1.2 OK Journeyman Exam Format, PSI Logistics & Codebook Navigation
Key Takeaways
- The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin defines the Oklahoma Unlimited Electrical Journeyman examination as 100 scored items, 240 minutes, and 70% correct to pass, which averages 2.4 minutes per item.
- HB 3215 lowered the electrical passing grade from 75% to 70% for candidates testing on or after November 1, 2024, and set a 30-day wait before every electrical retest.
- The official outline assigns exact item counts to 13 subject areas: General Knowledge 4, General Electrical Knowledge 10, Installation Requirements 10, Services/Feeders/Branch Circuits 10, Overcurrent Protection 9, Grounding and Bonding 10, Conductors and Cables 8, Raceways and Boxes 7, Special Occupancies 10, Low Voltage/Alarms/Communications 2, Lighting and Signs 10, Safety 4, and Motors and Transformers 6.
- Three references are permitted: the 2023 NEC, 29 CFR Part 1926, and Ugly’s Electrical References; NEC Handbooks and spiral-bound NEC copies are barred, and marking is allowed only before the session with permanent tabs.
- Rapid code navigation relies on the 4-Way Index Search Method and memorized anchors to high-yield tables including Table 250.66, Table 250.122, Table 310.16, Table 314.16(A), and Chapter 9 Tables 1, 4 and 5.
1.2 OK Journeyman Exam Format, PSI Logistics & Codebook Navigation
Achieving licensure as an Unlimited Electrical Journeyman in Oklahoma requires passing the rigorous state qualification examination administered by PSI Services LLC on behalf of the Construction Industries Board. The examination tests not merely memorized electrical trivia, but an electrician's ability to rapidly analyze field installation problems, interpret engineering requirements, and navigate the 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) under strict time constraints.
1. Exam Specifications & The HB 3215 Passing Standard
The structure of the Oklahoma Journeyman Electrical Examination is defined by state administrative rules and statutory standards.
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| OKLAHOMA JOURNEYMAN EXAM SPECIFICATIONS |
| |
| - Total Questions: 100 Multiple-Choice Questions |
| - Time Allotted: 240 Minutes (4.0 Hours) |
| - Average Time: 2.4 Minutes (144 Seconds) per Question |
| - Passing Standard: 70% (70 Correct Answers out of 100) |
| - Statutory Authority: Oklahoma House Bill 3215 (Eff. Nov 1, 2024) |
| - Exam Administration: PSI Services LLC (Computerized Testing Centers) |
| - Reference Permitted: 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC / NFPA 70) |
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Impact of Oklahoma House Bill 3215 (HB 3215)
Historically, trade examinations across Oklahoma exhibited varying passing cut-scores (e.g., 75% for electrical vs. 70% for other trades). Enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature with an effective date of November 1, 2024, HB 3215 standardized the minimum passing threshold for all CIB licensing examinations to 70%. To pass the 100-question Journeyman exam, a candidate must answer at least 70 questions correctly.
