Important Virginia licensing fact: a Virginia Journeyman Electrician license is an individual tradesman credential. It is not the same thing as a Virginia contractor business license. The Board for Contractors regulates both areas, but a licensed electrician and a licensed contracting business are different legal pieces of the puzzle.
Virginia defines an electrician as a tradesman who performs construction, repair, maintenance, alteration, or removal of electrical systems regulated under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
A journeyman is a person with the ability, proficiency, and qualifications to install, repair, and maintain the applicable materials and equipment using enough working knowledge to comply with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and the project plans and specifications.
This credential is issued to an individual. It confirms that the license holder has satisfied the applicable experience, education, apprenticeship, examination, or other approved Virginia licensing requirements.
Licensing authority: Virginia Board for Contractors / DPOR.
Testing provider: PSI.
Exam: Virginia Journeyman Electrician portion.
Questions: 70.
Time: 210 minutes.
Passing score: 49 correct answers, or 70%.
Format: open book.
Current exam code basis: National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020.
Current safety reference: NFPA 70E, 2024.
Virginia regulatory reference: Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations.
Exam approval: Board pre-approval is required before scheduling with PSI when the exam is required.
For a Virginia-specific study program, review the Virginia Journeyman Electrician Online Exam Prep Course .
Virginia provides several education-and-experience routes for applicants who need the journeyman examination. A qualifying registered apprenticeship may provide an examination exemption. Use the route that actually matches your records.
| Step | Requirement | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm Basic Eligibility | Virginia Tradesman Rules | Applicant must be at least 18 and provide required identity, education, and experience documentation |
| Select Journeyman Electrical | Trade Designation | Apply for the correct electrician license level and trade |
| Choose a Qualification Route | Education + Experience | Bachelor's + 1 year, qualifying two-year degree/certificate + 2 years, or one of Virginia's vocational-training and experience combinations |
| Common Training Route | 240 Training Hours | 240 hours of formal vocational training plus 4 years of practical experience |
| Experience-Only Route | 8 Years | Virginia allows an examination-qualification path using 8 years of practical experience with no formal vocational training requirement |
| Registered Apprenticeship | Possible Exam Exemption | A qualifying completed apprenticeship recognized under Virginia law may exempt the applicant from the journeyman examination |
| Submit Application | Virginia DPOR | Use the newest Tradesman Exam and License Application and attach required experience and education records |
| Receive Exam Approval | Virginia Board | Do not schedule the PSI exam until Board approval is received when the exam is required |
| Pass the Exam | PSI | 70 questions, 210 minutes, 49 correct answers, open book |
| Maintain the License | Renewal + CE | Electrician licenses currently use a three-year term and require 3 hours of Board-approved electrical continuing education for renewal |
Use the current Virginia DPOR Tradesmen Program, Virginia Administrative Code, and PSI Candidate Information Bulletin as the final authority before applying, ordering final exam-room books, or scheduling the examination.
| Verified Point | Authority | Current Result |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Virginia DPOR | Virginia Board for Contractors Tradesmen Program |
| Testing provider | Virginia DPOR | PSI Services LLC |
| Pre-approval | Virginia DPOR | Required before candidates who need the exam may schedule it |
| Exam questions | Current PSI Bulletin | 70 items |
| Exam time | Current PSI Bulletin | 210 minutes |
| Passing score | Current PSI Bulletin | 49 correct answers |
| Exam fee | Virginia DPOR | $100 for a Journeyman Tradesman examination, verify before scheduling |
| Exam format | Current PSI Bulletin | Open book |
| Code basis | Current PSI Bulletin | National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020 |
| Safety reference | Current PSI Bulletin | NFPA 70E, 2024 |
| Regulatory reference | Current PSI Bulletin | Virginia Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations |
| Common qualification path | 18VAC50-30-39 | 240 hours formal vocational training + 4 years practical experience |
| Experience-only path | 18VAC50-30-39 | 8 years practical experience |
| Apprenticeship exemption | 18VAC50-30-50 | Qualifying completed registered apprenticeship may exempt the applicant from the journeyman examination |
| License term | 18VAC50-30-120 | 3 years from the last day of the month in which the electrician license was issued |
| Continuing education | 18VAC50-30-120 | 3 hours of approved electrical continuing education for renewal |
| 2026 technology fee | Virginia DPOR | Separate technology fee applies to certain DPOR transactions beginning July 1, 2026 |
Code-cycle warning: PSI's current bulletin says candidates may use other editions of references when permitted, but code questions are based on the edition listed in the bulletin. For the current Virginia electrician exam, that listed NEC edition is 2020.
The current PSI outline contains 70 items across 23 published subject areas. That means the exam is broad. It also means your study plan should spend more time on the categories that carry more questions.
The largest single category is Raceways and Boxes with 8 questions. This area can involve raceway selection, fill, support, bending, fittings, boxes, box fill, pull and junction boxes, cabinets, and installation requirements.
