- The written exam is 110 multiple-choice questions in 270 minutes, with a 70% passing score.
- The exam fee is $90 per attempt, retakes included, and retakes require a two-day wait.
- General Electrical Knowledge is the largest domain: 22 questions in the 2025 bulletin, 21 in the 2026 bulletin.
- The two official bulletins disagree on code edition (2023 vs. 2020), so confirm with OPLC or Prov before buying code books.
The Exam at a Glance
This is the one-page version of the New Hampshire Journeyman Electrician License Exam. It is administered through Prov, Inc. on behalf of the New Hampshire Electricians' Board, which sits within the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). Everything below is drawn from the Candidate Information Bulletins and the licensing rules, not from commercial course summaries. Research was last checked on September 30, 2026. If you want the long-form walkthrough after this cheat sheet, start with the NH-JE Study Guide 2026.
| Item | Verified Fact |
|---|---|
| Licensing body | New Hampshire Electricians' Board, OPLC |
| Test provider | Prov, Inc. |
| Format | Computer-delivered multiple choice |
| Questions | 110 |
| Time allowed | 270 minutes (4 hours 30 minutes) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Exam fee | $90 per attempt, retakes included (effective February 1, 2025) |
| Delivery | Prov test centers or remote through Examroom.ai |
| Testing eligibility window | 365 days after Board approval |
| Retake interval | Two days |
Notice the pace: 270 minutes across 110 questions leaves roughly two and a half minutes per item. This is a code-navigation exam more than a speed exam. Candidates who fail usually do so because they cannot find answers in the book quickly, not because the clock beat them. For a frank look at difficulty, see How Hard Is the NH-JE Exam?
Registration, Fees and Retake Rules
The sequence that matters
- Get Board approval first. You cannot simply book a seat. The Board must approve your application before you test.
- Know your clock. Once approved, your testing eligibility lasts 365 days. Schedule with that deadline in mind rather than drifting.
- Pay the exam fee. It is $90 per attempt, and that figure includes retakes, meaning each retake attempt carries the same $90 fee.
- Choose delivery. Test at a Prov center, or test remotely through Examroom.ai.
- If you fail, wait two days. Retakes require a two-day interval.
Separate state licensing charges exist beyond the exam fee, but they were not verified for this article, so do not budget from this page alone. Check the Board's issuer page at oplc.nh.gov for current charges, and see the NH-JE Certification Cost breakdown and NH-JE Exam Dates guide for planning.
The 110-Question Map by Domain
The twelve subject headings below are the official examination headings common to two Prov Candidate Information Bulletins. They are exam headings, not preparation-curriculum headings, and the bulletins do not publish percentage weights, so none are inferred here. What they do publish are question counts, listed in Domain 1 through 12 order.
| Domain | 2025 Bulletin (labeled 2023) | 2026 Bulletin (labeled 2020) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. General Electrical Knowledge | 22 | 21 |
| 2. Equipment for General Use | 9 | 9 |
| 3. Motors and Generators | 19 | 19 |
| 4. Control Devices | 5 | 5 |
| 5. Special Conditions | 2 | 2 |
| 6. Special Equipment | 2 | 2 |
| 7. Special Occupancies | 2 | 2 |
| 8. Services and Service Equipment | 12 | 12 |
| 9. Branch Circuits and Conductors: | 6 | 6 |
| 10. Feeders | 8 | 8 |
| 11. Wiring Methods & Materials | 14 | 14 |
| 12. Administrative | 9 | 10 |
| Total | 110 | 110 |
(The trailing colon in "Branch Circuits and Conductors:" is preserved from the source document.) The pattern is plain: Domain 1, Domain 3, Domain 11 and Domain 8 together carry the bulk of the exam in either version. Domains 5, 6 and 7 are tiny, two questions each, which tempts candidates to skip them. Resist the urge to over-invest there, but do not leave them blank either. For deeper coverage of each heading, read NH-JE Exam Domains: Complete Guide to All 12 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Motors and Generators holds 19 questions in both bulletins. That is a stable, large block that does not depend on how the edition conflict resolves, so it is a safe place to invest early study hours.
The Two-Bulletin Conflict You Must Not Ignore
This is the single most important caveat on this cheat sheet. Two official Prov bulletins describe the exam differently:
- NH Electrician CIB 2025.12.12, printed page 7, labels the exam "Journeyman Electrician (2023)" with allocations of 22, 9, 19, 5, 2, 2, 2, 12, 6, 8, 14, 9.