2. Open-Book Rules and the Exact Reference List PSI Allows
The Oklahoma electrical examinations are open book, but "open book" means a specific, short list of titles in a specific physical condition. The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin names three permitted references for the Unlimited Electrical Journeyman examination:
| Permitted Reference | Edition Rule | Condition Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition | Code questions are written only to the listed edition; you may not substitute a newer NEC | Adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission. NEC Handbooks and spiral-bound copies of the NEC are NOT allowed in the test center. |
| 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA construction standards) | Latest available amendments; later editions of non-code references are allowed | Government printing, the Mancomm hard copy, or the PSI "29 CFR Part 1926 Selections" all qualify |
| Ugly's Electrical References (George V. Hart) | Any edition may be used | Explicitly permitted by the bulletin; it is not contraband |
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| PSI REFERENCE CONDITION RULES (OKLAHOMA CIB) |
| |
| ALLOWED |
| [+] Highlighting, underlining, and indexing done BEFORE the session. |
| [+] PERMANENT tabs only, affixed before the session. |
| [+] A downloaded reference IF spiral bound, hole-punched in a binder, |
| or stapled in the left-hand corner. |
| [+] Silent, non-printing, non-programmable calculator. |
| [+] A magnifying glass, provided by PSI on request. |
| |
| NOT ALLOWED |
| [-] NEC Handbook editions and spiral-bound copies of the NEC. |
| [-] Writing in any reference before OR during the session (confiscation |
| of the reference and a report to the department). |
| [-] Temporary tabs such as Post-it notes; remove them before check-in. |
| [-] Any additional papers carried in with the references. |
| [-] Programmable or printing calculators, alphabet keyboards, phones. |
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[!WARNING] The two traps in this rule set. The first is the spiral-bound / Handbook ban. Candidates routinely buy the NEC Handbook because it carries commentary, or a spiral-bound NEC because it lies flat, and Oklahoma test centers turn both away. Bring an ordinary bound softcover or hardcover 2023 NEC. The second is when you may mark the book. Highlighting, underlining, and indexing are permitted prior to the examination session only. A candidate caught writing in a reference during the examination has the reference confiscated and is reported to the department.
Note the asymmetry on editions. For code questions the examination is written only to the listed edition (2023 NEC), so a 2026 NEC would answer many questions differently and is not permitted. For the non-code references, later editions are allowed in the test area.
3. The Official PSI Blueprint: 13 Subject Areas and Exact Item Counts
PSI publishes the examination content outline in the State of Oklahoma — Electrical, Mechanical, Roofing, and Plumbing Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin. The Unlimited Electrical Journeyman outline is not a range of percentages: it assigns an exact number of scored items to each of 13 subject areas, and the counts sum to 100. Study to these numbers, not to a generic "journeyman exam" outline from another state.
| # | Official PSI Subject Area | Scored Items | What the sub-topics actually cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Knowledge | 4 | Permits and inspections; preservation of structural integrity; needs analysis and estimate. |
| 2 | General Electrical Knowledge | 10 | Voltage, current and resistance in series/parallel/combination circuits; power used; power (heat) lost; fundamental AC theory; fundamental three-phase AC theory; cost of power used in a circuit; troubleshooting and test systems; use of the NEC codebook; NEC definitions; temporary wiring; cranes and hoists; elevators and escalators. |
| 3 | Electrical Installation Requirements | 10 | Approved methods of installing electrical equipment; approved methods for equipment in excess of 600 volts. |
| 4 | Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits | 10 | Services; voltage drop for branch circuits or feeders; services in excess of 600 volts; feeders; outside branch circuits and feeders; branch circuits; space-heating, snow-melting and pipe-heating circuits; air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. |
| 5 | Overcurrent Protection | 9 | NEC overcurrent protection requirements (Article 240, including conductor protection and tap rules). |
| 6 | Grounding and Bonding | 10 | General requirements; required sizes of grounding electrode conductors; required sizes of equipment grounding conductors. |
| 7 | Conductors and Cables | 8 | Underground conductors and cables; vertical installations; selecting conductors; Types AC, MC, NM/NMC/NMS, SE/USE, UF, MI, FC/FCC, and MV. |
| 8 | Raceways and Boxes | 7 | General raceway and box requirements; pull boxes; conduit fittings; RMC, EMT, IMC, RNC, FMC, LFMC, FMT, HDPE, NUCC, LFNC; conduit fill; outlet/device/pull/junction boxes; box volume and fill; auxiliary gutters, busways; wireways; surface and underfloor raceways; cable trays. |
| 9 | Special Occupancies and Equipment (Including Swimming Pools) | 10 | Class I, II and III hazardous locations; commercial garages and fuel dispensing; bulk storage plants, paint and spray areas; special occupancies; health facilities and places of assembly; mobile homes, mobile home parks, RVs and RV parks; floating buildings; swimming pools, fountains and hot tubs. |
| 10 | Low Voltage, Alarms, Signaling Systems, and Communications | 2 | Remote-control or signaling circuits; communication circuits; equipment operating at 50 volts or less; fiber optics; photovoltaics; remote controls; fire alarms; circuit wiring for an emergency system; communications systems wiring. |
| 11 | Lighting and Signs | 10 | Fixture installation, grounding, wiring and construction requirements; fluorescent fixtures; recessed fixtures; lighting systems that operate at less than 30 volts; neon lighting and electric signs. |
| 12 | Safety | 4 | Job site sanitation; responsibility for providing PPE; excavation safety; emergency action plans; safety training; ventilation; first aid kits; use of PPE; signs, signals and barricades; tools and equipment; ladders; workplace illumination; scaffolds; work around toxic materials; material cleanup and disposal; MSDS/SDS; handling and storing materials; fall protection. |
| 13 | Motors and Transformers | 6 | Motors used in dwellings; motor branch circuits in industrial and commercial locations; feeder transformers; use of transformers. |
| — | TOTAL | 100 | 240 minutes; 70% correct to pass. |
[!IMPORTANT] Three planning consequences most candidates get wrong.
