Short answer: Three numbers matter. With at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician you can apply for the Journeyman license and take the exam early; 8,000 hours are required for the Journeyman license; and the Master license asks for 12,000 hours plus at least two years holding a Journeyman license. Check your total every month and estimate how many weeks remain at your usual hours, so that you can ask each Master for their verification on time.
Starting your first year as a Texas apprentice? The US$19 Texas First-Year Electrical Apprentice Kit gives you printable pages for the first months on the job: a tool-check card, a who-to-ask list with a short stop-and-ask script, emergency-contact and heat-and-rest cards, plus a Tool budget sheet and a Tool inventory sheet (CSV).
Log your Texas Journeyman hours free. A free Tsai Electro account keeps your supervised hours, your online practice scores and your exam date in one place. Start with a five-question check to see which topic to practice next.
The free hours ledger in your Tsai Electro account lets you record each employer, supervisor, work period and hours, shows how far you are from 7,000, 8,000 and 12,000 hours, and exports a CSV or a printable summary. It is your own record, not an official TDLR record, and it does not replace the Experience Verification Form your supervising Master signs.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR or any apprenticeship program.
Estimate your milestones
Hours milestone calculator
Enter your current total and the hours you usually work in a week. The estimate assumes the same weekly hours from now on.
- Hours of on-the-job training I have so far
- Hours I usually work per week
What each milestone means
| Hours under a Texas Master | What TDLR says it allows | What else is needed |
|---|---|---|
| 7,000 | Apply for the Journeyman license and take the exam before reaching 8,000 | Experience Verification Form from each Master who supervised you, application and fee |
| 8,000 | The full hours required for the Journeyman license | Passing the exam |
| 12,000 | The hours required for the Master license | At least two years holding a Journeyman license, verification from each Master, and the exam |
TDLR also notes that Journeyman Industrial Electrician experience may not be used to qualify for a Master Electrician license. For applying at 7,000 hours step by step, see the Journeyman application at 7,000 hours.
Studying for the Journeyman exam later? Your hours stay in the free ledger. When you start studying for the Journeyman exam, the Texas Journeyman Electrician Exam Practice Pack has 1,000 original practice questions in the PSI two-part format, 10 full timed two-part mocks and step-by-step solutions for every calculation question, built on the 2026 NEC. It is exam prep only; it does not track hours, verifications or renewals. One payment of US$39, no subscription, and you can try 70 questions free with no sign-up.
How many hours do I need for a Texas Journeyman Electrician license?
TDLR requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas. With at least 7,000 hours you can apply and take the exam before reaching the full 8,000.
How many hours do I need for a Texas Master Electrician license?
12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician, and you must have held a Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years.
How long does it take to reach 8,000 hours?
It depends on your weekly hours. At 40 hours a week, 8,000 hours is about 200 weeks, close to four years. Use the calculator with your own numbers.