- NH Electrician CIB 2026.08.06, printed page 7, labels it "Journeyman Electrician (2020)" with allocations of 21, 9, 19, 5, 2, 2, 2, 12, 6, 8, 14, 10.
Both total 110. The differences are confined to General Electrical Knowledge (22 vs. 21) and Administrative (9 vs. 10). The 2025 bulletin's reference list includes both a 2023 NEC entry and a separate 2020 NEC entry, while the 2026 bulletin specifies the 2020 NEC.
Practical response: do not buy a single code book on the strength of a commercial course's claim about "the current edition." Ask OPLC or Prov directly which edition governs your sitting, get the answer in writing if you can, and study the edition-neutral fundamentals (Ohm's law, conductor and motor concepts, grounding principles) while you wait. Also note that generic permission to bring older or newer reference editions does not tell you which edition the questions are drawn from.
Reference Materials and Calculator Rules
What you may bring
- Authorized printed state reference documents
- Prior highlighting and pen underlining in your books
- Permanent tabs
- A simple four-function calculator at test centers
What is prohibited
- Handwritten notes
- Movable tabs or sticky notes
- Practice tests brought into the exam
The distinction between permanent and movable tabs is the one that catches people. If your tabs can be peeled off and repositioned, they are out. Tab and highlight your books well before exam day using permanent tabs only, and do not write marginal notes in your own handwriting. A simple four-function calculator is allowed at test centers; a scientific or programmable one is not what the bulletin describes, and remote candidates should check the separate remote equipment instructions.
Other references listed in the bulletins include the American Electrician's Handbook (17th edition), Ugly's Electrical References (2020), NH Elec 300-400, RSA 319-C, and named 2017 state amendments. Note that the Administrative domain is where RSA 319-C and the Elec rules live, so those documents are not optional reading.
Domain-by-Domain Flash Review
Domain 1: General Electrical Knowledge (largest domain)
Foundational theory and definitions that the rest of the exam leans on.
- Ohm's law and power relationships, series and parallel circuits
- Single-phase vs. three-phase basics and transformer fundamentals
- Code definitions and where to look them up fast
- Expect calculation questions; practice them with a four-function calculator only
Domain 2: Equipment for General Use
Nine questions on common installed equipment.
- Lighting fixtures, receptacles, appliances and heating equipment rules
- Panelboard and switchboard requirements at a general level
- Know which article governs which equipment type
Domain 3: Motors and Generators (19 questions)
Consistent across both bulletins and heavily code-driven.
- Motor branch-circuit and feeder conductor sizing logic
- Overload and short-circuit protection concepts
- Disconnecting means and motor controller requirements
- Generator installation and transfer-related concepts
Domain 4: Control Devices
Five questions on how circuits are controlled.
- Switches, relays, contactors and basic control logic
- Reading simple control schematics
Domains 5, 6 and 7: Special Conditions, Special Equipment, Special Occupancies
Two questions each, but each is a code-chapter lookup you can win with good tabbing.
- Tab the special-chapter entry points permanently before test day
- Know hazardous-location and healthcare-style occupancy concepts at the "which article" level
Domain 8: Services and Service Equipment (12 questions)
Where the utility meets your installation.
- Service conductor sizing, service disconnects and grounding at the service
- Overcurrent protection and service equipment rules
Domains 9 and 10: Branch Circuits and Conductors, Feeders
Six and eight questions on circuit design.
- Conductor ampacity, adjustment and correction concepts
- Demand and load calculation logic for feeders
- Overcurrent protection coordination with conductor size
Domain 11: Wiring Methods & Materials (14 questions)
The hands-on knowledge domain, and the one that rewards field experience.
- Raceway and cable types, support and fill rules
- Box fill, bending and installation requirements
- Choosing a wiring method appropriate to the environment
Domain 12: Administrative (9 or 10 questions, version-dependent)
New Hampshire law, rules and licensing, not NEC.
- RSA 319-C and the NH Elec rules (Elec 300-400 range)
- Licensing, permits and scope-of-work responsibilities
- Study this deliberately; some commercial products exclude it
Note on that last point: JADE Learning's public New Hampshire product page explicitly states that Administrative topics are excluded. That coverage statement is verified, but paid course contents were not reviewed here, so check what any prep product covers before relying on it for Domain 12.
