Texas Residential Wireman License

The Residential Wireman license is the shorter path into licensed electrical work in Texas. It takes half the hours of the journeyman license, and it limits you to dwellings. If you want to wire houses, duplexes and smaller apartment buildings, it can get you licensed sooner. This guide covers the scope, the two ways to qualify, the exam, fees and renewal. For exam content and study tactics, see the residential wireman exam guide.

Key facts

• Scope: single-family and multifamily dwellings up to four stories (TDLR wireman apply page).
• Qualify with 4,000 hours under a Texas Master Electrician or Residential Wireman, or a TDLR-approved career and technology education (CTE) program (TDLR).
• The exam is required either way: one PSI exam, 80 scored questions, $64 (PSI bulletin updated 9/15/2026).
• TDLR application fee $20; yearly renewal $20, as of November 2026 (TDLR apply and renew pages).
• 4 hours of CE each year (TDLR CE page).

What the license covers

TDLR limits the Residential Wireman to single-family and multifamily dwellings that are no more than four stories tall. Commercial and industrial work is outside it. If you expect to work on stores, offices or plants later, the journeyman license is the license for that.

A Residential Wireman can also supervise apprentices. TDLR’s apprentice page lists the Residential Wireman as one of the license holders an apprentice can work under, and the wireman hours can be earned under a Residential Wireman.

Two ways to qualify

Route	What you need	Exam
On-the-job training	4,000 hours under a Texas Master Electrician or Residential Wireman	Required
CTE program	Proof you completed a TDLR-approved career and technology education program	Required

Source: TDLR wireman apply page, as of November 2026.

The hours route

Most people earn the 4,000 hours as a licensed apprentice electrician. Keep a log of dates, employers and supervisors so you can document the hours when you apply. Check TDLR’s wireman application form for how it wants them verified.

The CTE route

TDLR accepts proof that you completed an approved career and technology education program in place of the hours. Ask the program whether it is on TDLR’s approved list before you count on it. Finishing the program does not replace the exam.

The exam

Item	Detail
Format	One exam, not split
Questions	80 scored + 5 non-scored
Time	240 minutes, plus 20 minutes for the non-scored items
Pass mark	70%
Fee	$64, as of November 2026

Source: PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 9/15/2026. PSI lists the time as 240 minutes plus 20 for non-scored items; 260 minutes total is our reading of that.

Unlike the journeyman and master exams, calculations are mixed into the single exam. The largest area is services, with 16 scored items covering load calculations, fault current, temporary wiring, grounding and transformers. Branch circuits and conductors, including GFCI and AFCI, have 14 (PSI content outline). In FY2025, TDLR reports a 30.15% pass rate for Residential Wireman (see pass rates).

The exam is open book with your own soft-bound 2026 NEC and is offered in English or Spanish. Practice on our residential wireman practice test, code lookup drills and calculation drills.

How to apply

1. Collect proof of your 4,000 hours, or your CTE completion.
2. Submit the Residential Wireman application to TDLR with the $20 fee (as of November 2026).
3. Include the Criminal History Questionnaire if you have a conviction other than a minor traffic violation.
4. Once TDLR approves you, schedule the exam with PSI online or at (833) 333-4741.

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

Fees and renewal

As of November 2026, from TDLR’s renew page:

Item	Fee
Yearly renewal	$20
Late renewal, 90 days or less	$30
Late renewal, 91 days to 36 months	$40
More than 36 months expired	Must reapply

Each renewal needs 4 hours of CE from a TDLR-registered provider covering the NEC, Texas electrician law, TDLR rules and NFPA 70E safety. See the CE guide.

Wireman or journeyman?

Pick the wireman if you are sure you want residential work and want a license sooner. Pick the journeyman if you want commercial work or plan to become a master; the master license requires two years as a journeyman. TDLR’s wireman page does not say whether wireman hours also count toward the journeyman’s 8,000 hours under a master. If you plan to move up, ask TDLR how your hours will be counted. See the full path in how to become an electrician in Texas.

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