Every Maryland journeyperson candidate gets the same surprise at the PSI check-in desk: the proctor runs a thumbnail along the edge of their code book. Any tab that peels off without tearing the page comes out before the exam starts — and with it goes the system the candidate spent months building.
The Maryland journeyman electrician exam is also unusual in which code it tests. While inspectors in many Maryland counties enforce newer editions, the state exam still runs on the 2020 NEC. Study from a 2023 or 2026 book and you are learning section numbers and rules the exam does not use.
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This guide covers who can sit the Maryland journeyperson exam, how it compares to the master exam, the format and question breakdown, the strict reference and tab rules, how to apply, and what the license lets you do.
Quick Answer
The Maryland journeyman electrician exam — officially the journeyperson exam — is a PSI exam for the Maryland State Board of Master Electricians with 70 questions in 210 minutes. You need 49 correct (70%) to pass. It is open book, but the only reference allowed is your own copy of the 2020 NEC.
To qualify you need at least four years of regular electrical work under a Maryland master electrician or a similarly qualified government employee. Completing an approved apprenticeship with 8,000 work hours and 576 classroom hours satisfies the experience requirement. The exam fee is $65, and you can retake it 30 days after a failed attempt.
Key Takeaways
- The Maryland journeyperson exam has 70 questions, a 210-minute limit and a 70% passing score
- The only reference allowed is your own 2020 NEC — PSI does not provide one
- Permanent tabs and highlighting are allowed; Post-it flags and written notes are not
- Electrical theory and wiring and protection make up 40 of the 70 questions
- Eligibility needs four years under a master electrician, or an approved apprenticeship
- You can retake the exam 30 days after a failed attempt
- Maryland has no journeyperson reciprocity with other states or Washington, D.C.
The Maryland journeyman electrician exam — who can sit it
Maryland licenses electricians through the State Board of Master Electricians, part of the Maryland Department of Labor. The exam is required under Business Occupations and Professions § 6-304, and PSI administers it. Maryland uses the term journeyperson; it is the same license other states call journeyman.
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- Apprentice. Apply for a state apprentice license through the board’s e-licensing system before you start working toward journeyperson hours.
- Journeyperson. At least four years of regular and principal electrical work in training to become a master, under a Maryland licensed master electrician or a similarly qualified government employee.
- Master. At least seven years of regular and principal electrical work under a master electrician. The board may credit up to three years for a formal course of study or training comparable to the required experience.
The apprenticeship route
The board waives the four-year experience requirement if you completed an apprenticeship program approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council or the federal Office of Apprenticeship, with at least 576 classroom hours and 8,000 hours of work experience, and you received the completion certificate within two years of applying. Applicants who meet those criteria contact PSI for the exam application.
State license vs county registration
Maryland counties and Baltimore City also register electricians. The board can waive the state exam for someone who holds a local journeyperson registration earned by passing an equivalent local exam and meeting equivalent requirements, with a statement from the local jurisdiction. Most counties use the state master license as the prerequisite for local registration, so the state license is the one to build your career around.
Maryland journeyperson vs master exam — compared
Both exams are open book on the 2020 NEC and require 70%. The master exam is longer and requires nearly twice the experience.
| Requirement | Journeyperson | Master |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | 4 years under a master | 7 years under a master (up to 3 credited for study) |
| Apprenticeship alternative | 8,000 hours + 576 classroom hours | — |
| Questions | 70 | 90 (100 points) |
| Time and pass mark | 210 minutes · 70% | 240 minutes · 70% |
| Reciprocity | None | West Virginia, Virginia, D.C., Delaware (5 years) |
The tab trap: PSI’s Maryland bulletin allows only permanent tabs — it names Avery Swift Tabs Self-Adhesive Permanent Plastic Tabs and Redi-Tag Self-Stick Permanent Adhesive Index Tabs. Post-it flags are not allowed, tabs with paper inserts lose the inserts, and if the proctor can pull a tab off without ripping the page, it comes off before you start. Highlighting and underlining are fine; writing in the book is not, and no loose or attached papers are allowed.
Maryland journeyperson exam format and question breakdown
The exam is computer-based, one question at a time, and you can go back and change answers while time remains. A tutorial of up to 15 minutes does not count against your time, and a few unscored experimental questions may appear without using your exam time.
| Content area | NEC coverage | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical theory | Definitions, Ohm’s law, troubleshooting, instruments, math, conversions, diagrams, symbols | 20 |
| Wiring and protection | Articles 100, 110, 200–285 | 20 |
| Wiring methods and materials | Articles 300–398 | 12 |
| Equipment for general use | Articles 400–490 | 6 |
| Special communications | Articles 700–708, 720–830 | 6 |
| Special occupancies | Articles 500–590 | 4 |
| Special equipment | Articles 600–695 | 2 |
| Total | 2020 NEC | 70 |
Two areas carry 40 of the 70 questions. Electrical theory is not code lookup at all — it is Ohm’s law, power and conversions, like the bulletin’s own sample asking for the wattage of a 240-volt heater measuring 32 ohms. Wiring and protection leans on Article 100 definitions and Article 250 grounding and bonding. For calculations, practise voltage drop and conductor sizing from the wire gauge and ampacity tables.
A theory question, worked
PSI’s own sample: an ohmmeter reads 32 ohms across a 240-volt electric heater — what is the wattage? Use P = E² ÷ R. 240 × 240 = 57,600, and 57,600 ÷ 32 = 1,800 watts, or 1.8 kW. The trap answers on questions like this are usually the result of using P = E × R or forgetting to square the voltage. Twenty theory questions at roughly a minute each leaves more time for the code lookups, so this is where drilling formulas pays off fastest. Keep Ohm’s law, the power formulas, three-phase power with √3, and kW-to-amps conversions at your fingertips, because none of them are printed in the code book.
