70% Passing Score

100 Scored Questions

5-Hour Open-Book Exam

NASCLA Exam Accepted by Tennessee

Important Tennessee licensing fact: passing the NASCLA Journeyman Electrician exam does not automatically issue a Tennessee electrical license and does not automatically create a CE Electrical Contractor license. Tennessee electrical licensing can involve state contractor rules, the Limited Licensed Electrician program, and separate local journeyman or master requirements. Always match the exam to the exact authority regulating the work.

What Is the Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam?

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Journeyman Electricians is a national electrical trade examination designed to measure the knowledge and skills needed to perform electrical installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair work in accordance with applicable standards and codes.

NASCLA lists the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors as an agency that accepts the Journeyman Electrician examination. However, Tennessee electrical authority still depends on the license or local credential the candidate is actually seeking.

This makes the exam useful for Tennessee candidates who are pursuing an electrical pathway that recognizes the NASCLA Journeyman result, but it should not be confused with the separate Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor examination or the Limited Licensed Electrician exam.

Exam: NASCLA Accredited Examination for Journeyman Electricians.

Exam administrator: PSI after NASCLA approval.

Scored questions: 100.

Experimental questions: 10 additional non-scored questions may be administered.

Time: 300 minutes / 5 hours.

Passing score: 70.

Format: open book and computer based.

Primary electrical code: 2020 or 2023 National Electrical Code under the current bulletin.

Tennessee status: NASCLA lists Tennessee as an accepting agency for the Journeyman examination.

The Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Book Package provides a reference library built around the current NASCLA journeyman electrical examination.

Tennessee Journeyman Electrician Exam and Licensing Path

Start by identifying who actually issues the electrical credential you need. That one decision prevents a surprising amount of expensive studying for the wrong exam.

Step Authority / Requirement What to Verify
Identify Your Credential State or Local Authority Determine whether you need NASCLA journeyman acceptance, a local journeyman credential, Tennessee LLE, or Tennessee CE contractor licensing
Check NASCLA Acceptance NASCLA / Licensing Authority Confirm your intended jurisdiction accepts the NASCLA Journeyman exam for the credential you want
NASCLA Application National Examination Database Submit the NASCLA examination application and obtain approval before scheduling
Eligibility Period NASCLA Current approval is valid for one year
Exam Scheduling PSI Schedule after NASCLA forwards your approval to PSI
Journeyman Exam NASCLA / PSI 100 scored questions, 300 minutes, open book, minimum passing score of 70
Transcript NASCLA NED Transmit passing results to the accepting authority as required
Final Licensing Applicable State / Local Authority Complete all experience, application, registration, permit, contractor, or local licensing requirements

Research Authority and 2026 Verification

The NASCLA examination and Tennessee licensing system use different authorities, so keep the exam provider, exam acceptance, and actual license issuer separate.

Verified Point Authority Current Result
Tennessee participation NASCLA Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors is listed as accepting the Journeyman Electrician examination
NASCLA exam administrator Current NASCLA / PSI bulletin PSI
Scored questions Current NASCLA / PSI bulletin 100
Experimental items Current NASCLA / PSI bulletin 10 non-scored questions may also be administered
Time Current NASCLA / PSI bulletin 300 minutes
Passing score Current NASCLA / PSI bulletin 70
Open book Current NASCLA / PSI bulletin Yes
NEC editions Current NASCLA / PSI bulletin 2020 or 2023 NEC / NEC Handbook
NASCLA approval Current candidate bulletin Required before scheduling with PSI
Eligibility Current candidate bulletin One year from application approval, with up to three attempts during that period

Tennessee contractor distinction: state contractor-level electrical work is regulated through Tennessee's contractor licensing system, including the CE Electrical Contractor classification. Electrical subcontractors generally need the appropriate contractor license when their portion of the project is $25,000 or more.

NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Breakdown

The current NASCLA Journeyman examination contains 100 scored questions across 10 subject areas.

Wiring and Protection is the largest category with 18 questions. Wiring Methods and Materials follows with 16. General Code Requirements contains 15.

