A complete overview of the exams that lead to electrical licensure — from the FE and the Professional Engineer (PE) depth exams to the electrician trade ladder (journeyman, master, contractor) and limited-energy certifications. Here is what each exam covers, how the licenses relate, what you need to qualify, and how to study for them.
“Getting licensed in electrical” means two very different things depending on your career. Engineers who design systems and stamp drawings pursue the Professional Engineer (PE) path. Electricians who install and maintain systems pursue the trade / electrician licensing ladder. The two are separate credentials with separate boards — though they share a lot of underlying code and theory.
Fundamentals of Engineering — the first step toward a PE license.
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The most common PE depth exam for power-system engineers.
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PE depth exam for electronics, controls, and communications engineers.
PE depth exam focused on computer hardware and embedded systems.
The core working-electrician license to install and maintain wiring.
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Advanced license to design installations and supervise journeymen.
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License to operate an electrical business, pull permits, and bid work.
Limited-scope license for one- and two-family dwellings.
License for low-voltage systems: fire alarm, data, security, AV.
Practice for the IBEW/NJATC electrical apprenticeship aptitude test.
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The industry-recognized entry credential for construction and electrical apprentices.
Conductor identification and color coding trips up candidates on every trade and engineering exam — grounded vs. grounding conductor marking, high-leg (orange) identification, and NEC vs. IEC conventions. This deeper practice set focuses entirely on that topic.
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| Exam / License | Prerequisite | Typical experience | Administered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| FE Electrical and Computer | Engineering coursework | Final-year student / grad | NCEES |
| PE Power / Electronics / Computer | Pass FE | ~4 years under a PE* | NCEES + state board |
| Journeyman Electrician | Apprenticeship | ~4 yrs / ~8,000 hrs* | State / local board |
| Master Electrician | Journeyman license | ~2+ yrs as journeyman* | State / local board |
| Electrical Contractor | Master license (often) | Business + experience* | State contractor board |
| Residential Wireman | Limited apprenticeship | Fewer hours* | State / local board |
| Low-Voltage Technician | Limited-energy training | Varies by class* | State / local board |
| IBEW Aptitude Test | None — entry level | Before apprenticeship* | IBEW / NJATC |
| NCCER Core + Electrical Level 1 | None — entry level | First apprenticeship year* | NCCER training sponsor |
* Experience hours and prerequisites vary significantly by state and jurisdiction. Figures shown are typical ranges, not legal requirements.
NCEES publishes annual first-time pass rates for the PE Electrical and Computer: Power exam, which typically run in the roughly 50-60% range for first-time takers and noticeably lower for repeat takers. Rates shift year to year as NCEES updates the exam specification, so check the current NCEES pass-rate report for the exact figure before you plan around it.
The FE Electrical and Computer exam has a first-time pass rate generally in the 60-75% range according to NCEES data, making it somewhat more approachable than the PE depth exams — largely because it is taken close to graduation while coursework is still fresh, and it draws from a broad but foundational topic list rather than deep specialization.
Pass rates for journeyman electrician exams vary by state/jurisdiction and testing vendor (PSI, Prometric, etc.) and are not centrally published the way NCEES rates are, but the exam is widely considered manageable for well-prepared apprentices — the main failure point is usually NEC lookup speed under time pressure, not the underlying electrical theory.
Figures are general ranges based on published NCEES data and are not a guarantee — always check the current NCEES pass-rate report for exact numbers.
PE and trade exams are open-book but time-pressured. Engineering exams use a supplied on-screen reference; trade exams let you bring a tabbed, highlighted NEC. Practice finding answers fast — speed of lookup matters as much as knowledge.
For Journeyman / Master / Contractor exams, a well-tabbed NEC is the single biggest time-saver. Build muscle memory for Article 210 (branch circuits), 220 (load calcs), 240 (overcurrent), 250 (grounding), 310 (conductors), and Chapter 9 tables.
Conductor ampacity, box fill, conduit fill, voltage drop, motor, and service-load calculations recur on every electrician exam. For the PE, work full timed problem sets so you average the needed minutes-per-question.
Confirm your state board’s exact experience hours, application deadlines, and accepted references first — requirements differ significantly by jurisdiction, and missing a prerequisite is more common than failing the exam.
Study from the same edition of the NEC the exam uses, and the current NCEES handbook for the FE/PE. Exams are written to a specific code cycle — using the wrong edition will cost you on lookup questions.
All of these are computer-based at proctored centers. Take full-length practice exams on a screen, with the same time limit and break structure, so exam-day logistics are not a surprise.
Many exam questions are calculation problems you can rehearse right now with the free calculators and simulators in the Electrical Systems Studio: