What's on the New Mexico ER-1J Exam? PSI's Code and Theory Outlines
PSI's outlines for New Mexico's ER-1J residential journeyman exam: 40 open-book code questions and 25 closed-book theory questions, the New Mexico residential amendments that change answers, and how to study.
Contents
What's on the New Mexico ER-1J Exam?
The ER-1J 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 | 5 | 9 |
| Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits | 6 | 4 |
| Overcurrent Protection | 4 | 2 |
| Grounding and Bonding | 4 | 2 |
| Conductors and Cables | 6 | 2 |
| Raceways and Boxes | 4 | 2 |
| Special Occupancies and Special Equipment, including Pools | 2 | 1 |
| Lighting and General-Use Equipment | 2 | 1 |
| New Mexico State Code | 5 | |
| Low Voltage | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 40 | 25 |
Part 1: the residential amendments
Five questions are on the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (14.10.4 NMAC) directly, and it changes residential answers elsewhere. Know these:
- 210.11(A): no more than 10 lighting and receptacle outlets on a dwelling general-purpose circuit.
- 210.11(C): no more than four 20-ampere receptacle outlets on a small-appliance circuit, and New Mexico's own laundry-circuit rule.
- 210.52(G): garage, basement and accessory-building receptacles at least 18 inches above the finished floor.
- 215.1: which cable types may be used for dwelling feeders.
- 340.10: UF cable may be embedded in adobe, and straw-bale homes need UF or a raceway.
Part 2: theory without the book
Part 2 is closed book: only a calculator comes in. PSI develops it from the NEC, the New Mexico Electrical Code, the American Electricians' Handbook and Ugly's Electrical References. Nine questions are general knowledge and theory, so practice Ohm's law, series and parallel circuits, power, and voltage drop until the formulas are automatic.
How to study
- Tab every amendment in your NEC, since the state code governs where the two differ.
- Drill the formulas for Part 2 with a calculator and nothing else.
- Practice the hands-on tasks: doorbell and lighting circuits, conduit bending and materials identification.
Practice for the exam
Our ER-1J practice test has one practice exam per written part in PSI's proportions. For test-day logistics, see ER-1J exam day.
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