Those three categories alone account for 49 of the 100 scored questions. If the NEC feels like a phone book written by engineers, these categories are your reason to make friends with it.

Electrical Theory and Principles and Equipment for General Use contain 10 questions each. Basic Electrical Safety and Special Occupancies and Special Equipment contain 8 each.

Testing and Troubleshooting contains 7, Plans and Specifications contains 6, and Special Conditions and Communication Systems contains 2.

Primary SEO Target Tennessee Journeyman Electrician Contractor Exam Prep
Exam NASCLA Accredited Examination for Journeyman Electricians
Tennessee Status NASCLA lists Tennessee as an accepting agency
Exam Administrator PSI
Scored Questions 100
Experimental Questions 10 additional non-scored items may be administered
Time 300 minutes / 5 hours
Passing Score 70
Format Open book • Computer based
Primary Code National Electrical Code, 2020 or 2023
Safety Standards OSHA 1926 • OSHA 1910 • NFPA 70E 2024
Fire Alarm Reference NFPA 72, 2022
Field Reference Ugly's Electrical References, 2023
Approval Apply through NASCLA NED before scheduling with PSI
Statewide License? Passing NASCLA does not automatically issue a statewide Tennessee journeyman license

How to Study for the Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam

Study by exam weight and by reference. The NASCLA exam gives you about three minutes per scored question, but theory, calculations, troubleshooting, plans, and multi-step code lookups can use more than three minutes.

Wiring and Protection: review branch circuits, feeders, services, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, conductor protection, and NEC Chapters 2 concepts.

Wiring Methods and Materials: study raceways, cables, conductors, boxes, fittings, installation conditions, support, protection, and Chapter 3 requirements.

General Code Requirements: practice Article 100 definitions, working spaces, equipment installation, listing and labeling, general NEC organization, tables, exceptions, and cross-references.

Electrical Theory: practice Ohm's Law, power, voltage, current, resistance, series circuits, parallel circuits, AC theory, transformers, motors, and electrical calculations.

Troubleshooting: review meter use, continuity, resistance, voltage, current, circuit behavior, fault diagnosis, and logical testing procedures.

Safety: review OSHA construction rules, general-industry safety, electrical hazards, PPE, shock protection, arc-flash concepts, and NFPA 70E practices.

The Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package organizes the current electrical, safety, theory, field-reference, and fire-alarm materials for open-book preparation.

NEC Navigation, Calculations, Theory, and Troubleshooting Strategy

A strong journeyman strategy begins by identifying the electrical problem before opening a book. A grounding question, motor calculation, OSHA question, fire-alarm question, or troubleshooting scenario may belong in a completely different reference.

NEC WIRE MATH TEST NEC • wiring • protection • theory • testing • safety • calculations

Tennessee Journeyman Electrician exam-prep illustration for NEC navigation, wiring, calculations, theory, troubleshooting, and electrical safety.

  • Services and Feeders: practice load calculations, service conductors, feeder requirements, disconnecting means, and overcurrent protection
  • Grounding and Bonding: review grounding electrode systems, equipment grounding conductors, bonding jumpers, services, separately derived systems, and Article 250
  • Conductors: practice ampacity, temperature correction, adjustment factors, neutral loads, continuous loads, and conductor sizing
  • Raceways and Boxes: review raceway fill, box fill, conduit, cables, supports, fittings, and installation rules
  • Motors and Transformers: practice full-load current, overload protection, branch-circuit protection, disconnects, transformer calculations, and related NEC tables
  • Testing: review meters, voltage readings, continuity, resistance, faults, open circuits, short circuits, and troubleshooting logic
  • Special Systems: review hazardous locations, special occupancies, fire alarms, communications, special equipment, and unusual NEC installations

Your Tennessee Journeyman Electrician Exam Roadmap

Match the exam to your credential, apply through NASCLA, prepare the references, pass the examination, send your transcript, and complete the Tennessee or local licensing process that actually applies.

1

Identify the licensing authority

Determine whether your target is a local journeyman license, a Tennessee electrical contractor pathway, the LLE credential, or another jurisdiction that accepts NASCLA.

