- The NM-EE98J covers 27 total content areas across Part 1 Code, Part 2 Theory, and a hands-on Practical.
- Part 1 has 50 questions in 145 minutes; Part 2 has 50 questions in 120 minutes; each requires 75% to pass.
- Domain 12 (Theory General Knowledge) carries 18 of 50 Part 2 questions - the single heaviest content area.
- The Practical is a 120-minute, 100-point hands-on exam split across seven distinct projects.
How the NM-EE98J Is Organized
The New Mexico EE-98J Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical Certificate Exam is administered through PSI under the authority of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division. If you're still getting oriented to the credential itself, start with What Is NM-EE98J? or the broader NM-EE98J Certification overview before diving into domain-level detail.
The exam is split into three distinct components, and understanding how content is distributed across all 27 domains is the single most important step in building an efficient study plan. Rather than treating "study for the electrical exam" as one giant task, the domain breakdown lets you allocate hours proportionally to how many points each area is actually worth.
Every component requires a 75% score to pass, and a passing score on any component remains valid for one year - which matters if you need to retake a single part rather than the whole exam. For a full breakdown of exactly what "passing" means numerically, see NM-EE98J Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Part 1 Code Domains (11 Areas)
Part 1 draws exclusively from the 2020 National Electrical Code and the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code. Because it's open-book, the exam isn't testing memorization - it's testing how fast and accurately you can navigate the code book under time pressure. Bound references may be highlighted, underlined, indexed, and permanently tabbed before the test, but they cannot contain handwritten notes or loose inserts. A silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator is permitted. Eleven domains make up the 50 Part 1 questions:
Domain 1: General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements (4 questions)
Foundational code organization, definitions, and general installation rules that apply across article types.
- Article 90 scope and NEC organization
Domain 2: Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (7 questions)
The largest Part 1 domain - service sizing, feeder calculations, and branch-circuit rating rules.
- Load calculations and conductor sizing tables
Domain 3: Overcurrent Protection (4 questions)
Breaker and fuse selection, coordination, and protection requirements for various equipment classes.
- Article 240 sizing and location rules
Domain 4: Grounding and Bonding (6 questions)
One of the heavier Part 1 domains - grounding electrode systems, bonding jumpers, and equipment grounding conductors.
- Article 250 sizing tables and bonding methods
Domain 5: Conductors and Cables (5 questions)
Ampacity tables, conductor identification, and cable-type applications.
- Table 310 ampacity adjustments and derating
Domain 6: Raceways and Boxes (5 questions)
Conduit fill, box sizing, and support requirements across raceway types.
- Box fill calculations and conduit body rules
Domain 7: Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment (4 questions)
Classified locations and unique occupancy requirements found in Chapter 5 and related articles.
- Class/Division and Zone system distinctions
Domain 8: Lighting, Signs, and General-Use Equipment (3 questions)
Fixture installation clearances, sign circuits, and general-use equipment rules.
- Luminaire and sign-circuit requirements
Domain 9: Motors, Transformers, and Generators (5 questions)
Sizing overcurrent protection and conductors for rotating machinery and transformers.
- Motor branch-circuit and overload calculations
Domain 10: NM State Code (4 questions)
New Mexico-specific amendments layered on top of the national code - a domain many out-of-state candidates underestimate.
- State-specific amendments to the 2020 NEC
Domain 11: Low Voltage (3 questions)
Class 2/3 circuits and low-voltage wiring methods addressed in Part 1's code context.
- Article 725 circuit classifications
Part 2 Theory Domains (9 Areas)
Part 2 is closed-book, meaning the same subject matter from Part 1 now has to be recalled from memory and applied to practical scenarios rather than looked up. This is where theoretical electrical knowledge - Ohm's Law, power calculations, circuit behavior - gets combined with code-adjacent reasoning.
Domain 12: General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements (18 questions)
By far the heaviest domain in the entire exam. Covers core electrical theory, calculations, and general installation principles tested without reference materials.
- Ohm's Law, power formulas, and series/parallel circuit math
Domain 13: Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (5 questions)
Theory-based application of service and feeder sizing concepts without code-book lookups.
- Recalling load calculation methods from memory
Domain 14: Overcurrent Protection (4 questions)
Applying breaker/fuse selection logic conceptually rather than via table lookup.
- Understanding protection coordination principles
Domain 15: Grounding and Bonding (5 questions)
Conceptual grounding and bonding theory - why systems are grounded, not just how to size them.
- Fault current path theory
Domain 16: Conductors and Cables (3 questions)
Conductor behavior under load, resistance, and heat - theory behind the ampacity tables.
- Voltage drop calculations
Domain 17: Raceways and Boxes (3 questions)
Conceptual understanding of raceway sizing and fill principles.
- Fill percentage logic without table lookup
Domain 18: Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment (2 questions)
Conceptual grasp of classified-location hazards and equipment protection methods.
- Ignition source and explosion-proof principles
Domain 19: Lighting, Signs, and General-Use Equipment (2 questions)
Theory behind fixture circuits and general-use equipment operation.
- Lighting circuit load theory
Domain 20: Low Voltage, including Alarms (8 questions)
A significant Part 2 domain covering low-voltage systems and alarm circuit theory in depth.
