Quick Answer
To renew your Texas electrician license: (1) complete 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education covering the NEC, Texas law and rules, and NFPA 70E safety, (2) log in to TDLR Online Services and submit your renewal, and (3) pay the renewal fee — $30 for journeyman, $45 for master, $20 for apprentice, maintenance, and residential wireman licenses. Electrician licenses renew every year, and CE must be completed within the license term being renewed.
Running late? You can still renew online up to 18 months past expiration — 1.5× your renewal fee in the first 90 days, 2× after (table below) — and for a late renewal TDLR accepts CE completed within the year before your renewal date (16 TAC §73.25(d)).
Check your renewal date
Checks TDLR public records, updated daily — informational, not an official record or legal advice. Name searches also match "Last, First".
Provider #2273
Renewal at a Glance
CE Hours
4 per year
Renewal Cycle
Every year
TDLR Fee
$20–$45 by license type
CE Course
$22.95
How to Renew, Step by Step
- 01
Complete your 4 CE hours
Finish 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education during your current license term. The hours must collectively cover the National Electrical Code, Texas electrical law and rules (Chapter 1305 / 16 TAC Chapter 73), and NFPA 70E electrical safety — they cannot be all NEC content. Our course includes all of it; we report your completion to TDLR within 24 hours.
- 02
Log in to TDLR Online Services
Go to tdlr.texas.gov and sign in with your license number. TDLR emails a renewal reminder about 60 days before your expiration date.
- 03
Submit your renewal
Select your electrician license and click Renew. Your CE must already be complete — finish the course before you submit, and your approved provider reports the completion to TDLR.
- 04
Pay your renewal fee
Journeyman: $30. Master: $45. Apprentice, maintenance, and residential wireman: $20. TDLR emails your confirmation once the renewal is processed.
Who Needs CE — and Who Doesn't
Every individual electrician license in Texas requires 4 hours of CE per year: journeyman, master, journeyman industrial, journeyman lineman, sign electrician (journeyman and master), maintenance electrician, residential wireman, and apprentice licenses.
Three things to know about who is and isn't covered:
- Electrical contractor and sign contractor licenses are business licenses — no CE, though the Master Electrician of record still completes their own individual CE.
- Residential appliance installers have no CE requirement.
- Apprentices (electrical and sign) can satisfy the renewal condition either with the 4 CE hours or by enrolling in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training program.
If you hold more than one individual license (say, journeyman and maintenance), you only need 4 total hours — not 4 per license.
What the 4 Hours Must Cover
TDLR requires your annual CE to collectively cover three subject areas:
- National Electrical Code (NEC) — Texas applies the 2023 NEC through August 31, 2026; the 2026 NEC takes effect September 1, 2026 (adopted July 28, 2026)
- Texas electrical law and rules — Occupations Code Chapter 1305 and 16 TAC Chapter 73
- Electrical safety — NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
Watch out: 4 hours of NEC-only content does not satisfy the requirement — you'd have to take an additional law/safety course. Our 4-hour electrician course packages all three areas together so one course covers the full requirement. One CE hour equals 50 minutes of instruction, and there is no final exam — just short in-lesson knowledge or attendance checks, depending on the approved course design.
Full topic details: Texas electrician CE requirements.
When Is My Renewal Deadline?
Electrician licenses are valid for 1 year and expire on the anniversary of the issue date. TDLR emails a reminder about 60 days before expiration. Because the cycle is annual, it's easy to let CE slip — many electricians knock out the 4 hours the same week the reminder lands. You can check your expiration date free in the TDLR license search.
What If My License Already Expired?
You can renew online up to 18 months after expiration (with the late fees below). Between 18 months and 3 years, renewal is still possible but only by mail with TDLR's required form and executive director approval. Past 3 years, you must reapply as a new applicant. You cannot legally perform electrical work while your license is expired.
Late Renewal Fees
| Time After Expiration | Fee |
|---|---|
| Expired 90 days or less | 1.5× your renewal fee (e.g. $45 for journeyman) |
| Expired 91 days – 18 months | 2× your renewal fee (e.g. $60 for journeyman) |
| Expired 18 months – 3 years | 2× fee, mail-in renewal only — executive director approval required |
| Expired more than 3 years | Must reapply as a new applicant |
Important: Performing electrical work with an expired license can draw TDLR administrative penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.01How much does it cost to renew a Texas electrician license?
It depends on your license: $30 for journeyman, journeyman sign, journeyman industrial, and journeyman lineman; $45 for master and master sign; $20 for apprentice, maintenance, and residential wireman licenses. Add the cost of your 4-hour CE course.
Q.02How often do Texas electricians renew?
Every year. Texas electrician licenses expire annually on the anniversary of the issue date, and 4 hours of TDLR-approved CE are required for each renewal.
Q.03Do apprentice electricians need continuing education?
Apprentices do have an annual education condition, but they have a choice: complete the same 4 hours of TDLR-approved CE, or enroll in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training program. Every other individual electrician license requires the 4 CE hours outright; only the contractor business licenses and residential appliance installers are exempt.
Q.04Can my 4 CE hours be all NEC content?
No. TDLR requires the hours to collectively cover the NEC, Texas law and rules, and NFPA 70E safety. An NEC-only course leaves you short — our course includes all three areas so one course satisfies the requirement.
Q.05I hold two electrician licenses. Do I need 8 hours?
No — 4 total hours per year covers all of your individual electrical licenses, as long as the hours are completed during the license period being renewed.
Q.06Can I renew my Texas electrician license online?
Yes, as long as your license is current or expired less than 18 months. Complete your CE first, then renew through TDLR Online Services at tdlr.texas.gov. TDLR emails your confirmation once the renewal is processed.
Related Resources
Last updated August 27, 2026