2

Confirm NASCLA is accepted for your pathway

Tennessee appears on NASCLA's accepting-agency list, but you should confirm the exact credential for which you intend to use the examination result.

3

Apply through NASCLA NED

Submit the NASCLA exam application and obtain approval before attempting to schedule.

4

Receive PSI scheduling instructions

After approval, NASCLA forwards your information to PSI. Follow the PSI instructions to pay and schedule the exam.

5

Build your reference system

Practice with the NEC, OSHA references, NFPA 70E, Ugly's, NFPA 72, and electrical-theory materials before test day.

6

Pass the NASCLA Journeyman exam

Prepare for 100 scored questions, 300 minutes, a 70 passing score, and additional non-scored experimental items.

7

Send the passing transcript

Your result enters the NASCLA National Examination Database. Transmit the transcript to the accepting authority as required.

8

Complete the actual license application

Passing NASCLA is not the license. Finish the state, local, contractor, experience, registration, permit, or employer requirements attached to your intended credential.

NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Topic Weighting

The current scored examination distributes 100 questions across 10 technical subject areas.

Wiring and Protection 18 questions

Wiring Methods and Materials 16 questions

General Code Requirements 15 questions

Electrical Theory and Principles 10 questions

Equipment for General Use 10 questions

Basic Electrical Safety 8 questions

Special Occupancies and Special Equipment 8 questions

Testing and Troubleshooting 7 questions

Interpreting Plans and Specifications 6 questions

Special Conditions and Communication Systems 2 questions

Study priority: Wiring and Protection, Wiring Methods and Materials, and General Code Requirements combine for 49 of the 100 scored questions. Add Electrical Theory and Equipment for General Use and those five categories account for 69 scored questions.

NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam References

Use the current NASCLA / PSI bulletin as the final authority for reference editions and exam-room rules.

Reference Primary Study Use Current Status
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code or NEC Handbook, 2020 or 2023 Services, feeders, branch circuits, grounding, bonding, conductors, wiring methods, equipment, special occupancies and communications Authorized code reference
29 CFR Part 1926, 2024 Construction-industry safety, electrical hazards, PPE, ladders, excavations, tools and jobsite safety Authorized exam reference
29 CFR Part 1910, 2024 General-industry workplace safety and electrical-hazard requirements Authorized exam reference
NFPA 70E, 2024 Electrical workplace safety, shock hazards, arc-flash awareness, safe work practices and PPE Authorized exam reference
Ugly's Electrical References, 2023 Formulas, calculations, tables, conversions and practical electrical reference information Authorized exam reference
NFPA 72, 2022 Fire alarm and signaling systems Authorized exam reference
Understanding Electrical Theory for NEC Applications Electrical theory, circuits, voltage, current, resistance, power and calculation concepts Authorized exam reference
Ferm's Fast Finder Index / Tom Henry Key Word Index Optional NEC indexing support Optional references subject to stricter no-marking, no-highlighting and no-tab rules

Code-edition warning: many newer 1 Exam Prep Tennessee journeyman study products are based on the 2026 NEC for current code education. The NASCLA exam bulletin currently identifies the 2020 or 2023 NEC for exam code questions. For final exam practice, use the code edition authorized for your actual appointment.

How to Prepare for the Open-Book NASCLA Journeyman Exam

Build these exam-prep habits

  • Practice with the authorized references you plan to bring
  • Learn the NEC index, chapters, articles, tables, and definitions
  • Know which safety questions belong in OSHA or NFPA 70E
  • Practice electrical calculations without depending on answer choices
  • Use troubleshooting steps instead of guessing
  • Practice plans and specifications
  • Use permanent tabs where permitted
  • Complete full 100-question five-hour simulations

Avoid these exam-prep mistakes

  • Trying to look up every answer from zero
  • Studying only the NEC and ignoring theory or safety
  • Using temporary tabs or Post-it notes
  • Writing handwritten notes inside authorized references
  • Adding loose or attached papers to references
  • Ignoring fire alarm and communication topics
  • Practicing with the wrong NEC edition for your exam
  • Assuming a passing NASCLA score automatically creates a Tennessee license

Current reference rules: standard authorized references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed, but must otherwise remain unmarked and may not contain added loose or attached papers. Permanent tabs are allowed. Temporary tabs are not. Optional index references have stricter rules and must not contain marks, highlighting, or tabs.

