2023 Virginia Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Study Package Includes Instructor-Led NEC Course (Based on the 2023 NEC)

Prepare for the Virginia Journeyman Electrician examination with a comprehensive study package built around the 2023 National Electrical Code. This Virginia Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Study Package combines the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, NEC tabs, flash cards, a Master Electrician Study Guide, a Calculations Study Guide, an online instructor-led NEC course, simulated practice exams, an NEC overview, and live and recorded instructional videos.

Virginia maintains statewide Journeyman Electrician licensing through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Board for Contractors. The Journeyman Electrician license is an individual tradesman license, and applicants must meet the applicable education and practical-experience qualifications before receiving approval for examination.

The current Virginia Journeyman Electrician examination is administered by PSI. It contains 70 questions, allows 210 minutes for completion, and requires 49 correct answers for a passing score. The examination covers both Virginia licensing and regulatory material and a broad range of technical electrical subjects.

This study package is based on the 2023 National Electrical Code. The current Virginia Journeyman Electrician licensing examination, however, bases its NEC code questions on the 2020 National Electrical Code. Virginia’s current Uniform Statewide Building Code also incorporates the 2020 NEC. Candidates preparing for the official Virginia examination should therefore use the required 2020 NEC for exam-specific preparation while using this 2023 NEC package to strengthen electrical knowledge, calculations, and code-navigation skills.

Journeyman-level preparation requires more than practical electrical experience. Candidates should understand branch circuits, services, feeders, grounding and bonding, conductors, raceways, boxes, motors, controls, utilization equipment, lighting, low-voltage systems, fire alarm systems, special occupancies, special equipment, electrical theory, safety, and Virginia tradesman regulations.

The included NEC tabs help organize major articles, definitions, tables, and frequently used subjects. Regular code-navigation practice can help students become more efficient at identifying the correct article or table instead of searching through the code without a clear direction.

The Master Electrician Study Guide provides advanced supplemental review that can help strengthen journeyman-level electrical knowledge. The Calculations Study Guide focuses on electrical mathematics involving services, feeders, branch circuits, conductor sizing, motors, transformers, voltage drop, raceway fill, box fill, and other calculation-oriented subjects.

Flash cards provide active-recall practice for formulas, terminology, definitions, and important concepts. The online course adds instructor-led NEC training, a structured NEC overview, simulated practice examinations, live instructional videos, and recorded lessons that can be reviewed around a working electrician’s schedule.

Exam Details

The Virginia Journeyman Electrician examination is administered by PSI for the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Applicants must receive examination approval from the Board for Contractors before scheduling the test.

The current Journeyman Electrician examination contains 70 questions and allows 210 minutes, or three and one-half hours, for completion. Candidates must answer at least 49 questions correctly to achieve the required passing score.

The examination includes Virginia-specific regulatory material as well as technical electrical questions. Standards of Practice, Standards of Conduct, Renewal and Reinstatement, Definitions, Qualification for Licensure, and Revocation of Licensure are included in the examination outline.

Technical subjects include General Electrical Knowledge, Requirements for Electrical Installations, Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals, Branch Circuits, Services and Feeders, Grounding and Bonding, Conductors and Cables, Raceways and Boxes, Special Occupancies, Special Equipment, Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting, Motors and Controls, Utilization Equipment, Lighting, Low Voltage, Communication Systems, Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, and Safety.

Conductors and Cables and Raceways and Boxes represent significant portions of the examination. Candidates should understand conductor ampacity, insulation types, adjustment and correction factors, cable applications, conduit systems, raceway fill, box fill, support requirements, enclosures, and permitted wiring methods.

Grounding and Bonding is another major topic. Preparation should include grounding electrode systems, grounding electrode conductors, equipment grounding conductors, bonding jumpers, separately derived systems, services, enclosures, raceways, and effective ground-fault current paths.

Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits require knowledge of electrical loads, conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, service equipment, disconnecting means, required circuits, grounding and bonding, receptacle requirements, GFCI protection, AFCI protection, and other NEC provisions governing power distribution.

Motors and Controls require candidates to understand motor conductors, overload protection, short-circuit and ground-fault protection, disconnecting means, controllers, motor calculations, and related code rules.

Safety is also part of the examination. Candidates should understand safe electrical practices and the electrical safety concepts associated with the approved safety reference identified for the Virginia electrician examination.

The simulated practice exams included with this package help candidates apply electrical knowledge under exam-style conditions. Practice results can identify whether additional study is needed in calculations, conductor rules, grounding, raceways, services, motors, Virginia regulations, or code navigation.

Open Book Test

The Virginia Journeyman Electrician examination is an open-book test. Candidates are responsible for bringing the approved reference materials required for the examination because references are not provided at the PSI testing site.

The current electrician examination bases its National Electrical Code questions on NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition. The current reference list also identifies NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, for electrician testing, together with the Virginia Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations.

