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

Prepare for Washington journey-level electrical certification with a comprehensive study package built around the 2023 National Electrical Code. This Washington 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.

Washington regulates electricians statewide through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. The statewide credential commonly associated with journeyman electrical work is the General Journey Level Electrician certificate, commonly identified as the 01 electrician certification.

The Washington 01 General Journey Level Electrician certification covers broad electrical construction work and requires candidates to demonstrate competency in National Electrical Code requirements, Washington electrical laws and rules, electrical theory, wiring methods, grounding and bonding, services, overcurrent protection, motors, equipment, special occupancies, and other journey-level subjects.

Washington currently enforces the 2023 National Electrical Code for electrical installations. The state adopted the 2023 NEC effective April 1, 2024. This package is built around that code cycle and helps electricians strengthen current-code knowledge that is directly relevant to electrical work performed in Washington.

The current Washington PSI examination bulletin, however, continues to identify the 2020 NEC as the code edition used for licensing examination questions. Candidates preparing for the official Washington 01 examination should therefore also study with the NEC edition identified in their current examination bulletin while using this 2023 NEC package to build electrical knowledge, calculations, and code-navigation skills.

The included NEC tabs help organize frequently used articles, definitions, tables, and electrical subjects. Repeated reference practice helps students become faster at locating code provisions instead of searching through the NEC without a clear strategy.

The Master Electrician Study Guide provides advanced supplemental electrical review, while the Calculations Study Guide focuses on practical electrical mathematics involving loads, conductors, services, feeders, motors, transformers, voltage drop, raceway fill, box fill, and related calculations.

Flash cards provide active-recall practice for formulas, definitions, terminology, and important electrical concepts. The online course adds instructor-led NEC education, 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 Washington General Journey Level Electrician examination is administered by PSI for the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Electrician candidates must first apply to L&I and receive approval before scheduling the examination.

The 01 General Journey Level Electrician examination is divided into two sections. The NEC and Theory section contains approximately 60 questions and allows three hours for completion. The Washington Codes section contains approximately 17 questions and allows one hour.

Candidates must earn a score of at least 70 percent on each required examination section. Washington allows candidates to retain passing sections during the applicable one-year examination period while retesting sections they did not pass.

The NEC and Theory section covers a broad range of National Electrical Code subjects. The examination outline includes NEC introductory material, general requirements, wiring and protection, services, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, wiring methods, electrical equipment, motors, HVAC equipment, generators, transformers, hazardous locations, special occupancies, special equipment, emergency and standby systems, special conditions, communication systems, and general electrical theory.

Wiring Methods is one of the largest technical categories. Candidates should understand raceways, cables, boxes, conductor installation, enclosures, fittings, physical protection, support requirements, and the limitations associated with different wiring methods.

Grounding and Bonding and Overcurrent Protection also receive substantial emphasis. Preparation should include grounding electrode systems, grounding electrode conductors, equipment grounding conductors, bonding jumpers, overcurrent devices, conductor protection, and fault-current paths.

Services require understanding of service conductors, service equipment, disconnecting means, grounding and bonding, service calculations, and related installation requirements. Motors, HVAC equipment, generators, and transformers require additional calculations and equipment-specific knowledge.

General trade knowledge and theory are also tested. Candidates should be comfortable with voltage, current, resistance, electrical power, Ohm’s Law, Watt’s Law, series circuits, parallel circuits, alternating-current fundamentals, conductor calculations, and practical electrical mathematics.

The Washington Codes portion evaluates knowledge of Washington electrical statutes and administrative rules. Candidates should prepare with current Chapter 19.28 RCW and Chapter 296-46B WAC in addition to the NEC.

The simulated practice exams included with this package help candidates combine code knowledge, electrical theory, calculations, and reference navigation under exam-style conditions.

Open Book Test

The Washington electrician examination is open book. The current PSI examination rules permit candidates to use original copyrighted electrical reference materials during testing, along with printed Washington electrical laws and rules prepared in the permitted format.

Washington’s examination program allows candidates to bring reference books that comply with the testing rules. Copyrighted materials may contain highlighting and underlining completed before the examination.

