Short answer: Passing is one of two conditions. TDLR does not issue the license until it has approved all 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and you have passed the exam. If you tested early with at least 7,000 hours, you have one year from the date of your application to submit the additional hours, documented on an Experience Verification Form or a signed letter on company letterhead from each supervising master electrician.
Your exam is done, and the hours are your step now. If someone on your crew is still at the exam step, this is what the pack is for. The Practice Pack has 10 full timed two-part mocks at 59 questions in 130 minutes plus 26 in 110 minutes, a score by part and by topic, and 299 step-by-step calculation solutions. US$39, one payment.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR, PSI or NFPA. Exam rules can change, so confirm in the PSI bulletin linked below.
The two conditions for your license
| Condition | Where you stand after an early exam |
|---|---|
| Pass the exam (70% on NEC Knowledge and 70% on Calculations) | Done. PSI sends your results to TDLR electronically. |
| TDLR approves all 8,000 hours under a Texas-licensed master electrician | Still open. You applied with at least 7,000 hours. |
The early exam option on Form ELC-LIC-005 lets you apply to test with at least 7,000 hours attached. From the date of that application you have one year to submit the additional hours. The license is not issued until both rows above are done.
How to document the remaining hours
- One form per supervisor. Each supervising master electrician completes an Experience Verification Form, and each supervisor uses a new form.
- Or a letter. The application form also accepts a letter on company letterhead, signed by the supervising master electrician, one per employer.
- Same rules as your first hours. The additional hours are documented the same way as the hours you already sent.
- Watch your email. Giving an email on the application authorizes TDLR to send notices by email, so keep that inbox checked.
- Keep your own copy of every form or letter you send, with the date you sent it.
What TDLR does not publish
Some questions come up every time an apprentice passes early. TDLR’s pages do not answer them, so ask TDLR directly at (800) 803-9202 (in state) or (512) 463-6599.
| Question | Status |
|---|---|
| Do you send the remaining hours online or by mail | Not published beyond the form and the one-year rule. Ask TDLR. |
| How long TDLR takes to issue the license once both conditions are met | Not published. Ask TDLR. |
| Whether a license card is mailed or printed | Not published. Ask TDLR. |
| What happens to a passed exam if the hours arrive after the year | Not published. The application form only says the application will be terminated. Ask TDLR before your date gets close. |
Once TDLR issues the license, it shows up in the TDLR License Search, which covers active licenses only. That is the next page in this section.
Count the weeks to 8,000 hours
Weeks to 8,000 hours and your one-year mark
Enter the hours TDLR has approved, the hours you work under a Texas-licensed master electrician each week, and how many days have passed since your application date. The one-year mark is counted as 365 days, so check the exact date on your application.
- Hours approved so far
- Hours worked per week
- Days since your application date
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Can I get my Texas journeyman license right after I pass the exam?
Only if TDLR has already approved all 8,000 hours. The license is not issued until TDLR has approved all 8,000 hours and you have passed the exam. If you tested early, the hours are what is left.
How long do I have to finish my hours after testing early?
The early exam application gives you one year from the date of the application to submit the additional hours. Count from the date on your application, not from your exam date.
How do I send my remaining hours to TDLR?
The hours are documented on an Experience Verification Form, or a letter on company letterhead, signed by each supervising master electrician, one per employer. TDLR does not publish whether you send them online or by mail, so ask TDLR at (800) 803-9202.
