What's on the Idaho Journeyman Electrician Exam? All 7 Areas and How to Study Them

What's on the Idaho Journeyman Electrician Exam?

Since December 1, 2025, Idaho journeyman candidates take an Idaho-specific PSI exam, built by DOPL with subject matter experts and PSI. PSI's Idaho bulletin publishes the outline as seven areas, with the number of items in each. You need a score of 70.

The outline (100 items)

These counts are published by PSI. The bulletin gives one question count, 100, and does not say whether any of them are unscored pretest items.

The bulletin lists area names only, with no NEC article lists. Six of the seven names match the titles of NEC Chapters 2 through 7 word for word, so the natural reading is one area per chapter: Wiring and Protection is Chapter 2, Wiring Methods and Materials is Chapter 3, and so on. That mapping is our inference, not something PSI states. General Electrical Knowledge is not a chapter title; expect Article 90, Chapter 1 and electrical theory.

Which code: 2020 or 2023?

Idaho adopts the 2023 NEC by statute (Idaho Code 54-1001). The PSI bulletin, though, lets you bring either the 2020 NEC or the 2023 NEC, plus Ugly's Electrical References, 2023 edition. It adds: "For Code-based questions, only the specific editions listed will be used."

The bulletin does not say whether there is one question bank or separate forms for each edition, and there is no step where you choose one. You simply bring the book you prefer.

Our practice questions stick to rules that read the same in both editions, and cite the 2023 NEC. If you are buying a book, buy the 2023: it is the code Idaho enforces and what schools teach.

Idaho's amendments are not answer keys

The Board's rules (IDAPA 24.39.10) amend the 2023 NEC for installations in Idaho. Examples:

• Several 210.8 GFCI locations are deleted or narrowed, including laundry areas and, for dwellings, part of the 210.8(D) appliance list.
• In one- and two-family dwellings, AFCI protection under 210.12(B) applies only to circuits supplying bedrooms.
• Dwelling units get exceptions to the surge-protection rules in 215.18, 225.42 and 230.67.

These are installation rules. The bulletin says Code questions use only the listed NEC editions, and it lists no Idaho rules reference. On the exam, answer from the NEC as printed.

No Idaho law

The outline has no state law or rules area. Every item is theory or the Code.

Where the weight is

• Wiring and Protection is a quarter of the exam: 25 items. Branch circuits, feeders, load calculations (Article 220), services, overcurrent protection and grounding and bonding (Article 250).
• Chapters 2, 3 and 4 together are 63 of 100 items. Wiring Methods and Materials (19) and Equipment for General Use (19) are tied for second.
• General Electrical Knowledge (13) is theory and calculations: Ohm's law, power, voltage drop. Ugly's covers the formulas.
• Special Occupancies (12) carries as many items as Special Equipment (6) and Special Conditions (6) combined.
• There is no communications area on the journeyman exam. Chapter 8 shows up only on the master exam.

A study plan built on the weights

1. Chapter 2 first. Twenty-five items. Know Articles 210, 215, 220, 230, 240 and 250 well enough to find any table in seconds.
2. Then Chapters 3 and 4. Thirty-eight items. Table 310.16 and its adjustments, Chapter 9 conduit fill, 314.16 box fill, then Article 430 motors and Article 450 transformers.
3. Theory and Chapter 1. Thirteen items. Work the formulas until they are automatic, and learn the Article 100 definitions.
4. Chapter 5. Twelve items on hazardous locations, health care, agricultural buildings, manufactured homes, marinas and temporary wiring.
5. Chapters 6 and 7. Twelve items between them: signs, EV charging, pools (Article 680), PV (Article 690), emergency and standby systems, and Class 1, 2 and 3 circuits.
6. Tab and highlight your NEC. Pre-exam highlighting, underlining and permanent indexing are allowed; writing during the exam is not.
7. Sit a timed, full-length exam. 100 questions in 270 minutes is 2 minutes 42 seconds each.

Our free practice test gives you a feel for the questions. The full exam prep has full-length practice exams weighted to this outline, with every answer explained. For eligibility, see Idaho Journeyman Electrician requirements, and for the day itself, Idaho Journeyman Electrician exam day.