Permanent index tabs are also permitted. Post-It notes, sticky tabs, repositionable notes, and other removable tabs or notes are not allowed.

Reference books may not contain handwritten notes. Candidates may not write additional information into reference materials during the examination.

A silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator may be used. The testing center may require candidates to use a provided calculator if a personal calculator does not meet the permitted requirements.

Copies of Washington RCW and WAC materials printed from official state sources may be used when prepared according to the current examination requirements. Candidates should become comfortable navigating Washington-specific electrical rules rather than studying only the NEC.

The 2023 NEC included with this package is excellent for developing reference-navigation skills and learning Washington’s currently enforced electrical code cycle. The current PSI examination bulletin, however, identifies the 2020 NEC for exam questions, so candidates should also prepare with that edition for the official examination unless L&I announces an examination-code transition before their scheduled test.

Open-book testing still requires strong preparation. Candidates should be able to identify the electrical subject quickly and then move directly to the likely article, table, definition, or Washington rule. Searching without a clear starting point consumes valuable testing time.

Licensing Steps

Begin by entering the electrical trade through a Washington electrical trainee certificate or another qualifying pathway recognized by the Department of Labor & Industries.

For most candidates working toward the General Journey Level Electrician 01 certification, Washington now uses a registered-apprenticeship pathway. The apprenticeship requirement became central to 01 examination qualification beginning July 1, 2023.

The standard pathway requires successful completion of the work-experience and education requirements of an approved 8,000-hour electrical construction trade apprenticeship program.

At least 4,000 of the qualifying hours must involve new commercial or industrial electrical installations performed under the required supervision. Washington limits how certain specialty electrical hours may be credited toward General Journey Level examination eligibility.

Washington also recognizes specific alternative pathways for qualifying out-of-state electricians, military electricians, and applicants who completed equivalent apprenticeship programs in other jurisdictions.

The temporary non-apprenticeship transition pathway for qualifying Washington trainees expired for new applications in July 2026. Candidates pursuing 01 certification after that transition period should follow the current apprenticeship or other qualifying pathway established by Washington law.

Maintain accurate documentation of apprenticeship participation, training, qualifying electrical hours, employers, supervisors, and the types of electrical work performed. L&I reviews qualifying experience before approving electrician candidates for examination.

After completing the required training and experience, submit the examination application to Washington L&I. Electrician candidates cannot schedule their PSI examination until L&I approves the application and issues examination eligibility information.

After receiving approval, schedule the General Journey Level Electrician examination with PSI. Candidates have a limited examination period in which to pass all required sections.

Use the preparation period systematically. Begin with the NEC overview, organize the 2023 NEC using the supplied tabs, and develop familiarity with major code articles and tables.

Use the Master Electrician Study Guide as advanced supplemental review and work through the Calculations Study Guide regularly. Combine those resources with flash cards, live instructor-led training, recorded videos, and simulated practice exams.

After passing all required examination sections and satisfying Washington’s certification requirements, complete the remaining L&I process for issuance of the General Journey Level Electrician certificate.

State Requirements

Washington certifies electricians statewide through the Department of Labor & Industries. General Journey Level Electricians are commonly identified as 01 electricians.

The standard qualification pathway requires completion of an approved 8,000-hour electrical construction apprenticeship, with at least 4,000 hours involving new commercial or industrial installations.

Washington also requires electrical trainees to complete applicable classroom instruction and apprenticeship education requirements while gaining qualifying electrical experience.

General Journey Level Electricians may perform electrical installation work within the broad 01 scope while working for a licensed electrical contractor and may supervise electrical trainees as allowed by Washington law.

Electrician certification is separate from electrical contractor licensing. An individual 01 certificate demonstrates personal electrical competency, while a business offering electrical contracting services must satisfy separate contractor licensing requirements.

Washington currently inspects electrical installations under the 2023 National Electrical Code together with Washington amendments contained in Chapter 296-46B WAC. The 2023 NEC became effective for Washington electrical installations on April 1, 2024.

Washington has adopted the 2026 NEC with a delayed effective date of December 31, 2026. Until that transition, the 2023 NEC remains the current statewide installation code.

The current electrician examination bulletin continues to identify the 2020 NEC for examination questions even though Washington installations use the 2023 NEC. Candidates should distinguish between the code used for field installations and the code edition currently identified for the licensing examination.

Certified electricians must complete 24 hours of approved continuing education during the three-year certification renewal cycle. Eight hours must cover currently adopted NEC changes, four hours must cover applicable Washington RCW and WAC requirements, and the remaining hours may be completed through other approved electrical continuing-education courses.

Certified electricians remain responsible for complying with Washington electrical laws, rules, supervision requirements, permitting requirements, inspection standards, and the scope of their certification.

Reference Books

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

Test Information and Study Materials

An effective Washington Journeyman Electrician study plan should combine National Electrical Code navigation, Washington electrical laws and rules, electrical theory, calculations, active recall, instructor guidance, and timed practice testing.

Begin with the NEC overview. Learn the organization of the code and practice moving from a technical question to the correct chapter, article, definition, section, table, exception, or cross-reference.

Give additional attention to Wiring Methods, Grounding and Bonding, Overcurrent Protection, Services, Motors, HVAC Equipment, Generators, Transformers, Special Occupancies, and general electrical theory because these subjects make up significant portions of the 01 examination.

Washington-specific electrical law is also important. Practice locating information within Chapter 19.28 RCW and Chapter 296-46B WAC instead of treating the state-law section as an afterthought.

Use the Calculations Study Guide regularly. Identify known values, choose the correct formula, locate code requirements affecting the calculation, complete each step, and verify the final result.

Use flash cards for active recall of formulas, definitions, terminology, and important concepts. Short review sessions can reinforce information between longer study periods.

Complete simulated practice exams using realistic timing. For the 01 examination, practice working through a three-hour NEC and Theory session and a separate one-hour Washington Codes session.

After each practice exam, review every incorrect answer and every question that takes too long. Determine whether the difficulty involved theory, calculations, code navigation, Washington rules, or unfamiliar terminology.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Washington 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 selecting formulas, locating applicable code information, organizing mathematical steps, tracking units, and checking their answers.

The included 2023 NEC and tabs support preparation with Washington’s currently adopted installation code while helping candidates develop the reference skills needed for open-book licensing examinations.

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

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

No exam-preparation package can guarantee a passing score or certification approval. Results depend on the candidate’s qualifying apprenticeship or other approved pathway, preparation, electrical experience, study habits, and ability to apply electrical knowledge. This package provides an organized preparation system for electricians working toward Washington General Journey Level 01 certification.

FAQ Section

What is included in the Washington 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.

What is Washington’s statewide journeyman electrician certification called?

Washington’s broad journey-level electrical credential is the General Journey Level Electrician certificate, commonly referred to as the 01 electrician certification.

Is the Washington Journeyman Electrician examination open book?

Yes. Washington electrician examinations are open book and allow approved reference materials that comply with the current PSI examination rules.

How many questions are on the Washington 01 electrician exam?

The current examination outline identifies approximately 60 questions for the NEC and Theory section and approximately 17 questions for the Washington Codes section.

How much time is allowed for the Washington Journeyman Electrician exam?

The NEC and Theory section allows three hours, and the Washington Codes section allows one hour.

What score is required to pass?

Candidates must score at least 70 percent on each required examination section.

Does Washington currently use the 2023 NEC?

Yes. Washington currently uses the 2023 National Electrical Code for electrical installations. The 2023 NEC became effective statewide on April 1, 2024.

Which NEC edition is currently identified for the Washington licensing exam?

The current Washington PSI examination bulletin identifies the 2020 NEC for examination questions. Candidates should prepare with that exam edition in addition to using this 2023 NEC package for current-code knowledge and electrical study.

How much experience is required for the standard Washington 01 pathway?

The standard pathway requires completion of an approved 8,000-hour electrical construction apprenticeship, including at least 4,000 hours of new commercial or industrial electrical installation experience.

Can NEC books be highlighted and tabbed for the exam?

Yes. Approved copyrighted references may be highlighted and underlined before testing, and permanent index tabs are permitted. Removable tabs and handwritten notes are not allowed.

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.