TEXAS · electrician
Journeyman Electrician
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation — Electrical Program →Scope of Work
A Texas Journeyman Electrician may perform non-exempt electrical work as an employee of a licensed Electrical Contractor. The credential does not authorize contracting for electrical work in the journeyman's own name; that requires the firm to hold an Electrical Contractor license with a Master Electrician of record. Source: TDLR Electricians (https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/).
Experience and Training
8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Master Electrician, documented on the employer-certification sections of TDLR Form ELC005. An applicant may sit for the exam once 7,000 of the 8,000 hours are verified; the license is not issued until the full 8,000 hours are documented. A Registered Apprentice license is required before counting hours. Source: TDLR Journeyman Electrician Application Instructions (https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/forms/ELC005%20Journeyman%20Electrician%20License%20Application.pdf).
Military Crosswalk
TDLR accepts verified military experience toward the 8,000-hour requirement under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 55. Relevant MOS examples include Army Interior Electrician (12R), Navy Construction Electrician (CE), and Air Force Electrical Systems (3E0X1). Applicants submit DD-214 and training transcripts with the TDLR military-endorsement application.
Exam
Administered by PSI Services at Texas test centers. Effective March 11, 2025, the Journeyman Electrician exam is split into a Knowledge portion and a Calculations portion; a score of 70% on each portion is required to pass. Core topics include the current NEC edition adopted by Texas, grounding and bonding, conductor sizing and ampacity, overcurrent protection, branch circuits and feeders, motors, services, and Texas electrical law under 16 TAC Chapter 73. The application fee is $30 (non-refundable). Verify current exam fees in the PSI Texas Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin.
Reciprocity
Texas does not currently maintain formal journeyman-to-journeyman reciprocity agreements. Out-of-state applicants apply for endorsement through the TDLR Out-of-State Applicants process, which evaluates equivalent licensing and may require the Texas exam. Source: TDLR Out-of-State (https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/out-of-state.htm).
Renewal and CE
1-year renewal cycle, renewal fee $45 (2026). 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education each renewal, including instruction on the NEC edition currently adopted in Texas. Renewal is completed through TDLR Online Services; failure to renew triggers late fees and, after prolonged lapse, a new application and exam.
Scope Limitations
A journeyman cannot pull electrical permits in the journeyman's own name; permits are pulled by a licensed Electrical Contractor. The journeyman cannot supervise other electricians outside the employer's Master Electrician of record. Work exceeding the journeyman scope (design and sign-off on service equipment, permitting, contracting with a property owner) requires a Master Electrician license.