Texas Apprentice Electrician License Renewal: CE Guide for 2026

The TDLR apprentice electrician license is the entry point for a career in electrical work in Texas. It is the most commonly held electrical license in the state — apprentice electricians represent roughly 70% of all individual electrical licenses (about 158,000 of 228,000, TDLR May 2026 staff report), making it the largest electrical license category in Texas.

An apprentice license requires no prior experience and no exam. You submit an application and pay the $20 fee to TDLR — the full application walkthrough, including the 21-day temporary license and the supervision rules, is in our Texas apprentice electrician license guide. Once licensed, you can perform electrical work under the direct supervision of a master electrician while accumulating the 8,000 hours of experience needed to qualify for a journeyman license.

Even though it is an entry-level license, the TDLR apprentice electrician license renewal requirement matches every other electrical license type: 4 hours of continuing education annually — with one apprentice-only alternative: enrollment in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training program during your license term satisfies the requirement in lieu of the course (16 TAC §73.25(c) — see our full guide to the CE-vs-program choice). This guide covers everything apprentices need to know about CE, renewal, deadlines, and career advancement.

As an apprentice electrician, your CE requirement is identical to every other Texas electrician license type:

Requirement	Detail
CE hours	4 hours annually
Renewal cycle	1 year (annual)
Time per CE hour	50 minutes of instruction
Renewal fee	$20
Final exam	Not required

The 4 hours must collectively cover the same mandatory topic areas as all electrician CE — TDLR sets the topics, not a fixed number of hours per topic:

• National Electrical Code (NEC 2023) — code changes, key articles, and practical application (about 3 hours in our approved course outline)
• Texas Electrician Law — Occupations Code Chapter 1305
• Texas Administrative Rules — 16 TAC Chapter 73
• Electrical Safety (NFPA 70E) — Arc flash, lockout/tagout, PPE, and safe work practices

Many apprentices wonder why CE is required at the entry level. The answer is straightforward: electrical codes and safety standards evolve annually, and even entry-level workers need to stay current. The 2023 NEC alone introduced significant changes to GFCI requirements, surge protection, and energy storage systems — all relevant to work an apprentice may encounter on the job.

One apprentice-only exception: if you are enrolled in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training program during your license term, that enrollment satisfies the renewal requirement in place of the 4-hour course (16 TAC §73.25(c)). This applies only to electrical apprentices and electrical sign apprentices — journeymen, masters, and every other license type must take the course. Our guide to the CE-vs-apprenticeship-program choice covers what counts as a registered program and how the timing works.

Renewing your Texas apprentice electrician license is a simple two-step process — complete your CE, then submit your renewal to TDLR:

1. Complete 4 hours of CE through a TDLR-approved provider. At OnlineTexasCE.com (TDLR Provider #2273), the course costs $22.95, is self-paced, available 24/7, works on any device, and has no final exam.
2. Save your completion certificate. Keep it for at least 1 year. We report the completion to TDLR for you, but TDLR can still request your records during an inspection or investigation.
3. Log in to TDLR Online Services at tdlr.texas.gov.
4. Select your apprentice electrician license from your license list.
5. Click "Renew" and follow the on-screen prompts.
6. Attest to CE completion. Confirm that you have completed the required 4 hours.
7. Pay the $20 renewal fee via credit card or electronic check.
8. Receive confirmation. TDLR emails your confirmation once the renewal is processed.

We report your CE completion to TDLR within 24 hours of when you finish the course. The entire process — CE and renewal — can be completed online without visiting any office.

Your apprentice electrician license expires annually on the anniversary of your issuance date. TDLR sends a reminder email approximately 60 days before expiration, but tracking your own deadline is essential.

Annual renewal cost breakdown:

• CE course (OnlineTexasCE.com): $22.95
• TDLR renewal fee: $20
• Total: $42.95/year

If you miss your deadline, late fees and penalties escalate quickly:

Time After Expiration	Renewal Fee	Consequence
On time	$20	Standard renewal
0-90 days late	$30 (1.5x)	Online renewal available
91 days - 18 months	$40 (2x)	Online renewal available
18 months - 3 years	$40 (mail-in)	Mail-in renewal with executive director approval
3+ years	N/A	Cannot renew — must reapply

Performing electrical work on an expired license is a Class B violation carrying fines from $1,000 to $3,500 per violation. Working entirely without a license is a Class C violation: $2,000 to $5,000 plus probated suspension to revocation. At $42.95 per year total, keeping your license current is far cheaper than the alternative.

Your apprentice license is the first step in a clearly defined career progression. Understanding the full path helps you plan ahead:

License Level	Experience Required	Exam (FY2025 pass rate)	Renewal Fee
Apprentice Electrician	None (entry-level)	None	$20/year
Residential Wireman	4,000 hours under supervision	Yes (~30% pass rate)	$20/year
Journeyman Electrician	8,000 hours under master	Yes (~20-27% pass rate)	$30/year
Master Electrician	12,000 hours + 2 yrs as journeyman	Yes (~19-22% pass rate)	$45/year

Key facts for apprentices building toward journeyman status:

• 8,000 hours of experience must be performed under the supervision of a licensed master electrician
• At full-time (2,000 hours/year), this takes approximately 4 years
• Only 20-27% of FY2025 journeyman exam attempts passed — Texas licensing exams are among the most difficult in any trade
• Once licensed as a journeyman, your renewal fee increases to $30/year but the CE requirement stays at 4 hours

Every year you renew your apprentice license, you are building toward your next level. The CE keeps you current on codes and safety — knowledge you will need not just for your career, but also for the licensing exams ahead.

Completing your 4 hours of apprentice electrician CE is fast, affordable, and entirely online:

• Course: 4-Hour Texas Electrician CE
• Provider: OnlineTexasCE.com — TDLR-approved Provider #2273
• Price: $22.95
• Format: Online, self-paced, available 24/7
• Device: Phone, tablet, or computer — start on one, finish on another
• Final exam: None — short in-lesson knowledge or attendance checks only
• Certificate: Instant upon completion
• TDLR reporting: Reported directly to TDLR within 24 hours

The course covers everything TDLR requires: NEC 2023 code updates, Texas electrician law (Occupations Code Chapter 1305), administrative rules (16 TAC Chapter 73), and electrical safety including NFPA 70E. Whether you are in your first year as an apprentice or your fourth, the content is relevant to the work you do every day on the job.

At $42.95 total (CE + renewal fee), keeping your apprentice license current is one of the most affordable professional obligations in the Texas trades. Do not let it lapse — the late fees, fines, and career disruption are not worth the risk. Start your CE now and have it done today.