What Is the NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam?

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Journeyman Electricians is a standardized electrical trade examination designed for participating licensing jurisdictions.

Instead of taking a different technical trade exam every time you pursue licensure in a participating jurisdiction, a passing NASCLA examination record may be accepted in place of that jurisdiction's trade-exam requirement.

The examination measures broad journeyman-level electrical knowledge, including:

• Electrical safety.
• Electrical theory.
• Plans and specifications.
• Testing and troubleshooting.
• General NEC requirements.
• Services, feeders, and branch circuits.
• Grounding and bonding.
• Overcurrent protection.
• Wiring methods.
• Electrical equipment.
• Special occupancies.
• Special equipment.
• Communication systems.
• Fire alarm and signaling systems.

In other words, this is not a test where reading Article 100 twice and hoping for the best counts as a strategy.

Washington, DC Accepts the NASCLA Journeyman Examination

The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection is currently listed by NASCLA as a participating electrical licensing agency.

DC accepts:

• The NASCLA Electrical Contractor/Master Electrician examination.
• The NASCLA Journeyman Electrician examination.

You must still submit the District's licensing application and satisfy the Board of Industrial Trades requirements.

NASCLA Is Not a National Electrician License

The word "national" can make the program sound like one license that follows you everywhere. That is not how it works.

NASCLA administers an accredited examination program. Participating jurisdictions decide how they will use the result.

After you pass, your examination result is stored in the NASCLA National Examination Database. You may purchase an electronic transcript for a participating regulatory agency.

The licensing agency then combines that exam information with its own application requirements.

DC Journeyman Electrician Qualification Requirements

The District has its own requirements for journeyman electrician licensure.

Under the ordinary statutory qualification pathway, the applicant must satisfactorily complete a class on Title 12C of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, or an equivalent code class, within the two years before submitting the application.

The applicant must also establish one of the qualifying experience or education pathways.

Path 1: Traditional Apprenticeship Experience

Work as an apprentice electrician for at least:

• 8,000 hours, and
• at least four years.

Path 2: Electrical Engineering Degree

An applicant may qualify by graduating from an accredited college or university with a degree in electrical engineering and obtaining at least two years of practical electrical experience certified by a licensed master electrician.

Path 3: Equivalent Experience or Education

The Board may consider comparable experience or a combination of education and experience that it determines equivalent to the established requirements.

The Board may also request additional evidence relevant to the particular license being sought.

NASCLA Exam Eligibility and DC License Eligibility Are Different

NASCLA currently states that there is no experience prerequisite just to submit a NASCLA examination application. Anyone may apply to sit for the accredited examination.

That does not mean anyone who passes automatically qualifies for a DC journeyman license.

This difference is important. Passing early can give you a useful exam credential, but the DC Board still controls issuance of the actual journeyman license.

What Does a DC Electrician Do?

District law broadly defines electrician work to include designing, installing, maintaining, altering, converting, changing, repairing, removing, or inspecting electrical wiring, equipment, conductors, and systems.

The definition includes electrical systems used for:

• Power.
• Heat.
• Light.
• Radio.
• Television.
• Signaling.
• Communications.
• Other electrical purposes.

The law separately excludes certain elevator and conveyance work that belongs to the District's elevator licensing structure.

A journeyman electrician therefore needs broad technical knowledge rather than knowledge limited to one type of building or electrical system.

The Current NASCLA Journeyman Exam at a Glance

Current NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Blueprint

This blueprint makes the study priorities fairly clear. Wiring & Protection, Wiring Methods & Materials, and General Code Requirements alone account for almost half of the scored exam.

Wiring & Protection Is the Largest Category

The current exam assigns approximately 18 questions to Wiring & Protection.

Study subjects such as:

• Branch circuits.
• Feeders.
• Services.
• Conductor ampacity.
• Load calculations.
• Overcurrent protection.
• Grounding and bonding.
• Voltage limitations.
• Required circuit protection.

This area often combines several NEC rules in one problem. You may need to calculate a load, choose a conductor, apply an adjustment or correction factor, and then determine suitable overcurrent protection.

That sounds like several questions wearing a trench coat, because sometimes it basically is.

Wiring Methods & Materials Is About 16 Questions

Wiring Methods & Materials is the second-largest category with approximately 16 scored questions.

