- The One-Page Snapshot: Exam Facts at a Glance
- Question Allocation: Where the 90 Questions Land
- Open-Book Rules: What You Can and Cannot Bring
- The Four Listed References and How to Use Them
- Domain-by-Domain Must-Know Notes
- Licensing Math: Fees, Validity and Continuing Education
- Registration Sequence: From Eligibility to Test Day
- Sequencing Your Review Around the Blueprint
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The exam is 90 multiple-choice questions in four hours, administered by Prov, Inc., with a 70% passing score.
- Wiring & Protection carries 30 of 90 questions, the heaviest of the nine subject areas.
- The exam is open book, but permanent tabs and handwritten notes are allowed while photocopies and prep guides are not.
- The exam fee is $80; the journeyman license is $115 for initial issue and renewal, valid three years.
The One-Page Snapshot: Exam Facts at a Glance
This page condenses what a Vermont journeyman candidate needs to carry into exam week. The Vermont Journeyman Electrician License Exam (VT-JE) is the credentialing exam for journeyman-level electricians under the Vermont Division of Fire Safety (VT DFS). It is not the Master exam, and it is not a Type-S specialty exam. Everything below applies to the journeyman exam only.
| Item | Must-Know Fact |
|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Vermont Division of Fire Safety (VT DFS) |
| Exam administrator | Prov, Inc. |
| Format | Computer-based, multiple choice |
| Number of questions | 90 |
| Time allowed | Four hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Exam fee | $80 |
| Languages | English and Spanish versions listed |
| Delivery | Test centers or Examroom remote proctoring |
| Book policy | Open book with approved references |
| Calculator | Simple four-function only |
| Code basis | 2023 NEC |
A 70% passing score on 90 questions means you need roughly 63 correct answers. For a deeper look at how that threshold plays out, see our guide to the VT-JE passing score. The time budget is generous: four hours across 90 questions works out to well over two minutes per question, which matters because open-book questions reward accurate lookup rather than speed alone.
Question Allocation: Where the 90 Questions Land
The Prov candidate information bulletin dated January 27, 2026 lists nine official examination subject areas with a published question count for each. These are exam subject areas, not a preparation curriculum, and the bulletin publishes counts rather than percentages, so treat the counts as the authoritative numbers.
| # | Subject Area | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Electrical Theory & Principles | 7 |
| 2 | Wiring & Protection | 30 |
| 3 | Wiring Methods & Materials | 20 |
| 4 | Motors & Controls | 3 |
| 5 | Equipment for General Use | 15 |
| 6 | Special Occupancies | 4 |
| 7 | Special Equipment | 3 |
| 8 | Special Conditions | 3 |
| 9 | Local Amendments | 5 |
The counts sum to 90. Three areas, Wiring & Protection, Wiring Methods & Materials and Equipment for General Use, account for 65 of the 90 questions between them. That concentration should shape how you spend review time. For a fuller walkthrough of each area, read our complete guide to all 9 VT-JE content areas.
Open-Book Rules: What You Can and Cannot Bring
The VT-JE is open book, but the rules are specific, and violating them at check-in can derail test day. Per the bulletin:
Allowed
- Approved reference books (see the next section)
- Permanent tabs affixed to your references
- Highlighting in your references
- Handwritten notes in black or blue ink
- A simple four-function calculator
Not Allowed
- Movable tabs, such as sticky flags that can be repositioned
- Photocopied pages
- Exam-preparation guides, including commercial study books and flash-card style summaries
- Scientific or programmable calculators
The permanent-versus-movable tab distinction trips people up. Plan to buy a set of tabs that adhere permanently and mark your Code book before test day, not in the parking lot. Handwritten notes are permitted, so annotating your 2023 NEC with cross-references, such as pointing from a general rule to the exception you always forget, is legitimate preparation.
The Four Listed References and How to Use Them
The bulletin lists four references for the exam:
- 2023 NEC (National Electrical Code)
- 2025 State of Vermont Electrical Safety Rules
- Ugly's Electrical References 2020
- Vermont Statutes Title 26, Chapter 15
Notice the edition specifics. The exam specification is built on the 2023 NEC. If you see a 2026 NEC retail bundle marketed to candidates, it does not match this exam, and answering from a different edition's article numbers or requirements is a real risk. Likewise, older ICC-style outlines do not reflect this blueprint. Always anchor to the current Prov bulletin.
Key Takeaway
Build your tabs by reference. Give the NEC its own color-coded tab system by chapter, mark the Vermont Electrical Safety Rules where they amend or add to the NEC, and flag the Ugly's tables you use most. Fast navigation is worth more points than memorization on an open-book exam. Our VT-JE study guide covers how to build that system step by step.
Domain-by-Domain Must-Know Notes
The notes below tie each official subject area to the kind of work a journeyman does daily. They are orientation points to drive your lookup practice, not a substitute for studying the Code.
1. General Electrical Theory & Principles (7 questions)
Expect foundational calculations and relationships that a journeyman applies on every job.
- Ohm's law and power relationships, including how they apply to series and parallel circuits
- Single-phase and three-phase fundamentals
- Basic calculation fluency with a four-function calculator, since that is the only calculator you may use
2. Wiring & Protection (30 questions)
This is the heart of the exam. Thirty questions means roughly one in three items comes from here.
- Conductor sizing, ampacity and correction or adjustment factors
- Overcurrent protection and the rules governing device ratings
- Grounding and bonding requirements
- Branch-circuit and feeder calculations
Because this domain overlaps so heavily with Code navigation, it is where tab discipline pays off most.