This package includes the 2023 NEC for course instruction and electrical preparation. Because the official Virginia examination currently bases NEC questions on the 2020 edition, candidates should also prepare with the 2020 NEC before test day.

Approved examination references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Permanent tabs are permitted. Removable tabs are not allowed.

Reference materials containing written notes are not permitted under the current PSI examination rules. Candidates also may not write in their references during the testing session.

No study guides are permitted in the examination room. The Master Electrician Study Guide, Calculations Study Guide, flash cards, online course materials, simulated practice exams, and instructional videos included with this package should therefore be used for preparation rather than treated as exam-room materials.

The included NEC tabs support the code-navigation skills required for open-book testing. Students can practice locating branch circuits, services, feeders, grounding and bonding, conductors, raceways, motors, utilization equipment, special occupancies, and other important subjects.

Open-book testing still requires substantial preparation. With 70 questions in three and one-half hours, candidates should recognize the electrical subject first and then move directly toward the appropriate article, table, definition, or section.

Licensing Steps

Begin by selecting the Virginia Journeyman Electrician qualification pathway that matches your education and practical experience. Virginia provides several combinations of vocational training and field experience that can qualify an applicant for examination approval.

An applicant with a bachelor’s degree in an engineering curriculum related to the electrical trade may qualify with one year of practical experience. An applicant with an associate degree or certificate from at least a two-year tradesman-related program may qualify with two years of practical experience.

Another pathway requires 240 hours of formal vocational training together with four years of practical electrical experience. Applicants with 160 hours of formal vocational training may qualify with five years of experience.

Applicants with 80 hours of formal vocational training may qualify with six years of practical experience, while applicants with 40 hours may qualify with seven years. An applicant without formal vocational training may qualify with eight years of practical experience.

Virginia also provides an examination exemption for individuals who successfully complete an apprenticeship program approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement and provide the required completion documentation.

Applicants who must take the examination are required to submit documentation of identification, vocational training, and experience. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and satisfy the other general licensing requirements established by the Board.

Submit the Tradesman Exam and License Application to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The Board reviews applications and determines whether the applicant qualifies for examination.

After receiving approval, schedule the Journeyman Electrician examination with PSI. Candidates should review the current PSI candidate bulletin and prepare the approved references before the scheduled test date.

Begin study with the NEC overview and use the included tabs while practicing with the 2023 NEC. Transfer those navigation skills to the 2020 NEC required for the official Virginia examination.

Use the Master Electrician Study Guide for advanced supplemental review and complete the Calculations Study Guide regularly. Combine those resources with flash cards, instructor-led live sessions, recorded videos, and simulated practice testing.

After passing the required examination, complete the remaining licensing process through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation so the Journeyman Electrician license can be issued.

State Requirements

Virginia licenses Journeyman Electricians statewide through the Board for Contractors within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Tradesman licenses are issued to individuals rather than business entities.

Virginia establishes multiple education-and-experience pathways for Journeyman Electrician applicants. The available pathways range from qualifying engineering education with one year of practical experience to eight years of practical experience without formal vocational training.

Applicants must document their vocational education and practical experience as part of the licensing process. Examination approval is required before an applicant who is not exempt can schedule the Virginia Journeyman Electrician test.

Individuals who successfully complete an approved Virginia apprenticeship program may qualify for exemption from the journeyman examination when the required apprenticeship completion documentation is submitted.

Virginia currently uses the 2020 National Electrical Code as part of the Uniform Statewide Building Code. The current PSI Journeyman Electrician examination also identifies the 2020 NEC for code questions.

This product remains based on the 2023 NEC and provides current National Electrical Code study, calculations, and navigation practice. Candidates preparing specifically for the Virginia licensing examination should distinguish between the 2023 NEC included in the package and the 2020 NEC currently used for official examination questions.

Virginia Journeyman Electricians are subject to continuing-education requirements as a condition of license renewal. Electricians must complete three hours of Board-approved electrical continuing education during each two-year license term.

The continuing-education course must be directly related to the current electrical code applicable to the trade and must be completed through a provider approved by the Board for Contractors.

Journeyman licensing should also be distinguished from contractor licensing. A Virginia Journeyman Electrician license establishes an individual tradesman credential and does not by itself create a contractor business license.

Licensed electricians remain responsible for complying with Virginia electrical regulations, the Uniform Statewide Building Code, permits, inspections, safety requirements, supervision rules, and other laws governing electrical work.

Reference Books

• NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition
  The primary electrical code book included with this package and used throughout the instructor-led NEC course. It covers branch circuits, feeders, services, grounding and bonding, conductors, wiring methods, motors, equipment, special occupancies, special equipment, and other electrical installations.
• Master Electrician Study Guide
  An advanced electrical preparation resource included with the package for additional review of electrical theory, NEC concepts, calculations, installations, and trade knowledge.
• Calculations Study Guide
  A focused preparation resource for electrical mathematics, load calculations, conductor sizing, services, feeders, motors, transformers, voltage drop, raceway fill, box fill, and systematic problem solving.

