Texas Master Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issues five tiers of electrician credentials under the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act (Tex. Occ. Code Chapter 1305). The Master Electrician license — the credential required to qualify a Texas electrical contractor — is the highest individual license. The applicant must hold a Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years, document 12,000 hours of on-the-job training supervised by a Texas Master Electrician, and pass a written examination administered by PSI Services.

Governing Authority

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305 (Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act); 16 Tex. Admin. Code Chapter 73. TDLR licenses and regulates electricians, electrical apprentices, electrical sign contractors, and electrical contractors statewide. The agency adopts the National Electrical Code by reference, investigates complaints, and may impose administrative penalties of up to $5,000 per day per violation.

Official portal: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/
Address: P.O. Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711-2157
Phone: (512) 463-6599 / (800) 803-9202

Eligibility Requirements

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Texas residency requirement.

Good moral character

Applicants with a felony or misdemeanor conviction (other than minor traffic violations) must submit a Criminal History Questionnaire. TDLR conducts a case-by-case review under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 53 and may deny licensure for offenses that directly relate to the duties and responsibilities of an electrician.

Background investigation

TDLR conducts a criminal history check on every applicant via the Texas Department of Public Safety. Out-of-state convictions are reviewed against the Texas standard.

Experience & Education Matrix

The applicant must document and verify at least 6 years of on-the-job training under direct supervision of a Texas Master Electrician (2 years as a licensed Journeyman + 12,000 total OJT hours). Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Experience Verification Form (TDLR ELC-LIC-007) completed and signed by each supervising Master Electrician — not by the applicant
Active Texas Journeyman Electrician license held continuously for at least two years prior to application
Apprenticeship records or training program transcripts

Education substitution

Hours earned through a TDLR-approved electrical apprenticeship may count toward the 12,000 hour total. Industrial Journeyman experience does not qualify toward Master Electrician.

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to TDLR). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Texas Master Electrician Examination (NEC + Texas law and rules) — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: Examination fee paid to PSI on the day of testing — see TDLR Examinations page for the current amount.

Retake policy: A failed examination may be re-attempted by paying a new examination fee. The TDLR application remains valid for one year; all licensing requirements must be satisfied within that one-year window.

Insurance & Financial Security

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

Master Electrician individuals do not carry the contractor general-liability requirement. The separate Texas Electrical Contractor license (the business license) requires commercial general liability insurance of at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate, naming TDLR as a certificate holder.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is not mandated by TDLR but is strongly recommended; it is required by most general contractors operating on commercial sites in Texas.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement requirement.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$45
Initial license	No separate state fee
Renewal (every year)	$45

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Texas Master Electrician License every year. Renewal currently costs $45. Texas Master Electrician licenses renew annually on the anniversary date of original issuance. TDLR sends an email reminder approximately 60 days before expiration.

Continuing education: Four hours of TDLR-approved continuing education each renewal cycle, including at least one hour of National Electrical Code review.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Texas Electrician License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Texas does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arkansas	Master Electrician exam waived	Bilateral TDLR–Arkansas reciprocity for active Master Electricians.
Oklahoma	Master Electrician exam waived	Bilateral TDLR–Oklahoma reciprocity for active Master Electricians in good standing.
Louisiana	Master Electrician exam waived	Bilateral TDLR–Louisiana reciprocity for active Master Electricians in good standing.

