Massachusetts Journeyman Electrician
Practice both PSI portions of the Massachusetts Journeyman Electrician exam — Part 1 and Part II, Applied, each scored like the real test, on the 2026 NEC, with every answer explained and cited.
Two portions, each scored on its own
You need 70% on each part, scored separately. These are the question counts in the Board’s bulletin, and each of our practice exams draws from the areas in the same proportions, one practice exam per part.
Part 1
80 scored · 180 min- General Knowledge8
- Services11
- Grounding and Bonding7
- Wiring Methods and Devices18
- Motors4
- Transformers1
- Low-Voltage Distribution2
- Special Occupancies and Equipment5
- Overcurrent Protection6
- Lighting2
- Alarm Systems6
- Solar6
- Battery Storage4
Part II, Applied
30 scored · 60 min- Circuit Calculations (Ohm’s Law)5
- Electrical Schematics and Plans5
- Materials and Components5
- Troubleshooting and Testing6
- Massachusetts Amendments5
- Licensing Laws and Regulations4
About the Massachusetts Journeyman Electrician
Granted by Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians
Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians Journeyman (Class B) exam (PSI): two open-book parts, 80 questions in 3 hours and a 30-question applied part in 1 hour, 70% required on each part. Questions follow the 2026 NEC as amended by 527 CMR 12.00, plus 237 CMR and MGL c. 141.
Eligibility Requirements
A high school diploma, the 600-hour journeyman curriculum, and four years with at least 8,000 hours of work, plus a certificate for the 15-hour code update course. Education and experience older than 20 years do not count.
On the 2026 NEC, with the Massachusetts amendments
Massachusetts adopted the 2026 NEC, amended by 527 CMR 12.00, on April 24, 2026. The Board can add questions on a new code seven months after it takes effect, so 2026 NEC questions can appear from November 24, 2026. Our practice questions are built on the 2026 edition. Where Massachusetts changes a rule, the question follows 527 CMR 12.00, not the national text.
| Topic | 2023 NEC | 2026 NEC |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling general lighting load120.41 | 3 VA per ft² | 2 VA per ft² |
| Optional dwelling calculation120.82(B) | First 10 kVA at 100% | First 8 kVA at 100% |
| Load calculationsArticle 120 | Article 220 | Article 120 |
| EV charging load (nameplate, or 7,200 VA with none)120.57 | 220.57 | 120.57 |
| Transformer overcurrent protection450.5 | 450.3 | 450.5 (Table 450.5(B)) |
| Underground installations300.7 | 300.5 | 300.7 |
| Box fill table314.16(B) | Table 314.16(B) | Table 314.16(B)(4) |
| Motor branch-circuit protection table430.52(C)(1) | Table 430.52 | Table 430.52(C)(1) |
What's Included
Every plan gets the same full-access study library.
Scheduling & Fees
Where to take it
- Administered by
- PSI
- Phone
- (855) 834-8745
- Scheduling window
- Board approval to take the exam lasts 12 months; after that you submit a new application.
- Reschedule policy
- Cancel or reschedule at least two days before the exam by speaking to a PSI representative or online; a voicemail does not count, and a missed appointment or late cancellation forfeits the fee.
- Retake policy
- Each part is scored on its own, and you retake only the part you failed, within 12 months of your application approval. Wait at least 24 hours between attempts. After three attempts the Board requires a review with an approved provider, an exam prep course or the 15-hour course; after six, you repeat the full education.
Fees
- Part 1 exam fee (PSI)
- $80
- Part 2 exam fee (PSI)
- $55
Keeping Your Certification Active
Renewal requirements
- Cycle
- Every three years; licenses expire July 31 of the renewal year
- Continuing education
- 21 hours — 21 clock hours of continuing education in each three-year period, including the 15-hour course on the current Massachusetts Electrical Code (527 CMR 12.00), from a Board-approved provider.
Reciprocity
There is no list of reciprocal states. Under M.G.L. c. 141, § 2B the Board may license an electrician from another state without examination when it finds that state’s standards substantially the same.
Sources: Board of State Examiners of Electricians Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, effective 9/30/2026) · Board of State Examiners of Electricians · 237 CMR 14.00 — Examinations · 237 CMR 17.00 — Mandatory Continuing Education · M.G.L. c. 141 — Supervision of Electricians
Frequently asked questions
What do I need before I can sit the Journeyman exam?+
A high school diploma, the 600-hour journeyman curriculum, and four years with at least 8,000 hours of supervised work. You also need a certificate for the 15-hour code update course. The Board must approve your application, and the approval lasts 12 months.
Which code edition is the exam on?+
Massachusetts adopted the 2026 NEC, with its own amendments in 527 CMR 12.00, on April 24, 2026. Under the Board’s seven-month rule, questions on the 2026 edition can appear from November 24, 2026. Study the 2026 NEC and the 2026 Massachusetts amendments.
Is the exam open book? What can I bring?+
Yes. You can bring the NEC, NFPA 72, the Massachusetts amendments (527 CMR 12.00), the Board’s rules (237 CMR) and the General Laws that apply, tabbed or untabbed, with highlighting and handwritten notes in the margins. Formulas may be written on the blank pages of your code book beforehand. Calculators must be silent, battery-operated and non-programmable.
How is the exam scored?+
It is two parts, and each part is scored on its own: you need 70% on each one. If you fail one part, you only retake that part, and you have 12 months from your application approval to pass it. You must wait at least 24 hours before retesting.
What happens if I fail several times?+
After three attempts, the Board requires proof that you reviewed your weak areas with a Board-approved provider, an exam preparation course, or the 15-hour continuing education course. After six attempts you must repeat the full education required for the license.
Where do I take it, and what does it cost?+
PSI gives the exam only at its Massachusetts centers in Auburn, Boston (Charlestown), Fall River, Lawrence and West Springfield. The exam fee is $135: $80 for Part 1 and $55 for Part 2. Application and license fees are paid separately in the state’s eLIPSE portal. To cancel, call PSI at (855) 834-8745 at least two days before your date; a voicemail does not count.
How often do I renew, and how much continuing education is required?+
Licenses expire on July 31 every third year. To renew you need 21 clock hours of continuing education in the three-year period, which includes the 15-hour course on the current Massachusetts Electrical Code.
Does Massachusetts accept a license from another state?+
Massachusetts has no automatic reciprocity list. State law lets the Board license an electrician from another state without the exam when it judges that state’s standards substantially the same, so ask the Board about your license before you apply.
Ready to pass your exam?
Practice both portions on the current code, with every calculation worked out.
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