- The AL-JE is 80 questions in four hours, open book, with a 75% passing score.
- Conductors and Cables, General Electrical Knowledge, and Raceways and Boxes each carry 10 questions - the largest share of the exam.
- The remaining 11 domains split the other 50 questions, so no single one can be safely skipped.
- Only the 2023 NEC and the American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition are referenced until the Board moves to the 2026 NEC on January 1, 2027.
How the AL-JE Exam Is Built
The Alabama Electrical Journeyman Exam (AL-JE), administered through Prov, Inc. on behalf of the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, is a single 80-question, computer-based multiple-choice exam delivered over a four-hour window. It's open book, meaning you can bring your code book to the testing center - but only under specific conditions. A simple four-function calculator, highlighting, and permanent book tabs are permitted, while loose notes and movable tabs are not. Show up with the wrong reference material or the wrong kind of tabbing and you risk delays at check-in.
Passing requires a 75% score, and the current bulletin governing the exam content is dated July 22, 2026. That bulletin ties the test to the 2023 NEC and the American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition - the Board doesn't switch to the 2026 NEC until January 1, 2027, so anyone testing before that date should be studying the 2023 code cycle, not a newer one.
What makes the AL-JE distinct from a generic electrical knowledge quiz is that its 80 questions are distributed across 14 named domains, each representing a slice of real journeyman-level work: everything from conductor sizing to fire alarm circuits to motor overload protection. If you want the full mechanics of how the exam is scored and what "passing" actually requires, see the AL-JE Passing Score 2026 guide for a deeper breakdown.
The Three Heavyweight Domains
Three of the 14 domains are tied for the largest allocation on the exam, each contributing 10 questions. Together, they account for 30 of the 80 total questions - more than a third of the exam - which makes them the natural starting point for any study plan.
| Domain | Questions | Share of Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Conductors and Cables | 10 | Largest (tied) |
| General Electrical Knowledge | 10 | Largest (tied) |
| Raceways and Boxes | 10 | Largest (tied) |
| Remaining 11 domains combined | 50 | Split across the rest |
Conductors and Cables
This domain covers conductor sizing, ampacity tables, insulation types, cable construction, and the rules governing splices and terminations. Expect questions that require pulling specific values from NEC ampacity charts rather than recalling them from memory.
- Correction and adjustment factors for conductors in conduit
- Conductor identification and color-coding requirements
- Allowable applications for different cable types (NM, MC, SE, USE)
General Electrical Knowledge
This is the broadest domain by design - it covers foundational theory: Ohm's Law calculations, power formulas, series and parallel circuit behavior, and basic definitions used throughout the NEC. It's less about a single code article and more about baseline electrical literacy.
- Voltage drop, current, and power calculations
- Code definitions and terminology (Article 100)
- Single-phase vs. three-phase fundamentals
Raceways and Boxes
This domain tests knowledge of conduit fill, box sizing, support spacing, and the specific rules for each raceway type - EMT, rigid, PVC, and flexible conduit among them. Fill and box-fill calculations are common question formats here.
- Conduit fill percentages and trade size selection
- Box fill calculations including device and conductor allowances
- Support and securing distance requirements by raceway type
Key Takeaway
Because these three domains make up 30 of 80 questions, mastering NEC tables for ampacity, conduit fill, and box fill calculations before test day pays off more than any other single study decision.
The Other Eleven Content Areas
The remaining 50 questions are distributed across 11 additional domains. None is labeled with an exact individual count in the current bulletin, but each represents a distinct body of knowledge a working journeyman electrician is expected to apply on the job - so treat every one of them as fair game rather than assuming any is a minor afterthought.
Electrical Power
Covers service voltage systems, transformer basics, and how power is distributed from the utility connection through the building's electrical system.
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
Focuses on wiring methods, circuit classifications, and installation requirements for fire alarm initiating and notification devices.
Grounding and Bonding
Tests the difference between grounding and bonding, electrode sizing, and bonding jumper requirements - a perennial trouble spot for candidates who confuse Article 250 terminology.
Illuminated Signs
Covers disconnect requirements, wiring methods, and listing requirements specific to electric signs and outline lighting.
Lighting
Includes branch circuit requirements for lighting outlets, fixture support, and specific dwelling and commercial lighting rules.
Low Voltage
Addresses Class 1, 2, and 3 circuits, along with communications and signaling system wiring requirements distinct from standard branch circuits.
Motors
Covers motor branch circuit conductor sizing, overload protection, and disconnect requirements - often paired conceptually with overcurrent protection questions.
Overcurrent Protection
Focuses on breaker and fuse sizing, series ratings, and coordination between conductor ampacity and protective device ratings.
