Colorado Residential Wireman Exam Day: PSI, the Supplied Code Book, and Pacing 4 Hours

Colorado Residential Wireman Exam Day: What to Expect

PSI gives the Colorado electrical exams at centers in Denver, Wheat Ridge, Centennial, Englewood, Broomfield, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Grand Junction and Durango. Here is what the day looks like.

Before you go

• Schedule with PSI online or by phone once the Board approves your application. If space is open you can book as late as the day before, up to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
• Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead. A voicemail does not count.
• Missing it costs the fee. No-shows, late cancellations, late arrivals and missing ID all forfeit your $78.

Arrival and ID

Arrive 30 minutes early with one valid, unexpired photo ID that carries your signature — driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport or military ID — in exactly the name you scheduled under.

The code book is theirs

You do not bring an NEC. PSI supplies the 2026 NEC and a formula page, and you may not write in, highlight, underline or tab them, or bring anything else. You find rules through the index and the table of contents, so practice with a clean copy — especially Articles 210, 250 and 314, where the dwelling rules live.

A 2023 book is available on request until December 1, 2026. An online calculator is built into the exam.

Pacing

90 scored questions in 4 hours, plus up to 7 unscored pretest questions with 30 minutes added for them — roughly 2 minutes 40 seconds each.

• Answer the rules you know first; flag the long lookups and the calculations.
• Answer every question — a blank scores zero.
• Aim for about 50 done at the 2-hour-10-minute mark.

Scoring and retests

You need 70% — 63 of 90, scored across all areas together, and you see your score as soon as you finish. After a failed attempt you can schedule the $73 retest from the next day — not the same day.

Before you go

Sit a full-length practice exam first. Our free practice test has 10 questions on the 2026 NEC, and the full exam prep has a timed 90-question practice exam. For eligibility, see Colorado Residential Wireman requirements.