Texas Electrician License: 8,000 Hours, $30 Fee, PSI Exam

Texas licenses individual electricians statewide through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

Quick answer

Texas licenses individual electricians statewide through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The main licenses are Journeyman Electrician and Master Electrician, each requiring on-the-job training under a licensed Texas master electrician and a PSI exam with 70% to pass.

Complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed Texas master electrician; the exam may be taken at 7,000 hours.
Graduates of a TDLR-approved Accelerated Journeyman Electrician Education Program receive 4,000 hours of credit and may sit for the exam on completing the program.
Apply to TDLR with the $30 non-refundable application fee; TDLR reviews criminal history for every applicant.
Pass the open-book PSI journeyman exam, which references the 2026 National Electrical Code, with 70% or higher.

Official cost: Non-refundable application fee: $30 journeyman; $45 master. Exam fees are set in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.
Where to apply: Apply to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR); the exam is administered by PSI.

Source-verified

Requirements below are drawn from Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) (official site) and last verified September 8, 2026. Boards change fees and rules often — confirm before acting.

At a glance

Journeyman Electrician

Experience: 8,000 hrs OJT (may test at 7,000) under a licensed TX master electrician
Exam: PSI, 70% to pass
Fee: $30

Master Electrician

Experience: Must have held a Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years, plus 12,000 hrs OJT under a licensed TX master electrician (both conditions)
Exam: PSI, 70% to pass
Fee: $45

Issuing agency: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Official site
How to apply: Official application page
Renewal: Annual (license valid one year from issuance; renew online)
Continuing education: 4 hours of continuing education per renewal; the 4 hours must cover the National Electrical Code (Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1305)… details below
Verify a license: Official license lookup — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

Every requirement in the agency's own words: Requirements in detail, below.

Legal basis

Reviewed regulatory changes affecting this page

September 1, 2026 (rule effective) — Texas adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code as the state electrical code, effective September 1, 2026
Read directly in the Texas Register's August 28, 2026 issue on 2026-09-01. TRD number, filing date, effective date and proposal citation each read from that text. NO LICENSINGATLAS PAGE WAS FALSIFIED: tx-electrician names no NEC edition, so nothing on it became untrue – the edition-agnostic wording can now be made specific as a separate content improvement.
Before: The prior s. 73.100 adopted an earlier NEC edition. This site had recorded a 2026-NEC adoption as UNPUBLISHABLE since 2026-07-11 because the only support found then was a trade-association (IEC Fort Worth) page, and this site cites official sources only.
After: The Texas Register's August 28, 2026 adopted-rules issue states: 'The adopted rule adopts the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as the state's electrical code, with one modification.' Adopted at the Commission's July 28, 2026 meeting, filed with the Secretary of State on August 12, 2026, effective September 1, 2026. Proposal publication date: March 20, 2026 (51 TexReg 1785).
Who this affects: Texas electricians and electrical contractors: work performed on or after September 1, 2026 is governed by the 2026 NEC as modified by TDLR. The TDLR licensing exam is open-book against the adopted NEC edition, and the four hours of continuing education required each renewal must cover the NEC – so the edition change reaches both the exam and the CE content.
Primary source: Texas Register (Office of the Secretary of State), adopted rules of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation / Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

Every entry above was read and verified by a person against the official instrument before it was published. Full record, with what changed and the primary source: the change log.

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) administers electrician licensing in Texas. Every figure below is verified against the board’s own official pages and dated. Who must personally hold a credential — the contractor, the business, or the individual worker — is set out under Requirements.

What it’s called

Texas licenses individual electricians — the state electrician license is issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and held by the electrician personally (not only by the contractor, as in some states). “Electrician license,” “journeyman electrician license,” “master electrician license” and “electrician certification” are common informal names for the individual credential. The exact license tiers, fees, and any separate electrical-contractor license are set out in the license types and requirements below.