How Tennessee Journeyman Electrical Licensing Actually Works

Tennessee does not treat "journeyman electrician" as one universal statewide license that automatically works in every city and county.

Some Tennessee jurisdictions operate their own electrical permitting, inspection, and licensing systems and may require local journeyman, master, or contractor credentials.

Tennessee also offers the Limited Licensed Electrician, or LLE, for qualifying electrical work under $25,000 per project in jurisdictions using the state electrical program. Many exempt jurisdictions do not accept the LLE and instead use their own licensing rules.

For contractor-level electrical work, Tennessee uses the CE Electrical Contractor classification. Contractor licensing requirements generally apply to qualifying electrical work at or above Tennessee's contractor threshold.

The practical rule: before studying for any Tennessee electrician exam, identify the city or county, the project value, the work scope, and the exact license or registration required. Then confirm whether that authority accepts the NASCLA Journeyman result.

Tennessee Journeyman, LLE, and Electrical Contractor Comparison

These pathways are related to electrical work, but they are not interchangeable.

Path Main Purpose Authority Important Difference
NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Standardized journeyman-level trade examination NASCLA / PSI plus accepting licensing authority Exam result only; does not automatically issue a Tennessee license
Local Journeyman / Master Local electrical licensing or registration City or county Requirements, experience, code edition and exam can vary by jurisdiction
Tennessee LLE Limited electrical work where accepted Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors Generally applies to qualifying projects under $25,000 in participating jurisdictions
CE Electrical Contractor State contractor-level electrical contracting Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors Separate contractor licensing process, trade qualification, Business and Law and financial requirements

Tennessee Journeyman Electrician Candidate Requirements

NASCLA Exam Candidate

National Trade Examination
  • Determine that NASCLA fits your licensing goal
  • Apply through the NASCLA National Examination Database
  • Receive NASCLA approval before scheduling
  • Schedule through PSI
  • Prepare the current authorized reference library
  • Pass the 100-question scored examination
  • Transmit your passing result as required

State Contractor Path

CE Electrical Contractor
  • Use Tennessee's contractor licensing process
  • Confirm the CE classification
  • Complete required trade qualification
  • Complete Tennessee Business and Law
  • Establish the contractor monetary limit
  • Provide required financial or surety-bond documentation
  • Complete insurance and final Board application requirements

Do not mix the pathways: a local journeyman credential, the Tennessee LLE, the NASCLA Journeyman examination, and Tennessee CE contractor licensing solve different licensing problems. The correct path depends on who regulates your work and what work you intend to perform.

Six-Week Tennessee Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Plan

Build code-navigation speed, electrical theory, calculation skill, safety knowledge, and troubleshooting confidence together.

Week 1

Exam Map + NEC

  • Verify your licensing pathway
  • Organize the current references
  • Learn NEC structure and Article 100
  • Review general code requirements
  • Take a baseline practice exam
Week 2

Wiring and Protection

  • Branch circuits
  • Feeders
  • Services
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Grounding and bonding
Week 3

Wiring Methods

  • Conductors
  • Raceways
  • Cables
  • Boxes and fittings
  • Chapter 3 navigation
Week 4

Theory + Calculations

  • Ohm's Law
  • Power
  • Series and parallel circuits
  • Motors and transformers
  • Load calculations
Week 5

Safety + Troubleshooting

  • OSHA 1926
  • OSHA 1910
  • NFPA 70E
  • Meter use and troubleshooting
  • Plans, NFPA 72 and special systems
Week 6

Full NASCLA Simulation

  • 100 scored-question simulation
  • 5-hour timer
  • Three-minute average pacing
  • Reference-selection drills
  • Review every missed question

How Hard Is the Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam?

The NASCLA Journeyman exam is challenging because it tests much more than memorized NEC article numbers.

Candidates need electrical theory, practical installation knowledge, code-navigation speed, troubleshooting ability, safety knowledge, plan interpretation, and calculation skill.

The three biggest subjects, Wiring and Protection, Wiring Methods and Materials, and General Code Requirements, make up almost half of the scored exam.

The current five-hour limit works out to about three minutes for each scored question, before considering the additional experimental items.

That makes pacing important. If one motor calculation turns into a personal argument with your calculator, flag it and protect the rest of the exam first.

Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Day Checklist

Do this

  • Confirm your NASCLA approval and PSI appointment
  • Arrive early for check-in
  • Bring current government-issued photo identification
  • Bring only authorized references
  • Use permanent tabs where permitted
  • Complete highlighting and underlining before test day
  • Bring only an allowed silent nonprinting nonprogrammable calculator
  • Know where major NEC subjects are located
  • Protect extra time for calculations and troubleshooting

Do not do this

  • Bring temporary tabs or Post-it notes
  • Bring references containing handwritten notes
  • Add loose or attached papers to books
  • Assume optional index books follow the normal marking rules
  • Ignore OSHA or NFPA 70E
  • Spend too long searching one NEC question
  • Use a 2026 NEC for final exam answers when your exam is based on 2020 or 2023
  • Assume passing NASCLA automatically grants electrical authority in your city

Pacing tip: 100 scored questions in 300 minutes equals about 3 minutes per scored question. Because experimental questions may also appear, answer fast knowledge-based questions efficiently and protect time for calculations, plans, troubleshooting, and deeper code searches.

Tennessee Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Options

Highlighted & Tabbed NASCLA Books

Complete Reference Library
  • 2023 National Electrical Code
  • OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926
  • OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910
  • NFPA 70E 2024
  • Ugly's Electrical References 2023
  • NFPA 72 2022
  • Understanding Electrical Theory for NEC Applications
View Highlighted & Tabbed Books

Books & Courses Rental Package

Course + Rental References
  • Six months of course access
  • Seven reference books
  • Highlighted rental books
  • Permanent navigation tabs
  • NEC practice
  • Electrical-safety references
  • Theory and fire-alarm study materials
View Rental Package

Prefer to own the reference library? The Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Book Package includes the electrical, safety, theory, field-reference, and fire-alarm books used for NASCLA preparation.

2026 NEC study: 1 Exam Prep also offers 2026 Tennessee Journeyman Electrician study packages for current-code education. Remember that the current NASCLA bulletin bases code questions on the authorized 2020 or 2023 NEC editions.

Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Online Contractor Exam Prep Course by 1 Exam Prep

Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep

This Tennessee-specific 1 Exam Prep credential image is directly related to the NASCLA Journeyman Electrician preparation pathway.

• Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician exam preparation

• 100 scored questions

• 300-minute / 5-hour examination

• Minimum passing score of 70

• Open-book computer examination

• National Electrical Code navigation

• Wiring, grounding, bonding, services, feeders, branch circuits, motors, and equipment

• Electrical theory, troubleshooting, calculations, safety, fire alarms, and communications

• NASCLA result accepted by participating authorities, subject to their licensing requirements

Know the electrical work and know the references. The exam rewards electricians who can recognize the subject, choose the right book, find the rule or formula, apply it correctly, and move on before the clock gets any clever ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tennessee Journeyman Licensing

Tennessee does not use one universal statewide journeyman credential that replaces every local licensing system. Electrical licensing can depend on the city or county, project value, scope of work, and whether the candidate needs a local credential, LLE, or state contractor license.
Yes. NASCLA lists the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors as an accepting agency for the NASCLA Journeyman Electrician examination. Candidates should still confirm how the result applies to the exact Tennessee or local credential they are seeking.
No. Passing the examination creates an exam record. The applicable licensing authority still determines whether you meet its experience, application, registration, contractor, permit, and other requirements.
No. They are different examination and licensing paths. The CE classification is Tennessee's state contractor-level Electrical Contracting classification. Do not assume the journeyman exam automatically substitutes for every CE contractor requirement.
LLE means Limited Licensed Electrician. It is a separate Tennessee credential for qualifying electrical work under $25,000 where the state LLE program is accepted. Many exempt jurisdictions operate their own electrical licensing systems.

