Journeyman Exam: PSI, Prov or Pearson VUE?

Who runs the journeyman exam in each state

From the candidate bulletins we read on 9 November 2026. A state can change its vendor or edition, so check your bulletin before you book. Our state guides go deeper: Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, Michigan, Connecticut, Utah and California. We also cover Kentucky and Alabama, where Prov runs the exam and you can test from home, and Iowa, Washington and Colorado, where PSI runs it.

Apply to the board first, then book with the vendor

In every state on the list, the vendor will not seat you until the state says you are eligible. The order is the same: apply, wait for the board's yes, then book.

• PSI states. Once the board approves you, you create a PSI account online, pick your exam and choose a date. Texas emails you scheduling instructions after TDLR approves you, and Michigan sends a notification letter. Oklahoma and Connecticut leave it to you to contact PSI, online or by phone. Virginia's booking screen asks you to choose a test format, test center or remote proctored.
• Utah. You register on Prov's website. Once the board signs off, Prov emails you, and you book in Prov's online scheduler.
• California. You apply to DLSE. After approval you get an eligibility notice, and then you schedule with Pearson VUE online or by phone.

Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID when you register. The Virginia and Utah bulletins both say a mismatch can cost you your seat and your fee.

Can you take the journeyman exam online?

In two of the seven states, yes.

• Virginia offers remote proctoring through PSI. You pick "Remote Proctored" when you book, and you can start the test within 30 minutes of your booked time. The bulletin's remote rules are stricter than the test center's: no breaks, no scratch paper, and military ID is not accepted.
• Utah lets you take the written exam from home through Prov's remote proctoring service, Examroom. You need a webcam, a microphone, Chrome or Firefox and a steady internet connection, in a private room with a clear desk. The practical exam is still in person.

The Michigan, Oklahoma, Connecticut, California and Texas bulletins describe test-center delivery only. If you test from home, ask your vendor before exam day how your code book is handled on camera.

What the vendor lets you bring

Book and calculator rules differ more than anything else on this page.

The open-book rules guide covers tabs, highlighting and how to set up your book.

Practice before you book

Booking is the easy part. The hard part is finding answers fast in your own book while the clock runs. Work timed sets with the same NEC you will bring, and score yourself by subject area. Our journeyman practice test guide has three worked questions to start with.

Take the free 10-question journeyman check. It is written to the 2023 NEC, needs no signup and names your weakest area.

FAQ

Does Pearson VUE give the journeyman electrician exam?

In California, yes for booking. CPS HR Consulting runs California's General Electrician exam, and you schedule it through Pearson VUE after DLSE approves you. None of the other six bulletins we read use Pearson VUE.

Is the journeyman electrician exam the same with every vendor?

No. The vendor delivers the exam, but each state writes its own: the subject areas, the NEC edition, the length and the passing score. Two PSI states can run very different exams. Our journeyman exam guide compares them.

Can I choose PSI or Prov myself?

No. Your state contracts with one vendor, and you book with that vendor after the state approves you.

Can I take the journeyman electrician exam online from home?

Only where the bulletin offers it. Virginia offers remote proctoring through PSI, and Utah lets you take the written exam from home through Prov. The other five bulletins we read describe test centers only.

Sources

• Candidate information bulletin, Texas electricians, PSI for TDLR, updated 9/15/2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
• Electrician exam information, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
• Candidate information bulletin, PSI for the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, effective 9/11/2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
• Tradesman candidate information bulletin, PSI for Virginia DPOR, dated 7/23/2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
• Electrical candidate information bulletin, PSI for Michigan, effective 8/20/2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
• Electrical trades candidate information bulletin, PSI for the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, updated 2/4/2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
• Utah electrical candidate information bulletin, Prov, effective 31 Oct 2026, last revised 9 Nov 2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
• Electrical certification candidate information bulletin, CPS HR Consulting for California DIR, July 2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.