Electrician License Requirements in Texas
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $108
- Exam
- Texas Journeyman Electrician Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 16 years old, pass a criminal background check. TDLR conducts a criminal history background check on all persons who apply for or renew a license; applicants with felony or misdemeanor convictions must submit a Criminal History Questionnaire. The 16-year minimum age applies at the Electrical Apprentice stage (18 for the Electrical Sign Apprentice track), which is the entry point toward the 8,000 hours required for Journeyman licensure — TDLR's journeyman page does not state a separate age floor for the journeyman application itself. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training. 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Master Electrician are required for licensure; applicants become eligible to sit for the Journeyman exam after completing 7,000 of those hours. Hours are earned as a TDLR-registered Electrical Apprentice, for which the minimum age is 16 (18 for the separate Electrical Sign Apprentice track) — TDLR does not require a state-approved classroom program beyond the registered apprenticeship hours. [1]
- 3
Texas Journeyman Electrician Examination
Pass the Texas Journeyman Electrician Examination (fee: $78). 80 scored multiple-choice items in 240 minutes, plus 5 non-scored items in an additional 20 minutes; open book (candidates may bring their own soft-bound 2023 NEC); 70% correct required to pass. Content areas include Definitions/Calculations/Theory/Plans, Electrical Services and Separately Derived Systems, Feeders, Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors, Wiring Methods and Materials, Equipment and Devices, Motors and Generators, Control Devices, Special Occupancies, and Renewable Energy Technologies (per the official Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin). Effective October 1, 2023, exam questions reference the 2023 NEC. Unlike the Master Electrician exam (split into separate NEC Knowledge and Calculations portions), the Journeyman Electrician exam remains a single combined exam per the current PSI/TDLR bulletin. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) with the $30 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issues your Journeyman Electrician License for Texas.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $30 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $30 |
| Texas Journeyman Electrician Examination [2] | $78 |
| Late renewal, expired up to 90 days [3] | $45 |
| Late renewal, expired 91 days–36 months [3] | $60 |
| Journeyman Electrician License by Reciprocity application fee [3] | $30 |
The $30 application fee is non-refundable and is paid at initial application; TDLR does not itemize a separate license-issuance fee once the exam is passed, so license is null. Exam fee ($78, paid to PSI) is tracked separately in the exams entry. A license expired more than 36 months cannot be renewed and requires reapplying as a new applicant.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year. 4 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Texas Journeyman Electrician licenses are valid for one year from issuance and must be renewed annually (unlike many trades in other states, which renew biennially). 4 hours of continuing education are required each license cycle to renew.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Texas has Journeyman Electrician reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming (TDLR periodically adds states — e.g. Alabama added March 2026, Iowa February 2026, Arkansas December 2025). Requirements: the applicant must have taken and passed the reciprocal state's examination, held that license for at least one year, have at least 8,000 hours of experience under a master electrician's supervision, and pay a $30 application fee; TDLR verifies status directly with the issuing state. No interstate licensure compact covers electricians.
13 state-approved training providers in Texas — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $30
- $78
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of experience does Texas require for a Journeyman Electrician license?
8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician, earned as a registered Electrical Apprentice. You become eligible to take the Journeyman exam after 7,000 hours.
Who administers the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam and what does it cost?
PSI Services LLC, under contract with TDLR. The exam costs $78 and covers 80 scored multiple-choice items (240 minutes) plus 5 non-scored items, open-book with the 2023 NEC, requiring a 70% score to pass.
How much does a Texas Journeyman Electrician license cost, and how often is it renewed?
The application fee is $30, and licenses must be renewed annually (also $30), with 4 hours of continuing education required each cycle. This is a shorter, annual cycle compared to many other states' 2-year renewal periods.
Can I transfer an out-of-state journeyman electrician license to Texas?
Yes, if your state is one of Texas's reciprocity partners (currently Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming). You must have passed that state's exam, held the license at least one year, have 8,000 hours of supervised experience, and pay a $30 application fee.
What happens if my Texas electrician license expires?
Late renewal fees apply on a sliding scale: $45 if expired up to 90 days, $60 if expired 91 days to 36 months. If it has been expired more than 36 months, you cannot renew and must reapply as a new applicant.
Sources
- [1] tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/pdf/Candidate-Information-Bulletin.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/renew/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/out-of-state.htm — accessed 2026-07-11