Iowa
Iowa Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep: Format, Code Book, and Study Plan
The Iowa journeyman electrician exam is 80 scored multiple-choice questions on the 2023 NEC in three hours, open book, plus a few unscored questions with their own added time. This guide explains the format, what you may bring, and how to turn the outline into a study plan.
The exam at a glance
| Questions | 88 questions in 210 minutes, of which 80 are scored |
|---|---|
| Passing | 70% correct |
| Book policy | Open book: you bring the reference and look things up during the exam. |
| Reference | National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), 2023 edition |
| Exam fee | $87. PSI examination fee; not refundable or transferable; valid six months from payment. Board license fees are separate and due after passing. |
| Given by | PSI Services LLC for Iowa Electrical Examining Board (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) |
Which edition to study
The official outline names National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), 2023 edition. Study from that edition: questions are written against it, and section numbers and values differ between editions.
What you can bring
Bring the 2023 NEC or the 2023 NEC Handbook. You may highlight, underline and index it beforehand with permanent tabs, but you may not write in it before or during the exam. A downloaded copy is allowed if it is bound. Ugly's Electrical References is not allowed.
An online calculator is provided, or you may bring a silent, battery-operated, non-programmable calculator with no paper tape and no alphabet keyboard. Scratch paper and a pencil are provided.
Iowa's GFCI amendments
Iowa adopts the 2023 NEC with three amendments, all to GFCI rules in 210.8 (481 IAC 404.3, effective July 1, 2025). Iowa replaces 210.8(A): the same twelve dwelling locations, but only for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles, and without the NEC's four exceptions. It replaces the 210.8(D) appliance list with eight appliances, leaving out electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units and clothes dryers. It deletes 210.8(F), outdoor outlets.
The candidate bulletin names the 2023 NEC and does not say whether questions follow Iowa's amendments. The course teaches the 2023 NEC as written, leaves out the questions whose answer would differ under the Iowa rule, and notes the Iowa rule in the GFCI lessons.
Free practice for this exam
- Iowa journeyman practice test: 30 questions on the 2023 NEC across every outline area.
- NEC code practice test, 2023 edition: timed lookups.
- Which NEC edition each state tests.
- Iowa electrician license requirements: every license level, hours, fees, renewal and the official lookup.
What the exam covers
The official outline gives each area a share of the exam. Spend the most time where the most questions are.
- General Electrical Knowledge13%General Electrical Knowledge
- Wiring and Protection25%Wiring and Protection
- Wiring Methods and Materials19%Wiring Methods and Materials
- Equipment for General Use19%Equipment for General Use
- Special Occupancies13%Special Occupancies
- Special Equipment6%Special Equipment
- Special Conditions6%Special Conditions
What changed
- July 1, 2025: Iowa rule 481 IAC 404.3 (ARC 9033C) incorporates the 2023 NEC with three amendments to 210.8; effective 2025-07-01.
How to prepare
Start by attempting questions across the exam subjects. Separate the problems you can solve independently from those where you need help.
For calculations, work on the setup as well as the arithmetic. Identify the unknown, select the method, use the correct units, and check the result.
For code questions, practice locating and applying the relevant sections with your own book. Keep track of questions that take too long, even when you get them right.
As you improve, mix topics and use fresh timed practice to check whether you can choose the right approach without a lesson guiding you.
If you are retaking the exam
Use your score report to identify subjects that need attention. Then work out whether the difficulty is understanding the topic, setting up the calculation, finding the code section, or finishing in time. Each calls for different practice.
Revisit the underlying skills, then check your progress with questions you have not already memorized.
The course
A starting assessment finds what you already know. Each day you get a short list of work: new skills taught with a lesson and a worked example, practice until they stick, review of earlier skills, and mixed questions. Timed practice exams follow the official outline's weights.
$149 for six months of access.
Pass-or-refund guarantee. If you complete your study plan and do not pass your journeyman electrician exam, we will refund what you paid for the course. You have completed your study plan when, from the day your access starts to your exam date: (1) you finished at least 80 percent of the daily study lists the course assigned you; and (2) in your final 30 days of study you sat at least one full timed practice exam for each part of the exam. To claim, tell us within 30 days after your exam date, from the Guarantee page in your account, and include your score report. The course checks your study record when you claim and shows you the result. A person reviews every refund; we reply by email within five business days. One refund per person per purchase. Seats bought by an organization are covered for each learner on the same terms, with the refund paid to the organization for that learner's seat.
Official sources
- Iowa Electrical Examining Board Candidate Information Bulletin (Examinations by PSI), PSI Services LLC. Dated September 19, 2025.
- Electrical Licensing (Iowa DIAL, Electrical Examining Board), Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.
- State of Iowa Testing Sponsorship Requirements and Information, Iowa Electrical Examining Board. Dated December 14, 2023.
- Iowa Administrative Code 481, Chapter 404: Electrical Inspection Program, Iowa Legislature (Iowa Administrative Code). Dated September 30, 2026.
This page was checked against these documents on November 11, 2026. We compare every fact on this page with these documents each week; the last comparison, on November 11, 2026, found no change.