Test Information and Study Materials

An effective Virginia Journeyman Electrician study plan should combine National Electrical Code navigation, electrical theory, calculations, Virginia licensing regulations, safety knowledge, active recall, instructor guidance, and timed simulated testing.

Begin with the NEC overview. Learn how electrical code requirements are organized and practice moving from a technical question to the appropriate article, definition, section, table, exception, or cross-reference.

Give focused study time to Conductors and Cables, Raceways and Boxes, Grounding and Bonding, Services and Feeders, Branch Circuits, Motors and Controls, Utilization Equipment, and Safety because these areas represent substantial portions of the current examination.

Use the Calculations Study Guide consistently. Identify known values, choose the correct formula, locate any code rules that affect the problem, complete each mathematical step, and verify the result.

Use flash cards for frequent active-recall review. Short sessions can reinforce formulas, definitions, electrical terminology, and important trade concepts between longer study periods.

Live instructor-led NEC training provides structured guidance through electrical code subjects and calculation methods. Recorded videos allow candidates to pause explanations, replay examples, and revisit topics identified as difficult during simulated testing.

Complete simulated practice examinations using a 210-minute testing period to develop realistic pacing for the 70-question Virginia Journeyman Electrician examination.

After every practice exam, review missed questions and questions that required excessive time. Determine whether the difficulty involved theory, calculation accuracy, code navigation, Virginia regulations, safety, or misunderstanding the wording of the question.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Virginia Journeyman Electrician candidates through an organized combination of printed study resources, instructor-led NEC education, electrical calculation practice, reference-navigation training, flash cards, and simulated practice examinations.

The NEC overview helps students understand how the National Electrical Code is structured before they begin working through more difficult technical questions. This foundation helps candidates connect electrical subjects with the articles, tables, definitions, and exceptions that regulate them.

The Calculations Study Guide helps candidates develop repeatable problem-solving methods. Students practice choosing formulas, locating applicable code requirements, organizing mathematical steps, tracking units, and checking their answers.

The included 2023 NEC and tabs support current NEC study and code-navigation development. Candidates can transfer those navigation skills to the 2020 NEC required for the current Virginia licensing examination.

Flash cards reinforce formulas, terminology, definitions, and electrical concepts through active recall. Live instructor-led training provides structured guidance, while recorded videos give working electricians flexibility to revisit challenging material.

Simulated practice exams bring code knowledge, electrical theory, calculations, reference navigation, and test strategy together. Candidates can use their results to identify weak subjects and direct additional preparation where it is needed most.

No exam-preparation package can guarantee a passing score or license approval. Results depend on the applicant’s qualifying education, practical experience, preparation, study habits, and ability to apply electrical knowledge. This package provides an organized preparation system for candidates working toward the Virginia Journeyman Electrician license.

FAQ Section

What is included in the Virginia Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Study Package?

The package includes the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, NEC tabs, flash cards, a Master Electrician Study Guide, a Calculations Study Guide, an online instructor-led NEC course, simulated practice exams, an NEC overview, and live and recorded videos.

Does Virginia issue a statewide Journeyman Electrician license?

Yes. Virginia licenses Journeyman Electricians statewide through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Board for Contractors.

Is the Virginia Journeyman Electrician examination open book?

Yes. The current PSI Virginia tradesman examinations are open book and allow candidates to use approved reference materials that comply with the examination rules.

How many questions are on the Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam?

The current examination contains 70 questions and allows 210 minutes, or three and one-half hours, for completion.

What score is required to pass?

Candidates must answer at least 49 of the 70 questions correctly to pass the current Virginia Journeyman Electrician examination.

Which NEC edition is used on the current Virginia exam?

The current PSI bulletin identifies the 2020 National Electrical Code for Virginia electrician examination code questions. This package is based on the 2023 NEC, so candidates should also prepare with the required 2020 NEC for the official examination.

Can the NEC be permanently tabbed for the Virginia exam?

Yes. The current PSI rules permit permanent tabs on approved references. Removable tabs are not allowed.

Can I write notes in my exam references?

No. The current PSI rules do not permit reference materials containing written notes, and candidates may not write in references during the examination.

Can an approved apprenticeship exempt me from the journeyman examination?

Yes. Virginia provides an examination exemption for individuals who successfully complete an apprenticeship program approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement and provide the required completion documentation.

Are simulated practice exams included?

Yes. The online course includes simulated practice exams designed to strengthen electrical knowledge, calculations, NEC navigation, pacing, and testing discipline.

Are live and recorded NEC lessons included?

Yes. The package includes live instructor-led NEC training and recorded videos that can be replayed while reviewing electrical concepts, calculations, and code requirements.

Does completing this package guarantee a Virginia Journeyman Electrician license?

No. Licensure depends on satisfying the education, experience, application, examination, and other requirements established by Virginia. The package provides organized educational preparation but does not guarantee a passing score or license approval.