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How many continuing education hours does a Texas electrician need?

If you hold a Texas master or journeyman electrician license, TDLR lists 4 hours of continuing education (CE) before each renewal. Contractors and residential appliance installers are not required to complete continuing education. The courses must come from a registered TDLR provider.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
TDLR lists 4 hours of continuing education before each renewalTDLR's list runs from master and journeyman electricians to maintenance, sign and apprentice electricians.
Verified. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Electrician continuing education (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
Courses must be completed within the term of the license being renewedTDLR's example: a license expiring January 1, 2021 needed courses taken between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021.
Same source and date as above
Rule
The 4 hours cover the NEC, Texas electrician law and rules, and NFPA 70E safetyThe code part follows Occupations Code §1305.101, or the current National Electrical Code version from NFPA.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check whether your license is on the list. TDLR names master, journeyman, journeyman lineman, journeyman industrial, residential wireman, maintenance, master sign, journeyman sign, apprentice and apprentice sign electricians. Contractors and residential appliance installers are not required to complete CE.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course from a registered TDLR provider. Courses from other providers will not count toward your required hours. One hour of CE equals 50 minutes of actual instruction time.

  3. Step 3. Take 4 hours inside the term of the license you are renewing. The coursework must address the National Electrical Code, the Texas Electrician Law, the Texas Electrician Administrative Rules and electrical safety under NFPA 70E. If you took four hours in the NEC only, add an approved course in the law, rules or NFPA 70E safety of at least one hour.

  4. Step 4. Collect your completion certificate. Your provider reports your hours. If no certificate arrives within 15 days from the end of your course, check first with your provider.

Before you pay

We haven’t confirmed which course formats TDLR accepts, or any course price. Before you pay, check that the provider is registered with TDLR. Ask which of the four required topics the course covers.

Questions

Do apprentice electricians take the same hours?

TDLR says electrical apprentices and electrical sign apprentices must take four hours of CE, or be enrolled in a department-registered electrical apprenticeship training course for license renewal.

Does holding two licenses double the hours?

No. If you hold multiple license types, you only complete a total of four hours of CE. The courses must be taken during the period of the license being renewed.

Can I finish a course later or take it twice for credit?

TDLR does not accept partial completion of CE courses. A provider may allow you to finish the course at another time. You may not receive credit for attending the same course more than once.

Do instructors earn credit for teaching?

An instructor who is an electrical licensee may arrange with the provider to get hours for the portion of the course taught. If the instructor does not teach the entire course, the instructor must attend the rest to obtain credit for the whole course.

What to do next

Start with the TDLR electrician CE page. Check your license type there before you pay for a course.

www.tdlr.texas.gov

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