Review:

• Raceway systems.
• Cable assemblies.
• Boxes and enclosures.
• Conductor fill.
• Raceway fill.
• Support and securing.
• Wet and damp locations.
• Underground installations.
• Protection from physical damage.
• Conductor installation rules.

Become comfortable navigating NEC Chapter 3. Journeyman electricians use wiring-method rules constantly, and the NASCLA blueprint reflects that reality.

General Code Requirements Is About 15 Questions

General Code Requirements contributes approximately 15 questions.

This category can pull from definitions, equipment installation requirements, working clearances, listing and labeling, interrupting ratings, general conductor rules, and other requirements that affect many types of electrical installations.

Do not treat the opening NEC articles as the warm-up section you can skip. Fifteen questions is a large piece of a 100-question exam.

Electrical Theory & Principles Is About 10 Questions

The current exam assigns approximately 10 questions to electrical theory and principles.

Review:

• Voltage.
• Current.
• Resistance.
• Power.
• Ohm's law.
• Series circuits.
• Parallel circuits.
• AC theory.
• Power calculations.
• Transformers.
• Basic electrical math.

Strong theory can save a lot of exam time because some questions can be solved directly without searching through a code book.

Equipment for General Use Is About 10 Questions

The current exam also includes approximately 10 questions on Equipment for General Use.

Study common electrical equipment and the NEC rules that govern it.

• Motors.
• Transformers.
• Appliances.
• Heating equipment.
• Lighting equipment.
• Controllers.
• Disconnects.
• Panelboards.
• Switchboards.
• Other commonly installed electrical equipment.

A journeyman-level exam expects you to connect equipment rules with conductor sizing, protection, grounding, and installation requirements.

Basic Electrical Safety Is About Eight Questions

Approximately eight scored questions deal with Basic Electrical Safety.

This is one reason the NASCLA reference list goes beyond the National Electrical Code.

Study safety subjects involving:

• Construction safety.
• General-industry safety.
• Electrical hazards.
• Safe work practices.
• Personal protective equipment.
• Jobsite procedures.
• Shock hazards.
• Arc-flash concepts.

You should know whether a safety question belongs in OSHA construction rules, OSHA general-industry standards, or NFPA 70E. Opening all three books for every safety question is a reliable way to become extremely familiar with the clock.

Special Occupancies & Special Equipment Is About Eight Questions

The current outline assigns approximately eight questions to Special Occupancies & Special Equipment.

Review the NEC chapters covering specialized installations and equipment.

This may include subjects involving:

• Hazardous locations.
• Healthcare-type installations.
• Assembly occupancies.
• Temporary installations.
• Signs.
• Swimming pools.
• Generators.
• Transformers.
• Other specialty electrical systems.

The exact mix may vary, so knowing how the NEC is organized is more useful than trying to memorize one imaginary question list.

Testing and Troubleshooting Is About Seven Questions

The NASCLA Journeyman exam includes approximately seven questions on Testing and Troubleshooting.

Review:

• Using electrical test instruments.
• Interpreting meter readings.
• Identifying opens and shorts.
• Voltage troubleshooting.
• Continuity testing.
• Basic circuit diagnosis.
• Recognizing likely electrical faults.

These questions reward real trade understanding. A book can tell you what a voltmeter is, but understanding what the reading means is the useful part.

Interpreting Plans and Specifications Is About Six Questions

The current exam includes approximately six questions involving plans and specifications.

A physical diagram or blueprint packet is supplied at the testing center.

Practice:

• Reading electrical symbols.
• Following circuits on plans.
• Understanding equipment schedules.
• Interpreting dimensions.
• Identifying electrical equipment on drawings.
• Using notes and specifications.

Do not bring your own blueprint packet. PSI supplies the examination packet onsite.

Special Conditions & Communication Systems

The smallest published category contains approximately two scored questions, but that does not mean you should completely skip it.

Review basic requirements for communication and specialized electrical systems, including the relationship between the NEC and fire alarm or signaling requirements.

The current approved reference list includes NFPA 72, so fire alarm and signaling knowledge belongs in your preparation plan.

The NASCLA Journeyman Examination Is Open Book

The current NASCLA Journeyman Electrician examination is open book.

That sounds comforting until you remember there are 100 scored questions plus 10 experimental questions and only 300 minutes.

