Texas Electrical License Requirements: Breaking Down Each License Type
TDLR issues more than a dozen distinct electrical licenses — each with its own scope, experience threshold, exam, and fee. This guide clarifies exactly what's required at every stage of a Texas electrician's career.
Texas requires electricians to be licensed at every stage of their career — from Apprentice ($20) with no experience required, through Journeyman (8,000 hrs, $30) and Residential Wireman (4,000 hrs, $20), to Master Electrician (12,000 hrs + 2 yrs Journeyman, $45). Most license holders must also complete 4 hours of CE annually.
The Four Core License Types at a Glance
Every Texas electrician starts at the Apprentice level. Here's how the primary individual licenses compare by scope, hours, and fee.
Electrical Apprentice
Entry-level license. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a Master, Journeyman, or Residential Wireman.
Journeyman Electrician
Core working credential. Licensed to perform electrical work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician.
Residential Wireman
Residential-only path. Limited to single-family and multifamily dwellings not exceeding four stories.
Master Electrician
Highest individual license. Required to supervise others and to qualify an Electrical Contractor business.
Electrical Contractor
Business license. Authorizes a company to design, install, erect, repair, or alter electrical systems commercially.
Specialty License Types
TDLR also regulates Journeyman Industrial Electrician, Journeyman Lineman, Maintenance Electrician, Sign Electricians, and Residential Appliance Installer.
How Texas Electricians Move Through the License Tiers
Each tier builds on the last. Here's the standard progression path and what's required at each transition.
Get Your Apprentice License
No experience required. Apply online, pay $20, and begin accumulating supervised on-the-job hours immediately.
Entry Level — No OJT RequiredAccumulate 7,000–8,000 OJT Hours
Document hours on Experience Verification Forms signed by your supervising Master Electrician. At 7,000 hours you may sit for the Journeyman exam; 8,000 hours are required for the license.
~3–4 Years Full-TimePass the Journeyman Exam & License
Apply by mail with a $30 fee. Once approved, sit for the TDLR licensing exam. A Journeyman can work under general — not direct — supervision.
$30 Fee · Mail ApplicationHold Journeyman for 2+ Years → Master
After 2 years as a licensed Journeyman and a total of 12,000 OJT hours, apply for the Master Electrician license. Pass the Master exam. Note: Journeyman Industrial experience does not count.
$45 Fee · 12,000 OJT HoursOpen an Electrical Contracting Business
A Master Electrician license unlocks the Electrical Contractor business license. Requires $300K/$600K liability insurance and workers' comp documentation.
$110 Fee · Business LicenseFull Requirements for Each License Type
Select a license type below for the complete breakdown of experience, exam, and application requirements verified from TDLR.
Electrical Apprentice
- No experience required — there are no OJT hour thresholds to meet before applying.
- No exam required — applicants with no criminal history receive a temporary license immediately upon online application.
- Scope: Perform electrical work under general supervision of a Master, Journeyman, or Residential Wireman.
- Renewal: Annual. 4 hours of TDLR-approved CE required (or enrollment in a registered apprenticeship program).
How to Apply
- Complete the online application through TDLR's portal — no mail-in required.
- Pay the $20 non-refundable fee at time of application.
- Applicants with no criminal convictions receive a temporary license immediately.
- If you have prior convictions, submit a completed Criminal History Questionnaire with your application.
- License is valid for one year from the date of issuance; renew annually online.
Journeyman Electrician
- 7,000 hours OJT required to sit for the licensing exam; 8,000 hours OJT required for full licensure.
- All hours must be completed under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Master Electrician.
- Each supervising Master Electrician must sign an Experience Verification Form.
- Exam required. TDLR notifies the applicant when they are approved to test after application review.
- Scope: Perform electrical work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician.
How to Apply
- Submit the completed Journeyman Electrician License Application Form by mail.
- Include the $30 non-refundable application fee and all completed Experience Verification Forms.
- Mail to: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, PO Box 12157, Austin TX 78711-2157.
- After TDLR verifies your application, you will receive exam approval notification. See TDLR's exam page for testing fees and scheduling.
- License valid for one year; must be renewed annually. 4 hours of CE required at each renewal.
Residential Wireman
- 4,000 hours OJT required under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Master Electrician or Residential Wireman.
- All supervisors must sign an Experience Verification Form.
- Exam required. TDLR notifies the applicant when approved to test.
- Scope limited: Single-family and multifamily dwellings not exceeding four stories only. No commercial work.
- License valid for one year; 4 hours of CE required at each annual renewal.
Important Scope Limitation
- The Residential Wireman license is a residential-only credential. Commercial or industrial work requires a Journeyman or Master Electrician license.
- Electricians who later want to expand into commercial work will need to pursue the Journeyman Electrician pathway and accumulate the additional OJT hours required.
- The Residential Wireman license is valid for one year and must be renewed annually with 4 hours of TDLR-approved CE.
- Mail the Residential Wireman License Application Form with $20 fee to TDLR's PO Box 12157, Austin TX.
Master Electrician
- Must have held a Journeyman Electrician license for at least 2 years.
- 12,000 hours OJT required under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician.
- Important: Journeyman Industrial Electrician experience does NOT count toward the Master Electrician application.
- Holders of a municipal or regional Master Electrician license may verify their own OJT for the years they held that license.
- Exam required. TDLR notifies applicants when approved to test after verifying the application.
How to Apply
- Submit the Master Electrician License Application Form by mail with all Experience Verification Forms.
- Include the $45 non-refundable application fee.
- Mail to: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, PO Box 12157, Austin TX 78711-2157.
- After approval, sit for the Master Electrician exam. See TDLR's exam page for testing fees and scheduling details.
- License valid for one year; 4 hours of CE required at each annual renewal.
Electrical Contractor
- Must employ a licensed Master Electrician — the Master may also be the business owner.
- A Master Electrician may be assigned to only one Electrical Contractor unless they own more than 50% of the business.
- If the Master Electrician of record leaves, a replacement must be designated within 30 business days.
- Liability insurance required: minimum $300,000/occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, $300,000 for products and completed operations.
- Workers' compensation: must provide proof of coverage, self-insure certificate, or lawful documentation of election not to cover.
How to Apply
- Submit the Electrical Contractor or Electrical Sign Contractor License Application by mail.
- Include the Electrical Contractor Certificate of Insurance Form as proof of liability coverage.
- Include proof of workers' compensation coverage — or documentation of lawful opt-out via the Texas Department of Insurance Employer E-File system.
- Include the $110 non-refundable application fee.
- License valid for one year; renewals may be completed online. Contractors are not required to complete CE.
4 Hours of Continuing Education — Required for Most License Types
Most TDLR electrical licensees must complete 4 hours of approved CE before each annual renewal. Courses must cover all four required subjects and must be taken through a TDLR-registered provider. Unapproved courses do not count.
TX Electriciance · TDLR CE Provider #2512 · All license types covered
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers sourced directly from TDLR's official application pages and CE requirements.
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