Safety Information
Tests knowledge of safe work practices, clearance requirements, and hazard identification relevant to journeyman-level fieldwork.
Service, Feeders, and Branch Circuits
Covers service entrance sizing, feeder calculations, and branch circuit load requirements - closely related to General Electrical Knowledge but focused specifically on distribution.
Special Occupancies and Equipment
Addresses installation rules for locations like hazardous areas, health care facilities, and other spaces with equipment-specific NEC chapters.
For a full sense of how examiners frame difficulty across all 14 areas - not just raw question counts - the How Hard Is the AL-JE Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through the reasoning skills tested in each domain type.
Registration, Fees, and Eligibility Windows
Domain knowledge only matters once you're actually eligible to sit for the exam. Applicants need 8,000 documented electrical-installation hours, though approved education or apprenticeship time can substitute at a rate of 1,000 hours per year, up to a maximum of 2,000 hours. Documentation runs through notarized experience forms and supporting tax records, with a separate route available for registered-apprenticeship graduates.
The examination fee is $115, paid directly to the Board, and the initial license fee is $35 once you pass. Paying by credit card adds a 4% service charge, so budgeting for the check or ACH option can save a small amount. Once your application is approved, Prov scheduling eligibility opens 90 days later. If you don't pass on your first attempt, you can reapply, but keep in mind the underlying journeyman application expires after two years if you haven't passed and obtained the license by then.
After licensure, renewal is annual, due before the end of the quarter in which the license was originally issued, with a $35 renewal fee. There's currently no continuing education requirement for journeyman electricians in Alabama, which is unusual compared to many other states' trade licenses. For the complete cost picture - exam fee, license fee, and what candidates typically spend on study materials - see the AL-JE Certification Cost 2026 breakdown, and for a step-by-step eligibility walkthrough, check the AL-JE Requirements 2026 guide.
Sequencing Your Prep by Domain
Given that Conductors and Cables, General Electrical Knowledge, and Raceways and Boxes together make up more than a third of the exam, it makes sense to front-load your prep with these three before spreading attention across the remaining 11. A simple sequencing approach - reviewing one or two domains per week using your tabbed code book and practice questions - keeps the workload manageable inside a typical multi-week prep window.
Foundation and Calculations
- General Electrical Knowledge - Ohm's Law, power formulas, circuit theory
- Conductors and Cables - ampacity tables and correction factors
Installation Mechanics
- Raceways and Boxes - fill calculations and support rules
- Grounding and Bonding - electrode sizing and bonding jumpers
- Overcurrent Protection - breaker/fuse coordination
Systems and Special Areas
- Service, Feeders, and Branch Circuits; Motors; Lighting
- Low Voltage, Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, Illuminated Signs
- Electrical Power, Safety Information, Special Occupancies and Equipment
Practicing under timed conditions with a permanently tabbed code book - the only kind allowed at the testing center - helps you build the same navigation speed you'll need on exam day. For a condensed reference you can drill against repeatedly, the AL-JE Cheat Sheet 2026 distills must-know facts by domain, and running full-length questions on our AL-JE practice test platform is one of the fastest ways to see which of the 14 domains still need work.
Who Actually Uses This License
The Journeyman Electrician license issued after passing the AL-JE is the credential Alabama's electrical contractors look for when staffing residential, commercial, and industrial jobs - it's the standard proof that someone can legally perform unsupervised electrical installation work in the state. Contractors hiring for service and feeder work, sign installation crews, and low-voltage or fire alarm subcontractors all rely on this license as the baseline qualification, which is part of why the exam's domains map so closely to real job categories rather than abstract theory. If you're weighing whether the time and cost investment makes sense for your career, the Is the AL-JE Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article and the AL-JE Salary Guide 2026 both go into the career-side considerations in more depth.
Before diving into domain-specific study, it's worth reviewing exactly what the credential represents and how it differs from similarly named certifications elsewhere - the What Is AL-JE? overview and the general AL-JE Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt are good starting points if you're earlier in the process. You can also start running practice questions right away at the AL-JE practice test homepage to get a feel for question phrasing across all 14 domains before committing to a full study schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 14 domains total, covering everything from Conductors and Cables to Special Occupancies and Equipment, spread across the exam's 80 questions.
Conductors and Cables, General Electrical Knowledge, and Raceways and Boxes are tied as the largest domains, with 10 questions each - 30 of the 80 total.
Yes. The remaining 11 domains split the other 50 questions, and since passing requires a 75% overall score, weak performance in any one area can still affect your result.
The current bulletin, dated July 22, 2026, references the 2023 NEC and the American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition. The Board doesn't move to the 2026 NEC until January 1, 2027.
No. The exam is open book, and permanent tabs, highlighting, and a simple four-function calculator are allowed, but loose notes and movable tabs are prohibited.