1.3 Open-Book Exam Rules, Reference Preparation & Pacing
Key Takeaways
- You may bring any original copyrighted material, printed copies of RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B, and a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator (WAC 296-46B-960(2)).
- Photocopies of copyrighted material, internet printouts other than the RCW and WAC, and personal notes are prohibited in the exam room.
- L&I requires RCW and WAC printouts to be hole-punched and placed in a three-ring binder.
- Books may have highlighting, underlining, and permanent index tabs only; sticky notes, removable tabs, and handwritten notes in books are not allowed.
- Section 1 allows exactly 3.0 minutes per question (60 in 180 minutes); Section 2 allows about 3 minutes 31 seconds per question (17 in 60 minutes).
What you may bring
Three sources set the rules, and they agree:
| Source | Allowed |
|---|---|
| WAC 296-46B-960(2)(a) | Any original copyrighted material; a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator not designed for preprogrammed electrical calculations; copies of RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B; a foreign-language dictionary without definitions |
| L&I exam page | The 2020 NEC; printed RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B, hole-punched and placed in a three-ring binder; any original copyrighted material (L&I's examples: Ugly's, Ferm's Fast Finder, Soares Grounding) |
| PSI bulletin | Any original copyrighted material, including books with questions and answers; RCW and WAC downloaded from the internet, if in a binder; a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator |
Not allowed (WAC 296-46B-960(2)(b)): copies of copyrighted material (for example, photocopied NEC tables); copies of internet publications other than the RCW and WAC; personal notes; and any personal computing device other than the permitted calculator.
How books may be marked
- Copyrighted materials may have highlighting, underlining, and permanent index tabs added before the exam.
- Post-it notes, sticky or repositionable flags, and other removable notes are not permitted.
- References may not be written in. L&I and PSI both treat handwritten notes and markings in books as an attempt to cheat. The proctor checks every book for handwritten notes, removable tabs, and blank paper, and unacceptable materials can be refused or confiscated.
- PSI gives you two sheets of paper and a pencil, which are collected at the end.
The practical result: you cannot write formulas in the margins of your codebook. Put formulas on the permanent tabs you buy, or bring an original copyrighted formula book.
Calculators
Bring your own calculator. PSI allows only non-programmable calculators that are silent, battery-operated, have no paper tape printing, and have no alphabet keyboard. WAC 296-46B-960 also bans calculators designed for preprogrammed electrical calculations. If a proctor questions your calculator, you will be asked to use one provided at the site.
Test-center procedures (PSI bulletin, 10/30/2025)
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Late arrivals may be refused and forfeit the fee. |
| Identification | Register under your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID. Bring a valid, unexpired, government-issued ID with photo and signature (driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID). The bulletin's missed-appointment rules also mention a second ID with signature and preprinted legal name, so bring both. |
| Canceling or rescheduling | By phone or online at least 2 days before the exam. Voicemail and email are not accepted. |
| Belongings | Phones, watches, bags, hats, coats, food, and drinks go in secure storage. Close-fitting jackets or sweatshirts are allowed. |
| Leaving the room | You must sign out and in, and the clock keeps running |
| Unscored questions | Up to 10 experimental questions may appear; their time does not count |
| Comments | You can comment on any question during the exam. This is the only exam review PSI offers. |
| Accommodations | Request them from L&I, not PSI, before scheduling (360-902-5249 or ElectricalProgram@Lni.wa.gov) |
Building your reference set
NEC tabs: tab the article groups in the PSI outline (Section 1.1): Articles 90, 100, 110, 200-230, 240, 250, 300-398, 400-480, 490, 500-590, 600-695, 700-702, 705-780, and 800-830, plus Chapter 9 Tables 1, 4, 5, and 8 and Annex C.
WAC binder: print from L&I's Electrical Laws & Rules page, hole-punch it, and tab these sections:
- -010 (adopted standards) and -100 (definitions)
- -110 through -800 (technical amendments, Sections 13.6-13.7)
- -900 (plan review), -901 (permits and inspections), -908 (Class B), -909 (fees)
- -915 (penalties), -920 (scopes), -940 and -942 (certificates and trainees), -960 (exams), -970 (continuing education)
RCW binder: tab 19.28.041 (contractor license and bond), .061 (administrator), .101 (inspections and corrections), .131 and .271 (penalties and appeals), .161 (trainees and ratios), .191 and .205 (exam eligibility and classroom hours), .211 (renewal), .261 (exemptions), and .311 (Electrical Board).
Pacing
| Section | Questions | Time | Average per question | Needed to pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEC & Theory | 60 | 180 min | 3 min 00 s | 42 |
| WA Codes | 17 | 60 min | about 3 min 31 s | 12 |
| Whole exam | 77 | 240 min | about 3 min 07 s | Both sections |
Calculation questions such as dwelling services or motor circuits can take 5 or 6 minutes, so direct lookups need to take less than the average.
A three-pass approach
- Pass 1 (about 60 minutes): answer every question you know or can look up in one step, such as Table 310.16 ampacities, Table 250.66 conductor sizes, and definitions. Mark multi-step calculations and come back to them.
- Pass 2 (about 90 minutes): work the marked calculations on scratch paper. Write down the known values, the governing section, the continuous-load factor, and the terminal temperature column. Cap each problem at about 5 minutes; if it's still unresolved, enter your best answer and move on.
- Pass 3 (about 30 minutes): check the arithmetic on marked items (line-to-line vs. line-to-neutral, copper vs. aluminum, 60 vs. 75 degree C columns). Answer every question. Your score is the number answered correctly, so a blank earns nothing and a guess might score.
For Section 2, do the same with the WAC index and your RCW tabs. Most Washington questions are answered by one section of WAC 296-46B-900 through -970 or RCW 19.28.
Which reference setup does WAC 296-46B-960 and L&I's exam guidance permit in the exam room?
Which item is prohibited in the Washington electrician exam room under WAC 296-46B-960(2)(b)?
In Section 1 of the Washington 01 exam (NEC and theory), what is the average time available per question?