- Alarm circuit power and signaling principles
Practical Exam Domains (7 Projects)
The hands-on Practical is a 120-minute, 100-point exam broken into seven scored projects. This is where code and theory knowledge turns into physical work - wiring, bending, and identifying materials under a clock.
Domain 21: Motor Control Project (20 points)
The highest-value practical project alongside Domain 22 - building or wiring a motor control circuit correctly and efficiently.
- Practice motor control wiring until it's automatic, not deliberate
Domain 22: Transformer Project (20 points)
Equally weighted with the motor project - transformer connections and terminations scored for accuracy.
- Know transformer tap and terminal identification cold
Domain 26: Complex Conduit Bending (20 points)
The third 20-point project - multi-bend conduit layouts requiring precision measurement and technique.
- Offset, saddle, and segment bend accuracy under time pressure
Domain 23: Doorbell Project (10 points)
A lower-voltage wiring project testing clean, correct low-voltage terminations.
- Correct low-voltage transformer and switch wiring
Domain 24: Lighting Project (10 points)
Fixture and switching wiring scored on correctness and neatness.
- Three-way/four-way switching accuracy
Domain 25: Simple Conduit Bending (10 points)
Basic bend types scored for measurement accuracy before tackling the complex bending project.
- 90-degree stub and back-to-back bend precision
Domain 27: Materials Identification (10 points)
Identifying electrical materials and components by sight - a quick-scoring section if you've handled the materials before.
- Review physical samples of conduit, fittings, and cable types beforehand
Key Takeaway
The three 20-point practical projects - Motor Control, Transformer, and Complex Conduit Bending - together represent 60 of the Practical's 100 points. Prioritize repetition on these three before polishing the smaller 10-point projects.
Domain Weighting at a Glance
Seeing all 27 domains side-by-side makes it obvious where study hours produce the most return. Use this table alongside the detailed NM-EE98J Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts for quick review sessions.
| Component | Format | Time | Heaviest Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 - Code | 50 questions, open-book | 145 minutes | Domain 2: Services, Feeders, Branch Circuits (7 Q) |
| Part 2 - Theory | 50 questions, closed-book | 120 minutes | Domain 12: General Knowledge (18 Q) |
| Practical | 7 hands-on projects | 120 minutes | Domains 21 & 22 tied (20 pts each) |
Notice that grounding and bonding appears twice (Domains 4 and 15), as does overcurrent protection (Domains 3 and 14) and low voltage (Domains 11 and 20). These recurring subject areas show up in both Code and Theory form, so mastering the underlying concept pays off twice.
Mapping a Study Schedule to the Domains
Rather than studying "the NEC" broadly, map your weeks directly to domain weight. If you need a full multi-week plan, pair this section with the NM-EE98J Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, but here's how domain weighting should shape the calendar.
Heaviest Code Domains
- Domain 2 (Services/Feeders/Branch Circuits) and Domain 4 (Grounding and Bonding)
- Practice open-book navigation speed using a tabbed 2020 NEC
Remaining Code Domains + NM State Amendments
- Domains 5, 6, 9 (Conductors, Raceways, Motors/Transformers)
- Domain 10 (NM State Code) - don't skip state-specific amendments
Theory Domain 12 Deep Dive
- Isolate Domain 12 for extra time - it's 18 of 50 Theory questions
- Drill circuit math and power formulas from memory, no code book
Practical Repetition
- Repeat Domain 21 (Motor Control) and Domain 22 (Transformer) builds
- Time yourself on Domain 26 (Complex Conduit Bending)
This is the one place generic study techniques are worth mentioning: spaced repetition works well for Domain 12's formula-heavy content specifically, because it's tested closed-book and benefits from repeated, spaced recall drills rather than one long cram session.
Who This Certification Is For
The EE-98J is New Mexico's journeyman-level credential for both residential and commercial electrical work, issued after documenting four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying experience (approved education or training can cover up to half that requirement). If you're still confirming eligibility, check NM-EE98J Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before scheduling.
Contractors, electrical firms, and facilities departments across New Mexico look for this certification when filling journeyman-level positions covering both residential and commercial installations - the dual scope is part of what distinguishes it from narrower state credentials. For more on where this credential leads professionally, see NM-EE98J Jobs and NM-EE98J Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
For the complete cost picture across application, exam, and renewal, read NM-EE98J Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. And if you're weighing whether the time and expense are worthwhile relative to the career outcome, Is the NM-EE98J Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 covers that decision in depth.
Once you've mapped all 27 domains to your study time, testing your recall against realistic questions is the fastest way to confirm readiness - you can start that process with a full-length simulation on our practice test platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
27 content areas across three components: 11 domains in Part 1 (Code), 9 domains in Part 2 (Theory), and 7 projects in the hands-on Practical.
Domain 12, General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements in Part 2 Theory, carries 18 of the 50 Theory questions - the single largest domain in the certification.
No. Part 1 (Code) is open-book using the 2020 NEC and 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code, with bound references allowed to be tabbed and highlighted. Part 2 (Theory) is closed-book.
Domain 21 (Motor Control Project), Domain 22 (Transformer Project), and Domain 26 (Complex Conduit Bending) are each worth 20 points, together accounting for 60 of the Practical's 100 total points.
No. Each component is scored independently, requires 75% to pass, and a passing score on any single component remains valid for one year, so you can retake just the failed part.