Texas Electrician Continuing Education Requirements

Every Texas electrical license lasts one year, and most of them need continuing education (CE) before you can renew. The rule is short: 4 hours, from a TDLR-registered provider, during the license term, covering four set topics. This guide explains who needs it, what counts, the deadlines and the records you should keep.

Key facts

• 4 hours of CE before each renewal, as of November 2026 (TDLR CE page).
• Topics: the NEC, Texas electrician law, TDLR’s electrician rules and NFPA 70E safety (TDLR).
• 1 CE hour = 50 minutes of instruction (TDLR).
• Courses must come from a TDLR-registered provider and be taken during the license term you are renewing (TDLR).
• Contractors and Residential Appliance Installers need no CE (TDLR).
• Holding several licenses still means 4 hours total (TDLR).

Who needs CE

As of November 2026, TDLR’s CE page lists these licensees as needing 4 hours before each renewal:

License	CE before each renewal
Master Electrician	4 hours
Journeyman Electrician	4 hours
Residential Wireman	4 hours
Journeyman Industrial Electrician	4 hours
Maintenance Electrician	4 hours
Journeyman Lineman	4 hours
Master Sign Electrician	4 hours
Journeyman Sign Electrician	4 hours
Apprentice Electrician	4 hours, or enrollment in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training course
Apprentice Sign Electrician	4 hours, or enrollment in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training course
Electrical Contractor	Not required
Residential Appliance Installer	Not required

Source: TDLR Electrician Continuing Education page.

What the 4 hours must cover

TDLR requires the coursework to address four areas:

1. The National Electrical Code. Texas adopted the 2026 NEC as the state electrical code from 2026-09-01 (TDLR rule adoption notice). TDLR’s CE page refers to the NEC as adopted under Occupations Code §1305.101, or the current NFPA-approved edition.
2. Texas electrician law. Occupations Code, chapter 1305.
3. TDLR’s electrician rules. 16 Texas Administrative Code, chapter 73.
4. Electrical safety under NFPA 70E.

Watch for one trap: if all 4 of your hours were NEC only, TDLR requires one more approved course on law, rules or NFPA 70E safety, at least 1 hour long. So check the course outline before you pay.

Timing: inside the license term

CE must be completed within the term of the license you are renewing. TDLR’s own example: if a license expires on January 1, the courses must have been taken in the year leading up to that date. Hours from an earlier term do not roll forward.

TDLR sends a renewal reminder about 60 days before a license expires (TDLR renew pages). Plan your CE before that point so the provider has time to report it.

Rules on credit

• Registered providers only. Courses from unapproved providers do not count.
• No repeats. You cannot get credit for the same course twice.
• No partial credit. TDLR does not accept a partly finished course, though a provider may let you finish it later.
• 50-minute hours. One CE hour equals 50 minutes of actual instruction.
• Instructors. A licensee who teaches part of a course can get credit for the part taught, but must attend the rest to get credit for the whole course.

Several licenses, one CE requirement

If you hold more than one license type, for example a master and a journeyman license, TDLR requires 4 hours total, not 4 per license. The courses still have to fall within the term of the license being renewed.

Records and reporting

The provider reports your hours to TDLR, not you. When you finish, the provider gives you a certificate of completion. Keep a copy for one year after the course date, because a TDLR inspector may ask for it. If you have no certificate within 15 days after the course ends, ask the provider first. You can check whether hours were reported with TDLR’s Continuing Education Courses Look Up. If a provider never reports your hours, you may file a complaint against the provider.

What happens if you are late

You cannot renew without your CE (or, for apprentices, registered program enrollment). Late renewal costs more. As of November 2026, a journeyman pays $45 if renewed within 90 days of expiration, and $60 from 91 days to 36 months; a master pays $67.50 and $90 (TDLR renew pages). After 36 months you must apply as a new applicant. See the journeyman and master guides for each license’s renewal fees.

Using CE to keep your code skills sharp

CE hours are a good time to learn the 2026 NEC changes. One example TDLR has pointed out: dwelling load calculations now sit in Article 120 (TDLR November 2026 newsletter). Our code lookup drills, formula sheet and glossary are free if you want practice beyond your course. They do not count as CE.

TexasElectricianExam is not a CE provider and is not affiliated with TDLR, PSI or NFPA. Find registered providers through TDLR.