Texas - Residential Appliance Installer

Texas Residential Appliance Installer Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide

You've put in the work to qualify for a Texas Residential Appliance Installer license — now you need to pass the PSI exam to make it official. This exam covers everything from NEC code definitions to swimming pool equipment wiring, and getting licensed opens the door to steady, in-demand work across Texas. Take a free practice exam right now to see where you stand, or keep reading for a full breakdown of the exam.

Exam Overview

The Texas Residential Appliance Installer exam is administered by PSI on behalf of TDLR. Here's what to expect on test day:

• Scored questions: 80
• Non-scored (pilot) questions: 5 additional items — these don't count toward your score
• Total questions: 85
• Time limit: 240 minutes for the scored questions, plus an additional 20 minutes for the non-scored items
• Passing score: 70% — you need at least 56 of the 80 scored questions correct
• Exam fee: $64
• Format: Computer-based, open book (NEC 2023 only)

The exam is open book, which sounds like an advantage — and it is, but only if you've prepared your reference correctly. More on that in the study tips section.

Topics Covered on the Exam

The exam pulls questions from seven topic areas. Here they are ranked by how heavily they're weighted on the real exam:

1. Swimming Pool, Spas and Fountain Equipment — 18 items — Pool heaters, covers, luminaires, pumps, and vertical clearance requirements. This is the heaviest section; don't underestimate it.
2. GFCI Protection and Equipment Grounding and Bonding — 15 items — GFCI protection requirements, equipment grounding, bonding, and equipotential bonding rules.
3. Electrical Equipment and Devices — 15 items — Receptacles, switches, appliances, workspace clearance, and utilization equipment.
4. Definitions, Calculations, and Theory — 12 items — NEC code definitions and general electrical calculations.
5. Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials — 10 items — Raceways, boxes, enclosures, cables, flexible cords, and conductors.
6. Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means — 5 items — Controllers, switches, and disconnects.
7. Motors — 5 items — Electric motor rules and requirements.

The top three topics account for 48 of your 80 scored questions — more than half the exam. Build your study plan around them.

Sample Questions

Here are five real-style questions from the exam topics. Read each one carefully — but don't expect to find the answers here. Try our free practice exam to test your knowledge.

Question 1 — Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials
For conductors in vertical raceways, what is the maximum support spacing for 12 AWG copper conductors?
- A) 80 feet
- B) 100 feet
- C) 135 feet
- D) 200 feet

Question 2 — Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means
What is the minimum wire size required for conductors in neon secondary-circuit wiring of 1000 volts or less?
- A) 20 AWG
- B) 18 AWG
- C) 16 AWG
- D) 14 AWG

Question 3 — Electrical Equipment and Devices
What is the minimum working space requirement at ballasts, transformers, and electronic power supplies not installed in a sign?
- A) 2 ft × 2 ft × 2 ft (600 mm × 600 mm × 600 mm)
- B) 3 ft × 3 ft × 2 ft (900 mm × 900 mm × 600 mm)
- C) 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft (900 mm × 900 mm × 900 mm)
- D) 4 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft (1.2 m × 900 mm × 900 mm)

Question 4 — Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means
Where is the disconnecting means required to be located for sign and outline lighting systems when located within sight of the controller?
- A) At the main service panel only
- B) Within sight of the controller or in the same enclosure with the controller
- C) At each individual sign section
- D) On the building exterior only

Question 5 — Swimming Pool, Spas and Fountain Equipment
For permanently installed swimming pool equipment, the branch circuit must be protected by what type of device?
- A) Standard circuit breaker only
- B) Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
- C) Arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI)
- D) Combination GFCI and AFCI device

Know the answers? Try the free practice exam and find out.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our full practice question pool has 452 questions across all seven topics. Here's a breakdown of what each section actually tests — and how many practice questions we offer:

• Definitions, Calculations, and Theory (64 practice questions) — Code vocabulary, NEC definitions, and calculation problems like load calculations and conductor sizing math.
• GFCI Protection and Equipment Grounding and Bonding (86 practice questions) — Where GFCI protection is required, how equipment grounding conductors are sized and installed, and equipotential bonding in wet locations.
• Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials (59 practice questions) — Raceway fill rules, box fill calculations, support spacing for conductors, and cable installation requirements.
• Electrical Equipment and Devices (86 practice questions) — Receptacle and switch installation rules, appliance wiring, workspace clearance dimensions, and utilization equipment requirements.
• Motors (25 practice questions) — Motor circuit conductor sizing, overload protection, and branch circuit requirements.
• Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means (29 practice questions) — Controller and disconnect placement, accessibility requirements, and sign lighting disconnect rules.
• Swimming Pool, Spas and Fountain Equipment (103 practice questions) — Pool heater and pump wiring, luminaire installation, cover requirements, vertical clearance over pools, and bonding/grounding in aquatic environments.

