Rusty Journeyman seeking advice
I completed a 1080 hour vocational school and passed my journeyman test in 2018 while I was in high school. I didn’t use any of my skills until 2025. I’ve been a commercial electrician for the last 6 months.
I love my job and want to pursue my master license. In 18 months I can test for it in my state. My overall goal is gain as much experience and knowledge as possible, get my master’s license here, then test for my masters again in another state.
In the last 6 months I’ve learned that nothing on the journeyman test had anything to do with actual field work, and that I forgot a lot of what I learned in class. The class was mostly focused on electrical theory and residential wiring.
I’m trying to prepare my study plan so I can relearn what I should know and also prepare myself for the master exam. I have no idea where to start, so I turned to ChatGPT. I asked it to create a study plan for me and after having it revised a few times I have something I think will work. I was hoping some of the master electricians here could review the plan and tell me if it seems alright or if there’s other areas I should focus on/add to the plan, or for any advice in general.
I’m currently in WV and we’re testing on the 2020 code. I assume by the time I test it’ll be on the 2023 code but for the time being I’m going to study off of 2020. Here’s the plan:
West Virginia Master Electrician Exam Study Plan (2020 NEC – "Rusty Skills" Edition)
Overview
Designed for electricians returning to the trade after a gap. Focus: rebuild confidence, refresh theory, master NEC navigation, and prep for WV’s 2020 NEC-based Master Exam.
PHASE 1 — Refresher & Foundation (Months 1–4 / Weeks 1–16)
Goal: Rebuild fundamental understanding of electrical theory and NEC organization.
Weeks 1–2: Electrical Theory Reboot
- Review Ohm’s Law, voltage, current, and power.
- Use Ugly’s Reference and Mike Holt’s videos.
Weeks 3–4: Safety & NEC Structure
- Articles 90–110. Learn layout and tab your codebook.
Weeks 5–6: Branch Circuits (Art. 210)
- Breaker sizing, GFCI/AFCI rules.
Weeks 7–8: Services & Feeders (Art. 215, 230)
- Conductor sizing, Table 310.16 drills.
Weeks 9–10: Overcurrent & Grounding (Art. 240, 250)
- Bonding, grounding diagrams, electrode systems.
Weeks 11–12: Wiring Methods (Ch. 3)
- NM, EMT, PVC; conduit and box fill.
Weeks 13–14: Hands-On Refresher
- Build small circuits, receptacles, and panels.
Weeks 15–16: Mini Mock Exam
- 25–30 question open-book test; review weak areas.
PHASE 2 — Intermediate Mastery (Months 5–9 / Weeks 17–39)
Goal: Transition from theory to applied mastery of complex code topics.
Weeks 17–20: Load Calculations I
- Article 220 (Parts I–III); residential examples.
Weeks 21–24: Load Calculations II
- Article 220 (Parts IV–V); multifamily and small commercial.
Weeks 25–28: Motors & Transformers (Art. 430, 450)
- Conductor, overload, and OCPD sizing practice.
Weeks 29–31: Special Occupancies (Art. 500–517)
- Hazardous, healthcare, and assembly rules.
Weeks 32–34: Grounding Deep Dive (Art. 250)
- Tables 250.66 & 250.122 review and flashcards.
Weeks 35–37: Wiring Practice
- Full feeder/service mock-up or panel project.
Weeks 38–39: Mid-Phase Exam
- 50 open-book questions; aim for 75%+.
PHASE 3 — Advanced (Months 10–14 / Weeks 40–61)
Goal: Build speed, confidence, and accuracy in complex calculations and NEC lookup.
Weeks 40–43: Feeder/Service Calculations
- Apply demand factors; compare conductor sizes.
Weeks 44–47: Voltage Drop & Conduit Fill
- Timed drills using Chapter 9 Tables 1–8.
Weeks 48–51: Motor Control Circuits (Art. 430 F–G)
- Ladder logic and control diagrams.
Weeks 52–55: Lighting & Appliances (Art. 410, 422, 424)
- Lookup drills and exception memorization.
Weeks 56–58: Timed Practice Exams
- 4-hour open-book sessions; target 80%.
Weeks 59–61: Error Review
- Revisit weakest topics; flashcards and retests.
PHASE 4 — Final Review & Exam Prep (Months 15–18 / Weeks 62–78)
Goal: Finalize readiness, simulate real test conditions, and optimize NEC speed.
Weeks 62–65: Code Navigation Mastery
- Lookup 10 random code sections daily (<20 seconds each).
Weeks 66–69: Mock Exams II
- Two 4-hour practice tests; target 85%+.
Weeks 70–73: High-Frequency Review
- Re-read Articles 90, 100, 110, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 310, 408, 430, 450.
Weeks 74–76: Light Review
- Short daily sessions; flashcards; rest weekends.
Week 77: Final Mock Exam
- 4-hour test; target 90%.
Week 78: Exam Week
- No study 48 hrs before; rest and prepare materials.
Quick Tips
- Study 5 days per week, 60–90 minutes each.
- Use NEC tabs and highlights.
- Combine reading, video, and hands-on learning.
- Every 3 months, take a mock exam to measure progress.
Any advice is appreciated!
Posted Nov 1, 2025, 7:53 PM UTC