Short answer: To sit the Texas Master exam you need a Journeyman license held at least two years and 12,000 hours under Texas Masters. The exam has two parts on the 2026 NEC: 75 NEC Knowledge items in 150 minutes and 33 Calculations items in 170 minutes, 70% on each. It weighs services and motors more heavily than Journeyman.
In TDLR’s fiscal year 2025 statistics, fewer than 1 in 4 Master exam attempts passed. The Texas Master Practice Pack includes 368 practice questions and 10 timed two-part mock exams, each with 75 NEC Knowledge questions and 33 Calculations questions. US$79 once.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. Everything below comes from TDLR’s public pages, the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and TDLR’s exam statistics as we checked them in October 2026.
Who may apply
TDLR’s Master Electrician page lists these requirements (TDLR Master application page):
- A Journeyman Electrician license held for at least two years. Journeyman Industrial Electrician experience does not count toward Master.
- 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas, verified by each Master on an experience verification form.
- If you hold or held a municipal or regional master license, you may verify your own hours for the years you held it.
- A mailed application with a $45 non-refundable fee.
After TDLR approves the application, you have one year from the date TDLR received it to meet every requirement, including passing the exam (TDLR exam page). For working out your earliest date from the two-year and 12,000-hour gates, see our Journeyman to Master guide.
The exam at a glance
| Part | Items | Not scored | Time | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEC Knowledge | 75 | 5 | 150 minutes | 70% |
| Calculations | 33 | 3 | 170 minutes | 70% |
From the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (updated September 15, 2026). The fee is $78 for both parts, and a retake of one or both parts is $78. You must pass each part separately, and unused time does not carry over from one part to the other. Since September 1, 2026, the exam is referenced to the 2026 NEC. It is open book with your own soft-bound NEC; loose-leaf, spiral-bound and ring-bound copies and the NEC Handbook are not allowed.
How Master differs from Journeyman
Scored items by subject area in the PSI outlines:
| Subject area | Master NEC Knowledge | Journeyman NEC Knowledge | Master Calculations | Journeyman Calculations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definitions, theory and plans | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Services and separately derived systems | 11 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Feeders | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Branch circuits and conductors | 11 | 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Wiring methods and materials | 7 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| Equipment and devices | 8 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| Motors and generators | 7 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Control devices and disconnects | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Special occupancies and conditions | 8 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Renewable energy | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Scored total | 70 | 56 | 30 | 24 |
Three things stand out. Services go from 6 to 11 scored items on NEC Knowledge and from 4 to 8 on Calculations. Motors triple on the Calculations part, from 2 to 6 items. And the Master Calculations part gives you more time per question.
The numbers you need
- NEC Knowledge: 70 scored items × 70% = 49 correct to pass.
- Calculations: 30 scored items × 70% = 21 correct to pass.
- Time per item, NEC Knowledge: 150 ÷ 75 = 2 minutes.
- Time per item, Calculations: 170 ÷ 33 = about 5.2 minutes (5.15).
- For comparison, the Journeyman Calculations part allows 110 ÷ 26 = about 4.2 minutes per item.
Check: 49 ÷ 70 = 0.70 and 21 ÷ 30 = 0.70.
How candidates do
| Part (FY2025) | Passed | Attempts | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Calculations | 753 | 3,946 | 19.08% |
| Master NEC | 771 | 3,472 | 22.21% |
| Journeyman Calculations | 1,301 | 6,328 | 20.56% |
| Journeyman NEC | 1,402 | 5,731 | 24.46% |
From TDLR’s FY2025 exam statistics. The rates count attempts, not people, so a candidate who retakes appears more than once.
Contractor readiness: what a Master adds
A Master license is also the key to an electrical contracting business. TDLR requires an electrical contractor to employ a Master Electrician (who may be the owner), and a Master may be assigned to only one electrical contractor unless that Master owns more than 50% of the business (TDLR Electrical Contractor page). Before you agree to be a company’s Master of record, know what that commits you to. The contractor’s own requirements (insurance, workers’ compensation and the application) are in the next article.
Check yourself
Our own practice questions. Answers below each.
- You have held a Journeyman license for 20 months and have 13,000 hours under a Texas Master. Can you apply? Answer: Not yet. The two-year license gate is not met.
- How many scored Calculations items must you get right? Answer: 21 of 30.
- Can hours as a Journeyman Industrial Electrician count toward Master? Answer: No, per TDLR’s Master page.
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Formulas and tables for Master-level calculations
Ugly’s Electrical References, 2026 Edition. The publisher’s description lists mathematical formulas, ampacity and conduit fill information, conversion tables, and transformer and control circuit wiring diagrams. It is a field reference, not a substitute for the NEC, and spiral-bound books are not allowed in the Texas exam room.
FAQ
What are the requirements for a Texas Master Electrician license?
A Journeyman Electrician license held for at least two years, 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under Texas Master Electricians verified on experience forms, a mailed application with a $45 fee, and passing both parts of the Master exam.
How many questions are on the Texas Master Electrician exam?
Two parts: NEC Knowledge has 75 items (5 not scored) in 150 minutes, and Calculations has 33 items (3 not scored) in 170 minutes. You need 70% on each part.
What is the pass rate for the Texas Master Electrician exam?
In TDLR’s fiscal year 2025 statistics, 19.08% of Master Calculations attempts and 22.21% of Master NEC attempts passed.
Do I need a Master license to be an electrical contractor in Texas?
The contractor must be a Master Electrician or employ one as Master of record. A Master may be assigned to only one contractor unless the Master owns more than 50% of the business.
Sources checked October 2026
- TDLR Master Electrician application page: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/master-electrician.htm
- TDLR exam page: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecexam.htm
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for TDLR (updated 9/15/2026): https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1682
- TDLR FY2025 exam statistics: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecExamStats2025.htm
- TDLR Electrical Contractor application page: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/businesses/contractor-elec.htm
