How to Pass the Colorado Journeyman Electrician Exam
4
min read
Seth Brown
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- The exam has 90 scored questions and requires a 70% passing score (63 correct)
- You need 8,000 hours of experience — at least 4,000 in commercial or industrial work — plus 288 classroom hours
- Grounding and bonding is the single heaviest topic at 14 questions
- PSI provides the 2026 NEC at the test center, and you cannot bring your own
- Results are immediate, and there's no waiting period if you need to retake
Getting your journeyman electrician license in Colorado means better pay, better job options, and the ability to work on commercial and industrial projects that pay more but require more experience. The Colorado Journeyman Electrician Exam is the last step between you and that license, and with the right prep, it's definitely an achievable goal. This guide breaks down exactly what's on the exam, how to study for it, and what to expect when you walk into the test center.
Who Qualifies to Take the Exam
Before you can sit for the exam, you need to meet these requirements:
- 8,000 hours of electrical work experience, with at least 4,000 hours in commercial or industrial work, earned over no less than 4 years
- 288 hours of classroom education if you registered as an apprentice on or after January 1, 2011, documented with a transcript or similar statement
- All practical experience documented on an Affidavit of Experience form, completed by the electrical contractor who supervised your work
If you're still working toward your hours, our guide to becoming a licensed electrician in Colorado covers the full path from apprentice registration to exam day.
How to Schedule Your Colorado Journeyman Exam
Once the Colorado State Electrical Board approves your application:
- You'll receive an approval notification
- Schedule your exam through PSI Services online at PSI Colorado Exam Scheduling or by phone at (855) 898-0710
- Pay the $78 exam fee
- Pick a testing location: PSI has centers in Broomfield, Colorado Springs, Denver (two locations), Durango, Englewood, Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Lakewood, and Pueblo
What the Exam Looks Like
The Colorado Journeyman Electrician Exam is a single-portion, 90-question test. You have 240 minutes to complete it and need to answer at least 63 questions correctly to pass.
- 90 scored questions, plus up to 10 unscored
- 240 minutes for scored questions, plus an additional 30 minutes for unscored
- Passing score: 70% (63 questions correct)
- All questions are multiple choice
- Open book. PSI provides a 2026 NEC at the test center
One thing that trips up candidates who've been studying Texas prep material: Colorado is different. PSI provides the NEC book at the test center; you cannot bring your own. You also cannot write in it, highlight it, or use your own tabs. Plan your study approach around that.
What's on the Colorado Journeyman Electrician Exam
The table below shows how questions are distributed across all topics. Grounding and bonding carry more questions than any other single area, so they deserve the most study time. Electrical calculations and general knowledge are close behind.
What to Bring on Exam Day
All you need is your ID; PSI handles the rest.
Required:
- Valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID that matches your application exactly—driver's license, state ID, US passport, military ID, or alien registration card
Not allowed:
- Your own NEC book—PSI provides one at the test center
- Any notes, papers, or reference materials
- Electronic devices of any kind, including phones, tablets, and smartwatches
- Food or drinks
Everything else goes in the secure storage provided before you enter the exam room.
How to Study for the Colorado Journeyman Exam
The content outline above tells you exactly where to put your time. A few strategies that actually move the needle:
- Start with grounding and bonding: Fourteen questions come from this one topic, which is more than any other. Don't leave points here on the table.
- Nail your calculations: Nine questions test electrical calculations. These aren't something you can look up quickly in an unfamiliar book. You need the formulas down cold before test day.
- Services, feeders, branch circuits, and general knowledge together account for 20 questions: These are areas you've been working in for years. Review them systematically so you're not dropping easy points.
- Practice with a clean NEC: You won't have your own annotated copy in the room. Get comfortable navigating an unmarked book so you're not losing time hunting for articles you'd normally find in seconds.
- Join a study group: Other people catch things you miss and can walk through problems from a different angle.
- Consider professional preparation courses: IECRM offers exam prep courses built specifically for Colorado's licensing exams, with in-person, live online, and self-paced options.
- Create a study schedule: Develop a structured study plan that allows you to cover all necessary topics systematically.
After the Exam
Results are available the moment you finish. If you pass, file your license application with the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations, and then you're done!
If you don't pass, you'll get a diagnostic report showing exactly where you fell short. You can't rebook the same day you test, but you can call the next day and be back in a seat as soon as the day after that. The retake fee is $73.
More Resources
Your journeyman license is within reach. Work through the content outline, practice navigating an unmarked NEC, and get comfortable with calculations before you sit down in that testing center chair. The exam tests knowledge you've been building for years on the job. The prep just makes sure it shows up on the score report. Get started, and go pass it.
FAQs
Does Colorado provide the NEC book at the exam, or do I bring my own?
PSI provides a 2026 NEC at the test center; you cannot bring your own. Unlike most other states, you also cannot write in it, highlight it, or use your own tabs, so practice navigating an unmarked book before test day.
What's the hardest part of the Colorado journeyman electrician exam?
Grounding and bonding is the single heaviest topic with 14 questions, more than any other area on the exam. Electrical calculations come in second at 9 questions and unlike code lookups, those you can't find by flipping through the NEC.
Can I transfer my journeyman license to Colorado from another state?
Colorado has reciprocity agreements with 14 states through NERA: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Your license must have been earned by passing a state exam; grandfathered licenses don't qualify.
How long do I have to wait if I fail the Colorado journeyman exam?
There's no waiting period. You can't rebook the same day you test, but you can call the next morning and be back in a seat as soon as the following day. The retake fee is $73.
How often do I have to renew my Colorado journeyman electrician license?
Colorado electrician licenses must be renewed every three years, and the renewal process includes completing 24 hours of required continuing education.
Ready for high-paying electrical work in Colorado?
Buildforce matches licensed Colorado electricians with top electrical contractors hiring now. Get started for free by downloading the Buildforce mobile app.