How to get a Electrical license in Texas
The full Texas electrical licensing path — experience hours, required exam, fees, and where to apply. Verified 5/26/2026.
Career prep, not a license.
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Master Electrician License (or Journeyman / Residential Wireman)
Texas licenses electrical contractors and journeyman electricians through TDLR under the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act. Unlike many states, Texas requires individual electricians (not just contractors) to hold a personal license — Apprentice, Journeyman, or Master. A contractor license is required to bid or advertise electrical work; a Master Electrician is the qualifying party for that contractor license.
Step-by-step: how to become a licensed Texas electrical contractor
The typical path takes 4–6 years total: apprentice → journeyman → master → contractor license. If you're already a journeyman elsewhere, you can compress this to 6–12 months.
- Register as an Apprentice Electrician with TDLR ($20/year) — no exam, just registration. You must work under a licensed contractor.
- Log 8,000 hours (4 years) of practical experience installing electrical wiring under a Journeyman or Master's supervision. Documented military electrical training substitutes for up to 4,000 hours; approved school training substitutes for up to 2,000.
- Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam through PSI: 80 questions, 4 hours, 70% to pass. Open-book on the 2020 NEC.
- Work 2 more years (4,000 hours) as a Journeyman before you can sit for the Master exam.
- Pass the Master Electrician exam: 100 questions, 5 hours, 70%. Open-book on the 2020 NEC plus theory closed-book.
- Apply for an Electrical Contractor license using the Master as the qualifying party. $115 fee, plus $300k/$600k GL insurance.
Texas electrical license types explained
Texas licenses individuals and companies separately. You can hold personal journeyman/master credentials and work as an employee without ever getting a contractor license.
- Apprentice Electrician — required registration for anyone working toward journeyman. Must work under supervision. $20/year.
- Journeyman Electrician — can perform electrical work unsupervised under a licensed contractor. Cannot bid jobs or run a company. $40/year renewal.
- Master Electrician — can serve as the qualifying party for one or more contractor licenses. $65/year renewal.
- Electrical Contractor — the company license. Requires a Master as qualifying agent, insurance, and TDLR registration. $115/year.
- Sign Electrical Contractor and Residential Appliance Installer are separate limited-scope licenses.
Texas electrical exam: what's on it
PSI administers all TDLR electrical exams at centers statewide and via remote proctoring. Open-book on the 2020 NEC (bring your own tabbed copy) and closed-book on Ohm's Law, motor calculations, and voltage-drop math.
Journeyman exam: 80 questions — 60 code (open-book), 20 theory (closed-book). Focus areas: Article 210 branch circuits, Article 220 load calculations, Article 250 grounding, Article 310 conductors, and Article 430 motors.
Master exam: 100 questions — 70 code, 30 theory. Adds Article 700 emergency systems, Article 800 communications, complex service calculations, and business/statute questions on Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305.
Texas electrical license fees & ongoing costs (2026)
Individual licensing is cheap; the contractor license is what costs real money. Renewal is annual.
- Apprentice registration: $20/year.
- Journeyman license: $40/year, 4 hours CE annually.
- Master license: $65/year, 4 hours CE annually.
- Electrical Contractor license: $115/year plus insurance.
- PSI exam fees: $74 per attempt (Journeyman or Master).
- GL insurance ($300k per occurrence / $600k aggregate): $800–$2,000/year for a small operation.
- Local city registration: most cities (Austin, Dallas, Houston) require an additional master-of-record registration and permit fee, usually $100–$300/year.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a electrical license in Texas?
You need journeyman: 8,000 hours under licensed master. master: 12,000 hours as journeyman.. Then pass the Texas Master Electrician Exam (open-book, NEC-based) administered by PSI Services (TDLR-approved). Applications go through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
What exam do I need to pass?
Texas Master Electrician Exam (open-book, NEC-based) — administered by PSI Services (TDLR-approved).
How much experience do I need?
Journeyman: 8,000 hours under licensed master. Master: 12,000 hours as journeyman.
What about fees, insurance, and continuing education?
Application fee: $30 exam + $115 license. Renewal: 1 year, $115 + 4 hrs CE annually (NEC code update course required). Master allows running an electrical contracting company (separate $115 contractor registration + $300K liability insurance). Reciprocity with select states for journeyman level.
Can I get my Texas Master Electrician license without becoming a Journeyman first?
No. You must hold a Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least 2 years (4,000 documented work hours) before you can apply for the Master exam. There is no way to bypass the journeyman step, even with 20 years of out-of-state experience.
Does Texas have electrical license reciprocity with other states?
Texas has journeyman-level reciprocity agreements with Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. If you hold an equivalent journeyman license from one of those states, you can apply directly for the Texas Journeyman without retaking the exam. Master and Contractor licenses always require the Texas exam.
Can I do electrical work in Texas without a state license if I'm the homeowner or a general contractor?
Homeowners can work on their own primary residence without a license (a permit is still required). General contractors CANNOT perform electrical work — even as part of a larger project. You must hire a licensed contractor or employ a licensed journeyman/master. Unlicensed electrical work is a class C misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per violation.
How long is a Texas electrical license valid, and what happens if it expires?
All Texas electrical licenses are annual. Expired licenses can be renewed late (with penalty) for up to 3 years. After 3 years, you must reapply and retake the exam. CE requirements must be completed before renewal — 4 hours for journeyman/master, 8 for contractor.
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