License types & fees

Type	Experience	Exam	Fee
Journeyman Electrician	8,000 hrs OJT (may test at 7,000) under a licensed TX master electrician	PSI, 70% to pass	$30
Master Electrician	Must have held a Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years, plus 12,000 hrs OJT under a licensed TX master electrician (both conditions)	PSI, 70% to pass	$45

Who does NOT need this license — exemptions

Texas exempts a long list of persons and work from the Electricians licensing law (Texas Occupations Code ch. 1305), which governs the Journeyman and Master Electrician licenses this page covers. Under Tex. Occ. Code sec. 1305.003(a), the chapter does not apply to: work on a dwelling performed by a person who owns and resides in that dwelling, so long as the work is ’not specifically regulated by a municipal ordinance’ (sec. 1305.003(a)(6)) — a city may still require permits or licensing; in-house maintenance electricians — electrical work performed by a person who does not engage in electrical work for the public, is regularly employed as a maintenance person or maintenance electrician for a business, and is not installing electrical equipment during new construction (sec. 1305.003(a)(8)); electrical equipment under the exclusive control of an electric utility, power generation company, electric cooperative, or municipally owned utility, in specified utility locations (sec. 1305.003(a)(5)), and similar gas-utility equipment (a)(9)); communications equipment provided by a telecommunications provider (a)(4)) and cable-operator equipment and network facilities (a)(16)); railway power/signaling installations (a)(3)) and electrical equipment in ships, non-floating-building watercraft, railway rolling stock, aircraft, motor vehicles, and recreational vehicles (a)(1)); underground mine and mobile surface-mining machinery installations (a)(2)); thoroughfare lighting, traffic signals, intelligent transportation systems, and telecommunications controlled by a governmental entity (a)(10)); HVAC electrical connections — connections supplying heating, ventilation, cooling and refrigeration equipment, including the required disconnect, when performed by an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor licensed under ch. 1302 (a)(11)); Class 1, 2, or 3 remote-control, signaling, or power-limited circuits, fire alarm circuits, optical fiber, and communications circuits as defined by the National Electrical Code (a)(12)); landscape irrigation control systems and landscapers’ low-voltage exterior and holiday lighting, excluding the power source (a)(13)); in-plant industrial work — electrical work at a chemical plant, petrochemical plant, refinery, natural gas plant or treating plant, pipeline, or oil and gas exploration and production operation by that business’s own employees, and certain long-term (12-month-plus) contract electrical workers at such plants outside new construction (a)(14)); agriculture — electrical work on a building, structure, or equipment in agricultural use (other than processing an agricultural commodity) (a)(18)); electrical equipment manufacturers’ authorized employees/representatives doing manufacturing, commissioning, testing, retrofit-with-same-ampacity, and in-enclosure servicing of their own products (a)(7)); elevator and escalator work regulated under Health and Safety Code ch. 754, excluding the power source (a)(15)); on-site sewage disposal system work (a)(17)); well pump and equipment work under ch. 1902 (a)(19)); electrical work in the factory construction and assembly of HUD-code manufactured or modular housing by licensed manufacturers/installers, other than service entrance conductors (a)(20)); licensed plumbers installing or servicing plumbing fixtures and appliances (water heaters, disposals, dishwashers, etc.) on existing electrical circuits only (a)(21)); residential appliance maintenance or repair by an appliance dealer or manufacturer using components of the same type and ampacity (a)(22)); and municipal employees maintaining pool-related electrical devices on municipally owned or operated pools (a)(23)). Political subdivisions (school districts, municipalities) do not need an electrical contractor license to employ electrical workers — but their individual employees still must hold the appropriate individual license (sec. 1305.003(d)-(e)). TDLR’s own exemptions page restates these plainly, e.g. that a maintenance electrician ‘who does not engage in electrical work for the public and does not install electrical equipment in new construction is not required by the state to be licensed as an electrician.’

Fees

Application (non-refundable): $30 journeyman, $45 master. Exam fees per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.

