Texas electrician exam rules

Which code book

• Since September 1, 2026, Texas electrician exams are based on the 2026 NEC.
• The exam is open book, and you bring your own copy.
• Your NEC must be soft-bound. Loose-leaf, spiral-bound, and ring-bound copies are not allowed in the room.
• The NEC Handbook is not allowed.

Tabs, highlighting, and notes

• Only permanent index tabs made or supplied by the NEC publisher are allowed. Homemade or third-party tabs are not.
• If your tabs don't comply, you'll have to pull them, test without your book, or give up your exam fee and test another day.
• Highlighting, underlining, and notes are allowed if you do them before exam day.
• You can't write in, highlight, or mark your book during the exam, and no extra paper is allowed: nothing loose, taped, stuck on, or stapled.

Calculator

• It must be silent, battery-operated, and non-programmable, with no paper tape and no alphabet keyboard. A solar-only calculator doesn't meet the battery-operated rule.
• The bulletin doesn't say whether a second calculator or spare batteries are allowed. Ask PSI before exam day: (833) 333-4741.

Getting in the door

• Arrive 30 minutes early. If you're late, you won't be admitted and you lose the exam fee.
• Bring one valid government photo ID. The name must match your TDLR record exactly.
• Phones, smart or electronic watches, bags, wallets, pens, food, and drinks go into storage. An electronic notepad is provided for your work.
• Jackets, coats, vests, and open sweaters aren't allowed in the testing room, so wear a plain shirt.

The journeyman exam

Two multiple-choice portions. You need 70% on each one. The fee is $78 for both portions, and a retake costs $78.

Master and other license types have different question counts and times. They're listed in the bulletin.

Texas test-day tips

• Unless a question tells you to, don't apply code exceptions or optional calculation methods. The bulletin says the questions were written that way.
• Treat every conductor as copper unless the question says otherwise.
• You can go back and change any answer until time runs out, so working the test in passes fits the format.
• Unused time on the first portion doesn't carry over, so pace each portion on its own clock.
• The computer tutorial (up to 15 minutes) doesn't count against your exam time. Use it to get comfortable with the screen.