Standard: Current 2026 Testing Standards
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The Texas Residential Wireman exam is administered by PSI on behalf of TDLR. It consists of 80 scored questions (plus 5 non-scored pilot questions) with a 240-minute time limit. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass. The exam is open-book — you may bring your own tabbed copy of the 2023 National Electrical Code. To qualify, you must have at least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed Master Electrician or Residential Wireman. The Residential Wireman license authorizes you to wire single-family and multi-family residential structures — a step above apprentice and a foundation toward the Journeyman license. The exam is heavily focused on NEC Articles 210, 220, 230, 240, and 250, with a strong emphasis on dwelling unit receptacle and circuit requirements.
Exam details
The Texas Residential Wireman written exam is a computer-based, open-book multiple-choice test administered at PSI testing centers across Texas. You must apply through TDLR first and receive eligibility confirmation before scheduling with PSI. Your 2023 NEC may be tabbed and highlighted. Loose-leaf, spiral-bound, and ring-bound copies are not permitted. PSI provides scratch paper. Results are given at the testing center. The exam fee is $64 per attempt. There is no limit on retakes during your eligibility period. Your Residential Wireman license must be renewed annually with TDLR, including 4 hours of continuing education covering the NEC, Texas laws, and NFPA 70E electrical safety.
This link downloads a pre-generated PDF when available for this certification.
Two areas cause the most missed questions on the Texas Residential Wireman exam. First, residential receptacle and circuit requirements — specifically the exact spacing rules from NEC 210.52 (6 feet max along wall lines, 24 inches on countertops, 3 feet in bathrooms), GFCI locations (NEC 210.8), AFCI requirements (NEC 210.12), and the two required 20-ampere small appliance circuits. These rules have many specific numbers and exceptions that are easy to confuse. The only reliable approach is practicing NEC lookups in Article 210 until the table of contents is second nature. Second, dwelling unit load calculations — applying the 3 VA/sq ft general lighting load, the correct demand factors from Table 220.42, range demand from Table 220.55, and the 125% sizing rule for continuous loads. These calculations appear in both the residential wiring topic and the services/feeders topic and reward candidates who have worked through sample calculations with their NEC open.
You must have at least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under the direct supervision of a licensed Texas Master Electrician or Residential Wireman. Each employer must complete an Experience Verification Form signed by the supervising licensee.
You need a score of 70% or higher on the 80 scored questions — at least 56 correct answers.
Yes. The exam is open book. You may bring your own tabbed copy of the 2023 NEC. Loose-leaf, spiral-bound, and ring-bound copies are not permitted. The book may be highlighted and tabbed with publisher-provided tabs before the exam.
The exam fee is $64 per attempt, paid to PSI when scheduling. There is no limit on retakes during your TDLR eligibility period.
A Residential Wireman is licensed to perform electrical work on residential structures (single-family and multi-family dwellings). A Journeyman Electrician has a broader scope covering both residential and commercial work. The Journeyman exam requires 8,000 hours of experience (double the Wireman requirement) and covers more advanced NEC content.
The license must be renewed annually. Renewal requires 4 hours of continuing education covering the NEC, Texas laws, and electrical safety (NFPA 70E).
The 2023 National Electrical Code. Bring your own copy — it may be tabbed and highlighted.
Tab your NEC before you start, then drill Article 210 (branch circuits and receptacle placement) until every rule is a fast lookup. Work through load calculations from Articles 220 and 230. Practice Article 250 grounding rules and Article 240 overcurrent protection. Texas licensing rules (TDLR, 16 TAC Chapter 73) account for about 10% of questions and can be studied separately.
Apply through your TDLR online account, submit your experience verification forms from each supervising licensee, and pay the application fee. Once TDLR approves your application and sends your record to PSI, you can schedule your exam at psiexams.com.
Yes. Under 16 TAC Chapter 73, a Residential Wireman may supervise electrical apprentices on residential jobsites, similar to a Journeyman Electrician.
Topics and blueprint percentages come from our topic bank; practice sessions allocate questions using those shares when set.
Start practicing free — no account required. The first questions in each topic are unlocked. Our 82 practice questions are built from the 2023 NEC and TDLR exam blueprint, with full NEC article references in every explanation.