Texas Electrician Exam Day: What to Bring, Rules and Results

By Engineer Tsai. Built from official TDLR pages and the PSI candidate bulletin; every source below shows the date we read it. Last reviewed October 2, 2026.

Part of Texas Electrician Exams: every Texas license step and exam in one place.

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Contents

Short answer: Arrive 30 minutes early with one government ID that matches your TDLR record exactly, your soft-bound 2026 NEC with publisher tabs only, and a silent, non-programmable calculator. Phones, watches, bags and notes stay in storage. Late candidates are not admitted and lose the $78 fee. Cancel at least 2 days ahead to keep it.

In detail: For a Texas TDLR electrician exam at PSI, arrive 30 minutes early with one valid government ID that matches your TDLR record exactly, your soft-bound 2026 NEC (publisher tabs only) and a silent, non-programmable calculator. Phones, watches, bags, pens, notes, food and coats stay in storage. If you are late, you are not admitted and you lose the $78 fee. To cancel without losing the fee, cancel at least 2 days before the exam. Your score appears on screen as soon as you finish.

Rules from the PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians (updated September 15, 2026) and the TDLR exam page, checked October 1, 2026.

Exam day checklist

Bring	Leave in the car or the locker
One valid government-issued photo ID with signature and date of birth, matching your TDLR record	Phones, smart watches, electronic watches, tablets, laptops, music players
Your soft-bound NEC (2026 edition referenced), publisher tabs only	NEC Handbook, spiral-bound or loose-leaf code books, homemade tabs
Silent, battery-operated, non-programmable calculator without paper tape or an alphabet keyboard	Pens, pencils, notebooks, loose paper, bags, wallets, food, drinks, good-luck items
Clothing with a shirt under any outer layer	Coats, jackets, cardigans, vests, scarves, hats (except religious headwear)

PSI provides electronic notepads in the room. Friends and family who drive you cannot wait inside the building or on the property.

ID problems are the most expensive mistake

Your ID must be valid and must match exactly the name and details TDLR sent to PSI. An expired driver’s license is accepted only together with a valid Texas DPS temporary permit. If you cannot meet the ID requirement, call PSI at (833) 333-4741 at least 3 weeks before your appointment. Turning up without acceptable ID counts as a missed appointment, and the fee is forfeited.

Scheduling, cancelling and missing an exam

• Schedule online through PSI or by phone at (833) 333-4741 once TDLR has approved you.
• Cancel or reschedule at least 2 days before the exam to keep your fee. For a Monday exam, that means by the previous Saturday. Voicemail and email do not count.
• Not cancelling in time, not showing up or arriving after the start time all forfeit the fee.

During the exam

• A short computer tutorial comes first. Up to 15 minutes of tutorial time does not count against your exam time.
• One question is shown at a time, with the time remaining on screen.
• The two Journeyman parts are timed separately: 59 questions in 130 minutes, then 26 questions in 110 minutes. Unused time does not carry over.
• Some questions are unscored trial questions (3 in NEC Knowledge, 2 in Calculations), and you cannot tell which ones. Answer everything.
• You may not write in, highlight or tab your NEC during the session.

Results and retakes

Your score appears on screen when the exam ends, and an official score report is printed at the test center. PSI sends results to TDLR electronically. You do not send them yourself. You need 70% on each part. If you fail, the report shows your strengths and weaknesses by area.

You can retake as many times as needed. The retake fee is $78 whether you fail one part or both, and you must pass within one year of TDLR receiving your application. Before you rebook, drill the weak areas on your score report. The retake guide shows how. Our free Texas Journeyman practice needs no sign-up, and the Texas Journeyman Practice Pack scores a timed two-part mock by topic area, the way the real report does.

For format, fees and pass rates, see the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam guide. For book rules, see NEC code book tabs for the Texas exam.

Test center cities

TDLR lists PSI locations in Abilene, Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston, Lubbock, McAllen, Midland, San Antonio, Tyler and Waco. Check the PSI booking page for the current address and directions.

FAQ

Sources

• PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians, updated September 15, 2026, read October 1, 2026
• TDLR: Electrician exam information, read October 1, 2026
• NFPA 70, National Electrical Code: code development page (the exams use the 2026 edition), read October 3, 2026

Test-center rules can change; the current PSI bulletin wins.