Texas Electrician License: Requirements, Cost & Timeline
Texas requires a state license for this trade. Here is every step, fee and hour it takes — and what it pays once you are licensed.
Do you need a license?
Yes. The credential is the Journeyman Electrician License, issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — Electricians Program. Working without it is a violation in Texas and can carry fines or a stop-work order, so the sequence below matters: training first, then the exam, then the application.
Steps to get licensed
- Complete at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician to become exam-eligible (8,000 hours are required for the license itself).
- Have each supervising Master Electrician sign an Experience Verification Form documenting the hours.
- Mail the Journeyman Electrician License Application with the $30 non-refundable application fee to TDLR.
- Pass the PSI-administered Journeyman Electrician exam (knowledge and calculations parts) with a score of 70% or better.
- Receive the license, which is valid for one year, and renew annually with 4 hours of continuing education.
What it costs
The figures below are what the state charges. Training is separate and quotes vary by provider — a community-college programme and a private trade school can differ by thousands for the same licence.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $30 |
| Renewal fee | $30 |
| Total state fees | $30 |
The exam fee is set by the testing vendor, not the state, and is not included above.
Full cost breakdown for Texas →
How long it takes
The state requires 8,000 hours of training or supervised work before you can sit the exam. At 40 hours a week that is about 46.2 months of full-time work — most people take longer because they train part-time while earning.
Keeping it valid
The licence renews every year and the renewal fee is $30. Texas has journeyman electrician reciprocal agreements with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. Applicants must have passed the reciprocal state's examination, held that license at least one year, and have 8,000 hours under a master electrician. No universal recognition.
What it pays in Texas
Median annual wage for Electrician in Texas: $56,350 ($27.09/hour), across 70,580 jobs. That is the midpoint — half of people in this trade earn more, half less.
Pay detail for Texas, and how it compares →
Other states
| State | State fees | Time | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $175 | 46.2 mo | $84,330 |
| Florida | $683 | — | $52,380 |
Common questions
Do you need a license to be a Electrician in Texas?
Journeyman Electrician License. Yes — issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — Electricians Program.
How much does a Electrician license cost in Texas?
$30 in state fees. Exam retakes cost extra.
How long does it take to get a Electrician license in Texas?
About 46.2 months of full-time work: the state requires 8,000 hours of training or supervised experience before the exam.
What does a Electrician make in Texas?
The median is $56,350 a year ($27.09 an hour) statewide, per BLS OEWS May 2024.
Sources
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm“To apply for a Journeyman Electrician license, you must have completed at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas.”
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm“Submitting at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training will simply allow you to take the examination before reaching the full 8,000 hours required for licensure.”
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm“Submit a completed Journeyman Electrician License Application Form (PDF) with the non-refundable $30 application fee to:”
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecexam.htm“TDLR offers electrician examinations through our third-party vendor, PSI, at their many locations throughout Texas”
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecexam.htm“A score of 70% or better is required to pass the exam.”
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/renew/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm“Journeyman Electrician licenses are valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually.”
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/renew/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm“Complete an online renewal application and include the non-refundable $30 renewal fee.”
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/out-of-state.htm“Journeyman Electrician - Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming”