Get the AppHow to Become an Electrician in Texas (2026)
Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician
Becoming a licensed electrician in Texas starts the same way as the rest of the country: an apprenticeship, then a journeyman license wherever your state or city requires one. Who issues that license differs a lot by state.
The Path in Texas
- High school diploma or GED + 1 year algebra
- Apply to an IBEW local in Texas or a non-union apprenticeship
- Take the NJATC aptitude test (IBEW route)
- Complete the interview, get on the eligibility list
- Complete the 4-5 year apprenticeship
- Get your journeyman license where Texas or your city requires one
Texas Licensing
Texas licenses journeyman electricians at the state level. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issues the license. The PSI exam has two portions, NEC Knowledge and Calculations, and you need 70% on each. You need 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician. You can sit for the exam with 7,000 hours.
Texas journeyman license: exam, hours and fees
Reciprocity
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. Conditions: you passed that state's statewide exam, held the license 1 or more years, and have 8,000 hours under a master electrician. $30 fee.
IBEW Locals in Texas
Exam Costs & Schedules
- Journeyman exam fees vary — check with your state board
- Most states use PSI or Prometric as exam providers
- Exams typically include 80-100 questions over 3-4 hours
- NEC code section is the most heavily weighted
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become an electrician in Texas?
In Texas, the typical union path is a 4-5 year IBEW apprenticeship, then a journeyman license exam where the state or city requires one. Total time from first application to journeyman is usually 5-8 years.
How much do electricians make in Texas?
Electrician pay in Texas varies by region and union status. IBEW journeyman scale tends to be higher than non-union shop rates. See our electrician salary by state page for current ranges.
Do I need a license to be an electrician in Texas?
Texas licenses journeyman electricians at the state level. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issues the license. The PSI exam has two portions, NEC Knowledge and Calculations, and you need 70% on each. You need 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician. You can sit for the exam with 7,000 hours.
Does Texas accept out-of-state electrician licenses?
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. Conditions: you passed that state's statewide exam, held the license 1 or more years, and have 8,000 hours under a master electrician. $30 fee.
Related Resources
Michael Briglio
IBEW Local 134 Journeyman · Licensed Contractor · IL Educator
Michael started in the IBEW at 18 and made foreman as a 3rd-year apprentice. Thirteen years in, he’s a Local 134 journeyman, a licensed electrical contractor, a licensed Illinois teacher, and OSHA 30 and EPA 608 certified. He teaches a federally recognized pre-apprenticeship on the south side of Chicago — where he’s helped 100+ students get into the IBEW. He built Sparky AI around exactly what the NJATC exam tests and what trips people up. Prep with this and you walk in ready.
Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.
