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Do electricians have to take continuing education?
It depends on your state and your license. In Texas, licenses such as master, journeyman and maintenance electrician need 4 hours before each renewal. Apprentices may instead be in a registered training course, and contractors need none. Florida electrical contractors need at least 11 classroom hours each biennium. We haven't confirmed other states, so check yours.
By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.
The steps, in order
Find your state's rule
Hours and license types differ
Check your license type
Some licenses are not covered
Take approved hours
Inside your license term
Keep your certificate
Renew your license
Five steps in order: find your state's rule, check your license type, take approved hours inside your license term, keep your completion certificate, then renew. The hours and who is covered differ by state.
What the rule says
Who has to take it in Texas?
Texas lists the licenses that need 4 hours before each renewal. Among them are master and journeyman electricians.
www.tdlr.texas.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Do Texas contractors have to take it?
No. Texas says contractors and residential appliance installers are not required to complete continuing education.
www.tdlr.texas.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Do Texas apprentices have to take it?
Apprentices and sign apprentices take four hours, or they are enrolled in a TDLR-registered electrical apprenticeship training course instead.
www.tdlr.texas.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
When do I take the hours in Texas?
During the term of the license you are renewing.
www.tdlr.texas.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Which Texas courses count?
Courses from a registered TDLR provider. TDLR says unapproved courses will not count toward your required hours.
www.tdlr.texas.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What must the Texas course cover?
The National Electrical Code, Texas electrician law, Texas electrician rules and electrical safety as NFPA 70E defines it.
www.tdlr.texas.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What does Florida ask of electrical contractors?
Proof of at least 11 classroom hours of coursework in each biennium since the certificate was issued or renewed. The board sets the rules for approving courses and providers.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
How are Florida's hours split?
Of the minimum 11, at least 7 hours are on technical subjects. One hour each goes to workers' compensation, workplace safety and business practices. An electrical contractor who does alarm system work also needs 2 hours on preventing false alarms.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What happens at renewal in Florida?
The department renews your certificate once it has the application, the fee and proof that you met every course-hour rule.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
How often does Florida renew?
Florida's law sets a biennial renewal procedure for certificates and registrations.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Where people go wrong
- In Texas, hours from a provider TDLR has not registered do not count toward renewal.
- In Texas, taking the same course twice earns no extra credit.
- In Texas, four hours spent only on the National Electrical Code are not enough. You need an additional approved course of at least one hour on the law or rules, or on NFPA 70E safety.
- If you hold two Texas license types, one set of 4 hours covers both, but the courses must fall in the period of the license being renewed.
Questions
How long is one course hour?
In Texas, one hour equals 50 minutes of actual instruction time.
Do I keep proof of my course?
In Texas, yes. You keep a copy of your certificate of completion for one year after the course, and a TDLR inspector may ask to see your records.
Who tells TDLR that I finished?
Your course provider. TDLR says reporting the hours is the provider's job.
Can Florida hours be taken outside a classroom?
Florida's law lets the board set criteria for accepting alternative nonclassroom courses on an hour-for-hour basis.
Your next step
To check these rules in the agencies' own words, read the Texas licensing department's continuing education page and Florida's statute. If you work in another state, ask the board that licenses electricians there.
Sources we read
- www.tdlr.texas.gov › elecce · read Nov 13, 2026
- www.leg.state.fl.us › index · read Nov 13, 2026
Who publishes this guide
State Cert Guide is an independent guide to what each state requires. If a fact on this page is wrong, tell us and we fix it.