State-by-State Guide to Journeyman Electrician Exam Requirements ⋆ Electrician Classes

After completing the apprenticeship, you need to pass the journeyman exam to obtain a journeyman license in your jurisdiction.

Below, you will find a guide that will help you prepare for the exam.

The local, national, and international codes that your licensing jurisdiction uses when developing exam questions
Journeyman electrician exam preparation resources available through third-party services
Journeyman electrician exam content at the state and local levels
Reciprocity with neighboring states

Electrical Code Used to Develop Journeyman Electrician Tests

The electrical trade licensing jurisdictions vary from state to state.

Some have a single board issuing electrical licenses for the experts throughout the state.

Meanwhile, others have individual boards at the city or county levels.

Each board has a set of requirements that applicants should meet to become a journeyman electrician.

Typically, this requires you to pass an examination.

Even though every jurisdiction can prepare its own examination, it always has to contain content from the National Electrical Code (NEC).

And so, it’s best to know and understand the NEC from A to Z in preparation for the exam.

Other electrical codes included in the creation of the jurisdiction’s journeyman exam are as follows:

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
International Code Council (ICC)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)
International Building Code (IBC)
International Fire Code (IFC)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Even after a certain code is adopted by a licensing board, they can still alter, amend, or supersede it at their discretion.

Third-Party Journeyman Electrician Exam Preparation Services

In preparing for the journeyman exam, you can look toward third-party services to help you review, assess, and validate your knowledge and skills.

Some reputable third-party journeyman exam preparation services include:

Electrician Exam Practice Tests
Electrician License Exam Guide
Jim Lewis’ Electrical Exam Resources
Mike Holt Training – Electrical Exam Preparation
Journeyman Electrician Practice Exams through tests.com
NECquestions.com’s Free Electrical Exam
Electrical Exam Academy
Web442.com’s Code Doctor
Youtube Electrical Code Tests from Franck Benedetti
Electrician2.com’s NEC Practice Test Review
Reddit Advice on the NEC

State-by-State Journeyman Exam Content and Reciprocity

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) provides information on the examination requirements for a journeyman license by the state.

If a certain state requires an exam, the state may not require you to obtain a license at the local level.

States recognizing reciprocity with other states allow the credentials (apprentice to contractor) to be transferred without the need for more training and education.

Alabama

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC, IBC, and IFC
Reciprocity with Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia

Alaska

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and NESC
Reciprocity with Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Arizona

Requires a journeyman exam at the local level that references the NEC
Reciprocity with California, Nevada, and Utah

Arkansas

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee

California

Requires an exam tailored to an electrician’s specialty area
- General
- Residential
- Fire/life
- Voice-data-video
- Non-residential lighting
Exam content contains references from the following:
- CA Electrical Code (based on the NEC)
- CA Fire Code (based on the IFC)
- CA Building Code (based on the IBC)
Reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, and Utah

Colorado

Requires an open-book journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Connecticut

Requires an open-book journeyman exam that references the following:
- CT Consumer Protection Department
- CT Electrical Board of Occupational Licensing
No reciprocity

Delaware

Requires an open-book journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wyoming

District of Columbia

Requires an open-book journeyman exam that references the NEC
No reciprocity

Florida

Requires a journeyman exam at the county level that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina

Georgia

No state or locally-mandated journeyman exam
Reciprocity with Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina

Hawaii

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
No reciprocity

Idaho

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Illinois

Requires a local supervising electrician certification exam that references the NEC
No reciprocity

Indiana

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC
No reciprocity

Iowa

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC and IBC
No reciprocity

Kansas

Exam requirements depend on the jurisdiction; however, passing the Block and Associates exam is recognized statewide as conferring journeyman license eligibility
Exam content contains references from the KS Fire Prevention Code, with state-owned buildings subject to the NEC
No reciprocity

Kentucky

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Ohio

Louisiana

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah

Maine

Requires an open-book journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Vermont

Maryland

Requires a journeyman exam at the local level that references the following:
- MD Building Performance Standards
- MD Building Rehabilitation Code
Reciprocity with Delaware and Virginia

Massachusetts

Requires a journeyman exam that references the MA Electrical Code (based on the NEC)
Reciprocity with Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington

Michigan

Requires a journeyman exam that references the MI Electrical Code (based on the NEC)
No reciprocity

Minnesota

Requires a journeyman electrician – “A” exam that references the NEC, NESC, and the MN State Building Code
Reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Mississippi

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references each jurisdiction’s code requirements
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee

Missouri

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC.
No reciprocity

Montana

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Nebraska

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Nevada

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC
No reciprocity

New Hampshire

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and NESC
Reciprocity with Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont

New Jersey

No exam required
Reciprocity with Delaware

New Mexico

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and the NM Electrical Code
No reciprocity

New York

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC
No reciprocity

North Carolina

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC and the NC Building Code Council
Reciprocity with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia

North Dakota

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Ohio

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Kentucky and West Virginia

Oklahoma

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Oregon

Requires a journeyman exam for all types of journeyman electrician licenses that references the NEC and the OR Electrical Specialty Code
Reciprocity with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming

Pennsylvania

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity at the local level (e.g., Allentown has reciprocity with other cities in Pennsylvania and all of Connecticut)

Rhode Island

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and the RI State Building Code
No reciprocity

South Carolina

Optional journeyman licensing through the Municipal Association of South Carolina that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah

South Dakota

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and NESC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Tennessee

Some local jurisdictions require a journeyman exam that references the NEC and State Fire Marshal Regulation No. 15
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Michigan

Texas

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
No reciprocity at the journeyman level

Utah

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming

Vermont

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Maine and New Hampshire

Virginia

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and ICC
Reciprocity with Maryland and North Carolina

Washington

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and ICC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Massachusetts, Minnesota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

West Virginia

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and ICC
Reciprocity with North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia

Wisconsin

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC and Chapter 16 (Electrical) of the WI Administrative Rules
No reciprocity

Wyoming

Requires a journeyman exam that references the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Oklahoma