Construction / Electrician License / Texas
- Texas
- Electrician License
- Journeyman, Master & Maintenance
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your Texas Electrician License
What you need to qualify, get exam approval, pass the PSI exam and stay licensed as a Texas journeyman, master or maintenance electrician, based on Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requirements.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requirements
Application fee
$20–$45
$30 journeyman, $45 master; plus a $61–$78 PSI exam
Exam time
4 hrs
Journeyman exam; master is 2.5 hrs, maintenance 3 hrs
Time to get license
8,000 hrs
On-the-job training for journeyman; master needs 12,000 hrs
Continuing ed
4 hrs
Required to renew
Overview
Do you need a Texas electrician license?
Yes. In Texas you need a TDLR electrical license before you perform electrical work. Which license you need depends on the work you do and who supervises you, from apprentice up to master electrician and electrical contractor.
License required when
- You perform electrical work in Texas, even as a beginner (apprentices need their own license)
- You supervise other electricians or serve as master of record
- You run a business that designs, installs or repairs electrical wiring (electrical contractor license)
- You do electrical sign work, residential appliance installation or industrial electrical work (limited licenses)
Common exceptions
- Limited licenses, such as Residential Wireman, Residential Appliance Installer and Journeyman Industrial, cover narrower work than a full journeyman license
- Our sources don’t list exemptions from licensing, so check with TDLR before you take on any electrical work unlicensed
Penalties for unlicensed work
Doing electrical work without the right license can lead to enforcement action by TDLR. Our sources don’t state penalty amounts, so check with TDLR for the current rules before you take on work.
Your fast-track Texas electrician license checklist
The Texas application, one page
- Documented on-the-job training hours (8,000 or 12,000)
- Journeyman license held 2+ years (master only)
- TDLR exam pre-approval
- Bound 2026 NEC, tabbed and highlighted
- Passing PSI exam score
- License application submitted to TDLR
Types
Texas electrician license types and classifications
Texas issues a full ladder of electrical licenses. Most people start as an apprentice and work toward journeyman and then master. Each license that needs an exam has just one exam.
APP
Starting point
Apprentice Electrician
Works under the on-site supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or residential wireman.
Exam
Not stated
Limit
On-site supervision
JRY
Most common
Journeyman Electrician
Performs electrical work under the general supervision of a master electrician, contractor or employing governmental entity.
Exam
80 questions, 4 hrs
Limit
Under a master
MST
Top tier
Master Electrician
Installs, maintains or extends electrical wiring systems, supervises electricians and can serve as master of record.
Exam
75 questions, 2.5 hrs
Limit
All electrical work
MNT
Facilities
Maintenance Electrician
Performs electrical maintenance work under the general supervision of a master electrician.
Exam
60 questions, 3 hrs
Limit
Maintenance only
RW
Homes
Residential Wireman
Electrical installations in single-family and multifamily dwellings up to four stories.
Exam
Not stated
Limit
Dwellings up to 4 stories
JIE
Limited
Journeyman Industrial Electrician
Electrical work only at chemical plants, refineries, pipelines and similar operations. Not equal to a journeyman license and doesn’t count toward master.
Exam
Not stated
Limit
Industrial sites only
SIGN
Specialty
Sign Electrician
Electrical sign work, offered as sign apprentice, journeyman sign electrician and master sign electrician.
Exam
Not stated
Limit
Signs and outline lighting
EC
Business
Electrical Contractor
Engages in the business of designing, installing, repairing or altering electrical wiring and equipment.
Exam
Not stated
Limit
Business license
Requirements
Texas electrician license requirements, class by class
The main difference between the three exam-based licenses is how many hours of supervised on-the-job training you need before you can test.
| Requirement | Journeyman | Master | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-the-job training | 8,000 hours | 12,000 hours | 8,000 hours |
| Supervised by | A master electrician | A master electrician | A master or maintenance electrician |
| Prior license | None stated | Journeyman for 2+ years | None stated |
| Exam | 80 questions, 4 hrs | 75 questions, 2.5 hrs | 60 questions, 3 hrs |
| Passing score | 70% | 53 correct | Not stated |
| Exam pre-approval | Required from TDLR | Required from TDLR | Required from TDLR |
| Application fee | $30 | $45 | $20 |
| PSI exam fee | $78 | $78 | $64 |
Steps
How to get your Texas electrician license, step by step
- Log your training hoursBefore you apply
Build up supervised on-the-job training: 8,000 hours for journeyman or maintenance, or 12,000 hours plus 2 years as a licensed journeyman for master. - Get exam pre-approvalThrough TDLR
Fill out the right form on the TDLR website and submit it. You’ll get your exam date and results by email. - Prepare your code bookBefore exam day
The exam is open book. Starting September 1, 2026, Texas exams reference the 2026 National Electrical Code. Bound copies only: loose-leaf, spiral-bound and ring-bound NEC books aren’t allowed. - Pass the PSI examExam day
The state assigns your testing date and location. Journeyman candidates need 70% on 80 questions; master candidates need 53 of 75 correct. - Apply for your licenseThrough TDLR
Once you pass, apply for your license through TDLR. Call 512-936-5200 with questions. - Renew with CEEach renewal
Complete 4 hours of continuing education to renew your license.
