Texas Electrician License Requirements: Complete 2026 Guide

Official-source review: August 24, 2026

Texas requires people who perform non-exempt electrical work to hold an appropriate state license. The work must generally be performed through a licensed electrical contractor. This Texas electrician license guide explains the route for an apprentice, journeyman, master electrician or electrical contracting business.

Texas electrician license requirements at a glance

The figures above cover common statewide routes and do not include optional training, books, insurance premiums, local permits or repeat examination attempts. Fees and rules can change; use the official links shown throughout this guide before applying.

Which Texas electrical license do you need?

If you are comparing another occupation or jurisdiction, use the Trade License Atlas license finder or browse our directories of licensed trades and state licensing requirements.

Electrical Apprentice

The apprentice credential is the usual entry point. TDLR does not require previous experience or an examination to apply. An apprentice may perform electrical work only under the general supervision allowed by the license. TDLR states that new hires must obtain a license before beginning covered electrical work; there is no general grace period.

Online apprentice applicants who report no criminal convictions may receive a temporary license automatically. The credential is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Journeyman Electrician

A Texas Journeyman Electrician performs electrical work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician. To become eligible to sit for the examination, an applicant may submit at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training completed under a Master Electrician licensed in Texas. Passing the exam early does not reduce the experience requirement: TDLR requires 8,000 verified hours before it will issue the Journeyman Electrician license.

Each supervising Master Electrician must document the relevant hours on an Experience Verification Form. Applicants with several supervisors generally need a separate verification from each one. The initial journeyman application is submitted by mail with a non-refundable $30 application fee.

Master Electrician

The Master Electrician route has two central experience conditions. The applicant must have completed 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas and must have held a Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years. TDLR states that Journeyman Industrial Electrician experience cannot be used to qualify for the Master Electrician license.

The initial master application is submitted by mail with a non-refundable $45 fee. Once TDLR verifies eligibility, the applicant can schedule the master examination with PSI.

Electrical Contractor

An individual electrician license and an Electrical Contractor license serve different purposes. A business that offers covered electrical contracting services must hold the contractor credential and designate a licensed Master Electrician of Record. The master may be an employee or the business owner.

A Master Electrician is normally assigned to only one electrical contractor. TDLR provides an exception when the master owns more than 50 percent of the contracting business. If the Master Electrician of Record leaves, the contractor must notify TDLR and designate a replacement within 30 business days.

How to get a Texas electrician license

1. Choose the correct classification. Start with the scope of work you will actually perform. Texas also offers specialized credentials such as Residential Wireman, Maintenance Electrician, Journeyman Lineman, Journeyman Industrial Electrician and sign-electrician licenses.
2. Register before working. A new entrant generally starts with the Electrical Apprentice license and works under qualified supervision.
3. Track every supervised hour. Keep records of dates, employers and supervising Master Electricians. Journeyman and master applications rely on signed experience verification.
4. Submit the TDLR application. Journeyman and master initial applications are mailed with the required form, verification documents and non-refundable fee.
5. Wait for examination approval. TDLR reviews the application before authorizing PSI to schedule the examination.
6. Pass the required examination. Both the journeyman and master examinations have separate knowledge and calculation portions. PSI requires at least 70 percent on each portion.
7. Complete the experience requirement. A journeyman applicant who tests after 7,000 hours must still reach 8,000 hours before the license can be issued.
8. Renew every year. Complete continuing education when required and submit the renewal before the expiration date.

Texas electrician examination

TDLR uses PSI to administer electrician examinations. Candidates cannot schedule until TDLR has approved their eligibility. The current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin lists a $78 examination fee for the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam and $78 for the Master Electrician exam; the fee covers both required portions. A failed portion can require another $78 examination payment.

The examinations are open book and require a score of at least 70 percent on each required portion. The journeyman exam consists of an NEC Knowledge portion and a Calculations portion. The master exam uses the same two-part structure with a broader content outline.

Texas electrician license cost

The minimum Texas electrician license cost depends on the route:

• Apprentice: $20 TDLR fee.
• Journeyman: $30 TDLR application fee plus the current $78 PSI examination fee, or at least $108 before training and materials.
• Master: $45 TDLR application fee plus the current $78 PSI examination fee, or at least $123 before training and materials.
• Electrical Contractor: $110 TDLR application fee, plus the cost of required insurance and any business or local-permit expenses.

