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Texas electrician licensing, 2026
Quick answer: Texas licenses electricians through TDLR, and PSI gives the exams. The Journeyman exam has two parts, 59 NEC Knowledge questions in 130 minutes and 26 Calculations questions in 110 minutes, and you need 70% on each. From September 1, 2026 the exams use the 2026 NEC.
Last checked October 1, 2026 against TDLR and the PSI candidate bulletin.
- Written for the 2026 NEC
- Two timed parts, like the PSI exam
- Corrections published openly
- One payment, no subscription
The Texas license ladder
Get your own dates: Texas electrician license timeline.
Next step on the Texas ladder
- Not in the trade yet? Start with the apprentice license (no exam), then see how long each step takes.
- Logging hours as an apprentice? Read the Journeyman application and when you can test.
- Approved to test? Learn what the Calculations part tests, then try 20 free questions.
- Already a Journeyman? See the Master exam and the contractor license.
Most people start as an Electrical Apprentice, which needs no exam and no experience. After 7,000 hours of supervised work you can apply to take the Journeyman exam, and TDLR issues the Journeyman license once you document 8,000 hours. Two years after that, with 12,000 hours in total, you can take the Master exam. An Electrical Contractor is a business license that needs a Master Electrician of record. Residential Wireman is a side path for homes up to four stories, with 4,000 hours and a single exam.
Journeyman vs Master exam at a glance
| Journeyman Electrician | Master Electrician | |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1, NEC Knowledge | 59 questions, 130 minutes | 75 questions, 150 minutes |
| Part 2, Calculations | 26 questions, 110 minutes | 33 questions, 170 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% on each part | 70% on each part |
| Exam fee and retake fee | $78 and $78 | $78 and $78 |
| TDLR application fee | $30 | $45 |
| Pass rate, fiscal year 2025 | 24.46% NEC Knowledge, 20.56% Calculations | 22.21% NEC Knowledge, 19.08% Calculations |
Each part is scored on its own, so you retake only the part you failed. The question counts include a few unscored items (3 and 2 on the Journeyman parts, 5 and 3 on the Master parts). Pass rates are TDLR’s fiscal year 2025 figures for all attempts; first attempts do much better than retakes. See pass rates in detail.
Prepare for the part most people fail
Texas Journeyman Practice Pack
US$39 one time
- 2 full two-part timed mocks
- Score by topic for each part
- Step-by-step calculation solutions
- Open-book lookup path and tab list
Or try 20 questions free first. Refund policy.
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Exam prep
How we check our questions
How we check questions
Every question is checked against the 2026 NEC text before publication, and every correction is published with its date. An outside reviewer has gone through most of the set, and you can report an error from any question.
Built by Engineer Tsai
Holds Taiwan’s national Class B Indoor Wiring Technician certificate. MEP engineer and site engineer on major builds, including a project honored at the 25th Public Construction Golden Quality Awards. Teaches career switchers on YouTube (@tsai.electro).
FAQ
Is the Texas electrician exam open book?
Yes. You bring your own softbound copy of the 2026 NEC. PSI allows the publisher’s permanent tabs plus highlighting and notes made before the exam; handbooks and spiral-bound copies are not allowed.
Can I retake only the part I failed?
Yes. Each part is scored separately and you retake only the part you failed. The PSI retake fee is $78.
When can I take the Texas Journeyman exam?
After 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician. TDLR issues the license once you document 8,000 hours.
Which NEC edition do Texas electrician exams use?
The 2026 NEC, for exams from September 1, 2026, according to the PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians.
Do Texas electrical contractors take an exam?
TDLR’s Electrical Contractor page lists no separate exam. The business needs a Master Electrician of record, liability insurance and a workers’ compensation filing, and the TDLR fee is $110.
See which exam part would sink you
20 free Texas Journeyman questions, no sign-up. Your score shows by topic.
Start 20 free questions Or see the full practice packSources
- PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians, updated September 15, 2026, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR: Electricians and its Journeyman, Master and Electrical Contractor pages, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR fiscal year 2025 electrician exam statistics, read October 1, 2026
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code: code development page (the exams use the 2026 edition), read October 3, 2026
- TDLR Active License Search: look up a Texas electrician license, read October 3, 2026
- Texas Open Data Portal: TDLR All Licenses dataset, read October 3, 2026