Exam
What to expect on the Texas electrician exam
Each Texas electrical license needs just one exam, and every exam is open book. You can bring tabbed, highlighted and annotated code books, but you can’t write in or highlight them during the test.
Format
Open book, computer
Questions
80 / 75 / 60
Passing score
70% (journeyman)
Exam vendor
PSI
Scoring & content
- Journeyman: 80 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass
- Master: 75 questions, 150 minutes, 53 correct to pass
- Maintenance: 60 questions, 180 minutes
- Covers NEC knowledge (services, feeders, branch circuits, wiring methods, motors, special occupancies, renewable energy) plus calculations
- Exams reference the 2026 NEC starting September 1, 2026
Retake policy
- Journeyman and master retakes cost $78, whether you fail one portion or both
- Pre-approval from TDLR is required to schedule any exam
- Check your PSI candidate information for current retake and rescheduling rules
Exam references · Open book
Texas journeyman, master and maintenance electrician exams are open book. Your NEC can be highlighted, underlined, tabbed with permanent tabs and contain notes, but you can’t write in or highlight it during the exam, and loose-leaf, spiral-bound or ring-bound copies aren’t allowed.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2026 | Allowed in exam |
Texas electrician exams reference the 2026 NEC beginning September 1, 2026.
Prep
Best Texas electrician exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a Texas electrician license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| License application fee | Fixed | $20–$45 |
| PSI exam fee | Fixed | $61–$78 |
| 2026 NEC (NFPA 70) code book | Variable | Varies |
| Continuing education (4 hrs per renewal) | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | Journeyman application and exam; excludes code books and CE | $108 |
Fees from TDLR’s electrician application and renewal pages and the PSI Texas electrician candidate bulletin, checked October 2026.
Reciprocity
Does Texas accept out-of-state electrician licenses?
Texas has reciprocity agreements for journeyman and master electrician licenses with a handful of states. Contact TDLR to confirm how to apply with your out-of-state license.
Journeyman states — journeyman license
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Alabama — master license
Master electrician reciprocity.
Louisiana — master license
Covers Louisiana’s electrical contractor license.
Nebraska — master license
Master electrician reciprocity.
North Carolina — master license
Covers North Carolina master electrician or unlimited electrical contractor licenses.
All other states — no agreement
Apply as a new applicant, meet the training hours and pass the Texas exam.
Local
Do Texas cities and counties have their own electrician licensing rules?
Your TDLR license is a statewide license. Cities and counties still handle permits and inspections for individual jobs.
State handles
- Electrical licenses from apprentice to master and contractor
- Exam pre-approval and PSI testing
- Continuing education and renewals
- Reciprocity agreements with other states
City & county handle
- Electrical permits for individual jobs
- Inspections of completed work
- Any local registration rules
Governance
Who regulates electricians in Texas
Licensing authority
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
512-936-5200
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues and renews electrical licenses, from apprentice to master and electrical contractor
- Approves applicants to sit for the electrical exams
- Sets on-the-job training and continuing education requirements
- Manages reciprocity agreements with other states
Maintenance
How to renew your Texas electrician license and keep it active
Texas electrical licenses renew every year, and you need 4 hours of continuing education to renew. The renewal fee is $30 for a journeyman, $45 for a master and $20 for a maintenance electrician or residential wireman.
Renewal cycle
1 year
CE hours
4
Renewal fee
$20–$45
Late penalty
Not stated
Renewing your license?
See the Texas CE guide: hours, deadline, required topics and how to renew.
FAQ
Texas electrician license FAQs
How many hours do I need for a journeyman electrician license in Texas?
8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician. Then you get TDLR pre-approval and pass the journeyman exam.
How do I become a master electrician in Texas?
You need 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician and at least 2 years as a licensed journeyman. Then you pass the 75-question master exam with at least 53 correct.
Is the Texas electrician exam open book?
Yes. You can use tabbed, highlighted and annotated code books, but you can’t write in or highlight them during the exam. Loose-leaf, spiral-bound and ring-bound NEC copies aren’t allowed.
Which NEC edition is on the Texas exam?
Starting September 1, 2026, Texas electrical exams through PSI reference the 2026 National Electrical Code.
What score do I need to pass the journeyman exam?
70%. The journeyman exam has 80 questions and a 4-hour time limit.
Does Texas have electrician reciprocity?
Yes. Journeyman reciprocity covers Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. Master reciprocity covers Alabama, Louisiana, Nebraska and North Carolina.
How much continuing education do Texas electricians need?
4 hours to renew your license.
Can a journeyman industrial electrician do commercial work?
No. It’s a limited license for plants, refineries, pipelines and similar sites. It isn’t equal to a journeyman license, and the experience doesn’t count toward a master license.
Sources
Official sources for the Texas electrician license
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Electricians
- PSI, Texas electrical examinations
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (2026 edition)
- TDLR, Apply for a New Journeyman Electrician License
- TDLR, Apply for a New Master Electrician License
- TDLR, Apply for a New Maintenance Electrician License
- TDLR, Renew a Journeyman Electrician License
- PSI, TDLR Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.