- Lighting and Signs is worth 10 items — the same as Grounding and Bonding. Article 600 (electric signs and neon) and Article 411 (lighting systems 30 volts or less) are fair game, not trivia.
- Raceways and Boxes carries 22 listed sub-topics but only 7 items, while Electrical Installation Requirements carries 2 sub-topics and 10 items. Sub-topic count is not weight — spend your time where the item count is.
- Low Voltage / Alarms / Signaling / Communications is only 2 items despite listing nine sub-topics including fiber optics and photovoltaics. Learn it, but do not let Article 690 eat a week of study.
The outline also states that the examination may contain questions based on trade knowledge or general industry practices beyond the listed references, and that PSI embeds unscored experimental questions, so the number of items you see on screen can exceed 100.
4. The Three-Pass Examination Pacing Strategy
With 100 questions and 240 minutes, candidates have an average of 2.4 minutes (144 seconds) per question. However, complex load calculations and conduit fill problems can take 5 to 8 minutes each, while simple definitions take 30 seconds. To avoid running out of time, execute the proven Three-Pass Strategy:
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| THREE-PASS PACING WORKFLOW |
| |
| [PASS 1: RAPID RECALL & DIRECT LOOKUPS] (Elapsed: 00:00 - 01:15) |
| - Target: Answer 40-50 immediate questions in 75 minutes. |
| - Focus: Definitions (Art 100), Theory, OK Laws, direct rule recall. |
| - Rule: If an answer requires >60 seconds of calculation, FLAG & SKIP. |
| | |
| v |
| [PASS 2: SINGLE-TABLE CODE LOOKUPS] (Elapsed: 01:15 - 02:45) |
| - Target: Answer 35-40 intermediate table questions in 90 minutes. |
| - Focus: Grounding (250.66/122), Ampacity (310.16), Motors (430.248/250). |
| - Rule: Execute single-step code lookups. Flag complex multi-tier math. |
| | |
| v |
| [PASS 3: COMPLEX CALCULATIONS & AUDIT] (Elapsed: 02:45 - 04:00) |
| - Target: Resolve the remaining 10-15 flagged calculation problems. |
| - Focus: Box fill (314.16), Conduit fill (Ch 9), Range loads, Deratings. |
| - Final 15 Min: Ensure NO question is left blank (no penalty for guessing)|
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5. The 4-Way Index Search Method
When locating an unfamiliar Code requirement, relying on random page flipping guarantees failure. Master the 4-Way Index Search Method:
- Search by Key Noun / Equipment: Look up the exact piece of physical hardware (e.g., Luminaires, Generators, Transformers, Conduit Bodies, Receptacles).
- Search by Action / Electrical Condition: Look up the operational action or condition (e.g., Grounding, Bonding, Splicing, Guarding, Working Space, Identification).
- Search by Occupancy / Location: Look up the physical building type or environmental condition (e.g., Health Care Facilities, Agricultural Buildings, Wet Locations, Hazardous Locations).
