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Short answer: A Texas Residential Wireman may do electrical installations only in single-family and multifamily dwellings of up to four stories. You need 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician or Residential Wireman, or an approved career and technology education program. Then pay TDLR $20 and pass one PSI exam: 80 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass.
In detail: A Texas Residential Wireman may do electrical installations only in single-family and multifamily dwellings of up to four stories. To qualify, you need either 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician or Residential Wireman, or proof of an approved career and technology education program. You apply to TDLR by mail with a $20 non-refundable fee, then pass one PSI exam: 80 questions in 240 minutes, 70% to pass, $64. In fiscal year 2025, 30.15% of Residential Wireman exam attempts passed.
Last checked against the TDLR Residential Wireman page (read October 2, 2026), the PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians (updated September 15, 2026, read October 1, 2026) and TDLR exam statistics.
Requirements at a glance
| Item | Texas Residential Wireman |
|---|---|
| Scope | Electrical installations in single-family and multifamily dwellings not exceeding four stories |
| Experience route | 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician or Residential Wireman |
| Education route | Proof of completing an approved career and technology education program |
| Experience proof | Experience Verification Form signed by each supervisor |
| Application | By mail, $20 non-refundable |
| Exam | PSI, 80 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass, plus 5 unscored questions with 20 extra minutes |
| Exam fee | $64 |
| Code edition | 2026 NEC, from September 1, 2026 |
| Continuing education | 4 hours before each renewal (TDLR) |
Residential Wireman or Journeyman?
| Residential Wireman | Journeyman Electrician | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you may work | Dwellings up to four stories only | Residential and commercial work, under a Master’s supervision |
| Hours to apply | 4,000 (or an approved program) | 7,000 to test, 8,000 to be licensed |
| Exam | One part, 80 questions, 240 minutes | Two parts: 59 questions in 130 minutes, then 26 calculations in 110 minutes |
| Exam fee | $64 | $78 |
| FY2025 pass rate | 30.15% | 24.46% (NEC) and 20.56% (Calculations) |
Plan Residential Wireman and Journeyman together in the license timeline.
Residential Wireman is a faster license if you only want to work on homes. If you plan to run commercial jobs or become a Master Electrician later, the Journeyman route is the one that leads there. TDLR’s Master requirement is two years as a Journeyman Electrician plus 12,000 hours. See the Texas Journeyman exam guide and the Texas electrician license types.
Step by step
- Log 4,000 hours under a Texas Master Electrician or Residential Wireman, or finish an approved career and technology education program.
- Get an Experience Verification Form signed by each supervisor.
- Mail the Residential Wireman application with the $20 fee to TDLR.
- When TDLR approves you, book the exam with PSI and pay $64.
- Pass with 70% or better, using your own soft-bound 2026 NEC (publisher tabs only). See the exam day rules.
Pass rates
| Fiscal year | Attempts | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 967 | 32.78% |
| 2025 | 1,098 | 30.15% |
Source: TDLR exam statistics. Compare all Texas electrician exams on our pass rates page.
Next step on the Texas ladder
You are here: Residential Wireman license. Next: Journeyman application. Journeyman is the next license on the main path.
Also useful: How long it takes · All Texas electrician exams
Free first: try 20 Texas Journeyman questions, no sign-up.
Texas license ladder
Exam prep
FAQ
How many hours do you need for a residential wireman license in Texas?
4,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician or Residential Wireman. Completing an approved career and technology education program is the alternative.
What can a Texas residential wireman do?
Electrical installations in single-family and multifamily dwellings that do not exceed four stories. The license does not cover commercial work.
How many questions are on the Texas residential wireman exam?
80 scored questions in 240 minutes, plus 5 unscored questions with 20 extra minutes. You need 70% to pass. The exam fee is $64.
How much does the Texas residential wireman license cost?
The TDLR application fee is $20, non-refundable, and the PSI exam fee is $64.
Does residential wireman experience count toward a master license?
TDLR’s Master Electrician requirement is two years holding a Journeyman Electrician license plus 12,000 hours under a Texas Master Electrician, so a Residential Wireman license alone does not qualify you.
Practice on the 2026 NEC
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- TDLR: Apply for a New Residential Wireman License, read October 2, 2026
- PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians, updated September 15, 2026, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR fiscal year 2024 electrician exam statistics, read October 2, 2026
- TDLR fiscal year 2025 electrician exam statistics, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR: Electrician Continuing Education, read October 2, 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
