Part of Texas Electrician Exams: every Texas license step and exam in one place.
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Quick answer: You can apply to take the Texas Journeyman exam after 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician, about 3.5 years at 40 hours a week for 50 weeks a year. The license needs 8,000 hours. Enter your own hours below to get your dates.
Rules from TDLR’s apprentice, Journeyman, Master and Electrical Contractor pages and the PSI candidate bulletin, read October 3, 2026.
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Texas electrician license timeline
Enter the hours you have and the hours you work. You get the month you can apply to sit the Journeyman exam (7,000 hours), the month you reach the 8,000 hours for the license, and your earliest Master date (12,000 hours plus a Journeyman license held 2 years). Every rule comes from TDLR and PSI.
The Texas ladder at a glance
| Step | Hours and time | TDLR application | PSI exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | None. No exam. | $20 online | None |
| Residential Wireman (optional) | 4,000 hours | $20 by mail | $64 |
| Journeyman exam | Apply at 7,000 hours | $30 by mail | $78, two parts, 70% each |
| Journeyman license | 8,000 hours, within one year of the application | Same application | Same exam |
| Master | 12,000 hours and a Journeyman license held 2 years | $45 by mail | $78, two parts |
| Electrical Contractor | A Master Electrician of record and liability insurance | $110 | None |
Licenses renew every year. A failed exam part can be retaken as often as needed, $78 per retake. Journeyman Industrial experience does not count toward Master.
Sources, last checked October 3, 2026
- TDLR: Apply for a New Electrical Apprentice License
- TDLR: Apply for a New Residential Wireman License
- TDLR: Apply for a New Journeyman Electrician License
- TDLR: Electrician Exam Information
- TDLR: Apply for a New Master Electrician License
- TDLR: Apply for a New Electrical Contractor License
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, TDLR Electrician (2026 NEC)
Texas license rules by step
| Step | Hours and time | Fees | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Apprentice | No hours and no exam. Renew every year. | $20 TDLR application, online | TDLR: apprentice license |
| Journeyman Electrician | 7,000 hours under a Texas-licensed Master to sit the exam, 8,000 for the license. One year from the day TDLR receives your application to meet every requirement, including the exam. | $30 TDLR application by mail; $78 PSI exam for both parts, 70% on each | TDLR: Journeyman license |
| Master Electrician | 12,000 hours under a Texas-licensed Master and a Journeyman license held at least 2 years. Journeyman Industrial experience does not count. | $45 TDLR application by mail; $78 PSI exam for both parts | TDLR: Master license |
| Electrical Contractor | A licensed Master Electrician of record (the owner can be that Master) and liability insurance. No exam of its own. | $110 TDLR application | TDLR: Electrical Contractor license |
The one-year window comes from TDLR’s exam information page; exam fees come from the PSI candidate bulletin. A failed part can be retaken as often as needed, $78 per retake.
How the planner works it out
- Your pace. Hours a week times weeks a year gives your hours a year. At 40 hours for 50 weeks that is 2,000 hours.
- Journeyman. The planner counts forward from today to 7,000 hours (apply and test) and 8,000 hours (license).
- The one-year window. If 7,000 to 8,000 hours would take you longer than a year, the planner tells you how many hours to wait for before you mail the application.
- Master. Two conditions, and the later one sets your date: 12,000 hours, and a Journeyman license that is two years old.
- Coming back. Your last numbers stay in this browser. Next time, one click adds the hours you worked since, and the calendar file can remind you every month.
Next step on the Texas ladder
- All Texas electrician exams in one place
- Texas electrician apprentice license: requirements, fee and hours
- TDLR Journeyman application: hours, forms and fee
- How long it takes to become an electrician in Texas
- 20 free Texas Journeyman practice questions
FAQ
How many hours do you need to take the Journeyman exam in Texas?
7,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas. That lets you apply and test early; the Journeyman license itself needs the full 8,000 hours.
How long do I have to pass after I apply for the Journeyman license?
One year from the day TDLR receives your application, and that year covers every requirement, including passing the exam. If you work part time, wait until you are closer to 8,000 hours before you mail the application.
When can I apply for a Texas Master Electrician license?
When you have 12,000 hours under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician and have held your Journeyman license for at least two years. Whichever of the two comes later sets your date. Journeyman Industrial experience does not count toward Master.
How much do Texas electrician license fees add up to?
TDLR application fees are $20 for the apprentice license, $30 for Journeyman and $45 for Master. The PSI exam is $78 for both parts of the Journeyman or Master exam, and each retake is $78. An Electrical Contractor license is $110.
Whose supervision counts toward Texas Journeyman hours?
TDLR counts on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas, and each supervising Master signs an Experience Verification Form for your hours. Write down every employer and every Master as you go so a job change never costs you hours.
Does the planner keep my information?
It keeps your last numbers in this browser only, so you can add new hours next time. It asks for no name, email or license number, and a shared link carries only numbers and dates.
Sources
- TDLR: Apply for a New Electrical Apprentice License, read October 3, 2026
- TDLR: Apply for a New Journeyman Electrician License, read October 3, 2026
- TDLR: Electrician Exam Information, read October 3, 2026
- TDLR: Apply for a New Master Electrician License, read October 3, 2026
- TDLR: Apply for a New Residential Wireman License, read October 3, 2026
- TDLR: Apply for a New Electrical Contractor License, read October 3, 2026
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, TDLR Electrician (2026 NEC), read October 3, 2026
