Short answer: Before day one, hold a Texas apprentice electrician license and save the number. Bring your ID and work papers, ask what safety gear the company provides, and buy only the starter tools on your employer’s list. From day one, write down every day’s hours with the name and license number of the Master Electrician you worked under.
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Those notes become the hours on your Journeyman application. Free to read and print: tick the boxes on paper as you go.
Before day one
- Apprentice license. Apply online at TDLR. There is no experience or exam requirement, and the fee is $20. If you apply online and report no criminal convictions, TDLR issues a temporary license automatically (TDLR).
- If you have a conviction, send TDLR’s Criminal History Questionnaire with your application. TDLR says the review can take one to six weeks, so apply early (TDLR).
- Save your license number in your phone and on your resume. Full steps: Texas electrician apprentice license.
- Work papers. Photo ID and proof you can work in the U.S. (for example a Social Security card or birth certificate). Programs also ask for diplomas or transcripts, and veterans should bring a DD-214 (IEC Fort Worth).
- Ride. Programs list reliable transportation as a requirement, and North Texas Electrical JATC says you may be sent to work anywhere in its 22 counties (North Texas FAQ).
Safety gear
- Ask your supervisor what the company provides and what you must bring.
- Common basics on construction sites: hard hat, safety glasses, work gloves, hearing protection, a high-visibility vest and sturdy work boots. Buy what your employer requires.
- Work on anything energized only when your supervisor shows you how, with the right gear.
Starter tools
- Get the list first. IEC Fort Worth says contractors usually give a recommended starter tool list and apprentices build their tools over time (IEC Fort Worth).
- Expect to bring your own hand tools. IEC Greater San Antonio and IEC of East Texas both say applicants furnish their own tools (IEC Greater San Antonio, IEC of East Texas).
- For a sample first-year list and costs, see the tools section of first-year costs.
Your hours log, from day one
To apply for a Journeyman license, you need at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas to sit the exam, and 8,000 hours for the license. Each supervising Master signs a separate Experience Verification Form (ELC017) (TDLR Journeyman application).
The form asks for the supervisor’s name, phone, company, license type and number, the dates supervised, the number of hours and the type of work. Log the same things now so the form is easy later (Form ELC017).
| Date | Company | Supervising Master | Master license number | Hours | Type of work | What you did |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Fill it in every day, not at the end of the month.
- Keep copies of pay stubs. They back up your hours.
- More detail on signatures and changing employers: the ELC017 form guide.
Your first five days
- Day 1: Arrive 15 minutes early. Learn your supervisor’s name and the Master Electrician’s name. Start the hours log.
- Day 2: Ask where tools and materials are kept and how the company wants them returned.
- Day 3: Ask which safety rules matter most on this jobsite.
- Day 4: Write down three new words or parts and look them up at night.
- Day 5: Ask your supervisor one question: "What should I do better next week?"
Mark your renewal date
Your apprentice license lasts one year. To renew, you need 4 hours of continuing education, or you can be enrolled in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training course instead. Renewal is $20 online (TDLR renewal).
Next step on the Texas ladder
- All Texas electrician licenses and exams in one place
- Starting pay by Texas metro
- Plan your dates with the Texas electrician license timeline
- Texas electrician license statistics
- Try 20 free Texas Journeyman practice questions
FAQ
What do I need before my first day as an electrical apprentice in Texas?
A TDLR apprentice electrician license, photo ID and proof you can work in the U.S., reliable transportation, the safety gear your employer requires and the starter tools on its list.
Can I start work while my Texas apprentice license is pending?
No. TDLR says anyone doing electrical work must be licensed first, with no grace period. If you apply online and report no criminal convictions, TDLR issues a temporary license automatically.
How should I log my apprentice hours?
Every day: the date, hours, company, supervising Master Electrician’s name and license number, type of work and what you did. Those are the details TDLR’s Experience Verification Form asks for.
Do I have to buy my own tools as a Texas apprentice?
Usually your own hand tools. IEC Greater San Antonio and IEC of East Texas say applicants furnish their own tools, and IEC Fort Worth says contractors usually give a starter list.
When do I renew my Texas apprentice license?
Every year. Renewal is $20 online and needs 4 hours of continuing education, or enrollment in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training course.
Sources
- TDLR: Apply for a New Electrical Apprentice License, checked October 2026
- TDLR: Renew an Apprentice Electrician License, checked October 2026
- TDLR: Apply for a New Journeyman Electrician License, checked October 2026
- TDLR Form ELC017: Electrician Experience Verification Form, checked October 2026
- TDLR electrician FAQ, read October 1, 2026
- IEC Fort Worth: Apprenticeship Program, checked October 2026
- North Texas Electrical Training Center: FAQ, checked October 2026
- IEC Greater San Antonio: September 2026 class requirements (PDF), checked October 2026
- IEC of East Texas: Apprenticeship School, checked October 2026
