Journeyman Electrician’s Exam Practice Test

What Is a Journeyman Electrician

A journeyman electrician is the second level of an electrical career, following an apprenticeship. They may work for local, regional or national electrical contractors. They often specialize in residential, commercial or industrial projects. Some may also choose to focus on a specific area of technology.

In addition to performing core electrical tasks, such as wiring circuit breakers and switches, installing lighting and security systems, and working with electrical fixtures, a journeyman electrician must be familiar with building code regulations. They can also serve as mentors for apprentice electricians, teaching and training them to perform these same tasks.

While formal education isn’t necessary for becoming a journeyman electrician, some may choose to complete a vocational school program to learn more about the trade. In any case, the path to becoming a journeyman electrician takes four years and around 8,000 hours of supervised work experience. During this time, they’re typically paid a fair wage and receive health, dental and retirement benefits from their employers.

Workers seeking OSHA certification can prepare with our free OSHA safety certification practice test — covering hazard recognition, lockout/tagout, fall protection, and PPE requirements.

Maintenance technicians and industrial candidates can prepare with our free Ramsay Mechanical Aptitude Test practice — covering hydraulics, electrical schematics, reading gauges, and tool use.

Candidates applying for skilled trades or maintenance technician roles can prepare with our free BMST Basic Math Skills Test practice — covering fractions, decimals, ratios, and applied math problems used in industrial hiring.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Journeyman Elect

The process of becoming a journeyman electrician takes between three to four years and around 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. To begin, aspiring electricians must first enroll in an apprenticeship program and complete classes at local technical schools that provide education on electrical theory and state codes.

During the apprenticeship, electricians will work alongside master electricians and learn through observation and practice. They will also attend training courses that prepare them for a written exam that caps their apprenticeship programs. Passing this test qualifies them to become journeymen elect and can lead to a career as a master electrician.

A successful career as a journeyman electrician requires an aptitude for physical labor, strong problem-solving skills, and good communication abilities. The work often involves long hours and requires working in cramped spaces, so it’s not suitable for everyone. Additionally, the job entails the handling of electricity, which poses inherent risks. As such, it’s important for journeymen to follow all safety protocols and procedures when working on a project. Lastly, journeymen must be able to work as part of a team and manage others. Try our NCCER practice test.

Sample Journeyman Electrician’s Exam Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free Journeyman Electrician’s Exam practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. An electrician is installing wiring in a patient bed location within a general care area of a hospital. Which type of receptacle is required at this location?

   • A. A tamper-resistant receptacle
   • B. A weather-resistant receptacle
   • C. A hospital-grade receptacle
   • D. Any standard 15A duplex receptacle

Answer: C. A hospital-grade receptacle

According to NEC Article 517.18(B), all receptacles provided for patient bed locations in general care areas must be listed as "hospital grade" to ensure higher durability and more reliable connectivity for medical equipment.

Answer: A. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection

NEC Article 680.21(C) mandates that outlets supplying single-phase pool pump motors connected to 120-volt through 240-volt branch circuits must be provided with ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection for personnel.

Answer: D. 6 AWG

Per NEC 250.66(A), the grounding electrode conductor connected to a single rod, pipe, or plate electrode is not required to be larger than 6 AWG copper, regardless of the size of the service-entrance conductors.

Answer: C. A disconnecting means must be located in sight from the motor.

NEC 430.102(B)(1) requires that a disconnecting means for a motor be located 'in sight from' the motor location and the driven machinery location. Article 100 defines 'In Sight From' as being visible and not more than 50 feet away from the equipment. While an exception exists if the controller's disconnect is lockable, the primary and most direct requirement is to have a disconnect within sight.

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