How to get an electrician license in Texas: the official requirements
The Journeyman Electrician license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
In Texas, the state electrical license for individual electricians is issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The Journeyman Electrician license, issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A journeyman works under the general supervision of a Master Electrician; anyone who performs electrical work in Texas must be licensed, apart from allowed exemptions. Apprentice or trainee registration: Start with an Electrical Apprentice license: no experience and no exam are needed to apply. You apply online; apprentices who report no criminal convictions are issued a temporary license automatically. Apprentices work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician or Residential Wireman. Experience and training: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Master Electrician are required for the license; with at least 7,000 hours documented you may apply and take the exam early. Each supervising Master Electrician signs an Experience Verification Form. Licensing exam: The state licensing exam, taken after your application is received and verified and you are notified that you are approved to test. How to apply: Apply by mail for the first Journeyman Electrician license: send the completed application form, with the Experience Verification Forms, to the Department.
Texas electrician license requirements
| Requirement | Texas |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The Journeyman Electrician license, issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A journeyman works under the general supervision of a Master Electrician; anyone who performs electrical work in Texas must be licensed, apart from allowed exemptions. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Start with an Electrical Apprentice license: no experience and no exam are needed to apply. You apply online; apprentices who report no criminal convictions are issued a temporary license automatically. Apprentices work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician or Residential Wireman. |
| Experience and training | 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Master Electrician are required for the license; with at least 7,000 hours documented you may apply and take the exam early. Each supervising Master Electrician signs an Experience Verification Form. |
| Classroom hours | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. |
| Licensing exam | The state licensing exam, taken after your application is received and verified and you are notified that you are approved to test. |
| How to apply | Apply by mail for the first Journeyman Electrician license: send the completed application form, with the Experience Verification Forms, to the Department. |
| Background check | The Department runs a criminal history background check on everyone who applies for or renews a license; applicants with a conviction also send a Criminal History Questionnaire. |
| State fees | Journeyman application: $30, non-refundable. Apprentice license: $20, non-refundable. Exam fees are listed on the Department's examinations page. |
| License term | One year; electrician licenses are renewed every year, and renewals can be done online. |
| Continuing education | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in Texas
- Apply online for an Electrical Apprentice license (no experience or exam needed) so you can work under a licensed electrician.
- Log on-the-job training under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Master Electrician: 8,000 hours for the license, at least 7,000 hours to apply and test early.
- Have each supervising Master Electrician sign an Experience Verification Form.
- Mail the Journeyman Electrician application with the $30 fee to the Department.
- When the Department approves your application, take the licensing exam.
- Renew the license every year.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become an electricianThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayElectrician salary in TexasWhat electricians earn.
Open →CareerElectrician career guideThe job, skills and outlook.
Open →ResumeElectrician resumeHow to present your hours and licenses.
Open →InterviewElectrician interview questionsWhat hiring managers ask.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the individual license named above. Master, contractor, specialty, sign, residential, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Apply for a New Journeyman Electrician License, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Apply for a New Electrical Apprentice License, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.