SPEC SHEET · TX · ELECTRICIAN
Texas electrician license requirements
The answer
Texas licenses electricians statewide through TDLR. The standard route is apprentice registration, 8,000 supervised on-the-job hours, then the journeyman exam; a Residential Wireman license needs 4,000 hours (or an approved career-and-technology program).Your paths to the license
Register as an apprentice and earn hours
Register as a TDLR Apprentice Electrician ($20, online, no experience needed), then log 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician. Each supervising master signs an Experience Verification Form. You may sit the journeyman exam once 7,000 hours are documented.
Residential Wireman first (4,000 hours)
The faster on-ramp: 4,000 supervised hours — or completion of a TDLR-approved career-and-technology education program — qualifies you for the Residential Wireman exam ($20 application). Limits you to residential work; journeyman still requires 8,000 total hours.
Apply on documented hours
If you already have 8,000 supervised hours (7,000 to sit the exam early), submit the Journeyman Electrician application ($30) with an Experience Verification Form signed by each supervising Texas master. TDLR may contact supervisors to verify.
Reciprocity from another state
Texas has journeyman reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming (master: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa Class A, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio). You must have passed that state's exam and held the license at least 1 year; the reciprocity license fee is $45.
License levels in Texas
| Level | What it takes | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Electrician | Register with TDLR before working; no experience or exam required. | $20 |
| Residential Wireman | 4,000 supervised hours (or an approved career-and-technology education program) + exam. | $20 |
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 supervised on-the-job hours + exam (you may sit the exam at 7,000 hours; licensure still requires 8,000). | $30 |
| Master Electrician | 12,000 supervised hours AND a journeyman license held for at least 2 years + exam. | $45 |
Published fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Apprentice registration | $20 |
| Residential Wireman application | $20 |
| Journeyman application | $30 |
| Master application | $45 |
| Reciprocity license (journeyman or master) | $45 |
The exam
| Provider | PSI |
| Passing | 70% |
| Open book | Yes — any soft-bound National Electrical Code edition allowed |
| Fees | Exam fee is set by PSI — see the current Candidate Information Bulletin |
| Notes | One year from application to pass; unlimited retakes (each may incur a new PSI fee). |
Moving here with a license? Renewal? The rest of the picture
Reciprocity: Reciprocal applicants must have passed the other state's exam and held that license at least 1 year (master also needs 12,000 hours and 2 years as a journeyman — 1 year for AL, IA, NE, OH). Check your exact state pair →
Renewal & continuing education: Licenses renew annually; 4 hours of TDLR-registered continuing education per renewal (apprentices may instead be enrolled in a registered apprenticeship course).
Watch out: Exam fees are charged by PSI and published in the Candidate Information Bulletin, not by TDLR. · Journeyman Industrial, Lineman, Sign and Maintenance licenses have separate requirements not shown here.
Official sources for this page
Texas electrician licensing FAQ
How many hours do you need to become a licensed electrician in Texas?
The shortest published route requires 4,000 hours of supervised experience. Texas licenses electricians statewide through TDLR. The standard route is apprentice registration, 8,000 supervised on-the-job hours, then the journeyman exam; a Residential Wireman license needs 4,000 hours (or an approved career-and-technology program).
What does the Texas electrician license cost?
Published fees: Apprentice registration $20 · Residential Wireman application $20 · Journeyman application $30 · Master application $45 · Reciprocity license (journeyman or master) $45. Exam-vendor fees may be extra — see the sources below.
Does Texas have electrician license reciprocity?
Yes — verified agreements cover licensees from: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio. Reciprocal applicants must have passed the other state's exam and held that license at least 1 year (master also needs 12,000 hours and 2 years as a journeyman — 1 year for AL, IA, NE, OH).
How often does the license renew and how much continuing education is required?
Licenses renew annually; 4 hours of TDLR-registered continuing education per renewal (apprentices may instead be enrolled in a registered apprenticeship course).
Get your personal route
Four questions — your experience and training matched against Texas's actual routes.