How to apply and schedule, step by step
Step 1 — document your experience. Get an original certification of experience showing four years under a Maryland master electrician, or your apprenticeship completion certificate dated within the last two years.
Step 2 — register with PSI. Submit the examination registration with your documentation and the $65 fee. The board reviews eligibility; PSI then emails approval so you can schedule.
Step 3 — prepare a compliant 2020 NEC. Buy the 2020 edition, add only permanent tabs, highlight as you like, and write nothing in it.
Step 4 — sit the exam. 210 minutes for 70 questions is three minutes a question — enough to work theory problems on scratch paper and still look everything else up.
Step 5 — apply for the license. You see pass or fail on screen immediately. Passing candidates receive a registration number and PIN from Maryland Labor to file the license application electronically. If you fail, you get a section-by-section score report and can retake after 30 days.
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The one that catches everyone: the Maryland exam tests the 2020 NEC, and PSI’s bulletin says it is the only reference allowed in the room. Many Maryland jurisdictions enforce a newer edition on the job, and most study material on the shelf now targets 2023 or 2026. Bring the wrong edition and it does not get in the room; study from the wrong edition and section numbers will not match. Confirm the current edition with PSI before you buy, because the board is preparing a 2026 NEC version of the exam.
Practise against the clock
NEC Exam Prep drills timed journeyman and master questions — theory and code lookups — so you can find your weak areas before test day (iPhone · Android).
What you can bring into the Maryland exam — and what you cannot
Allowed
- Your own copy of the 2020 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
- Permanent self-adhesive plastic index tabs
- Highlighting and underlining in the code book
- Changing answers on screen while time remains
Not allowed
- Any study guide or reference other than the 2020 NEC
- Post-it flags or any removable tab
- Writing or notes in the code book
- Loose or attached papers inside the book
- Phones, tablets, smart watches and other electronic devices
Maryland reciprocity and other routes to a license
| Route | License | State exam needed? | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard path | Journeyperson | Yes | 4 years under a master, or an approved apprenticeship |
| Local registration | Journeyperson or master | Can be waived | Local registration earned by an equivalent local exam |
| Out-of-state journeyperson | Journeyperson | Yes | No waiver currently in place, including D.C. |
| Out-of-state master | Master | Can be waived | Licensed by exam in West Virginia (2+ years), Virginia, D.C., or Delaware (5+ years) |
If you are moving to Maryland as a journeyperson, plan on sitting the exam. To build a study plan, start with our NEC exam prep guide and gauge yourself on the free NEC practice test. Our breakdown of NEC editions from 2017 to 2026 shows what changed after the 2020 edition the exam uses.
Is a Maryland prep class worth it?
Pros
- Theory makes up 20 of 70 questions, and a class teaches the maths properly
- Good classes teach to the 2020 NEC the exam actually uses
- Instructors show you a compliant tabbing system
Cons
- The most expensive way to prepare
- A 30-day retake window makes self-study less risky than in stricter states
Passing the Maryland journeyperson exam
Do
- Study from and bring the 2020 NEC
- Use permanent plastic tabs only
- Drill Ohm’s law, power and conversion problems
- Get your original certification of experience early
- Review the section scores if you need a retake
Avoid
- Post-it flags or tabs with paper inserts
- Writing notes in the margins
- Studying only from 2023 or 2026 NEC material
- Skipping theory because it is not in the code book
- Expecting reciprocity from another state’s journeyman card
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Maryland journeyman electrician exam?
70 questions, with a 210-minute time limit. You need 49 correct (70%) to pass.
What NEC edition is the Maryland journeyman exam based on?
The 2020 NEC, according to PSI’s January 2026 candidate bulletin. It is the only reference allowed in the testing room. Confirm the edition with PSI before buying, because a 2026 NEC version of the exam is being prepared.
Can I tab and highlight my code book for the Maryland exam?
Yes. Highlighting, underlining and permanent self-adhesive plastic tabs are allowed. Post-it flags, removable tabs, tabs with paper inserts and written notes are not.
How many years do you need for a Maryland journeyman license?
At least four years of regular electrical work under a Maryland licensed master electrician or similarly qualified government employee. An approved apprenticeship with 8,000 work hours and 576 classroom hours also satisfies the experience requirement.
How much does the Maryland journeyman exam cost?
$65 per attempt, paid to PSI. The fee is non-refundable, non-transferable and covers one exam.
How soon can I retake the Maryland exam?
30 days after your most recent attempt. Submit a new registration to PSI with the fee and schedule again.
Does Maryland accept journeyman licenses from other states?
No. There is currently no waiver for journeypersons from other states or Washington, D.C. Master electricians licensed by exam in West Virginia, Virginia, D.C. or Delaware can apply without the Maryland exam.
The bottom line
The Maryland journeyman electrician exam is one of the friendlier formats in the country — 70 questions, three minutes each, a 70% bar and a 30-day retake. What trips people up is not the content but the rules: it runs on the 2020 NEC, not the edition on your job site, and only permanent tabs survive check-in.
Get your experience certified, buy a 2020 NEC with permanent tabs, and spend real time on theory — it is 20 of the 70 questions. For the code changes you will meet on the job after you pass, see our summary of the top NEC 2026 changes.
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