If every question becomes a five-minute research project, the math becomes unpleasant fairly quickly.

Current NASCLA Journeyman Reference List

The current PSI bulletin allows the following primary reference materials for the NASCLA Journeyman Electrician examination:

• National Electrical Code or NEC Handbook, 2020 or 2023 edition.
• Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR Part 1926, OSHA Construction Industry Regulations, 2024.
• Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR Part 1910, OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Standards, 2024.
• NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, 2024.
• Ugly's Electrical References, 2023 Edition.
• NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2022 Edition.
• Understanding Electrical Theory for NEC Applications.

For a coordinated set of these references, review the Washington DC NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Book Package.

Candidates who want prepared references can also review the Washington DC NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Highlighted and Tabbed Book Package.

2020 or 2023 NEC?

The current NASCLA PSI bulletin permits either the 2020 NEC or the 2023 NEC for the Journeyman Electrician examination.

This is different from many state examinations that identify one specific NEC edition.

If you are preparing around a 2023-based study package, use the same edition consistently during practice so you become familiar with article locations, tables, and wording.

How Your Books May Be Prepared

The current NASCLA examination rules permit approved reference materials to be:

• Highlighted.
• Underlined.
• Indexed.
• Prepared with permanent tabs.

The books must otherwise remain unmarked. Written notes are not permitted.

Additional loose or attached papers are not allowed.

Temporary tabs such as Post-It notes must be removed before the examination begins.

Prepare your books before test day. Trying to build an index while the proctor waits is not the kind of networking opportunity most electricians are looking for.

Calculator Rules

The current bulletin allows a calculator when it is:

• Silent.
• Nonprinting.
• Nonprogrammable.
• Battery operated.
• Without an alphabetic keyboard.

Practice calculations using a calculator that meets these requirements instead of relying on a phone calculator during study.

Your phone will not be sitting next to you during the exam wearing a tiny hard hat.

How to Apply for the NASCLA Exam

NASCLA candidates apply through the NASCLA National Examination Database.

The current NASCLA application fee is $65.

NASCLA states that applications are normally processed within approximately seven business days.

Once approved, your information is sent to PSI, and PSI sends scheduling information.

The basic process is:

1. Create or use your NASCLA National Examination Database account.
2. Submit the NASCLA exam application.
3. Pay the current NASCLA application fee.
4. Wait for application approval.
5. Receive PSI scheduling instructions.
6. Pay the applicable PSI examination fee when scheduling.
7. Choose an available testing center and date.
8. Take the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Journeyman Electricians.

You Get Three Attempts During the NASCLA Eligibility Period

A NASCLA examination application is currently valid for one year from the approval date.

During that one-year eligibility period, a candidate may sit for the examination a maximum of three times.

If you do not pass within those three attempts, NASCLA states that you may reapply after the one-year eligibility period has expired.

That makes timed practice fairly inexpensive compared with discovering during attempt three that you still cannot find a feeder calculation.

NASCLA Application Fee, Transcript Fee, and DC Fees

A separate PSI examination scheduling fee applies after NASCLA approval. Because that fee is handled through the testing provider, verify the current amount displayed when you schedule.

The current DC journeyman renewal fee is also $110 for a license term of up to two years. The current late-renewal fee is $50.

For exam and licensing expenses, review 1 Exam Prep financing options.

What Happens After You Pass NASCLA?

After you pass, your result is sent to the NASCLA National Examination Database.

NASCLA advises candidates to allow time for the result to be linked to their database account.

Once linked, you can purchase a transcript and electronically send it to a participating regulatory agency such as the District of Columbia.

The current transcript fee is $45 for each state or regulatory agency receiving the transcript.

NASCLA states that examination results themselves do not expire. A purchased transcript is available to the regulatory agency for two years from purchase.

DC Application Documents

The District's Board of Industrial Trades currently lists several items electricians may need during the license application process.

All applicants should be prepared to provide:

• A passport-style photo.
• Government-issued identification.
• Payment information for applicable fees.

Electrician applicants may also need:

• Employment verification letters.
• A letter of good standing when applicable.
• NASCLA accreditation information when using the NASCLA pathway.
• A valid state-issued electrician license when applicable.

The Board may request additional documentation depending on your qualification pathway.

For application help, review 1 Exam Prep application services.

