Current Idaho exam update: the Journeyman Electrician exam is 100 questions in 270 minutes with 75 correct required. The separate Electrical Contractor exam is 100 questions in 240 minutes with 70 correct required.
Idaho Electrician Exam Overview
Idaho electrical exams are administered through PSI for the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
The Journeyman Electrician exam is primarily an NEC-based electrical trade examination. The separate Electrical Contractor exam focuses on Idaho contractor business and law rather than repeating the Journeyman NEC blueprint.
Journeyman Electrician: 100 questions | 270 minutes | 75 correct
Electrical Contractor: 100 questions | 240 minutes | 70 correct
Format: open book
Current Idaho adopted code: 2023 NEC with Idaho amendments
Current PSI exam references: 2020 NEC or 2023 NEC
Licensing Authority Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
Testing Provider PSI
Journeyman Exam 100 questions | 270 minutes | 75 correct
Contractor Exam 100 questions | 240 minutes | 70 correct
Exam Format Open book
Idaho Adopted NEC 2023 NEC with Idaho amendments
PSI NEC References 2020 NEC or 2023 NEC
Journeyman Path 8,000-hour apprenticeship pathway or qualifying 16,000-hour supervised electrical experience pathway
Individual Contractor Path 2,000 hours while holding an Idaho Journeyman license or active Idaho Master Electrician license
Contractor Insurance At least $300,000 general liability insurance plus workers' compensation unless exempt
Idaho Journeyman Electrician Exam Weighting
These bars follow the current PSI 100-question Idaho Journeyman Electrician blueprint.
Wiring & Protection 25 questions
Wiring Methods & Materials 19 questions
Equipment for General Use 19 questions
General Electrical Knowledge 13 questions
Special Occupancies 12 questions
Special Equipment 6 questions
Special Conditions 6 questions
Electrical Calculations to Practice
Services & Conductors
- Service-load calculations
- Feeder calculations
- Branch-circuit loads
- Conductor ampacity
- Adjustment and correction factors
- Voltage drop
Equipment & Protection
- Motor calculations
- Transformer sizing
- Grounding and bonding
- Box fill
- Raceway fill
- Overcurrent protection
NEC edition note: Idaho currently adopts the 2023 NEC with Idaho amendments. The current PSI Journeyman examination permits the 2020 or 2023 NEC as test references. The current 1 Exam Prep course uses the 2026 NEC for current-code education.
Open-Book Idaho Electrician Exam Strategy
Do This
- Bring an approved 2020 or 2023 NEC reference
- Use compliant permanent indexing
- Highlight common tables before exam day
- Practice timed NEC lookups
- Learn article structure and definitions
- Work calculations without guessing from answers
- Complete 270-minute practice sessions
Avoid This
- Using temporary Post-it-style tabs
- Bringing loose extra papers
- Assuming open book means no studying
- Searching the NEC randomly
- Skipping Wiring and Protection
- Ignoring Equipment for General Use
- Using outdated 300-minute exam timing
Idaho Journeyman Electrician Licensing Paths
Apprenticeship Path
- Complete a Board-approved electrical apprenticeship program
- Complete 8,000 hours of supervised electrical installation work
- Meet Idaho education requirements
- Pass the applicable PSI/NASCLA examination
- Complete Journeyman licensing requirements
Work-Experience Path
- Document 16,000 hours of qualifying supervised electrical installation work
- Submit acceptable experience verification
- Meet DOPL application requirements
- Pass the Journeyman examination
- Complete initial licensing
Idaho Electrical Contractor Exam
The Idaho Electrical Contractor examination is a separate contractor exam and should not be confused with the Journeyman NEC trade test.
The contractor examination focuses on Idaho Business & Law, licensing, administration, financial responsibilities, contracts, employment rules, insurance, and other contractor-business requirements.
Questions: 100
Time: 240 minutes
Passing requirement: 70 correct answers
Primary reference: Idaho Contractor's Business and Law Reference Manual
Idaho Electrical Contractor Exam Weighting
The current contractor exam is entirely based on Idaho Contractor Business & Law material.
Business & Law Section 5 20 questions
Business & Law Section 6 20 questions
Business & Law Section 7 20 questions
Business & Law Section 10 10 questions
Business & Law Section 9 8 questions
Business & Law Section 8 7 questions
Business & Law Section 11 5 questions
Business & Law Sections 1–4, 12–13 1–2 questions each
Idaho Electrical Contractor Licensing Requirements
Individual Contractor Path
- Complete 2,000 hours while holding an Idaho Journeyman Electrician license, or
- Hold an active Idaho Master Electrician license
- Pass the Electrical Contractor examination
- Complete DOPL contractor application requirements
Insurance & Business Requirements
- At least $300,000 general liability insurance
- Workers' compensation unless exempt
- Qualified designated representative when applicable
- Active licensed Journeyman or Master employment requirements for entities
Idaho Electrician Licensing Roadmap
Move from supervised electrical experience through Journeyman licensing and into Master or Electrical Contractor paths.