Eligibility, Renewal and Code-Cycle Hours
Qualifying to sit (Elec 304.01)
The retrieved rule text requires 8,000 practical or field apprenticeship hours under a Board-licensed journeyman or master, plus one of the prescribed alternatives:
- 600 hours of electrical schooling, including 24 safety hours (a qualifying electrical associate or higher degree is recognized within that schooling provision), or
- Ten years licensed as a journeyman or master elsewhere, or
- A previous New Hampshire journeyman or master examination.
Approved school-based practical credit can cover up to 2,000 hours, with documentation and no concurrent double counting. Field-experience evidence includes employment dates, type of work and the supervising master's signature. Do not confuse the 600 schooling hours with commercial "576-hour" summaries you may see elsewhere. Details are in NH-JE Requirements: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify. If you are coming from Massachusetts, verify reciprocity or the ten-years-elsewhere path directly with the Board rather than assuming a transfer.
Renewal (Elec 401.01)
Amended effective May 4, 2024, renewal is two years from issuance. Older descriptions that say three years are out of date.
Code-change hours (Elec 403.01)
Licensees must complete 15 hours on the latest NEC changes, including at least one hour on New Hampshire laws, rules and installation concerns, by the end of the calendar year following the NEC edition's publication. This code-cycle obligation is separate from the biennial licensing renewal.
Myths vs. Verified Facts
| Claim You May Hear | What the Sources Support |
|---|---|
| "The exam is a shorter test." | 110 questions in 270 minutes; unsupported shorter formats should be ignored. |
| "The exam is based on the 2026 NEC." | Unverified. The bulletins point to 2020 or 2023; confirm with OPLC/Prov. |
| "Licenses renew every three years." | Renewal is two years from issuance per Elec 401.01. |
| "Retakes are free." | The $90 fee applies per attempt, including retakes. |
| "Sticky tabs are fine." | Movable tabs and sticky notes are prohibited; permanent tabs are allowed. |
| "Passing means 70% of candidates pass." | 70% is the score threshold, not a pass rate. |
| "Domain percentages are published." | Only question counts are published, not percentage weights. |
A Domain-Ordered Study Sequence
If you are building a schedule, order it by exam weight and by how stable the content is across the two bulletins. Here is a six-week sequence tied to this exam's structure.
Domain 1 foundations and code navigation
- Rework Ohm's law and power math on a four-function calculator
- Permanently tab your code book's main entry points
Domain 3 Motors and Generators, then Domain 8 Services
- Motor sizing and protection logic first, since it is a fixed 19-question block
- Service and grounding rules next (12 questions)
Domain 11, Domains 9 and 10
- Wiring methods and fill rules
- Conductor ampacity and feeder calculations
Domains 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Many small question blocks; focus on knowing which article to open
Domain 12 Administrative and full timed runs
- Read the NH Elec rules and RSA 319-C deliberately
- Sit full 110-question runs against a 270-minute clock using original practice items
Put Administrative late only if you have confirmed your prep materials cover it. Otherwise, move it earlier so you have time to find supplemental sources. You can run timed drills at the NH-JE Exam Prep practice test site, and the full plan is expanded in the NH-JE Study Guide. Our practice questions are original, not copies of live examination items.
FAQ
The written exam has 110 multiple-choice questions and a 270-minute time limit. It is computer-delivered at Prov centers or remotely through Examroom.ai.
You need 70%. That is a cut score, not a pass rate. See NH-JE Passing Score for more detail.
The exam fee is $90 per attempt, including retakes, effective February 1, 2025. Retakes require a two-day interval. Separate state licensing charges were not verified here, so check with the Board.
This is unresolved in public sources. The 2025 bulletin labels the exam 2023 while listing both 2023 and 2020 NEC entries; the 2026 bulletin labels it 2020 and specifies the 2020 NEC. Confirm with OPLC or Prov before committing to a code book.
No. Handwritten notes, movable tabs, sticky notes and practice tests are prohibited. Prior highlighting, pen underlining and permanent tabs are allowed, along with authorized printed state reference documents.
Per Elec 401.01, as amended effective May 4, 2024, renewal is two years from issuance. Separately, Elec 403.01 requires 15 hours on the latest NEC changes, including one hour on NH laws and rules. For the career side, see the NH-JE Salary Guide and Is the NH-JE Certification Worth It?