DC Journeyman License Term and Renewal

The District currently lists a journeyman electrician license fee of $110 for a credential valid for up to two years.

The current renewal fee for journeyman electricians is also $110.

The Board of Industrial Trades lists electrician licenses as expiring on November 30 in odd-numbered renewal years.

The current late-renewal fee is $50.

Licensing and renewal requirements can change. Review the current Board renewal notice before your expiration date, especially for any applicable continuing-education or documentation requirements.

NASCLA Is Different From DC Reciprocity

The District also has a separate reciprocity pathway for qualifying electricians licensed in Maryland and Virginia.

Under the current DC policy, eligible Maryland and Virginia journeyman and master electricians may apply through reciprocity when the out-of-state license was obtained by examination and remains active and in good standing.

NASCLA acceptance is different.

• NASCLA: provides an accepted trade-exam record.
• Reciprocity: recognizes a qualifying existing license from another jurisdiction under DC's reciprocity rules.

Do not assume the paperwork is identical just because both paths may save you from taking another trade examination.

A Practical NASCLA Open-Book Strategy

1. Learn the exam blueprint. Spend the most time where the most questions are.
2. Practice Wiring & Protection. It is approximately 18 scored questions.
3. Practice Wiring Methods & Materials. It is approximately 16 questions.
4. Master General Code Requirements. Approximately 15 questions.
5. Practice theory without relying on a book.
6. Learn which safety book applies to which problem.
7. Practice reading plans and diagrams.
8. Know NFPA 72 well enough to recognize fire-alarm questions.
9. Permanent-tab your approved references before test day.
10. Practice with the same calculator you will take to PSI.
11. Complete 110-question practice sessions within five hours.
12. Flag slow questions and return to them later.

Use the Right Reference, Not Just the Biggest Book

One of the biggest mistakes on an open-book examination is automatically reaching for the NEC.

The NEC is extremely important, but NASCLA also tests subjects from other references.

A useful reference-selection habit is:

• Electrical installation question? Start with the NEC.
• Construction jobsite safety? Think OSHA 1926.
• General workplace safety? Think OSHA 1910.
• Electrical safe-work practice? Think NFPA 70E.
• Fire alarm or signaling? Think NFPA 72.
• Quick formulas or practical electrical data? Ugly's may help.
• Theory problem? Use your theory knowledge and approved theory reference.

The fastest page lookup is the one you never started in the wrong book.

A Four-Week Study Framework

Week 1: NEC Foundation

• General requirements.
• Branch circuits.
• Feeders.
• Services.
• Load calculations.
• Overcurrent protection.
• Grounding and bonding.

Week 2: Wiring and Equipment

• Raceways.
• Cables.
• Boxes.
• Conductor fill.
• Motors.
• Transformers.
• Equipment for general use.

Week 3: Safety, Theory, and Special Systems

• Electrical theory.
• Testing and troubleshooting.
• OSHA 1926.
• OSHA 1910.
• NFPA 70E.
• NFPA 72.
• Special occupancies and equipment.

Week 4: Timed Practice

• Take full-length timed tests.
• Practice blueprint questions.
• Identify weak topics.
• Practice reference navigation.
• Review calculations.
• Practice skipping and returning to difficult questions.

For structured online study, review the Washington DC NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Online Exam Prep.

Study Like a Journeyman Electrician

A good NASCLA study method is to treat each practice problem like a real electrical job.

First, identify the system. Is it a service, feeder, branch circuit, motor, transformer, fire alarm, lighting system, communication circuit, or special occupancy?

Second, identify the technical problem. Are you calculating load, sizing a conductor, choosing overcurrent protection, checking grounding, selecting a wiring method, interpreting a plan, or troubleshooting a fault?

Third, decide which reference applies before opening anything.

Fourth, locate the requirement and apply it to the facts instead of simply finding a paragraph containing similar words.

Finally, check the answer against normal electrical logic. If your calculation says a desk lamp needs conductors roughly the size of garden hoses, something probably wandered off course.

This process builds the kind of reference-navigation and problem-solving skills the NASCLA examination is designed to test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Washington, DC NASCLA Journeyman Electrician pathway gives experienced electrical workers a useful option for satisfying an accepted trade-examination requirement while pursuing District of Columbia licensure. The key is understanding that NASCLA and DC perform two different jobs in the process.

