Short answer: A Texas Journeyman Electrician license lasts one year. To renew your Texas Journeyman license, complete the required four hours of approved continuing education from a TDLR-registered provider during your current license term, submit your renewal online, and pay the $30 renewal fee. The 4 hours must cover the NEC, Texas electrician law, TDLR’s electrician rules and NFPA 70E electrical safety.
Ready to renew? Find a TDLR-registered continuing education provider. Your renewal needs the required four hours of approved continuing education and the $30 renewal fee.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. Rules below come from TDLR’s pages as we checked them in October 2026.
Renewal at a glance
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| License term | One year from the date of issuance |
| Reminder | Email or postcard about 60 days before expiration, but renewing on time is your responsibility |
| Continuing education | 4 hours each license cycle, from a TDLR-registered provider |
| When CE counts | Only courses taken within the term of the license being renewed |
| What one CE hour means | 50 minutes of actual instruction |
| Renewal fee | $30, non-refundable, online |
| Certificate | Keep it for one year after you finish the course |
Sources: TDLR Journeyman renewal page and TDLR continuing education page.
What the 4 hours must cover
TDLR says the required coursework must address four subjects:
- The National Electrical Code, as adopted under Occupations Code §1305.101, or the current NFPA edition
- Texas electrician law, Occupations Code Chapter 1305
- TDLR’s electrician rules, 16 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 73
- Electrical safety as defined in NFPA 70E
Three rules catch people out:
- NEC-only hours are not enough. If you already took 4 hours on the NEC only, TDLR says you need an additional approved course of at least one hour on the law, the rules or NFPA 70E safety.
- No repeats and no partial credit. You cannot get credit for the same course twice, and TDLR does not accept partly completed courses.
- Approved providers only. Courses from providers not registered with TDLR do not count.
If you hold more than one license type, such as Master and Journeyman, TDLR requires 4 hours in total, taken during the period of the license being renewed.
Which NEC? Texas adopted the 2026 NEC as the state electrical code effective September 1, 2026 (TDLR rule adoption notice). Check the course description or ask the provider which NEC edition the course covers.
Worked example: the CE window and the cost of being late
Assume the current Journeyman license term began on March 15, 2026 and expires on March 15, 2027. Confirm the actual dates shown on your license.
- CE window. TDLR’s own example works the same way: courses must fall within the term of the license being renewed. Here that means between March 15, 2026 and March 15, 2027. A course taken in February 2026 belongs to the previous term and does not count.
- Reminder. About 60 days before March 15, 2027: back 15 days to February 28, 28 more to January 31, and 17 more to January 14, 2027. Treat that as a backup, not your plan.
- Late fees. From TDLR’s renewal page:
| Renewed | Fee | Extra cost vs on time |
|---|---|---|
| On time | $30 | $0 |
| 90 days late or less | $45 | $15 |
| 91 days to 18 months late | $60 | $30 |
| 18 to 36 months late | $60, by mail with the Request to Executive Director form and the first 2 pages of the application | $30, plus mailing time |
| More than 3 years late | Cannot renew; apply as a new applicant | Starting over |
A renewal 20 days late costs $45. One 4 months late costs $60, double the on-time fee. TDLR’s FAQ also says anyone doing electrical work must be licensed before the work (TDLR electrician FAQ), so a lapse can cost you work days as well as fees.
Step by step
- Find a provider on TDLR’s electrician CE provider list.
- Pick courses that cover all four subjects. A single 4-hour course often does, but check the course outline.
- Finish the whole course. The provider reports your hours to TDLR and issues a certificate.
- If you have no certificate within 15 days of the course, ask the provider first. You can check reported hours with TDLR’s continuing education lookup.
- Renew online and pay $30 before the expiration date.
- Keep the certificate for one year. TDLR says an inspector may ask to see it.
Mistakes we see in renewal questions
- Taking CE before the current term started.
- Taking 4 hours of NEC only and skipping law, rules or NFPA 70E safety.
- Assuming the provider reported your hours without checking.
- Letting a renewal slide past 18 months, which moves you from online renewal to a mailed request.
- Forgetting that apprentices renew too: Texas apprentices also need 4 hours of CE, or enrollment in a department-registered electrical apprenticeship training course.
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The 2026 NEC in print
NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC) 2026, softbound. Texas adopted the 2026 NEC as the state electrical code effective September 1, 2026 (TDLR adoption notice). A print copy lets you check any section number yourself.
Where renewal fits in your route
Renewal keeps the license you have. The next license is Master Electrician: TDLR asks for at least two years as a Journeyman and 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master (TDLR Master application page). Renew before the license expires. If it has lapsed, ask TDLR how that affects the two-year requirement.
Planning to pursue a Texas Master Electrician license after renewing? The US$79 Texas Master Practice Pack includes 368 practice questions and 10 timed two-part mocks for the Texas Master exam.
FAQ
How many CE hours does a Texas journeyman electrician need?
Four hours each license cycle, from a TDLR-registered provider. The coursework must address the NEC, Texas electrician law, TDLR’s electrician rules and NFPA 70E electrical safety.
When do I have to take my Texas electrician CE?
Within the term of the license you are renewing. For a license expiring March 15, 2027, courses taken between March 15, 2026 and March 15, 2027 count.
What happens if I renew my Texas journeyman license late?
TDLR charges $45 if you renew within 90 days of expiration and $60 after that. After 18 months you renew by mail with an extra form, and after 3 years you must apply as a new applicant.
Does Tsai Electro offer Texas electrician CE?
No. We do not offer CE courses or CE hours. Use a provider registered with TDLR.
Sources checked October 2026
- TDLR Journeyman renewal page: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/renew/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm
- TDLR electrician continuing education page: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecce.htm
- TDLR electrician CE provider list: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/continuing-education-providers/electricians.htm
- TDLR electrician FAQ: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecfaq.htm
- TDLR rule adoption notice, 2026 NEC: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/news/rulemaking/2026/09/01/commission-adopts-rules-12/
- TDLR Master application page: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/master-electrician.htm
- TDLR FY2025 exam statistics: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecExamStats2025.htm
