How often do I need to renew my Electrical License (Master Electrician) in Texas?

The Electrical License (Master Electrician) in Texas must be renewed every 12 months.

How much does it cost to renew a Electrical License (Master Electrician) in Texas?

The renewal cost for a Electrical License (Master Electrician) in Texas is $45.00.

What happens if my Electrical License (Master Electrician) expires in Texas?

Performing electrical work without a license in Texas is a Class C misdemeanor. Fines range from $500 to $2,000 per offense. TDLR can assess administrative penalties up to $5,000 per violation.

Texas renewal guide

Electrical License (Master Electrician)

If this license is up for renewal, this page gives you the fee, the timeline, and the items that usually hold the filing up.

See this alongside the other 19 Texas license pages we track.

Start here

What matters before you file.

Check the fee, the renewal window, and the documents or insurance records that can slow approval down.

Issuing authority

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

Renewal period

Every 12 months

Renewal fee

$45.00

Late penalty

$67.50

Bond requirement

No

Insurance requirement

No

Continuing education

4 hours

Before you renew

Get the filing straight.

1
Finish the CE first

Complete the 4 required hours before you start the renewal.
2
File with the board

File through Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and pay the $45.00 renewal fee once the supporting proof is ready.
Renew online
3
Leave room for processing

Typical processing time is 30 days, so do not wait until the last minute.

If you miss the deadline, the late penalty is $67.50, with a 60-day grace period.

Detailed notes

The fine print is here.

Texas Electrical License (Master Electrician)

Texas Master Electricians are licensed by TDLR. This is the license that lets you supervise electrical work, serve as a Master Electrician of Record for a contracting company, and take on the full scope of electrical installation in the state.

Getting licensed: 12,000 hours and a PSI exam

TDLR requires at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed Texas Master Electrician, plus at least two years holding a Journeyman Electrician license. After meeting those prerequisites, you pass the Master Electrician exam through PSI. The non-refundable application fee is $45.

Annual renewal: $45 fee and 4 CE hours

The Master Electrician license renews every year. The renewal fee is $45. You must complete 4 hours of continuing education each cycle. If your license expires, the late renewal fee is $67.50 within the first 90 days after expiration — there is no penalty-free window once the license lapses. TDLR sends a reminder approximately 60 days before expiration.

Scope: installing, maintaining, and extending electrical systems

A Texas Master Electrician can install, maintain, and extend electrical wiring systems and related equipment in or on buildings and structures. Contracting companies performing electrical work must designate a Master Electrician of Record. The individual ME license is the personal credential; the Electrical Contractor registration is the separate business-level credential that lets a company contract with the public.

Insurance is required for the Electrical Contractor registration, not the individual license

The individual Master Electrician license has no insurance requirement. Insurance becomes mandatory when you apply for the Electrical Contractor business registration. If you plan to run a contracting operation, you need both: the personal ME license and the business registration.

Practical takeaway

TDLR can assess administrative penalties up to $5,000 per violation for unlicensed electrical activity. Keep the license current: $45 annually, 4 CE hours per cycle, renewed at tdlr.texas.gov/electricians before expiration.

Official links