Study Materials

Required: NEC 2023

The NEC 2023 is the only reference book allowed in the exam room, and it's the source for virtually every question on the exam. You need a soft-bound edition — loose-leaf, spiral-bound, and ring-bound copies are not permitted. The NEC Handbook is also not allowed.

Buy it early. You want time to get familiar with the layout before exam day.

Recommended: Sharpie Highlighters

Sharpie Tank Highlighters are a solid choice for marking up your NEC. The chisel tip works for both broad highlighting and underlining specific terms. The 12-pack covers all the color-coding you need to organize sections by topic, and the fluorescent ink stays visible under exam room lighting.

Recommended: Redi-Tag Permanent White Tabs

Redi-Tag Permanent White Tabs are NEC-legal tabs — they meet the requirement for "permanent index tabs made or provided by the NEC publisher." You get 375 tabs per pack, which is more than enough to index every major article and table in the codebook. They're laser-printable, so you can label them before they ever go in the book.

Study Tips

Master your book, not just the material. On an open-book exam, the fastest finder wins. Tab every major article, learn the index cold, and practice landing on any topic in under 10 seconds. That speed is the difference between finishing with time to review and running out the clock.

Use timed practice — not just reading. Untimed PDF guides help you learn content, but they don't build the time-awareness you need for 240 minutes on a computer screen. Our full practice exam matches the real PSI format: same question count, same time limit, same topic breakdown. Practice in that format now so there are no surprises on test day.

Work through once, then go back. Answer what you know, bookmark what you don't, and circle back. Don't spend five minutes on one question while easier points sit unanswered.

Skim answer choices for key terms first. Before reading deep into a question, scan the options for the NEC vocabulary word or number that signals the right concept. The more practice you've done, the faster the right answer jumps out.

Focus your heaviest prep where the exam is heaviest. Swimming Pools, GFCI/Grounding, and Electrical Equipment make up 60% of the exam. Get those sections solid first.

FAQs

How many questions are on the Texas Residential Appliance Installer exam?
The exam has 80 scored questions. There are also 5 non-scored pilot items, bringing the total to 85 questions — but only the 80 scored questions count toward your result.

How long do I have to complete the exam?
You get 240 minutes for the scored questions, plus an additional 20 minutes for the non-scored items — 260 minutes total.

What is the passing score?
You need to answer at least 70% of the scored questions correctly — that's 56 out of 80.

What is the exam fee?
The examination fee is $64.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You may bring a soft-bound copy of the National Electrical Code (2023 Edition). Loose-leaf, spiral-bound, and ring-bound copies are not allowed, and the NEC Handbook is not permitted.

What rules apply to my NEC book?
Your book may be pre-highlighted, underlined, and tabbed with permanent index tabs. Notes are allowed. You cannot use homemade or DIY tabs, and you may not write in or mark the book during the exam.

How do I schedule my exam?
After TDLR approves your eligibility, you'll receive scheduling instructions. You can register through the exam registration page, by phone at (833) 333-4741, or by mailing a completed registration form with your fee. Check the official exam bulletin for full details.

What ID do I need to bring?
One valid, government-issued photo ID — driver's license, state ID, or passport — that shows your printed name, photograph, signature or fingerprint, date of birth, and expiration date.

Can I cancel or reschedule?
Yes, without losing your fee — as long as your cancellation is received at least 2 days before your exam date. Cancel through the PSI website or by speaking with a PSI Customer Service Representative. Voicemail and email cancellations are not accepted.

When will I get my results?
Your score appears on screen immediately after you finish. An official score report is printed at the exam site. If you don't pass, you'll get a diagnostic report showing your performance by topic.

Ready to Start?

You have a clear target: 56 correct answers out of 80. Focus your prep on the heaviest topics, get your NEC tabbed and highlighted, and practice under timed conditions. Start with our free practice exam — 10 questions, no account needed — to get a feel for the format. Then step up to the full practice exam to simulate the real thing and pinpoint exactly where to focus your remaining study time.

For official requirements and scheduling, visit the state licensing website or the official exam bulletin.