Three major categories contain 7 questions each: Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits; Grounding and Bonding; and Conductors and Cables. Together with Raceways and Boxes, these four categories account for 29 of the 70 questions. That is more than 41 percent of the exam.
Motors and Controls contains 5 questions, and Utilization Equipment contains 5 questions. Electricians should be comfortable using the NEC for motor conductors, overload protection, branch-circuit protection, disconnects, controllers, appliances, heating equipment, and other utilization loads.
Several three-question categories cover Standards of Practice, General Electrical Knowledge, Requirements for Electrical Installations, and Special Occupancies. The exam also includes Virginia licensing and conduct material, electrical-electronic fundamentals, service and feeder requirements, special equipment, lighting, low-voltage systems, communications, fire detection and alarm systems, and electrical signs.
The lesson is simple: do not turn this into a "find Article 250 and hope for the best" study plan. Grounding matters, but Virginia is testing the whole journeyman toolbox.
Build two skills at the same time: electrical understanding and fast code navigation. Field experience helps you recognize the problem. The open-book exam expects you to locate and apply the exact rule.
Raceways and Boxes: practice raceway fill, box fill, support, bending, fittings, pull boxes, junction boxes, cabinets, and wiring-method requirements.
Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits: review service equipment, disconnects, service conductors, feeder sizing, branch circuits, loads, overcurrent protection, and conductor requirements.
Grounding and Bonding: know grounding electrode systems, grounding electrode conductors, equipment grounding, bonding, separately derived systems, services, and sizing tables.
Conductors and Cables: practice ampacity, temperature limitations, adjustment and correction factors, cable uses, insulation types, conductor protection, and conductor sizing.
Motors and Controls: review motor full-load currents, branch-circuit conductors, short-circuit and ground-fault protection, overloads, disconnects, controllers, and related motor rules.
Virginia Regulations: study standards of practice, standards of conduct, renewal, reinstatement, definitions, qualification, and revocation. Those questions can be easier points when you actually open the regulatory reference before exam day.
For structured study, review the Virginia Journeyman Electrician Online Exam Prep Course .
The Virginia exam can jump from raceway fill to grounding, then into a Virginia licensing rule, then a motor question, then NFPA 70E. Your fastest path is to classify the question before you search.
Virginia Journeyman Electrician preparation for code lookup, calculations, safety, and state licensing rules.
Move from eligibility and documentation through Board approval, exam preparation, PSI testing, license issuance, and continuing education.
Compare your education and practical electrical experience with the current journeyman qualification options in 18VAC50-30-39.
Gather the experience verification, employer information, training certificates, transcripts, and other records that support the route you selected.
A qualifying completed apprenticeship recognized under Virginia law may exempt an applicant from the journeyman examination.
Use the newest DPOR form and current fee information. Do not rely on an application PDF you saved three code cycles ago.
Pre-approval comes before PSI scheduling for candidates who must take the journeyman examination.
Study the 2020 NEC basis, NFPA 70E 2024, Virginia tradesman regulations, and every content-outline category.
Complete 70 open-book questions within 210 minutes and earn at least 49 correct answers.
Track the three-year license term and complete the required three hours of approved electrical continuing education before renewal.
The current PSI outline contains 70 items. The bars below compare each subject with Raceways and Boxes, the largest eight-question category.
High-value technical block: Raceways and Boxes, Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits, Grounding and Bonding, and Conductors and Cables combine for 29 of 70 questions. Add Motors and Controls plus Utilization Equipment, and those six areas reach 39 questions.
The current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin lists the materials used to prepare the examination. Use that bulletin as the final authority for your scheduled test.
| Reference | Primary Study Use | Preparation Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations | Standards of practice, conduct, definitions, qualification, renewal, reinstatement, revocation, and Virginia tradesman licensing responsibilities | Virginia regulatory questions |
| National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020 | Services, feeders, branch circuits, grounding, conductors, raceways, boxes, motors, equipment, occupancies, low voltage, communications, and installation requirements | Primary electrical code reference |
| NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, 2024 | Electrical safety practices, hazards, protection, and workplace electrical safety | Electrical safety reference |
Important 2026 note: some 1 Exam Prep products are built around newer NEC editions for study and professional development. The current official PSI bulletin still states that Virginia electrician code questions are based on the 2020 NEC. For final exam-specific preparation, match the PSI code basis unless the bulletin changes before your test.
Current PSI book rules: all examinations are open book, but candidates must bring their own approved references. No study guides, loose papers, or unbound references are permitted. References may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before testing. Permanent tabs are allowed, removable tabs are not, and reference materials containing writing are not allowed.
A Virginia Journeyman Electrician is a licensed tradesman with the proficiency and working knowledge required to install, repair, and maintain electrical materials and equipment in compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and project plans and specifications.
Virginia defines electrical work broadly. It includes activities such as installing electrical apparatus and controls, measuring and installing conduit, maintaining electrical systems, observing installations for hazards, and repairing faulty systems or apparatus.
