# Texas Master Electrician License Requirements

> To qualify for a Texas master electrician license you must have held a journeyman electrician license for at least 2 years and show 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician. You then mail a $45 application to TDLR and pass both portions of the $78 PSI exam (as of November 2026).

Updated: 2026-11-09

The master electrician license is the top individual electrical license in Texas. A master can supervise apprentices toward their hours and can serve as the master of record for an electrical contractor. This guide covers who qualifies, how to apply, the exam and fees, and how to keep the license. For exam content and study tactics, see the [master exam guide](https://texaselectricianexam.com/guides/texas-master-electrician-exam/).

## Key facts

- You must have held a Journeyman Electrician license for at least 2 years (TDLR master apply page).
- You must show 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician (TDLR).
- Journeyman Industrial experience does not count (TDLR).
- Application: by mail, $45, with an Experience Verification Form from each supervisor, as of November 2026 (TDLR).
- Exam: two PSI portions, $78 for both, 70% to pass each (PSI bulletin updated 9/15/2026).
- Renewal: yearly, $45, with 4 hours of CE (TDLR renew and CE pages).

## Who qualifies

TDLR has two experience tests for master, and you need both:

1. **Time as a journeyman.** You must have held a Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years.
2. **Hours under a master.** You must show 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas.

Journeyman Industrial Electrician experience cannot be used. That license is limited to certain industrial sites and is a separate track (see [other TDLR electrical licenses](https://texaselectricianexam.com/guides/other-tdlr-electrical-licenses/)).

TDLR's page does not say in plain terms whether hours you earned as an apprentice count toward the 12,000, or only hours after your journeyman license. If your count depends on that, ask TDLR before you apply.

### Self-verifying municipal master years

If you hold or have held a municipal or regional master electrician license, TDLR lets you verify your own on-the-job training for the years you held it. All other hours need a signature from each supervising master.

## Getting your hours verified

Each master who supervised you completes and signs a separate Experience Verification Form. Your application form comes with one attached; use a new form for each supervisor. If you cannot reach a former supervisor, TDLR suggests asking the electrical contractor that master worked for, or using the TDLR license search to find contact details. TDLR may contact your supervisors to check your hours.

## How to apply

1. Gather a signed Experience Verification Form from every supervising master.
2. Complete the Master Electrician license application form.
3. Mail it to TDLR with the non-refundable $45 application fee (as of November 2026). The first application must go by mail.
4. Include the Criminal History Questionnaire if you have a conviction other than a minor traffic violation. Reviews can take one to six weeks.
5. After TDLR verifies your application, you get notice that you are approved to test. Schedule with PSI.

You have one year from the date TDLR receives your application to meet every requirement, including the exam (TDLR exam page).

## The master exam

| Portion | Questions (scored + non-scored) | Time | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEC Knowledge | 75 (70 + 5) | 150 minutes | 70% |
| Calculations | 33 (30 + 3) | 170 minutes | 70% |

Source: PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 9/15/2026. The fee is $78 for both portions, and a retake costs $78 whether you failed one portion or both, as of November 2026. Time left over on the first portion does not carry to the second.

The Calculations portion leans heavily on services and motors. Of its 30 scored items, 8 cover services (load calculations, grounding and transformers) and 6 cover motors and generators (PSI content outline). In FY2025, TDLR reports pass rates of 22.21% for Master NEC and 19.08% for Master Calculations (see [pass rates](https://texaselectricianexam.com/pass-rates/)).

Both portions are open book with your own soft-bound 2026 NEC, under PSI's rules on tabs and markings. See [open-book NEC rules and tabs](https://texaselectricianexam.com/guides/open-book-nec-rules-and-tabs/). Practice on the [master practice test](https://texaselectricianexam.com/practice-test/master/), the [formula sheet](https://texaselectricianexam.com/formula-sheet/) and our [calculation drills](https://texaselectricianexam.com/calculations/box-fill/), and read [how to pass the calculations exam](https://texaselectricianexam.com/guides/how-to-pass-the-calculations-exam/).

## Fees at a glance

All as of November 2026, from TDLR's apply and renew pages and the PSI bulletin.

| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| TDLR application | $45 |
| PSI exam (both portions) | $78 |
| PSI retake (one or both portions) | $78 |
| Yearly renewal | $45 |
| Late renewal, 90 days or less | $67.50 |
| Late renewal, 91 days to 36 months | $90 |

Past 36 months expired, you must apply again as a new applicant.

## Keeping the license

The master license is valid one year and renews every year. Each renewal needs 4 hours of CE from a TDLR-registered provider covering the NEC, Texas electrician law, TDLR rules and NFPA 70E safety. If you hold several licenses, 4 hours total covers them. See the [CE guide](https://texaselectricianexam.com/guides/texas-electrician-continuing-education/).

## After you are a master

- **Contracting.** To run your own electrical business, the business needs an Electrical Contractor license with you (or another master) as master of record. A master may be assigned to only one contractor unless they own more than 50% of it. See the [contractor guide](https://texaselectricianexam.com/guides/texas-electrical-contractor-license/).
- **Moving from another state.** Texas has master reciprocity with some states. See the [reciprocity guide](https://texaselectricianexam.com/guides/texas-electrician-reciprocity/).

TexasElectricianExam is independent and not affiliated with TDLR, PSI or NFPA. Confirm current requirements with TDLR before you apply.

## Questions people ask

### How many hours do you need for a master electrician license in Texas?

TDLR asks for 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician, plus at least 2 years holding a journeyman electrician license, as of November 2026.

### Does Journeyman Industrial experience count toward master?

No. TDLR's master page says Journeyman Industrial Electrician experience may not be used to qualify for a Master Electrician license.

### How much does the Texas master electrician license cost?

As of November 2026 the TDLR application fee is $45, the PSI exam is $78 for both portions, and the yearly renewal is $45.

### Can a master electrician start a contracting business?

A master can be the master of record for an electrical contractor, but the business needs its own TDLR contractor license and insurance.

### How hard is the Texas master electrician exam?

In FY2025, TDLR reports a 22.21% pass rate for Master NEC and 19.08% for Master Calculations.

## Sources

- [TDLR: Apply for a Master Electrician license](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/master-electrician.htm) (checked 2026-11-09)
- [TDLR: Renew a Master Electrician license](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/renew/individuals/master-electrician.htm) (checked 2026-11-09)
- [TDLR: Electrician Examination Information](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecexam.htm) (checked 2026-11-09)
- [PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, TDLR Electricians (updated 9/15/2026)](https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1682) (checked 2026-11-09)
- [TDLR: Electrician exam statistics FY2025](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecExamStats2025.htm) (checked 2026-11-09)
- [TDLR: Electrician Continuing Education](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecce.htm) (checked 2026-11-09)
- [TDLR: Apply for an Electrical Contractor license](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/businesses/contractor-elec.htm) (checked 2026-11-09)
- [TDLR: Out-of-State Applicants](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/out-of-state.htm) (checked 2026-11-09)

Page: https://texaselectricianexam.com/guides/texas-master-electrician-license-requirements/