NASCLA Exam Basics

The current exam contains 100 scored questions. Candidates may also receive 10 non-scored experimental questions.
The current NASCLA / PSI bulletin allows 300 minutes, or five hours.
The current minimum passing score is 70.
Yes. It is an open-book examination using authorized reference materials.
Candidates currently apply through NASCLA and schedule the examination through PSI after NASCLA approves the application.
The current candidate bulletin gives candidates one year from the application approval date to complete the examination process.
The current NASCLA candidate bulletin allows up to three examination attempts during the one-year eligibility period.

Exam Topics

Wiring and Protection is the largest scored category with 18 questions.
Wiring Methods and Materials contains 16 scored questions.
General Code Requirements contains 15 scored questions.
Yes. Electrical Theory and Principles contains 10 scored questions.
Yes. Testing and Troubleshooting contains 7 scored questions.
Yes. Basic Electrical Safety contains 8 scored questions. OSHA and NFPA 70E references are important parts of preparation.

References and Open-Book Rules

The current NASCLA / PSI bulletin permits the 2020 or 2023 National Electrical Code or corresponding NEC Handbook for code questions. Verify your current bulletin before testing.
No. The current NASCLA bulletin lists the 2020 or 2023 NEC. Some 1 Exam Prep Tennessee study products use the 2026 NEC for newer-code education, so final exam practice should match the authorized NASCLA code edition.
Standard authorized references may currently be highlighted and underlined before testing. They must otherwise remain unmarked.
Yes. Permanent tabs are allowed on standard authorized references. Temporary tabs such as Post-it notes are not allowed.
No. The current bulletin states the references must otherwise be unmarked and may not contain added loose or attached papers.
The current bulletin lists them as optional references. These optional indexes have stricter rules and may not contain marks, highlighting, or tabs.

Tennessee Contractor and Local Rules

Tennessee generally requires the appropriate contractor license for qualifying contractor work of $25,000 or more. Electrical subcontractors are also included when their portion of the work reaches the applicable contractor threshold.
CE is Tennessee's Electrical Contracting classification for contractor-level electrical work involving buildings and structures. It is separate from the NASCLA Journeyman exam.
Yes. Tennessee identifies numerous jurisdictions that operate outside the state electrical permitting program. Those jurisdictions may use local journeyman, master, contractor, permit, registration, or inspection requirements. Always check the local authority.

1 Exam Prep

Yes. 1 Exam Prep offers a Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician online course, book package, highlighted and tabbed book package, and books-and-courses rental package.
Yes. 1 Exam Prep offers a Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician highlighted and permanently tabbed book package.
Yes. The Tennessee NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Books & Courses Rental Package combines six months of course access with seven highlighted and tabbed rental references.
Yes. 1 Exam Prep offers newer Tennessee journeyman materials based on the 2026 NEC. Those products are useful for current-code education, but candidates taking the NASCLA exam should still practice with the NEC edition authorized by the current NASCLA bulletin.

Watch: Tennessee Electrician 2026 Licensing Guide

Watch this related 1 Exam Prep Tennessee electrician video for an overview of the state's electrical licensing landscape. It is especially useful for understanding why journeyman preparation, local electrician licensing, the LLE pathway, and contractor-level electrical licensing should not be treated as the same credential.

Study tip: after watching the licensing guide, write down the exact credential and authority you are pursuing. Then build your study plan around that exam's code edition, references, experience rules, and application requirements.

Ready for Tennessee Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep?

Build faster NEC navigation, stronger electrical theory, better wiring and protection knowledge, confidence with grounding, bonding, services, feeders, branch circuits, motors, calculations, troubleshooting, OSHA safety, NFPA 70E, fire alarms, communications, and the Tennessee electrical licensing path.

Questions? Call 877-775-9400
or email sales@1examprep.com

Tennessee Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep