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Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · checked 2026-10-20
Texas Electrician License Requirements
Statewide TDLR licenses for apprentice, journeyman, master, residential wireman, maintenance, sign and lineman electricians, plus electrical contractor business licenses. Master Electrician: 6 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1J · Journeyman Electrician 4 years
- 2M · Master Electrician 6 years
License levels in Texas
The Texas path has 2 steps on this page: Journeyman Electrician and Master Electrician. The source counts experience in hours; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours | — | 4 years | Yes | Application $30 |
| M Master Electrician | 12,000 hours | — | 6 years | Yes | Application $45 |
Journeyman Electrician (J)
At least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed master electrician to apply, and the full 8,000 hours before the license is issued. Source: TDLR, Journeyman Electrician.
Master Electrician (M)
A journeyman electrician license held for at least two years (journeyman industrial experience does not count) and 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed master electrician. Source: TDLR, Master Electrician.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journeyman Electrician and Master Electrician. The source does not print a pass mark. TDLR approves a candidate to test after verifying the application; exam fees are on its examinations page.
Fees
- Journeyman Electrician: application $30.
- Master Electrician: application $45.
Reciprocity
The Texas source names 14 partner states for electrician licenses: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. Master: Alabama, Arkansas (master electrician), Iowa (Class A master), Louisiana (state contractor's license), Nebraska, North Carolina (master or unlimited electrical contractor), Ohio and Tennessee (electrical contractor). Journeyman: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. Source: TDLR, Out of State Applicants.
How Texas compares
Among the 10 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top electrician credential, Texas ranks 9 of 10 from shortest (4 years) to longest (6 years). Connecticut, Maine and Michigan set the same 6 years.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Florida · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina. All states side by side: Electrician license requirements by state.
Other trades in Texas
- Plumber: Master Plumber: 6 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- HVAC: ACR Contractor, Class A: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Texas trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · Trade license reciprocity between states.
Questions
Who issues the electrician license in Texas?
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Statewide TDLR licenses for apprentice, journeyman, master, residential wireman, maintenance, sign and lineman electricians, plus electrical contractor business licenses.
How long does it take to qualify for the Master Electrician in Texas?
6 years by this site's count. A journeyman electrician license held for at least two years (journeyman industrial experience does not count) and 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed master electrician.
Does Texas have electrician license reciprocity?
Yes, with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. Master: Alabama, Arkansas (master electrician), Iowa (Class A master), Louisiana (state contractor's license), Nebraska, North Carolina (master or unlimited electrical contractor), Ohio and Tennessee (electrical contractor). Journeyman: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.
What are the Texas electrician license fees?
Journeyman Electrician: application $30. Master Electrician: application $45.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | 2026-10-20 |
| J requirements | TDLR, Journeyman Electrician | 2026-10-20 |
| M requirements | TDLR, Master Electrician | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | TDLR electrician license pages (statute not read) | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the Texas source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.