Journeyman Electrician Cheat Sheet

Journeyman Electrician Exam Cheat Sheet NEC 2026

Free printable reference — eletest.tthefl.com · For study use only · Not a substitute for the NEC codebook

Ohm’s Law & Power Formulas

V = I × R I = V ÷ R R = V ÷ I

P = V × I P = I² × R P = V² ÷ R

Voltage Drop: VD = (2 × K × L × I) ÷ CM
K = 12.9 (copper), 21.2 (aluminum). L = one-way distance (ft). CM = circular mils.

Three-phase power: P = V × I × 1.732 × PF

Motor Sizing (Art. 430)

Branch circuit conductor: FLA × 125%
Standard inverse-time breaker: FLA × 250%
Overload protection: FLA × 115% (SF ≥ 1.15, temp rise ≤ 40°C) or FLA × 125%
Disconnecting means: within sight of motor and controller
Three-phase FLA: see Table 430.250

Grounding Electrode Conductor (Art. 250)

Table 250.66 — copper GEC size by service conductor size:

Service Conductor	Min. Copper GEC
2 AWG or smaller	8 AWG
1 AWG – 1/0 AWG	6 AWG
2/0 AWG – 3/0 AWG	4 AWG
Over 3/0 AWG – 350 kcmil	2 AWG
Over 350 kcmil – 600 kcmil	1/0 AWG
Over 600 kcmil – 1100 kcmil	2/0 AWG
Over 1100 kcmil	3/0 AWG

Conductor Ampacity — Copper (Table 310.12)

AWG / kcmil	60°C (140°F)	75°C (167°F)	90°C (194°F)
14 AWG	15 A	20 A	25 A
12 AWG	20 A	25 A	30 A
10 AWG	30 A	35 A	40 A
8 AWG	40 A	50 A	55 A
6 AWG	55 A	65 A	75 A
4 AWG	70 A	85 A	95 A
3 AWG	85 A	100 A	115 A
2 AWG	95 A	115 A	130 A
1 AWG	110 A	130 A	145 A
1/0 AWG	125 A	150 A	170 A
2/0 AWG	145 A	175 A	195 A
3/0 AWG	165 A	200 A	225 A
4/0 AWG	195 A	230 A	260 A

Derating applies for >3 current-carrying conductors, ambient temps ≠ 30°C, or continuous loads.

Dwelling Load Calc — Standard Method (Art. 220)

General lighting: sq ft × 3 VA
Small appliance circuits: 2 × 1,500 VA = 3,000 VA
Laundry circuit: 1,500 VA
Apply demand factor (Table 220.42): first 3,000 VA @ 100%; remainder @ 35%
Add individual loads (dryer, range, A/C, water heater) at nameplate or NEC demand factor
Total VA ÷ 240V = minimum amperes

GFCI Required Locations — NEC 2026 (Art. 210.8)

Location	Required Since	Notes
Bathrooms	NEC 1975	All receptacles within 6 ft of sink edge
Garages	NEC 1978	All 125V, 15/20A receptacles
Outdoors	NEC 1978	All 125V, 15/20A receptacles
Crawl spaces	NEC 1990	All 15/20A receptacles at or below grade
Unfinished basements	NEC 1990	All 15/20A receptacles
Kitchen countertops	NEC 1987	Receptacles within 6 ft of sink
Boathouses	NEC 1990	All 15/20A receptacles
Pool areas / hot tubs	Various	See Art. 680 for all receptacle locations
Dishwasher circuit	NEC 2020	Single-phase 125V branch circuit
Laundry areas	NEC 2023	All receptacles
Indoor damp/wet locations	NEC 2014	All 15/20A receptacles

AFCI Required Locations — NEC 2026 (Art. 210.12)

NEC 2026 Major Expansion: AFCI protection is now required for nearly all 120V, 15A and 20A branch circuits in dwelling units, including circuits serving: bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, halls, closets, sunrooms, recreation rooms, and similar rooms.

AFCI devices: combination-type AFCI breaker at the panel, or outlet branch circuit AFCI device at the first outlet.

NEC 2026 New Requirements to Know

Article	New Requirement
210.12	AFCI protection expanded — nearly all 120V dwelling circuits
210.17	EV-ready outlet required in garages of new single-family homes
230.67	Surge protective device (SPD) required at service equipment for new installations
625	EV charging equipment article fully rewritten — covers bidirectional (V2G) charging
706	Energy storage systems (home batteries, solar+storage) — significantly expanded requirements

Key NEC Articles for the Journeyman Exam

Article	Topic	What to Know
100	Definitions	OCPD, feeder, branch circuit, dwelling unit, accessible, identified
210	Branch Circuits	Most-tested article — GFCI, AFCI, ratings, outlet spacing
220	Load Calculations	Standard dwelling method — general lighting, appliances, demand factors
230	Services	Location, sizing, disconnecting means, clearances
240	Overcurrent Protection	Breaker sizing, location, accessibility, standard sizes
250	Grounding & Bonding	GEC sizing (Table 250.66), electrode system, EGC, bonding jumpers
300	Wiring Methods — General	Clearances, protection, conduit fill, underground rules
310	Conductors	Ampacity (Table 310.12), insulation types, derate rules
430	Motors	125% conductor, 250% OCPD, overload, disconnect sizing

Exam Day Tips

Tab your NEC: Art. 100, 210, 220, 250, 310, 430 at minimum. Know the NEC index, not just the table of contents.
Look for key words: EXCEPT, SHALL NOT, MINIMUM, MAXIMUM, UNLESS — they change the answer.
Write out load calculations step by step on scratch paper. One rushed step = wrong answer.
On motor questions: conductor sizing and OCPD sizing use different percentages — keep them separate.
For ampacity questions: use the conductor’s terminal temperature rating (usually 60°C or 75°C), not the insulation rating.

Journeyman Electrician Cheat Sheet — NEC 2026

Ohm’s Law & Power Formulas

Motor Sizing (Art. 430)

Grounding Electrode Conductor (Art. 250)

Conductor Ampacity — Copper (Table 310.12)

Dwelling Load Calc — Standard Method (Art. 220)

GFCI Required Locations — NEC 2026 (Art. 210.8)

AFCI Required Locations — NEC 2026 (Art. 210.12)

NEC 2026 New Requirements to Know

Key NEC Articles for the Journeyman Exam

Exam Day Tips