The Kentucky Standard Journeyman Electrician Guide

What Is the Kentucky Journeyman License?

The Kentucky Standard Journeyman Electrician license is issued by the Electrical Licensing Division of the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction under KRS 227A (implementing rules at 815 KAR 35). It is valid statewide and authorizes electrical work under the supervision of a licensed master electrician or electrical contractor.

The Requirements

• 8,000 hours (4 years) of documented electrical experience, including approved apprenticeship time.
• DHBC Electrical Division approval before scheduling the examination.
• Pass the ICC exam — exam 703, Kentucky Standard Journeyman Electrician, at 70%.

Exam Format: 80 Questions, 4 Hours, Open Book

The exam has 80 scored multiple-choice questions with a 4-hour (240-minute) time limit. You need 70% to pass (815 KAR 35:060 §4(1)). It is open book — the 2023 NEC is the primary reference for code questions. The Pearson VUE examination fee is $100.

What the Exam Covers

The official ICC bulletin (CO_KY.pdf, rev. January 17, 2026) gives the exact percentage weighting of the 80 scored questions:

• Wiring Methods and Materials — 26% (21 questions). The heaviest area: raceways, cables, boxes, and wiring method rules.
• Branch Circuits and Conductors — 19% (15 questions). Conductor sizing, ampacity, and branch-circuit requirements.
• Equipment and Devices — 13% (10 questions). Receptacles, switches, and general-use equipment.
• Services and Service Equipment — 11% (9 questions). Service conductors, disconnects, and service equipment.
• Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions — 11% (9 questions). Hazardous locations and special applications.
• General Knowledge — 6% (5 questions). Theory, definitions, and plan reading.
• Motors and Generators — 6% (5 questions). Motor circuits and protection.
• Feeders — 4% (3 questions). Feeder sizing and protection.
• Control Devices — 4% (3 questions). Motor controls and control circuits.

How to Prepare

• Weight by the blueprint. Wiring Methods (26%) + Branch Circuits (19%) is 45% of the exam.
• Master Chapter 9 tables. Conduit fill and box fill calculations appear throughout the wiring-methods questions.
• Practice lookup speed. With 80 questions in 4 hours you have 3 minutes each — open-book navigation is the difference.
• Simulate under exam conditions. Full-length timed runs of 80 questions build the pacing and stamina the real exam rewards.

Ready to Start?

Journeyman Practice covers the Kentucky Standard Journeyman exam with code-referenced questions across all nine subject areas, plus timed 80-question simulations in the real ICC open-book format. Start with free NEC practice questions to see the format.

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