Exam

The edition the exam references is stated four times by TDLR and PSI, and as of September 22, 2026 all four agree on the 2026 NEC. 16 TAC §73.100 adopts the 2026 NEC as the state’s electrical code effective September 1, 2026 (Texas Register, August 28, 2026 adopted rules, TRD-202603409). The cover of the PSI Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin — the document TDLR’s own exam page designates as the authority on the examination — states in capitals: “EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2026, THE EXAMINATIONS WILL BE REFERENCED TO THE 2026 NEC.” The bulletin’s Reference Materials list (bulletin updated 9/15/2026) now names “National Electrical Code®, 2026 Edition”, and TDLR’s Electrician Exam Information page states “You will be allowed to reference the National Electrical Code®, 2026 Edition”. Until mid-September 2026 both of those still named the 2023 Edition. The bulletin also states the operative rule: “Any soft-bound edition of the National Electrical Code® may be used for the examination. (Examination questions are based on the current TDLR-adopted bound edition.)” — and the current TDLR-adopted edition has been the 2026 NEC since September 1, 2026. TDLR does not allow loose-leaf, spiral-bound or ring-bound copies. Current as of September 22, 2026.

Renewal & continuing education

Annual (license valid one year from issuance; renew online) 4 hours of continuing education per renewal; the 4 hours must cover the National Electrical Code (Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1305). TDLR states the required coursework must address the National Electrical Code as adopted under Tex. Occ. Code §1305.101, or the current NEC as approved by the NFPA, together with Texas electrician law (Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1305) and the Texas electrician administrative rules (16 TAC ch. 73). The edition adopted under §1305.101 is the 2026 NEC, effective September 1, 2026 (16 TAC §73.100).

How to apply

Applications are handled by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Start at the official application page .

Verify a license in Texas

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) publishes a public license search , searchable by license type, license number, name or business name, city, county or zip code. It covers TDLR-issued individual and business licenses, including electrician licenses and air conditioning/refrigeration contractor and A/C technician licenses; active licenses only.

Results come from the operator’s own system, through the search above. LicensingAtlas does not hold license records and cannot confirm any individual’s status — the date on this page refers to the requirements described above, not to anyone’s credential.

On exam day (PSI)

ID to bring: One valid government-issued ID (driver's license, state ID or passport) showing printed name, photograph, signature or fingerprint, date of birth and expiration date, matching the details TDLR sent to PSI. An expired driver's license is accepted only with a valid Texas DPS temporary permit. A digital copy of the ID is taken at check-in.
You may bring: Open book: candidates bring their own National Electrical Code; since September 1, 2026 the exams reference the 2026 NEC. Any soft-bound edition may be used; loose-leaf, spiral-bound and ring-bound copies and the NEC Handbook are not allowed. The book may be highlighted, underlined and contain notes beforehand, and may carry only permanent index tabs from the NEC publisher; homemade or DIY tabs are not allowed, and nothing may be marked during the exam. Electronic notepads are provided.
Not allowed: Electronic devices of any type, bulky outerwear, hats not worn for religious reasons, purses, notebooks, wallets, pens, food and drinks go in secure storage. No smoking, eating or drinking; companions may not wait on the premises. Only silent, non-programmable calculators are allowed.
Arrival: Arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Late arrivals are NOT admitted and forfeit the registration fee.
Results: The score appears on screen immediately and an official score report is printed at the site; each of the two written portions requires a minimum score of 70%.
Retakes: The Journeyman Electrician exam fee is $78 for both portions, and the retake fee after failing one or both portions is $78.

