily avoidable mistakes can happen when the wrong line is used in these tables, which leads to giving incorrect answers.

You should use the tabs for the crucial sections in the NEC(r). These tabs will make it easier and quicker to find these sections in the actual test. On average, you’ll only be allowed three minutes per question, so you can’t afford to waste any time.

What You Should Study

A common reason for applicants not passing the actual Journeyman Electrician Test is that they don’t know what to study.

The subjects are covered in most electrician tests could include the following:

• Appliances
• Boxes and fittings
• Box and raceway fill
• Bonding and grounding
• Electrical theory
• Hazardous locations
• Lighting
• Load calculation
• Motors
• Overcurrent protection
• Services and equipment
• Special occupancies
• Trade knowledge
• Wiring methods and installation

Journeyman Electrician Test FAQ

When and Where Can I Take it?

The tests are usually held a few times a year, and the testing sites are typically hosted at local testing companies. You should be able to get the locations and available dates from your state licensing agency.

On the day of your exam, you should arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of time. Arriving early will allow you time to sign and prepare for the exam. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that you’re there and ready.

It’s important to remember that if you’re late for the test, you’ll be barred from taking it on that day, and you’ll need to reschedule the test. You will also have to pay another exam fee.

What Should I Bring?

In most cases, you must bring a valid government-issued ID to the exam room. Your ID must include a photo of you, signature, date of birth and expiration date. The information in your ID must match the information you provided when registering for the test.

Generally, you will only be allowed to bring your ID and a quiet, battery-operated, non-programmable calculator. Items such as food and drinks, loose or bulky clothing, and electronic devices must be kept in a designated storage area.

In most cases, the electrician test is administered on a computer. In other cases, you might need to use a pen and paper to take the test. Most of the time, the electrician test will be “open book” tests, and you’ll be allowed to bring in a soft-bound edition of the NEC(r).

When Will I Know My Results?

You will immediately know the results of the test. You’ll get a notification on your computer screen when you’ve completed the test. You’ll get a printed-out score report to take with you to the testing site. You need a score above 70% to pass the test.

Is the Journeyman Electrician Test the Same Across the Country?

No, the tests won’t be the same across the country. The test will differ between states and local jurisdictions. It’s recommended that you check with your local licensing agency.

Where Can I Take the Test?

The location of the test will depend on the state and local municipalities. In some states, private testing companies are used to administer the tests.

Will I Have to Pay a Fee to Take This Test?

Yes, you will need to check with your local licensing agency to find out the cost of the electrician test.

When Should I Arrive at the Exam Site?

You should arrive at least half an hour before your test is scheduled to take place. Doing this will give you extra time to have your identity verified and complete the sign-in procedures. If you arrive late for the test, you won’t be allowed to complete the Journey Electrician Test.

What Identification Will I Need on the Day I Take the Journeyman Electrician Exam?

You will need to bring at least one ID to the test. You can use your driver’s license, passport, government-issued ID, or a state ID to verify your information. You should check with your local governments what forms of ID you’ll need.

What Items Are Banned From the Test Room?

In general, it’s best to consider all your personal items as being banned from the test site. Your personal items will include certain types of clothing, such as a hat, headgear and bulky coats, and electronic devices and mobile phones.

Am I Allowed to Bring My Calculator Into the Exam Room?

In some states, you will be allowed to bring a silent, non-programmable calculator into the test center.

Final Thoughts

At JobTestPrep, we offer a range of plans, including an all-inclusive Premium Plan that will give you access to our PrepPacks for three months! We can help you prepare for the Journeyman Electrician Test by offering practice tests which will cover topics related to the subjects assessed in the test.