The laws section is its own test
17 questions on RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B: supervision ratios, permits, inspection deadlines, contractor bonds, renewal. A separate 70% gate that fails strong electricians.
Washington (01) Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep
Pass the Washington general journeyman exam.
The L&I (01) exam is two sections you pass separately: 60 NEC and theory questions, then 17 Washington laws and rules questions, 70% on each. It is open book on the 2020 NEC. Find out where you stand before you book it.
77 (2 sections)Questions
4 hoursTime
70% eachTo pass
2020 NECCode
Why good electricians fail this one
Two sections. Two separate 70% gates.
You do not pass the Washington exam. You pass two of them, and you can ace the code and still go home because you never studied the Washington laws and rules.
Wrong NEC edition
Washington's field code is the 2023 NEC, but the exam still tests the 2020 NEC. Study the edition the test actually cites.
Open book, won on speed
You bring your own tabbed code and law books. The candidates who pass know where the answer lives before they open the binder.
Start here
A free diagnostic across both sections
Fifteen questions across the NEC chapters and the Washington laws and rules the (01) exam tests. No signup, no card. At the end you get a projected score and the exact areas costing you the most points, so you study the right thing instead of everything.
Washington exam, straight answers
Washington requirements
8,000 hours, 96 classroom hours, fees, and retake rules.
Practice test
Start with the buying-intent page for Washington practice-test searchers.
Free diagnostic
Find your weak sections before paying for prep.
Online prep
How to judge Washington prep before you buy.
Failed the exam
Retake rules and a recovery plan for the section you missed.
Laws & Rules section
The 17-question RCW 19.28 + WAC 296-46B section you have to pass.
Verified against the source · June 2026
Where these facts come from
- L&I Electrical Examination Information. Confirms PSI administration, the 70%-per-section pass mark, open-book rules, and that the exam uses the 2020 NEC.
- L&I Electrician Licensing & Requirements. The 8,000-hour (4,000 industrial/commercial) + 96-hour classroom requirement, 3-year renewal, and 24-hour CE rule.
- WAC 296-46B (Washington electrical code adoption). Washington's electrical administrative code. Adopts the NEC with state amendments; the Laws & Rules exam section tests RCW 19.28 + WAC 296-46B.
Where do you stand right now?
Fifteen minutes tells you your projected score and your weakest areas across both sections. Then you know exactly what to drill.
Free. No signup yet. 15 minutes to your weak-area report.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Washington journeyman electrician exam?
The general journeyman (01) exam has 77 scored questions in two sections: 60 NEC and theory questions in 3 hours, and 17 Washington Laws and Rules questions in 1 hour.
What score do you need to pass the Washington electrician exam?
You need 70% on each section separately. If you fail one section you retake only that section.
Which NEC edition is the Washington exam based on?
The 2020 NEC, per the current PSI bulletin and the L&I exam page. Washington's field code is the 2023 NEC, but the exam still tests the 2020 edition, so study the 2020 NEC.
Is the Washington electrician exam open book?
Yes, and you bring your own materials, including the NEC, the printed Washington laws and rules, and even question-and-answer books. Permanent tabs and highlighting are fine, but no handwritten notes and you cannot write in the book.
What is the Washington Laws and Rules section?
A separate 17-question section on RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B, covering licensing scopes, permits, inspection, and supervision. It is about a fifth of the exam and you must pass it on its own.