Source: PSI Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (updated 9/15/2026); PSI Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin, TDLR (updated 9/15/2026) - reference rules and Journeyman fees

Requirements in detail

Journeyman OJT: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed Texas master electrician (may sit for the exam at 7,000 hours)
Master OJT: 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed Texas master electrician, and having held a Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years (both conditions)
Accelerated pathway (JEEP)
Effective July 1, 2026, graduates of a TDLR-approved Accelerated Journeyman Electrician Education Program receive 4,000 hours of credit toward the 8,000-hour on-the-job training requirement (the credit also counts toward a later master electrician application) and are eligible to sit for the journeyman exam immediately on completing the program; completing an apprenticeship training program also confers immediate exam eligibility (16 TAC §§73.21(b), 73.112)
Exam: PSI-administered, open-book using the adopted National Electrical Code; 70% or higher to pass
Adopted electrical code — the 2026 NEC from September 1, 2026
Texas names its electrical code by rule. Tex. Occ. Code §1305.101(a)(2) requires TDLR to adopt the most recent National Electrical Code published by the NFPA, and 16 TAC §73.100 (Technical Requirements) states which edition is in force. Effective September 1, 2026 that edition is the 2026 NEC: the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopted an amendment to §73.100 that, in the Texas Register's words, "adopts the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as the state's electrical code, with one modification." That modification is new §73.100(b). The 2026 NEC restores the ground-fault circuit-interrupter requirement at Section 210.8(F) for certain outdoor outlets, subject to "Exception No. 2: GFCI protection shall not be required for listed HVAC equipment. This exception shall expire September 1, 2026." Texas extends that exception without an expiration date, because the compatibility problems that cause nuisance tripping on air conditioning equipment are not yet resolved. The Commission adopted the rule as proposed at its July 28, 2026 meeting; it was filed with the Secretary of State on August 12, 2026 and published in the Texas Register's August 28, 2026 adopted-rules issue (TRD-202603409; proposal published March 20, 2026, 51 TexReg 1785). TDLR's Electrician Exam Information page and the PSI candidate bulletin both now name the 2026 Edition as the code book allowed in the examination room (read September 22, 2026) — see Exam.
Background check: TDLR conducts a criminal-history review on every applicant and at renewal
Reciprocity (master electrician)
TDLR holds master electrician reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska and North Carolina, and — as of June 5, 2026 — with Ohio, whose master electrical contractor license TDLR deems substantially equivalent to a Texas master electrician license. To qualify, an applicant must have held the out-of-state license in good standing for at least one year and have obtained it by passing that state's administered exam; each state's prerequisites still apply (including journeyman licensure and, for Ohio, its business-law exam).
Reciprocity (journeyman): TDLR holds journeyman electrician reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours do you need for a journeyman electrician license in Texas?

8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed Texas master electrician. You may sit for the licensing exam after 7,000 hours.

Is there a faster way to become a journeyman electrician in Texas?

Yes. Effective July 1, 2026, Texas created an accelerated pathway: graduates of a TDLR-approved Accelerated Journeyman Electrician Education Program (JEEP) receive 4,000 hours of credit toward the 8,000-hour on-the-job training requirement and may sit for the journeyman exam immediately after completing the program. The 4,000 hours also count toward a later master electrician application (16 TAC §73.112).

How much does a Texas electrician license cost?

The non-refundable application fee is $30 for a journeyman electrician and $45 for a master electrician. Exam fees are set in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.

Who administers the Texas electrician exam and what score do you need to pass?

PSI administers the exam. It is open-book using the adopted National Electrical Code, and you need a score of 70% or higher to pass.

How often do you renew a Texas electrician license, and how much continuing education is required?

Licenses are valid for one year and renew annually. Renewal requires 4 hours of continuing education, all of which must cover the National Electrical Code.

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in Texas.

Sources & verification

Last verified against these sources: September 8, 2026.

We re-check cited sources on a weekly schedule wherever a source can be fetched automatically; 7 of the sources above cannot be (marked "re-verified by hand" — hover for why) and are checked by a person instead. See what changed at the agencies, or every correction we have ever made.

LicensingAtlas states licensing and certification requirements categorically from official sources. It is a reference, not legal or career advice, and requirements change frequently — confirm details with the issuing board before you act.