Short answer: The fixed fees are the $30 TDLR application fee, which is non-refundable, and $78 to PSI for the journeyman exam, which covers both portions. If you fail one or both portions, each retake costs another $78. Retakes are unlimited during your eligibility period, and you must meet all requirements within 1 year of the date TDLR received your application. Also budget for an allowed soft-bound NEC if you do not own one, any publisher tabs you choose to use, and travel to a PSI test center.
Every failed sitting adds another $78 plus travel. The Practice Pack lets you check your readiness before you pay for a sitting: 10 full timed two-part mocks scored at 70%, a score by part and by topic, 299 step-by-step calculation solutions, a wrong-answer list and a weak-area check. US$39, one payment, with a 30-day refund if unused.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. Rules and fees can change, so confirm on the TDLR and PSI pages linked below.
The fees TDLR and PSI list
| Cost | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman license application | $30 | TDLR | Non-refundable. The first application is mailed. Do not send cash. |
| Journeyman exam, both portions | $78 | PSI | Paid when you schedule. |
| Retake, one or both portions failed | $78 | PSI | Charged each time. Retakes are unlimited inside your eligibility period. |
| Late cancel, no show, late arrival or improper ID | You lose the $78 | PSI | PSI must receive your cancel or reschedule request at least 2 days before your appointment, by web or phone. For a Monday exam, the deadline is Saturday. |
| Allowed soft-bound NEC | Your price | Bookseller | The exam uses the 2026 NEC. PSI permits any soft-bound NEC edition, but an older edition may not reflect the code being tested. Loose-leaf, spiral and ring-bound copies are not allowed. |
| Publisher tabs, optional | Your price | Bookseller | Only permanent tabs made or provided by the NEC publisher are allowed. |
| Travel to a PSI center | Your cost | You | Arrive 30 minutes early. |
The bulletin does not say a passed portion carries over when you fail the other one, so budget the full $78 for every retake and ask PSI if you need that answered.
How to pay without losing money
- TDLR application. Mail it to TDLR, PO Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711-2157. Keep a copy of the application, every attachment and your check or money order.
- PSI exam online. Create a PSI account with your first and last name exactly as on your government ID, pick a city and time, and pay.
- PSI exam by phone. Call (833) 333-4741 with a credit card, Monday to Friday 6:30 am to 9:00 pm or Saturday and Sunday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Central Time.
- PSI exam by mail. Credit card, money order, company check or cashier’s check. No cash or personal checks. Allow 7 business days.
- Protect the $78. If you need to move the date, do it by web or phone at least 2 days before. For a Monday exam, that means by Saturday. Voicemail and email do not count.
Your license is valid for one year and renewed online each year. This page does not list a renewal fee, so ask TDLR for the current amount before you renew.
Estimate your total
Texas journeyman license cost calculator
The calculator includes the $30 application fee and one $78 PSI fee per planned sitting, with at least one sitting. Enter your own costs for the code book, tabs, travel and study materials. Leave an item at 0 if you do not want to include it.
- Exam sittings you plan to budget for (first try plus retakes)
- Allowed soft-bound NEC, dollars
- Optional publisher tabs, dollars
- Travel cost per trip to the PSI center, dollars
- Study materials, dollars
Why a retake belongs in the budget
TDLR publishes its FY2025 results: 1,402 of 5,731 Journeyman NEC attempts passed (24.46%) and 1,301 of 6,328 Journeyman Calculations attempts passed (20.56%). Those numbers count attempts, including retakes, not people, so they do not tell you your own odds. They show that fewer than one in four recorded attempts passed each portion in FY2025, but they do not predict any one candidate’s result. If you need another sitting, budget another $78 plus travel.
Two habits keep that line small:
- Check yourself first with the 70 free practice questions, no sign-up.
- After a failed sitting, use the diagnostic report PSI gives you. It lists your strengths and weaknesses, so you study the weak areas before you pay again.
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Texas Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep 2026 NEC (paperback)
Our own workbook for the 2026 NEC has 486 practice questions, 2 full two-part mock exams (59 + 26), worked calculations and a 20-article tab list. It is a paperback option if you prefer printed practice questions. Compare its current price with your study-material budget before buying.
How much does it cost to get a journeyman license in Texas?
The initial TDLR application and one PSI exam sitting cost $108 combined. This excludes any code-book purchase, tabs, travel, study materials, retakes and future renewal fees. Each additional sitting adds another $78 plus any travel.
How much is the Texas journeyman exam retake fee?
PSI lists $78 to retake if you fail one or both portions. Retakes are unlimited inside your eligibility period, with a fee each time. You have 1 year from the date TDLR received your application to meet all requirements.
Is the TDLR application fee refundable?
No. The $30 application fee is non-refundable, and documents you send with the application are not returned. Keep copies of everything, including your check or money order.
