- The exam has 80 scored questions in 240 minutes, plus 5 unscored pretest questions in 20 extra minutes.
- Passing requires 70%; the exam fee is $64 plus a separate $20 initial license application fee.
- Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems carries 16 scored questions - the single largest domain.
- Only publisher-made permanent NEC tabs are allowed; homemade or movable tabs are prohibited.
Exam Mechanics at a Glance
Before you memorize a single code table, lock in the logistics. The Texas Residential Wireman Electrician License Exam (TX-RW) is a computer-based, multiple-choice test administered by PSI Services LLC on behalf of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). It consists of 80 scored questions delivered in 240 minutes, plus five additional unscored pretest questions with 20 extra minutes tacked on - 85 total questions across four hours and 20 minutes of seat time. You need 70% correct on the scored portion to pass. Both English and Spanish versions of the exam are offered.
Because the unscored items are mixed in and not identified, treat every question on screen as if it counts. There's no way to skip the pretest set, and no advantage to guessing which five are unscored.
For a deeper walkthrough of what test day actually feels like, see our complete difficulty guide, and for the exact score mechanics see exactly what you need to pass.
Domain-by-Domain Scored Item Breakdown
The 80 scored questions are not distributed evenly. Knowing the weight of each of the 10 content domains lets you triage your remaining study hours instead of spreading them thin. Here is the official scored-item allocation, in domain order:
| Domain | Name | Scored Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Definitions, Calculations, Theory, and Plans | 8 |
| 2 | Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems | 16 |
| 3 | Electrical Feeders | 7 |
| 4 | Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors | 14 |
| 5 | Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials | 10 |
| 6 | Electrical Equipment and Devices | 12 |
| 7 | Motors and Generators | 2 |
| 8 | Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means | 2 |
| 9 | Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions | 7 |
| 10 | Renewable Energy Technologies | 2 |
Domains 2, 4, and 6 alone account for 42 of the 80 scored questions - more than half the exam. Domains 7, 8, and 10 combine for only 6 questions total, so treat them as light-review items rather than deep-dive projects. For the full narrative breakdown of what each domain actually tests, read the complete guide to all 10 content areas.
Key Takeaway
Spend roughly proportional time to weight: Domain 2 deserves double the study hours of Domain 4, and both deserve far more than Domains 7, 8, or 10 combined.
Fees, Eligibility, and Scheduling Snapshot
The exam fee is $64 per attempt, and it is separate from the $20 initial license application fee you pay to TDLR. Budget for both - the application fee is not refunded or waived if you need a retake.
Eligibility runs through documented experience, not just classroom hours:
- 4,000 documented on-the-job hours supervised by a Texas-licensed Master Electrician or Residential Wireman, or
- Completion of a TDLR-approved career and technology education program
- Separate signed experience verification from each supervisor you worked under
TDLR must approve your application before you can schedule with PSI, and once approved, you have one year to complete all licensing requirements - including passing the exam. You may retest as many times as needed within that eligibility window, but each attempt costs another $64.
For the full cost picture across application, exam, retakes, and renewal, see the complete pricing breakdown, and for the step-by-step qualification path check eligibility, prerequisites, and how to qualify. If you're still confirming scheduling windows and deadlines, our testing windows and scheduling guide covers that separately.
Open-Book Rules Cheat Sheet
The TX-RW is open book, but "open book" comes with strict conditions that trip up unprepared candidates on test day. Get these rules memorized before you walk in:
- Allowed: A softbound NEC with notes, highlighting, or underlining you completed before the exam appointment.
- Allowed: Permanent index tabs - but only if manufactured or provided by the NEC publisher.
- Prohibited: Homemade tabs, third-party tabs, movable tabs, added sheets, the NEC Handbook, and any loose-leaf, spiral-bound, or ring-bound version of the code book.
- Prohibited: Marking or writing in the book during the actual exam session. Need to jot something down mid-test? Use the electronic notepad PSI provides at the workstation.
Calculation Defaults
Unless a question explicitly says otherwise, assume copper conductors and standard calculation methods. Optional methods and code exceptions only apply when the question directs you to use them - don't assume an exception just because it's technically allowed under the NEC.
- Default to copper, not aluminum, unless told otherwise
- Use standard (not optional) load calculation methods by default
- Apply exceptions only when the question text invokes them
Bring your NEC exactly as it will look on test day weeks in advance, and rehearse navigating it under time pressure. Our first-attempt study guide walks through building an index-tab system that survives PSI's inspection at check-in.
