MA-JE Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows

What "Pass Rate" Means for a Two-Part Massachusetts Exam

Most people searching for a pass rate want one clean number: the share of candidates who pass the Massachusetts Journeyman Electrician exam. The structure of this credential makes that single number less meaningful than it sounds. The Journeyman Electrician, Certificate B, issued by the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians (MA BSEE) and administered through PSI Services LLC, is not one test. It is two separately scored parts, and each part has its own passing threshold.

That means "the pass rate" could refer to at least four different things: the share who pass Part I on a given attempt, the share who pass Part II on a given attempt, the share who clear both parts in a single sitting, or the share who eventually earn the license within the eligibility window. Each of those is a different statistic, and a headline figure that does not say which one it is describing tells you very little.

This article takes a different approach from a typical pass-rate post. Rather than repeat a number that cannot be verified, it explains what the exam's structure implies about where candidates succeed and struggle, what the published scoring rules require, and how to plan around the real risk factors. If you want the broader difficulty picture, our guide on how hard the MA-JE exam is pairs well with this one.

What Data Is Actually Published (and What Isn't)

The governing document for this exam is the MA BSEE/PSI Examination Candidate Information Bulletin, effective November 1, 2024. It lays out the format, timing, scoring thresholds, permitted references, and retake rules. What it does not do is publish aggregate first-time or overall pass percentages for Certificate B. Because of that, this site does not cite a pass rate, and you should be skeptical of any third-party page that quotes a precise figure without naming a primary source.

The facts that are firmly documented are the ones that actually drive your outcome: the number of questions, the time allowed, the cut score, the open-book format, the permitted references, and the retake mechanics. Those are covered below.

The Score Math Behind Each Part

Because there is no verified aggregate pass rate, the most useful thing you can do is understand exactly what the cut scores demand. Each part must be passed independently at 70%.

Notice the margin for error. On Part I you can afford 24 misses; on Part II only nine. Part II is shorter, but its smaller question count means each missed item costs proportionally more. A candidate who treats the applied part as an afterthought because it is "only 30 questions" is taking on more risk than the number suggests.

The headline total of 110 questions and four hours is simply the two parts added together. It is not a single combined timer, and the two parts are not interchangeable: strong performance on one does not offset weakness on the other. For a deeper look at the thresholds, see our breakdown of the MA-JE passing score.

Part I Terrain: Where 80 Questions Come From

Part I draws on Domains 1 through 13. The official question allocations, in heading order, are published as item counts rather than percentage weights, and it is worth studying them as counts because that is exactly how the bulletin presents them.

Three observations stand out. First, Wiring Methods and Devices at 18 items is the single largest block, representing a little under a quarter of the section. Second, Services (11) and General Knowledge (8) together with Wiring Methods account for 37 of the 80 questions. Third, newer topics carry real weight: Photovoltaic and Alarm Systems each contribute 6 items, and Energy Storage Systems adds 4, which together give those modern-systems topics 16 questions.

Because the allocations are item counts, a domain like Transformers with a single question is almost not worth dedicated study time compared with Wiring Methods and Devices. That does not mean ignore it, since a single code lookup can still be missed, but it should shape how you divide your hours. Our complete domains guide walks through all nineteen content areas.

Part II Terrain: The Applied Written Exam

Part II covers Domains 14 through 19 and is described as an applied written examination. It is not a hands-on assessment, and it is not the master electrician's Business and Law exam. Its 30 questions are divided across six domains.

The distribution here is flatter than Part I. The largest block, Troubleshooting and Testing, has just six items, and the rest sit at four or five. That flat profile has a practical consequence: there is no single dominant domain you can lean on to carry you. A weak spot in any one area, such as calculations or schematic reading, can cost enough questions to matter when the cut score is 21 of 30.

Why Candidates Miss the Mark: Structural Risk Factors

Without a published pass rate, we can still reason about where the exam is structurally unforgiving. These are inferences from the format, not measured statistics.

1. The open-book false sense of security. With the NEC, NFPA 72, the Massachusetts amendments, and licensing regulations permitted as references, it is easy to under-study. But 80 questions in 180 minutes leaves roughly two and a quarter minutes per item, and every lookup eats into that.
2. Reference navigation, not recall. Candidates who have not tabbed and learned the layout of their code book lose time hunting. Highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs are addressed in the bulletin.
3. The two-part independence rule. Passing Part I with a comfortable margin does nothing for Part II. Each part stands alone, so you must be ready for both.
4. Massachusetts-specific content. Domains 18 and 19, Massachusetts Amendments and Licensing Laws and Regulations, test state-specific material that generic national NEC prep does not cover.
5. Modern-systems gaps. Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Systems appear in Part I, and experienced electricians sometimes under-prepare because the topics were not part of their daily work.

Retakes, Eligibility Windows, and the Cost of a Miss

The practical meaning of any pass rate is what happens when you do not pass. Here the published rules are clear and worth planning around.

• Twelve-month window: Both parts must be passed within the applicable 12-month eligibility period.
• Three-attempt limit: After three unsuccessful attempts, the bulletin requires additional education before further attempts.
• Retake fees: Retake fees depend on the part, totaling $135 for both.

For context on the original outlay, the regular application and testing charge is $226, made up of a $60 PSI application processing fee, the $80 Part I fee, the $55 Part II fee, and a $31 state processing fee. Qualifying VALOR applicants pay $195 after the $31 state-processing charge is waived. Initial license issuance is $104, charged separately. A fuller accounting is in our MA-JE certification cost breakdown.

Testing takes place at authorized Massachusetts centers only; the bulletin excludes remote and out-of-state administration, so scheduling a retake means finding another in-state slot. That logistical friction, plus the fees, is the real cost of treating the first attempt casually.

A Pass-Rate-Informed Preparation Calendar

Since the item counts tell you where points live, schedule your study by item density rather than equal time per domain. This is the only generic-planning section in this article, and it is tied directly to the allocations above.

For a structured approach that goes beyond this outline, our MA-JE study guide covers first-attempt strategy in more depth, and the MA-JE cheat sheet condenses must-know facts for last-week review. When you are ready to test yourself under realistic conditions, the MA-JE practice test offers original 80-plus-30 style practice, and you can start a timed session to find your weak domains early.

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