What's on the New Mexico EE-98J Exam? PSI's Code and Theory Outlines
PSI's outlines for New Mexico's EE-98J journeyman exam: 50 open-book code questions and 50 closed-book theory questions, the areas and counts for each, the New Mexico amendments that change answers, and how to study.
Contents
What's on the New Mexico EE-98J Exam?
The EE-98J has two written parts, each scored on its own at 75%, plus a hands-on practical. The counts below are from PSI's New Mexico journeyman bulletin.
The outline
| Content area | Part 1, Code (open book) | Part 2, Theory (closed book) |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements | 4 | 18 |
| Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits | 7 | 5 |
| Overcurrent Protection | 4 | 4 |
| Grounding and Bonding | 6 | 5 |
| Conductors and Cables | 5 | 3 |
| Raceways and Boxes | 5 | 3 |
| Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment | 4 | 2 |
| Lighting, Signs, and General-Use Equipment | 3 | 2 |
| Motors, Transformers, and Generators | 5 | |
| New Mexico State Code | 4 | |
| Low Voltage | 3 | |
| Low Voltage, including Alarms | 8 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 |
Part 1: find it in the book
Part 1 is a lookup exam on the 2020 NEC and the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (14.10.4 NMAC). Four questions are on the state code directly, and New Mexico's amendments change answers elsewhere too. A few that matter:
- 210.11(A): dwelling general-purpose lighting and receptacle circuits are limited to 10 outlets.
- 210.19: branch circuits supplying more than one receptacle for portable loads need at least 12 AWG copper.
- 230.70: a service disconnect must be within 48 inches of the metering equipment.
- 250.50: on new construction a concrete-encased electrode counts as available; without one, 20 feet of 2 AWG bare copper plus two 8-foot rods.
- 352.10: exposed Schedule 40 PVC is restricted below 8 feet.
Read those against the national text in your own book: the state code wins where they disagree.
Part 2: know it without the book
Part 2 is closed book. PSI builds it from the NEC, the American Electricians' Handbook, Ugly's Electrical References and several low-voltage titles, including NFPA 72 (2010). Eighteen questions are general knowledge and theory: Ohm's law, series and parallel circuits, power and power factor, voltage drop and transformer ratios. The rest test code rules you should know by heart, such as GFCI locations, grounding basics and conductor sizing rules of thumb.
How to study
- Tab the amendments. Mark each 14.10.4 change in your NEC so you never answer Part 1 from the national text alone.
- Memorize the formulas. Part 2 allows only a calculator. Work Ohm's law, power and voltage-drop problems until you no longer need a sheet.
- Practice the practical separately. Motor control, transformer connections, conduit bending and materials identification are hands-on.
Practice for the exam
Our EE-98J practice test has one practice exam per written part, in PSI's proportions. Our Part 2 low-voltage questions come from the NEC's low-voltage articles, not NFPA 72. For test-day logistics, see EE-98J exam day.
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