3. Wiring Methods & Materials (20 questions)
Raceways, cables, boxes and the installation rules that go with them.
- Selecting a wiring method appropriate to the environment
- Box fill and conduit fill reasoning
- Support, securing and protection requirements
4. Motors & Controls (3 questions)
A small slice, but a predictable one.
- Motor branch-circuit conductor and protection basics
- Disconnecting means and controller concepts
5. Equipment for General Use (15 questions)
The third-largest area. It covers the equipment you install and connect routinely.
- Receptacles, fixtures, appliances and similar general equipment
- Panelboards and switchboards at the journeyman level
- Transformer and equipment basics as they appear in the Code
6. Special Occupancies (4 questions)
Locations where the Code adds requirements beyond the general rules.
- Hazardous or unusual locations and healthcare-type settings as covered in the Code's special-occupancy chapters
- Recognizing when a location triggers modified rules
7. Special Equipment (3 questions)
Specialized installations that carry their own Code articles.
- Identifying the correct article for a specialized installation
- Understanding how special-equipment rules supplement or modify general rules
8. Special Conditions (3 questions)
Situations such as emergency or standby systems and similar conditions that alter normal requirements.
- Knowing which Code chapter governs the condition
- Applying the modified requirements correctly
9. Local Amendments (5 questions)
Vermont-specific rules layered over the national Code. Study the 2025 State of Vermont Electrical Safety Rules and Title 26, Chapter 15 carefully, because national study material will not teach you these.
- Where Vermont departs from or adds to the NEC
- Statutory provisions on licensing and the practice of the trade
If you want to gauge how demanding these areas are in practice, see how hard the VT-JE exam is.
Licensing Math: Fees, Validity and Continuing Education
The licensing provisions below come from Vermont Statutes Title 26, sections 903, 905 and 908. One caveat about sourcing: those provisions were read in Cornell LII's reproduction of the Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, Appendix I, rather than a successfully retrieved current legislature page. Verify the current text with the Division of Fire Safety before relying on it for a filing.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Eligibility route | Apprenticeship completion or a Board-accepted equivalent |
| Initial journeyman license fee | $115 |
| Renewal fee | $115 |
| License validity | Three years |
| Continuing education | 15 hours of Board-approved code-update education per 36 months |
Two separate fees apply to a new licensee: the $80 exam fee paid for the Prov exam, and the $115 license fee paid for the license itself. Do not confuse them when budgeting. Our VT-JE certification cost breakdown lays out the full picture, and the VT-JE requirements guide covers eligibility in more depth.
Registration Sequence: From Eligibility to Test Day
The order of steps matters, because you cannot book a seat until the earlier steps are complete:
- Receive state eligibility approval. VT DFS must approve your eligibility before you can proceed.
- Obtain your candidate ID. This identifier is issued after approval and is required for scheduling.
- Schedule with Prov. Choose a test center or Examroom remote proctoring, and select English or Spanish.
- Pay the $80 exam fee.
- Prepare your references. Tab and annotate only with permitted methods.
- Sit the exam. Four hours, 90 questions, simple four-function calculator.
Because eligibility approval gates everything, start that paperwork early rather than waiting until you feel ready to test. Scheduling windows and timing details are covered in our VT-JE exam dates guide.
Sequencing Your Review Around the Blueprint
Rather than a generic weekly plan, sequence your review by how the blueprint is weighted. The logic: front-load the heaviest areas, because they are where lookup speed compounds, and finish with the small but Vermont-specific areas, which are easy to forget if studied early.
Wiring & Protection
- 30 questions, so it earns the most time
- Build your NEC tab system as you study
- Practice ampacity, overcurrent and grounding lookups
Wiring Methods & Materials plus Equipment for General Use
- 35 questions combined
- Drill box fill, conduit fill and method selection
- Annotate with permitted black or blue ink notes
Theory, Motors, and the Special Areas
- General Electrical Theory & Principles for calculation fluency
- Motors & Controls, Special Occupancies, Special Equipment and Special Conditions
- Focus on finding the right Code article quickly
Local Amendments and Full Practice
- Read the 2025 Vermont Electrical Safety Rules and Title 26, Chapter 15 closely
- Take timed practice sets under four-hour conditions
- Confirm your references contain no movable tabs or photocopies
For timed practice that mirrors the format, use the VT-JE practice tests, and revisit weak areas against your annotated references. If you are weighing whether the investment of time is justified, our ROI analysis and salary guide put the licensing decision in context.
Key Takeaway
On an open-book exam, your references are part of your skill set. Aim to locate any Code answer in under two minutes. Practice that retrieval repeatedly with the VT-JE exam prep practice site until it is automatic.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam has 90 multiple-choice questions, delivered by computer, with four hours allowed. You need a 70% to pass.
Wiring & Protection is the largest, with 30 of the 90 questions. Wiring Methods & Materials follows with 20, and Equipment for General Use has 15.
Yes, with limits. You may use approved references with permanent tabs, highlighting and black or blue ink handwritten notes. Movable tabs, photocopies and exam-preparation guides are not permitted, and the only calculator allowed is a simple four-function model.
Use the 2023 NEC, along with the 2025 State of Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, Ugly's Electrical References 2020 and Vermont Statutes Title 26, Chapter 15. Do not substitute a 2026 NEC retail bundle or an older outline.
The exam fee is $80, paid for the Prov examination. The journeyman license fee is $115 for initial issue and renewal, and the license is valid for three years. See the cost breakdown for planning details.