Maryland Journeyperson Electrician Exam Day: PSI, One Code Book, and Pacing 3½ Hours

Maryland Journeyperson Electrician Exam Day: What to Expect

PSI gives the Maryland electrical exams for the State Board of Master Electricians, under one combined candidate bulletin for the journeyperson and master exams. Here is what the day looks like.

One book, and only one

The exam is open book, with one reference allowed: NFPA 70, 2020 edition, the 2020 National Electrical Code.

How you may prepare it:

• Highlighting is allowed.
• Indexing with permanent tabs is allowed. Removable tabs are not.
• Writing notes in the book is not allowed.

Make sure it is the 2020 edition. A 2023 NEC numbers several load-calculation tables differently (Table 220.12 in 2020 is Table 220.42(A) in 2023, for example) and is not the permitted reference.

Calculator

PSI provides an online calculator on screen. Practice with a basic calculator so you are not learning a new tool under the clock.

The clock

70 scored questions in 210 minutes (3½ hours), plus 5 to 10 unscored pilot questions mixed in. You will not know which are pilots, so answer everything as if it counts.

Pacing

That is 3 minutes per scored question, a little less once the pilots are added.

• Theory items are 20 of the 70, and the book will not help with them. Work them straight from what you know, and save Code-lookup time for the Code questions.
• Know your tabs before you go in. Articles 100–285 alone are 20 items; finding Article 250 or Article 240 should take seconds.
• Do not let one lookup eat your time. Give your best answer and move on.
• Answer every question.
• Check the clock at the halfway mark: about 35 done at 1 hour 45 minutes.

Scoring

You need 49 of 70 correct (70%). It is scored as one exam, and there is no Maryland law section on it.

If you do not pass

You can retake after 30 days, and the fee is $65 per exam. Across both Maryland electrician exams, the Board reports 28% of exams passed since testing began, and 26% in 2025 through October, so most attempts do not pass. Use the 30 days to work the areas you found hardest.

Before you go

Sit a full-length, timed practice exam first. Our free practice test gives you a feel for the questions on the 2020 NEC, and the full exam prep has full-length practice exams weighted to the PSI outline, with every answer explained. For eligibility, see Maryland Journeyperson Electrician requirements.