NASCLA administers the accredited examination and maintains the examination record. The District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades evaluates the applicant and issues the actual journeyman electrician license.

Passing NASCLA is therefore a major step, but it is not the same thing as becoming licensed.

The ordinary DC licensing pathway has substantial qualification requirements. One common route requires at least 8,000 hours of apprentice electrician experience earned over at least four years. Another route allows an accredited electrical engineering degree combined with at least two years of practical electrical experience certified by a licensed master electrician. The Board can also consider other education and experience that it finds equivalent.

The District statute also requires a qualifying class on Title 12C of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations or equivalent code within two years before application under the ordinary licensing route.

NASCLA's own exam application is different. NASCLA currently does not impose an experience requirement merely to sit for its exam. That means a candidate may potentially pass NASCLA before all local licensing qualifications have been completed. DC still decides whether that candidate qualifies for the license.

The current NASCLA Journeyman Electrician exam contains 100 scored questions and allows 300 minutes. Ten additional experimental questions are administered but do not count toward the final score. The current minimum passing score is 70.

The exam blueprint is broad. Wiring & Protection is the largest category with approximately 18 scored questions. Wiring Methods & Materials follows with about 16. General Code Requirements contributes around 15.

Electrical Theory & Principles and Equipment for General Use contribute approximately 10 questions each. Basic Electrical Safety and Special Occupancies & Special Equipment contribute around eight each. Testing and Troubleshooting contributes approximately seven, Plans and Specifications about six, and Special Conditions & Communication Systems about two.

Those numbers should shape your study plan. Nearly half of the scored examination comes from Wiring & Protection, Wiring Methods, and General Code Requirements. Spending most of your study time on obscure topics while struggling with feeders, branch circuits, conductor sizing, grounding, or wiring methods would be an unusual way to make the test harder.

The current examination is open book and uses a substantial reference library. Candidates may currently use either the 2020 or 2023 NEC, along with OSHA 1926, OSHA 1910, NFPA 70E 2024, Ugly's Electrical References 2023, NFPA 72 2022, and Understanding Electrical Theory for NEC Applications.

The references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed with permanent tabs under current testing rules. They must otherwise remain unmarked. Written notes, loose papers, attached papers, and temporary tabs are prohibited.

Because the examination is open book, reference navigation should be practiced like any other trade skill. A candidate should know whether a problem is likely answered by the NEC, OSHA, NFPA 70E, NFPA 72, or a theory reference before opening a book.

Speed is especially important because the exam session can include 110 total questions when the experimental items are counted. With 300 minutes available, the average time is under three minutes per displayed question.

That does not mean you must spend the same amount of time on every problem. Quick theory, safety, definition, or familiar-code questions can protect extra time for calculations and difficult lookups.

The NASCLA application process begins through the National Examination Database. The current application fee is $65, and an approved application is valid for one year. Candidates currently receive up to three attempts during that period.

After NASCLA approves the application, PSI provides examination scheduling instructions. PSI collects a separate testing fee at scheduling.

Once you pass, your result is sent to the National Examination Database. You can then purchase an electronic transcript for a participating regulatory agency. NASCLA currently charges $45 for each regulatory-agency transcript.

For Washington, DC, the licensing process then continues through the Board of Industrial Trades. The District currently lists a $65 application fee and a $110 journeyman electrician license fee. Journeyman licenses are issued for up to two years.

Current DC journeyman renewal is $110, and electrician licenses are listed on a November 30 expiration cycle in odd-numbered renewal years. Candidates and licensees should always check the current Board page before applying or renewing because fees and administrative requirements can change.

The strongest preparation strategy combines technical knowledge with reference speed. Learn electrical theory well enough to solve basic problems without searching. Become fast at NEC branch circuits, feeders, services, grounding, overcurrent protection, wiring methods, motors, and equipment.

Then learn the safety references and NFPA 72 well enough to recognize when the answer belongs outside the NEC.

Finally, take realistic timed practice tests. Sitting comfortably at the kitchen table with unlimited time can make almost anyone feel like a code-book wizard. Five hours, 110 displayed questions, several reference books, and a testing-center clock provide a slightly different personality test.

Prepare for that environment, not just for the subject matter. When you can identify the topic, choose the correct reference, find the rule, perform the calculation, and move on efficiently, you are preparing the way a journeyman electrician should.

Key Takeaways

• Washington, DC currently accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Journeyman Electricians, but passing NASCLA does not automatically issue a DC license.
• The current NASCLA exam has 100 scored questions, 10 additional experimental questions, a 300-minute time limit, and a minimum passing score of 70.
• The biggest exam categories are Wiring & Protection, Wiring Methods & Materials, and General Code Requirements.
• The exam is open book and currently permits the 2020 or 2023 NEC plus OSHA, NFPA 70E, NFPA 72, Ugly's, and an approved electrical-theory reference.
• DC separately evaluates licensing qualifications, which can include 8,000 apprentice hours over at least four years, qualifying education/experience alternatives, and applicable code-class requirements.

Plain-Language Summary

The Washington, DC NASCLA Journeyman Electrician pathway lets a qualified electrician use the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Journeyman Electricians as an accepted trade-exam credential when applying for a District of Columbia journeyman electrician license.

NASCLA does not issue the DC license. The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and the Board of Industrial Trades handle licensing.

Passing NASCLA therefore solves the examination part of the process that DC agrees to accept. You still need to apply to the District and prove that you meet its licensing qualifications.

One common DC qualification route requires at least 8,000 hours of apprentice electrician experience earned over at least four years. Another allows an electrical engineering degree plus at least two years of practical electrical experience certified by a licensed master electrician. The Board can also consider equivalent combinations of education and experience.

The ordinary statutory route also requires an approved class on Title 12C of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations or equivalent code completed within two years before the application.

NASCLA itself currently does not require you to prove this experience before applying for the accredited exam. This is why exam eligibility and DC license eligibility should not be treated as the same thing.

The current NASCLA Journeyman Electrician exam has 100 scored questions. Ten additional experimental questions are administered but do not count toward your score.

You receive 300 minutes, which is five hours. The current minimum passing score is 70.

The biggest test category is Wiring & Protection with approximately 18 questions. Wiring Methods & Materials contributes around 16. General Code Requirements contributes around 15.

Electrical Theory & Principles and Equipment for General Use each contribute about 10 questions. Basic Electrical Safety and Special Occupancies & Special Equipment contribute about eight each. Testing and Troubleshooting has around seven. Plans and Specifications has about six, and Special Conditions & Communication Systems has about two.

The test is open book. The current PSI bulletin allows either the 2020 or 2023 National Electrical Code or NEC Handbook.

It also permits OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910, NFPA 70E 2024, Ugly's Electrical References 2023, NFPA 72 2022, and Understanding Electrical Theory for NEC Applications.

Approved books may be highlighted and underlined. Permanent tabs are permitted. Written notes, loose papers, attached papers, and temporary Post-It-style tabs are not permitted under the current rules.

PSI also provides a physical diagram or blueprint packet at the testing center for applicable exam questions.

A silent, battery-operated, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator without an alphabetic keyboard is permitted.

The NASCLA process starts with an application through the National Examination Database. The current NASCLA application fee is $65.

Once the application is approved, you receive information from PSI for scheduling the test. A separate PSI testing fee is paid when scheduling, so check the amount shown at that time.

Your NASCLA application is currently valid for one year after approval. During that period, you may attempt the examination up to three times.

After you pass, the result is sent to the NASCLA National Examination Database. You can then electronically send a transcript to Washington, DC. The current NASCLA transcript fee is $45 for each regulatory agency.

The District then completes its own licensing review. DC currently charges a $65 electrician application fee and a $110 journeyman electrician license fee. The license can be issued for up to two years.

Current DC journeyman renewal is $110. Electrician licenses are currently listed with a November 30 expiration date in odd-numbered renewal years.

The best way to prepare is to focus on the biggest categories first. Practice branch circuits, feeders, services, conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, raceways, cables, boxes, motors, equipment, and load calculations.

Then study electrical theory, testing, troubleshooting, plans, OSHA safety, NFPA 70E, fire alarm requirements, and special NEC topics.

Most importantly, practice using the books under a timer. The NASCLA test is open book, but you do not have enough time to read each reference from the beginning whenever a question gets interesting.

Use the Washington DC NASCLA Journeyman Electrician collection from 1 Exam Prep to organize your preparation around the current NASCLA examination and District licensing pathway.