1
Complete qualifying electrical experience
Follow Idaho's approved apprenticeship route or qualifying work-experience route.
2
Prepare for the Journeyman exam
Focus on NEC navigation, Wiring and Protection, Wiring Methods, Equipment, calculations and special systems.
3
Pass the Journeyman exam
Complete 100 questions in 270 minutes and earn at least 75 correct answers.
4
Obtain Idaho Journeyman licensing
Complete the DOPL application after satisfying the applicable examination and experience requirements.
5
Build contractor eligibility
Complete 2,000 hours while licensed as an Idaho Journeyman or qualify through active Idaho Master Electrician licensing.
6
Pass the Electrical Contractor exam
Prepare for Idaho contractor Business & Law and complete 100 questions in 240 minutes.
7
Complete contractor licensing
Submit the required insurance and complete remaining Idaho Electrical Contractor requirements.
Six-Week Idaho Electrician Exam Prep Plan
Week 1
NEC Navigation
- NEC index
- Definitions
- Permanent tabs
- Diagnostic test
Week 2
Wiring & Protection
- Services
- Feeders
- Branch circuits
- Grounding and bonding
Week 3
Wiring Methods
- Raceways
- Cables
- Boxes
- Conductor sizing
Week 4
Equipment & Calculations
- Motors
- Transformers
- Service loads
- Voltage drop
Week 5
Special Systems & Contractor Law
- Special occupancies
- Special equipment
- Special conditions
- Idaho Business & Law
Week 6
Timed Simulation
- 270-minute Journeyman simulation
- 240-minute contractor simulation
- NEC lookup review
- Final calculation drills
Idaho Journeyman Electrician Contractor Exam Prep FAQ
Journeyman Electrician Exam
The current PSI Idaho Journeyman Electrician examination contains 100 questions.
Candidates receive 270 minutes, or four and a half hours.
The current PSI bulletin requires 75 correct answers.
Yes. The current examination is open book using approved PSI references.
NEC & Exam Prep
The current PSI bulletin permits either the 2020 NEC or 2023 NEC for the Journeyman exam.
Idaho currently adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code with Idaho amendments for statewide electrical installations.
The 1 Exam Prep package uses the 2026 NEC for current-code education. Candidates should also practice with the 2020 or 2023 NEC because those are the current PSI-approved Journeyman exam references.
Yes. PSI permits permanent indexing, highlighting, and underlining. Temporary Post-it-style tabs are prohibited.
Exam Topics
Wiring and Protection is the largest category with 25 questions.
Wiring Methods and Materials accounts for 19 questions.
Equipment for General Use accounts for 19 questions.
Yes. Practice services, feeders, branch circuits, conductor ampacity, voltage drop, grounding, motors, transformers, box fill, and raceway fill.
Journeyman Licensing
Idaho provides an approved apprenticeship path involving 8,000 hours of supervised electrical installation work and a separate qualifying 16,000-hour work-experience pathway.
Idaho has electrical reciprocity pathways with multiple states, subject to examination, licensing, experience, and verification requirements.
Electrical Contractor Exam
The current Idaho Electrical Contractor examination contains 100 questions.
Candidates receive 240 minutes, or four hours.
The current passing requirement is 70 correct answers.
The current Electrical Contractor exam is based on Idaho Contractor Business and Law rather than the Journeyman NEC trade blueprint.
One current individual contractor pathway requires 2,000 hours of work while holding an Idaho Journeyman Electrician license. An active Idaho Master Electrician license is another pathway.
Current Idaho contractor materials require at least $300,000 in general liability insurance after passing the contractor exam, plus workers' compensation unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption.
Start with Wiring and Protection, Wiring Methods and Materials, Equipment for General Use, and General Electrical Knowledge. Electrical Contractor candidates should separately study Idaho Contractor Business and Law.
Prepare for the Idaho Electrical Exams
Build NEC navigation speed, electrical calculation accuracy, wiring and protection knowledge, conductor-sizing skill, equipment familiarity, and contractor Business & Law knowledge for Idaho Journeyman Electrician and Electrical Contractor licensing.
Idaho Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
- Opens in a new window.