TDLR maintains bilateral electrician reciprocity agreements with several southern states. NASCLA does not administer an electrician examination — its commercial general building exam does not apply to TDLR electrician licensing.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Electrician license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Hold a Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years. The Journeyman Electrician credential is itself a prerequisite. It requires 8,000 hours of supervised OJT and passing the TDLR Journeyman exam.
Accumulate 12,000 hours of supervised OJT. All 12,000 hours must be on-the-job training under direct supervision of a Texas Master Electrician. Industrial Journeyman hours do not count.
Complete the Experience Verification Form. Each supervising Master Electrician must complete TDLR form ELC-LIC-007 directly — applicant-completed forms are rejected.
Submit the Master Electrician application. Mail the completed application with the $45 non-refundable fee to TDLR, P.O. Box 12157, Austin TX 78711-2157.
Pass the Criminal History Questionnaire (if applicable). Applicants with prior convictions submit the questionnaire and supporting documentation. Review takes one to six weeks.
Schedule and sit for the PSI examination. After TDLR notification, schedule the Master Electrician exam at any PSI location in Texas. Score 70% or higher to pass.
Receive the wallet card and wall certificate. TDLR issues the Master Electrician license valid for one year from the date of issue.
Register for the Texas Electrical Contractor business license (optional). A Master Electrician who wishes to operate a business and bid electrical work must additionally hold the Texas Electrical Contractor license, which requires the $300,000/$600,000 commercial general liability policy and a separate $115 application fee.

Study and Reference Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), current edition adopted by TDLR — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference for the Texas Master Electrician examination. The NEC is open-book at the test center.
16 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 73 (Electricians) — Texas Secretary of State. TDLR rules governing electrician licensing — heavily tested on the law portion.
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305 — Texas Legislature. The statutory basis for Texas electrical licensing.
Tom Henry Master Electrician Exam Prep — Tom Henry Books. Widely used by Texas applicants for NEC calculation problems and exam strategy.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Texas Electrician application.

Self-completed experience verification forms

TDLR rejects any Experience Verification Form that appears to have been completed by the applicant rather than the supervising Master Electrician. The form must be signed in ink and mailed directly by the supervisor.

Counting Industrial Journeyman hours

Hours worked under a Journeyman Industrial Electrician license do not count toward the Master Electrician 12,000-hour requirement. Applicants who substitute industrial hours discover the rejection only after waiting weeks for TDLR review.

Letting the application year expire

All licensing requirements must be completed within one year of the date the TDLR application is filed. Applicants who delay scheduling the PSI exam often forfeit the $45 fee and must reapply.

Confusing the individual credential with the contractor license

Holding only the Master Electrician license does not authorize you to bid jobs as a business. The Texas Electrical Contractor license is a separate $115 business credential with its own insurance requirement.

Failing to disclose prior convictions

TDLR cross-checks every applicant against the Texas DPS criminal history database. Undisclosed convictions are automatic grounds for denial, even if the underlying offense would have been approved on disclosure.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with TDLR:

☐ Active Texas Journeyman Electrician license held for at least two years
☐ Experience Verification Form ELC-LIC-007 completed by each supervising Texas Master Electrician (totaling 12,000 hours)
☐ Master Electrician License Application with $45 non-refundable fee
☐ Criminal History Questionnaire (if any prior conviction other than minor traffic)
☐ Government-issued photo identification for the PSI examination appointment

Other Texas Trade Licenses

Should the Electrician path not apply, these other Texas trade guides from CLR may help:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Texas Master Electrician and a Texas Electrical Contractor?

The Master Electrician is an individual credential that certifies a person to plan, lay out, and supervise electrical work in compliance with the National Electrical Code. The Electrical Contractor license is a business license held by the company; every Texas electrical contractor must designate a Master Electrician of record. A single individual may hold both credentials.

How many hours do I need to become a Texas Master Electrician?

You must complete 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under direct supervision of a Texas Master Electrician. You must also hold an active Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years before applying. Industrial Journeyman hours do not count toward the Master Electrician total.

What is the passing score on the TDLR Master Electrician exam?

A score of 70% or better is required to pass. The exam is administered by PSI Services and covers the National Electrical Code, Texas electrical law, and TDLR rules in Chapter 73 of Title 16 of the Texas Administrative Code.

Does Texas require a surety bond for electricians?

No. TDLR does not require a surety bond for the Master Electrician individual license or the Electrical Contractor business license. Some Texas municipalities (notably Houston for permit issuance) may require a separate municipal bond.

How often does the Texas Master Electrician license renew?

Annually. Renewal requires a $45 fee and the completion of four hours of TDLR-approved continuing education. The continuing education must include at least one hour of NEC code review.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-06-06 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-04