The journeyman credential is an individual license. It does not automatically authorize the holder to operate a contracting business without satisfying any contractor-license requirements that apply to the business and project.
Journeyman versus contractor: the Journeyman Electrician license proves individual trade qualification. A contractor license concerns the business entity and its authority to contract for regulated work. Do not treat the two licenses like interchangeable circuit breakers.
Virginia separates individual tradesman credentials from contractor business licensing. Understanding the difference prevents a lot of avoidable application confusion.
| Credential / Status | Main Purpose | Typical Qualification | Important Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Apprentice / Trainee Path | Build supervised education and practical experience | Training and experience under applicable Virginia workforce and trade rules | Preparation stage rather than journeyman licensure |
| Journeyman Electrician | Install, repair, and maintain electrical systems at journeyman level | Approved education/experience route, apprenticeship exemption, or other approved method | Individual tradesman license |
| Master Electrician | Advanced electrical qualification, planning, layout, and supervision | Current Virginia rules include a route based on at least one year holding a valid journeyman license, or other qualifying experience | Higher individual tradesman level |
| Electrical Contractor Business | Contract for regulated electrical construction work as a business | Separate contractor licensing requirements, classifications, responsible management, and applicable specialty qualifications | Business license rather than an individual electrician license |
Apprenticeship route: Virginia regulations provide an examination exemption for an individual who successfully completes a qualifying approved apprenticeship program and submits the required completion documentation.
Build code-navigation speed, calculation accuracy, Virginia regulatory knowledge, and full-length testing endurance.
The Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam is challenging because it mixes code lookup, trade knowledge, electrical theory, calculations, safety, and state licensing regulations.
Candidates receive 210 minutes for 70 questions. That averages three minutes per question.
Three minutes is a useful amount of time when you recognize the problem and know where to look. It becomes much shorter when you are searching the wrong NEC chapter, then the wrong table, then wondering why the answer choices look like they were designed by someone who enjoys suspense.
The largest technical categories are raceways and boxes, services/feeders/branch circuits, grounding and bonding, and conductors and cables. These topics deserve repeated code-navigation and calculation practice.
Do not ignore Virginia regulatory material. The exam includes standards of practice, conduct, renewal, qualification, definitions, and revocation. A candidate who studies only the NEC can give away points that were sitting in a much thinner reference book.
Exam-day priority: review the newest PSI Candidate Information Bulletin immediately before your appointment. Testing rules can change, and the test center gets the final vote on what enters the room.
Need tabs? Review the Virginia Journeyman Electrician Pre-Printed Tabs .
Studying newer code for professional growth? 1 Exam Prep also offers 2026 NEC-based Virginia Journeyman study combinations , but the current PSI examination still bases its electrician code questions on the 2020 NEC.

This Virginia-specific 1 Exam Prep image directly matches the Journeyman Electrician exam-preparation topic.
• Virginia statewide Journeyman Electrician license
• PSI-administered examination
• 70 questions
• 210-minute testing period
• 49 correct answers required
• Open-book preparation
• 2020 NEC code basis
• NFPA 70E 2024 safety reference
• Services, feeders, and branch circuits
• Grounding, conductors, raceways, and boxes
• Motors, utilization equipment, and special systems
Journeyman preparation is more than memorizing article numbers. Learn the electrical concept, learn the code location, practice the calculations, and make your reference books familiar enough that exam day feels like another study session with a stricter chair.
Virginia Journeyman Licensing
Education and Experience
Exam Basics
Exam Topics
Books and Open-Book Rules
Renewal and Career Path
1 Exam Prep
This related 1 Exam Prep video explains the Virginia Master Electrician path, which is a useful next-step topic for Journeyman Electricians. Virginia's current regulations include a Master examination qualification route for an electrician who has held a valid journeyman license in the trade for at least one year.
Journeyman study tip: focus first on passing and maintaining the Virginia Journeyman Electrician license. Then, if Master Electrician is your goal, keep your journeyman experience and licensing records organized from day one. Future-you will appreciate not having to reconstruct the electrical career equivalent of a mystery circuit.
Combine current Virginia DPOR and PSI information with exam-matched 1 Exam Prep courses, 2020 NEC preparation, book packages, tabs, practice materials, and continuing study resources.
Final verification rule: use the newest PSI bulletin for exam content, question counts, time, passing score, reference editions, and book rules. Use current Virginia DPOR and Virginia Administrative Code information for eligibility, experience, education, apprenticeship exemptions, fees, license terms, and continuing education.
Build faster NEC navigation, stronger electrical calculations, better grounding and bonding knowledge, confidence with services, feeders, branch circuits, conductors, raceways, boxes, motors, utilization equipment, Virginia tradesman regulations, NFPA 70E safety, and the full licensing process for the Virginia Journeyman Electrician credential.
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Virginia Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep