Texas Electrician License Guide, TDLR Journeyman & Master 2026

No. Texas law requires all electricians performing electrical work (other than homeowners on their own property) to hold a valid TDLR license. Working without a license is a Class A misdemeanor. Employers who knowingly hire unlicensed electricians are also subject to fines. TDLR conducts compliance inspections on job sites.

Working with an expired TDLR license is illegal and treated the same as working unlicensed. You can renew up to 90 days before expiry. If expired less than 1 year, you can renew with a late fee. If expired more than 1 year, you must apply as a new applicant and may need to re-examine. TDLR sends renewal reminders by email, so renew before expiry.

Yes. After a successful permanent placement through GlobalCybers, we pay your outstanding license and certification fees, including TDLR renewal fees, OSHA 30 if not yet held, and NCCER credentialing costs. This applies to all trades we place, not just electricians.

The TDLR Journeyman application fee is $70 and the Master fee is $135, and each fee includes the exam. Plan for a little more: possible exam retakes, and continuing-education courses at renewal (roughly $40–$120 per year). First-year cost for a new Journeyman is typically $110–$190 all in.

Once you have completed your 8,000 hours, most applicants are licensed within 6–10 weeks: about 3–6 weeks for TDLR to review the application, 1–2 weeks to schedule and sit the PSI exam, and 2–4 weeks for license processing. You can print a temporary license from your MyLicense Office account as soon as you are approved.

The Texas Journeyman Electrician exam is administered by PSI Exams and requires a passing score of 70%. It is an open-book exam based on the current National Electrical Code (NEC) with Texas amendments, plus general trade knowledge. You may bring an approved NEC code book to the exam.

Texas TDLR maintains limited reciprocity, and the recognized list changes over time — it has included Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Holding a valid Journeyman or Master license in a recognized state may let you obtain a Texas license without meeting the full experience requirement, subject to TDLR review. Reciprocity is not automatic and must be applied for — always confirm current agreements at tdlr.texas.gov.

You do not need to be a Texas resident, but you must be legally authorized to work in the United States. TDLR licenses are issued to qualified applicants who meet the experience and exam requirements regardless of home state; out-of-state applicants often qualify through reciprocity or by documenting equivalent hours.

Anyone can confirm a license for free using the TDLR License Search at tdlr.texas.gov. Enter the license number or the electrician's name to see the license type, status, and expiry date. Employers should verify a candidate's active TDLR license before assigning electrical work — GlobalCybers verifies every candidate's license before they reach your portal.