Short answer: Enter how your program charges, how many hours you expect to work and what your employer covers, and the calculator below shows your own cost per year and for the whole program. Texas programs charge in different ways: IEC Dallas, for example, deducts 53 cents per hour worked from your pay, while other programs list a yearly tuition that an employer may pay. For every program’s listed tuition, fees and who usually pays, see the tuition by route section of first-year costs for a Texas electrical apprentice.
Tuition is one line in a bigger choice. The Texas Electrical Apprenticeship Entry Kit covers 13 Texas apprenticeship programs checked on their own websites and a 7-day start plan, plus 1,366 math and 288 reading aptitude-test questions with worked answers, 8 timed simulations, and 20 interview questions with a weak and a strong answer for each. Launch price US$49 through November 30, 2026, one payment, instant download.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR or any apprenticeship program. Tuition changes each school year, so confirm the current amount with the program.
Calculate your yearly cost
Apprenticeship tuition calculator
The starting example uses the IEC Dallas 53-cent deduction and 2,000 work hours. Replace the numbers with your program’s figures. A cost you have not entered is not counted, so enter 0 only for charges you know do not apply. If your program quotes a semester or whole-program price, work out the yearly amount first.
- Hours you expect to work per year
- Payroll deduction, cents per hour worked (IEC Dallas lists 53)
- Tuition charged for one year, dollars
- Books and materials per year, dollars (ask the program)
- Percent of tuition and books your employer pays, 0 to 100
- Program length, years
How to fill in each box
| Box | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|
| Hours per year | Your expected full-time hours; 2,000 is a common planning figure |
| Cents per hour | Only if your program deducts tuition from your pay; otherwise enter 0 |
| Tuition for one year | The program’s listed yearly tuition; divide a whole-program price by its years |
| Books and materials | Ask the program for a written estimate of books, software and class materials |
| Employer share | What your employer has agreed in writing to pay; 0 if you pay it all |
| Program length | The number of years in the program you are applying to |
Run it once for each program on your list and compare the “Your share per year” lines. The program figures to enter are in the first-year cost guide.
Six questions to ask before you sign
- Is tuition charged per hour worked, per year, or per semester?
- Who pays it: me, my employer, or a scholarship? Is that in writing?
- What do books, tools for class and any software cost each year?
- If I leave the program or change employers, do I owe anything back?
- Are there scholarships, veteran benefits or workforce funds I can apply for?
- When is the first payment due, and can it come out of my pay?
How do I work out my apprenticeship tuition per year?
If your program deducts a set amount per hour worked, multiply your yearly hours by that rate; 2,000 hours at 53 cents is $1,060. Then add any yearly tuition and books, and subtract the part your employer pays in writing.
Does my employer pay for my apprenticeship classes?
Sometimes. Some programs list employer-sponsored tuition that the employer usually pays, while others deduct tuition from your pay. Ask your employer and get the answer in writing.
Is the TDLR apprentice license fee part of tuition?
No. The TDLR apprentice license fee is separate from tuition; TDLR charges it when you apply.
