Journeyman Electrician CE in Texas: How to Renew Your License

If you hold a Texas journeyman electrician license, you must complete 4 hours of continuing education every year to maintain your license. This is not optional — TDLR requires CE completion before you can submit your annual renewal. The requirement applies equally to journeyman electricians, journeyman industrial electricians, and journeyman linemen.

Journeyman electricians are the backbone of the Texas electrical workforce. With about 213,500 individual electrical licenses in the state (FY2025) and only 20-27% of that year's journeyman exam attempts passing, reaching journeyman status represents a significant professional achievement. Maintaining that license through annual CE is essential to protecting your career investment.

The good news: completing your journeyman electrician continuing education is straightforward. The entire process can be done online, there is no final exam, and it can be completed in a single sitting. At OnlineTexasCE.com, our TDLR-approved 4-hour course is $22.95.

For a comprehensive overview of all electrician license types and their CE requirements, see our Texas electrician CE requirements guide.

TDLR requires the 4-hour annual CE for Texas journeyman electricians to cover the NEC, Texas law and rules, and electrical safety (NFPA 70E). TDLR does not prescribe how the hours are divided — the breakdown below is our approved course outline:

• National Electrical Code (~3 hours): The 2023 NEC (NFPA 70, 2023 Edition), adopted in Texas on September 1, 2023 and in force through August 31, 2026 (the 2026 NEC takes effect September 1, 2026). Covers code changes, key articles, grounding and bonding (Article 250), overcurrent protection, wiring methods, GFCI/AFCI updates, EVSE provisions, and energy storage requirements.
• Texas Electrician Law (~0.5 hours): Occupations Code Chapter 1305 — the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act. Covers licensing requirements, scope of work, exemptions, and enforcement.
• Texas Administrative Rules (~0.5 hours): 16 TAC Chapter 73 — detailed rules implementing Chapter 1305. Covers licensing procedures, CE rules, inspection requirements, and compliance standards.
• Electrical Safety — NFPA 70E (integrated): Arc flash fundamentals, hazard identification, lockout/tagout (LOTO), PPE selection, and safe work practices.

Important: If you take 4 hours of NEC-only content, you must complete an additional approved course (minimum 1 hour) covering law, rules, or NFPA 70E safety. The 4 hours cannot be all NEC content.

One CE credit hour equals at least 50 minutes of instruction. A 4-hour course is 200 minutes (3 hours 20 minutes) of instruction, and credit is awarded once you complete the approved course and its required participation checks. You cannot repeat the same course for credit.

Your Texas journeyman electrician license renews annually on the anniversary of your issuance date. Here are the key numbers:

Item	Cost	Paid To
4-Hour CE Course (OnlineTexasCE.com)	$22.95	CE Provider
TDLR Renewal Fee (on-time)	$30.00	TDLR
Total On-Time Cost	$52.95

TDLR sends a reminder email approximately 60 days before your expiration date. We recommend completing your CE at least 30 days before your expiration to leave yourself margin. TDLR emails your confirmation once the renewal is processed.

Your CE must be completed within the current license term — between your last renewal and your upcoming expiration. Your approved provider reports the completion to TDLR directly, and you should retain your own CE certificate for at least 1 year; TDLR retains general authority to inspect or investigate records.

At $52.95 total, the annual cost of maintaining your journeyman license is modest relative to the earning potential. Texas electricians earn a median hourly wage of approximately $24-$26, and the state has approximately 7,798 annual job openings with 18.1% projected growth through 2032.

If you miss your renewal deadline, late fees escalate based on how long your license has been expired:

Renewal Status	TDLR Fee	CE Course	Total Cost	Method
On-time	$30	$22.95	$52.95	Online
0-90 days expired	$45 (1.5x)	$22.95	$67.95	Online
91 days - 18 months expired	$60 (2x)	$22.95	$82.95	Online
18 months - 3 years expired	$60 (2x)	$22.95	$82.95	Mail-in only — executive director approval
3+ years expired	N/A	N/A	License lost	New-applicant requirements; may include the exam

The financial penalty for waiting is clear: just one day late costs an extra $15. Wait 91 days and you pay double the standard fee. And after 3 years, you lose your license entirely — which can mean retaking the notoriously difficult journeyman exam with a 20-27% FY2025 pass rate.

Beyond fees, practicing on an expired license is a Class B violation under TDLR's enforcement guidelines: $1,000 to $3,500 per violation, plus potential license suspension of up to one year. Working entirely without a license is a Class C violation: $2,000 to $5,000. Each instance is a separate violation. For more on these penalties, see our guide on Texas expired license penalties.

