State-by-State Electrician Exam Difficulty
Which state electrician exam is hardest, and what actually makes each one hard?
| State | Pass score | Published pass rate | Reference rule | NEC edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 70% on each of two separately-scored parts | 27.52% pass (TDLR FY2025) | Open book | NEC 2023 |
| California | 70% to pass | 52.95% first-time pass (DIR 2022) | References provided (no own book) | 2023 NEC |
| Michigan | 75% to pass | Not published by the authority | Open book | 2023 NEC |
| Washington | 70% on each of two sections, scored separately | Not published by the authority | Open book | 2020 NEC (exam edition) |
| Maryland | 70% to pass | About one in four passes across both tiers | Open book | 2020 NEC |
What it tells you
- Michigan sets the highest bar at 75 percent; most states pass at 70.
- Texas and Maryland publish the lowest pass rates, roughly one in four.
- California is the only one of the five that provides the references and bans your own book.
Methodology
Compiled from each state authority and the PSI or Pearson candidate bulletin. Pass rates are shown only where the authority publishes them; Michigan and Washington do not.
Source: JourneymanIQ Exam Knowledge Graph (verified against official sources). · Last updated 2026-06-21
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