- Scan Table of Contents / Article Structure: If the index is ambiguous, open to the Table of Contents at the beginning of the relevant Code Chapter (e.g., Chapter 3 for wiring methods) to identify the specific Article number, then check the Article's Part outline.
6. High-Yield Speed Tables for Instant Navigation
Memorizing where the most critical NEC tables are located saves 30 to 45 seconds per lookup:
| Table Reference | Table Title & Subject Matter | Primary Application in Exam Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Table 110.26(A)(1) | Working Spaces | Minimum depth of clear working space in front of electrical equipment (Condition 1, 2, 3: 3 ft to 4 ft for 0–600V). |
| Table 220.45 | Lighting Demand Factors | Feeder demand factors for general lighting loads in dwellings (first 3,000 VA @ 100%, remainder to 120,000 VA @ 35%). |
| Table 240.6(A) | Standard Ampere Ratings | Standard ampere ratings for fuses and fixed-trip inverse-time circuit breakers (15A, 20A, 25A, 30A, 35A, 40A, etc.). |
| Table 250.66 | Grounding Electrode Conductor for AC Systems | Sizing the GEC based on the size of the largest ungrounded service-entrance conductor (or equivalent area for parallel). |
| Table 250.102(C)(1) | Grounding Electrode Conductor & Supply-Side Bonding Jumpers | Sizing main bonding jumpers, system bonding jumpers, and supply-side bonding jumpers. |
| Table 250.122 | Minimum Size Equipment Grounding Conductors | Sizing copper and aluminum EGCs based on the rating or setting of the upstream overcurrent protective device (OCPD). |
| Table 310.16 | Allowable Ampacities of Insulated Conductors | Foundational ampacity table for not more than 3 current-carrying conductors in raceway/cable in free air (30°C / 86°F). |
| Table 310.15(C)(1) | Adjustment Factors for More than Three Current-Carrying Conductors | Bundle derating: 4–6 conductors (80%), 7–9 (70%), 10–20 (50%), 21–30 (45%), 31–40 (40%), 41+ (35%). |
| Table 310.15(B)(1) | Ambient Temperature Correction Factors | Temperature correction multipliers based on 30°C ambient rating (60°C, 75°C, 90°C columns). |
| Table 314.16(A) & (B) | Metal Box Volumes & Volume Allowances | Box fill calculations: conductor count, clamp volume (1 allowance), support fittings (1), device yokes (2 allowances based on largest wire), EGCs (1 allowance for up to 4 EGCs + 1/4 for each additional). |
| Table 430.248 & 430.250 | Full-Load Current (FLC) Single-Phase & Three-Phase AC Motors | Sizing motor branch-circuit conductors (125% of Table FLC, NOT nameplate FLA per 430.6(A)(1)). |
| Table 430.52 | Maximum Rating of Motor Short-Circuit & Ground-Fault Protective Devices | Sizing motor branch-circuit fuses and circuit breakers (Inverse Time Breaker = 250%, Non-Time Delay Fuse = 300%, Dual Element Fuse = 175%). |
| Ch 9, Tables 1, 4, 5 | Conduit Fill Percentage, Dimensions, & Conductor Areas | Conduit fill: 1 wire = 53%, 2 wires = 31%, 3+ wires = 40% maximum usable area. Table 4 provides internal cross-sectional area; Table 5 provides conductor dimensions. |
Under Oklahoma House Bill 3215 (HB 3215), what is the official passing score and testing format for the Oklahoma Unlimited Electrical Journeyman examination administered by PSI?
A candidate arrives at an Oklahoma PSI test center carrying a spiral-bound 2023 National Electrical Code with commercially printed permanent tabs already affixed, plus a copy of Ugly’s Electrical References. What happens at the pre-exam reference inspection?
An examinee encounters an exam question asking for the minimum rating of a single-phase AC motor disconnect. Following the Three-Pass Pacing Strategy, why should the candidate immediately consult Table 430.248 rather than searching for motor nameplate ratings?
When sizing a copper Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC) for a branch circuit protected by a 60-ampere circuit breaker, which NEC speed table must the journeyman candidate reference?