Covered individual Texas electrician license holders need the same 4 hours of CE annually. Here is how the journeyman electrician license compares to other types:

License Type	CE Hours	Renewal Fee	Late Fee (0-90 days)	Experience Required
Master Electrician	4 hrs/year	$45	$67.50	12,000 hrs + 2 yrs as Journeyman + exam
Journeyman Electrician	4 hrs/year	$30	$45	8,000 hrs under Master + exam
Journeyman Industrial	4 hrs/year	$30	$45	8,000 hrs + exam
Journeyman Lineman	4 hrs/year	$30	$45	8,000 hrs + exam
Residential Wireman	4 hrs/year	$20	$30	4,000 hrs + exam
Maintenance Electrician	4 hrs/year	$20	$30	8,000 hrs + exam
Apprentice Electrician	4 hrs/year, or apprenticeship enrollment	$20	$30	None (entry-level)
Master Sign Electrician	4 hrs/year	$45	$67.50	Specialized + exam
Journeyman Sign Electrician	4 hrs/year	$30	$45	Specialized + exam
Electrical Contractor (business)	None	Varies	N/A	Must employ Master of Record

The CE requirement is identical across the covered individual license types, with one wrinkle: apprentice electricians and apprentice sign electricians may satisfy the renewal condition through enrollment in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training program instead of the 4 CE hours. The other key differences are in the renewal fee and the experience and exam requirements for initial licensing. Electrical and sign contractors (business licenses) and residential appliance installers have no CE requirement, but the master electrician of record for a contracting business must maintain their personal CE.

In our approved course outline, roughly 3 of the 4 CE hours cover the National Electrical Code. The 2023 NEC (NFPA 70, 2023 Edition) has been the adopted code in Texas since September 1, 2023. Key topics covered in your journeyman electrician continuing education course include:

• Expanded GFCI requirements: Now covering circuits up to 150 volts to ground and 50 amperes in dwelling units — significantly broader than the 2020 NEC
• Mandatory surge protection: Type 1 or Type 2 SPD now required at dwelling unit services
• AFCI expansion: Extended to dormitory units for 120V, 15/20A circuits
• EVSE provisions: Reorganized Article 625 with electric vehicle power management systems (EVPMS) for load sharing
• Energy storage systems: Expanded Article 706 covering battery, flywheel, and other ESS technologies
• Grounding and bonding: Updated Article 250 provisions for equipment grounding conductor sizing and communications bonding

On July 28, 2026 the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopted the 2026 NEC, effective September 1, 2026, replacing the 2023 edition. TDLR's Examination Review Committee is already re-referencing exam items. For a detailed look at what is coming, see our NEC 2026 preview. For a deep dive into the current code, read our NEC 2023 changes guide.

Many Texas journeyman electricians hold additional license types — perhaps an apprentice sign license from earlier in their career, or they are working toward a master license. If you hold multiple Texas electrician licenses, you only need 4 total hours of CE per year, not 4 hours per license.

Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Journeyman + Apprentice Sign: 4 hours total CE. Renew each license separately ($30 + $20 = $50 in TDLR fees).
• Journeyman + Master (upgrading): 4 hours total CE. If you pass the master exam, your CE satisfies both licenses. Renew each separately ($30 + $45 = $75 in TDLR fees).
• Journeyman + Journeyman Industrial: 4 hours total CE. Renew each separately ($30 + $30 = $60 in TDLR fees).

The CE hours must be completed during the license period being renewed. If your different licenses have different expiration dates, make sure you complete CE within the window for each license you are renewing.

This single-course approach saves time and money. Complete one 4-hour CE course for $22.95 at OnlineTexasCE.com and it covers all your electrician license types.

Maintaining your Texas journeyman electrician license is one of the most important investments you can make in your career. The 4-hour annual CE requirement keeps you current on the NEC, Texas law, and safety standards — and it keeps you legally authorized to work.

Here is how to complete your CE in three simple steps:

1. Enroll in the course. Visit OnlineTexasCE.com and enroll in our 4-hour electrician CE course. Cost: $22.95. TDLR-approved, Provider #2273.
2. Complete the course at your pace. The course is 100% online, self-paced, and available on any device — desktop, tablet, or phone. No final exam. You can pause and resume at any time. You can finish in a single sitting.
3. Renew at TDLR. After completing the course, you receive an instant certificate. We submit your completion electronically through TDLR's provider reporting system. Then log in to TDLR Online Services, renew your license, and pay the $30 fee.

Total on-time cost: $52.95 ($22.95 CE + $30 TDLR fee). That is less than the $45 late renewal fee alone — and far less than the $1,000 to $3,500 fine for working on an expired license.

Texas needs journeyman electricians. With 18.1% projected job growth through 2032 and approximately 7,798 annual job openings, demand for licensed electricians is not slowing down. Protect your license, stay current on the code, and keep working. Start your CE now.