NEC 2026 Transition Note
PSI's exam content bulletin was updated on July 9, 2026, shifting the TX-RW's code references to the NEC 2026 edition, effective September 1, 2026. If your test date falls on or after that effective date, your code book and any tabs need to reflect the 2026 edition - not 2023 or earlier. If you scheduled before checking this, verify your edition against the current bulletin before you finalize your tabs, since re-tabbing a different edition the night before your exam is not a productive use of study time.
High-Yield Topics by Domain
Beyond raw question counts, here's what candidates consistently need to nail within the heaviest domains.
Domain 2: Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems (16 questions)
The single largest domain on the exam. Expect service sizing, grounding and bonding of separately derived systems, and equipment clearance requirements.
- Service entrance conductor sizing and disconnect rules
- Grounding electrode system requirements
- Separately derived system bonding distinctions
Domain 4: Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors (14 questions)
Heavy on load calculations for dwelling units - this is where copper-default and standard-method assumptions matter most.
- Branch circuit load calculations for single-family and multifamily dwellings
- Conductor ampacity and derating factors
- Voltage drop considerations in residential runs
Domain 6: Electrical Equipment and Devices (12 questions)
Covers the devices and equipment a residential wireman installs and terminates daily.
- Receptacle, switch, and GFCI/AFCI device requirements
- Panelboard and equipment labeling rules
- Device placement per occupancy type
Remember that the license itself covers single-family and multifamily dwellings not exceeding four stories, so every scenario question is scoped to that residential context - not commercial or industrial installations.
Final Review Week Timeline
In the last week before your scheduled date, structure your remaining hours around domain weight rather than a generic review checklist.
Domain 2 Deep Review
- Re-work service sizing and grounding/bonding scenarios
- Confirm tabs on relevant NEC 2026 articles
Domains 4 and 6
- Run timed load-calculation drills for dwelling units
- Review device and equipment placement rules
Domains 1, 5, 9
- Review definitions, calculations basics, and wiring methods
- Cover special occupancy rules relevant to residential work
Light Domains 3, 7, 8, 10
- Quick pass on feeders, motors, control devices, renewables
- These total under 15 combined scored questions - don't overinvest
Logistics and Rest
- Final-check NEC tabs against publisher rules
- Confirm exam fee payment and appointment details
This isn't a generic weekly template - it's built directly from the scored-item allocation above, so the hours you spend map to how many points are actually at stake. For a fuller multi-week plan, see the first-attempt study guide.
What the Pass Rate Tells You
TDLR's fiscal-year 2025 data shows a Residential Wireman examination-attempt pass rate of 30.15% - 331 passes against 767 failures across 1,098 examinations, with 83 no-shows tracked separately. This is an exam-attempt statistic, not a first-time-candidate rate, and it isn't a 2026 figure, so don't treat it as a direct prediction of your personal odds.
What it does tell you: this exam rewards structured, domain-weighted preparation over casual review, and retakes are common enough that TDLR's one-year eligibility window and repeat-attempt allowance exist for a reason. For the full data breakdown and how to interpret it responsibly, read what the data shows.
Key Takeaway
Use the pass-rate data to justify disciplined prep time, not to gauge your individual chances - your outcome depends on how well you cover Domains 2, 4, and 6 specifically.
Who Hires TX-RW License Holders
The Residential Wireman license is scoped to single-family and multifamily dwellings not exceeding four stories, which shapes who does the hiring: residential electrical contractors, home builders, remodeling firms, and property management companies working on apartment complexes within that height limit. It's a distinct scope from commercial or industrial electrical work, and job postings typically reflect that residential focus directly. If you're weighing whether the license is worth pursuing given the time and fee investment, our ROI analysis and earnings analysis go into more depth, and you can browse current openings through TX-RW jobs.
Before you get to that stage, though, get comfortable with the exam format itself by running full-length questions on our practice test platform - repetition against realistic domain weighting is the fastest way to convert this cheat sheet into exam-day confidence.
FAQ
There are 80 scored questions in 240 minutes, plus 5 unscored pretest questions with an extra 20 minutes - 85 total questions across four hours and 20 minutes.
You need 70% correct on the 80 scored questions. The five unscored items don't count toward your result but aren't identified during the test.
No. It must be a softbound NEC with pre-completed notes or highlighting, and any index tabs must be permanent tabs made or provided by the NEC publisher - homemade tabs, the Handbook, and ring-bound or spiral-bound editions are prohibited.
Domain 2, Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems, carries 16 of the 80 scored questions - the largest single share. Domains 4 and 6 follow at 14 and 12 questions respectively.
PSI's bulletin update effective that date shifts code references to the NEC 2026 edition, so confirm your code book edition and tabs match before your appointment.