The Connecticut E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson Guide

What Is the E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson License?

In Connecticut, the E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson is the standard journeyman credential. Holders may perform all electrical work as defined in Connecticut General Statutes § 20-330, but only while employed by a properly licensed contractor. The DCP Occupational and Professional Licensing division issues the license; PSI Services LLC administers the trade examination under contract with the state.

Connecticut uses the E-2 (unlimited) and E-1 (limited) journeyperson tiers. The E-2 is the broader, unlimited license covering all electrical work — the credential most journeyman electricians pursue.

The Requirements

• Registered apprenticeship program, or
• At least four (4) years of equivalent experience and training — 8,000 hours documented under licensed supervision.
• DCP eligibility approval before you may register for the exam (eligibility is valid 1 year).
• Pass the trade exam — no business-and-law portion is required for journeyperson-level licensure.

Exam Format: 80 Questions, 3.5 Hours, Open Book

The E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson examination is computer based: 80 scored multiple-choice questions with 3.5 hours (210 minutes) allowed. You need 70% to pass. Up to 10 additional unscored experimental questions may be included for exam development. The exam fee is $59.

The exam is open book and candidates bring their own references. The official bulletin allows the NEC or NEC Handbook (2020 or 2023), 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA construction), Ugly’s Electrical References, and NFPA 72. Permanent tabs and highlighting are fine; writing in books during the exam is prohibited.

What the Exam Covers

The official PSI Candidate Information Bulletin gives the exact subject breakdown of the 80 scored questions:

• Raceways and Boxes — 8 questions. Conduit, tubing, boxes, conduit and box fill.
• General Electrical Knowledge — 7 questions. Definitions, general requirements, and code administration.
• Service, Feeders, and Branch Circuits — 7 questions. Service sizing, feeders, branch circuits, load calculations.
• Conductors and Cables — 7 questions. Conductor types, sizing, ampacity, and installation.
• Grounding and Bonding — 6 questions. Grounding electrode systems, equipment grounding, bonding.
• Overcurrent Protection — 6 questions. Fuses, breakers, protection of conductors and equipment.
• Photovoltaics — 6 questions. PV systems, inverters, rapid shutdown, and interconnection.
• Special Occupancies and Equipment — 5 questions. Hazardous locations, health care, pools, and special applications.
• Motors — 5 questions. Motor circuits, controllers, overload and short-circuit protection.
• Fire Detection and Alarm Systems — 5 questions. Fire alarm circuits and signaling (NFPA 72).
• Safety Information — 5 questions. Safe work practices and OSHA-related knowledge.
• Electrical Power — 4 questions. Power systems and distribution basics.
• Lighting — 3 questions. Luminaires and lighting systems.
• Low Voltage — 2 questions. Class 2/3 power-limited circuits.
• Illuminated Signs — 2 questions. Sign circuits and outline lighting.
• High Voltage — 2 questions. Installations over 600 volts.

The distribution mirrors the national open-book journeyman pattern: roughly 35 of the 80 questions (44%) sit in the wiring core — conductors/cables, raceways/boxes, services/feeders/branch circuits, and general knowledge — and grounding/bonding plus overcurrent add another 12. Photovoltaics (6) and fire alarm (5) are heavier here than on most state exams, so budget study time for Article 690 and NFPA 72.

NEC Edition: 2020 or 2023

The current PSI bulletin permits the 2020 or 2023 NEC in the exam room. Connecticut’s field code (2022 Connecticut State Building Code) adopts the 2020 NEC with state amendments, but the exam bulletin accepts both editions. Preparing with the 2023 NEC keeps you aligned with the newest bulletin and the code used by neighboring states.

How to Prepare

• Learn the NEC chapter map. Chapter 2 wiring and protection, Chapter 3 wiring methods, Chapter 4 equipment, Chapter 9 tables.
• Weight by the blueprint. Raceways/Boxes, General Knowledge, Services/Feeders/Branch, and Conductors/Cables together are 29 of 80 questions.
• Don’t skip the CT specialties. Photovoltaics (6) and fire alarm (5) are real scoring weight — study Article 690 and NFPA 72 basics.
• Practice lookup speed. With 80 questions in 3.5 hours you have about 2.6 minutes each — open-book navigation is the difference.
• Simulate under exam conditions. Full-length timed runs of 80 questions build the pacing the real exam rewards.

After Licensure

The E-2 qualifies you to perform all electrical work as an employee of a licensed Connecticut electrical contractor. Connecticut licenses contractors (E-1 contractor tier) separately, which requires its own trade and business-law portions. If you hold a journeyman license from another state, contact the DCP about reciprocity — Connecticut does not broadly reciprocate, so plan to take the state exam.

Ready to Start?

Journeyman Practice covers the Connecticut E-2 exam with code-referenced questions across all 16 subject areas — conductors, raceways and boxes, services and feeders, grounding, motors, overcurrent, photovoltaics, fire alarm, and more — plus timed 80-question simulations in the real open-book format. Start with free NEC practice questions to see the format.

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