Exam retakes, approved continuing-education courses, NEC reference materials and insurance can increase the total. Treat these figures as a planning baseline rather than a quote.

Electrical contractor insurance requirements

A Texas Electrical Contractor must maintain business liability insurance with at least:

• $300,000 per occurrence for combined property damage and bodily injury;
• $600,000 aggregate; and
• $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.

The contractor application also requires proof of workers’ compensation insurance, authority to self-insure, or a statement that the business elected not to obtain coverage as permitted by Texas law. A business choosing the no-coverage route must make the required filing with the Texas Department of Insurance.

Renewal and continuing education

Each Texas electrician license covered in this guide is valid for one year. Journeyman Electricians and Master Electricians must complete four hours of TDLR-approved continuing education during each license term before renewal. The course must cover required subject areas and come from a registered provider.

The current standard renewal fees are $30 for a Journeyman Electrician, $45 for a Master Electrician and $110 for an Electrical Contractor. TDLR states that electrical contractors are not required to complete the electrician continuing-education hours, although the individual Master Electrician assigned to the business remains responsible for the requirements attached to the individual license.

Texas electrician license reciprocity

Texas has directional reciprocity routes for certain master and journeyman licenses. As of the verification date shown above, TDLR lists the following recognized states:

• Master Electrician: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina and Ohio. The precise qualifying classification differs by state.
• Journeyman Electrician: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Reciprocity is not a blanket transfer. Applicants must meet the conditions for the specific agreement, which can include having passed the reciprocal state’s examination, holding the license for a minimum period, documenting experience, submitting a letter of good standing and paying the Texas fee. Louisiana master applicants also face a residency condition identified by TDLR.

TDLR says Texas does not currently provide a transfer path for out-of-state electrical contracting business licenses. A business wishing to operate as a Texas Electrical Contractor must qualify through the Texas contractor application route.

Use our license reciprocity checker when comparing a directional route between Texas and another state.

Can cities require another electrician license?

A Texas electrician license issued by TDLR is valid statewide. TDLR’s FAQ explains that a person holding the state credential cannot be required to take another municipal or regional electrician examination merely to work in that jurisdiction. Cities may still regulate projects through building permits, inspections and related permit fees.

A municipal electrician license by itself is generally valid only within the city that issued it. Workers relying on a local credential should not assume that it authorizes work elsewhere in Texas.

Application checklist

• Confirm the license classification that matches the intended work.
• Use the latest application form published by TDLR.
• Collect an Experience Verification Form from every relevant supervising Master Electrician.
• Check that the documented hours meet the exam and issuance thresholds.
• Include the correct non-refundable application fee.
• Wait for TDLR authorization before attempting to schedule with PSI.
• Download the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and verify the applicable NEC edition.
• For contractor applications, designate the Master Electrician of Record and attach the required insurance documentation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the Texas journeyman exam with 7,000 hours?

Yes. TDLR allows an applicant to submit at least 7,000 verified hours to become eligible for the examination. The license will not be issued until the applicant documents the full 8,000 required hours.

Do I need to attend electrical school?

The standard journeyman and master pages describe supervised on-the-job hours rather than a general classroom-degree requirement. An apprenticeship or training program can still be an important way to obtain structured instruction and qualifying work experience. Specialized or student pathways may have separate program rules.

Can a journeyman electrician operate an electrical contracting company?

The business needs an Electrical Contractor license and a licensed Master Electrician of Record. A Journeyman Electrician license alone does not satisfy the master-of-record condition.

How long is a Texas electrician license valid?

The apprentice, journeyman, master and electrical contractor credentials discussed here are valid for one year and renew annually.

Is the Texas electrician exam open book?

Yes. TDLR and the PSI bulletin describe the examinations as open book, but only approved reference materials and binding formats are allowed. Check the current bulletin because the referenced NEC edition changes over time.

Does Texas reciprocate with every state?

No. Reciprocity is limited to the states and classifications identified by TDLR, and there are no reciprocal agreements for the other Texas electrician license types unless TDLR adds one.

Official sources used

• TDLR Electricians Program
• TDLR Journeyman Electrician application requirements
• TDLR Master Electrician application requirements
• TDLR Electrical Contractor application requirements
• TDLR Electrician examination information
• PSI Texas Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin
• TDLR out-of-state applicants and reciprocity
• TDLR continuing-education requirements
• Texas electrician laws and administrative rules