Texas Electrician License Reciprocity: States and Steps

Which states Texas lists

TDLR's page says Texas has reciprocal licensing agreements with the states below. The state names and the notes in brackets are TDLR's wording.

TDLR's electrician FAQ adds that Texas has no path for transferring an electrical contractor, sign contractor or appliance installer contractor business license from another state. Those businesses apply for a new Texas license.

The list changes, so check it before you apply

TDLR has added states several times in the past year. Its news items announced a master electrician agreement with Arkansas on 30 Dec 2025 and with Iowa on 6 Feb 2026, journeyman and master agreements with Alabama on 20 Mar 2026, and a master agreement with Ohio on 5 Jun 2026. States can also drop off: TDLR's December 2025 and February 2026 announcements named Montana among the journeyman agreements, and its March and June 2026 announcements and the current out-of-state page do not.

So treat the table above as a dated snapshot. Before you mail anything, open TDLR's out-of-state page and confirm your state and license type are still on it.

Journeyman: what TDLR asks for

TDLR's page says you must be able to prove you meet three minimum requirements:

• you took and passed the reciprocal state's examination,
• you have held the reciprocal license for at least one year,
• you have at least 8,000 hours under the supervision of a master electrician.

The documents TDLR lists for each journeyman state are the same:

• a completed Journeyman Electrician by Reciprocity License Application (form ELC-LIC-006),
• a license fee of $30,
• a copy of your state-issued license.

TDLR then contacts your state's licensing authority to certify three things: that you passed that state's statewide exam for electrical work, that you are licensed there as a journeyman electrician, and that your license is in good standing. TDLR's page does not list a Texas exam among the journeyman requirements or documents.

Journeyman: how to apply

The ELC-LIC-006 form (revision June 2026) sets out the rest:

1. Fill in the form. Beyond your contact details, it asks which state you hold your journeyman license in, whether you have held it for at least one year and it is active, and the date you passed that state's journeyman exam.
2. Answer the history questions. If you have a conviction or deferred adjudication other than a minor traffic violation, attach a Criminal History Questionnaire for each offense. If a license of yours was ever suspended, revoked or denied in any state, attach a Disciplinary Action Questionnaire. If you are worried about your record, TDLR offers a criminal history evaluation before you apply, for a $10 fee.
3. Attach a copy of your journeyman license.
4. Mail it with the $30 fee to TDLR, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711-2157. The fee is non-refundable, the form says not to send cash, and documents you send are not returned, so keep copies.

The form also says you must meet all requirements within 12 months of the filing date, or the application is terminated. Military service members, veterans and spouses can attach TDLR's military supplemental application for the options it offers.

Master electrician: what is different

The master route asks for more. TDLR's page lists these minimum requirements: you passed the reciprocal statewide exam, you have held the reciprocal license for at least one year, you have at least 12,000 hours under a master electrician, and you have held a journeyman license for at least two years (one year for Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio and Tennessee).

You apply with the Master Electrician by Reciprocity License Application (form ELC-LIC-008), a $45 license fee, a copy of your state-issued license, documentation of your journeyman license period and a letter of good standing. TDLR says you request that letter from the state where you are licensed, that it must show you passed the statewide exam for electrical work, and that you send it with everything else in one envelope. Two state notes from the page: you must be a Louisiana resident to qualify through Louisiana, and only Iowa Class A master licenses reciprocate.

TDLR's Ohio announcement says an Ohio master electrical contractor license is substantially equivalent to a Texas master electrician license, and that each state's prerequisites, including journeyman licensure, still apply.

If your state is not on the list

TDLR's out-of-state page offers no reciprocity route for a state it does not list. The way in is the standard journeyman application: 8,000 hours under a master electrician, the ELC-LIC-005 application with its $30 fee, and both portions of the journeyman exam PSI gives for TDLR. Our step-by-step guide to the Texas journeyman license walks through each step, and the eligibility guide explains the one-year window you get once TDLR receives your application.

If you are heading to the exam, know what it covers. The Texas journeyman exam has an NEC Knowledge portion and a Calculations portion, each scored on its own, and our exam outline breaks the scored items into the ten subject areas. Your years in the trade prove you can do the work. The exam checks whether you can find the answer in the code book fast and work the calculations without a slip, and that is a skill you can practice.

See where you stand

If the exam is your way into a Texas license, find out today where it would cost you points. Take the free 10-question check with your NEC open: no signup, every answer explained, and your score by subject area at the end.

FAQ

Does Texas have electrician license reciprocity?

Yes, for two license types. As of 26 Oct 2026 (checked 26 Oct 2026), TDLR lists reciprocity agreements for the journeyman electrician license with ten states and for the master electrician license with eight. TDLR says there are no agreements for any other license type.

Which states have journeyman electrician reciprocity with Texas?

TDLR's out-of-state page lists Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming, as of 26 Oct 2026 (checked 26 Oct 2026). The list changes, so check TDLR's page before you apply.

Do I have to take the Texas exam if I apply by reciprocity?

TDLR's out-of-state page does not list a Texas exam among the journeyman requirements or documents. It asks that you passed your own state's exam, and TDLR contacts that state to confirm it.

How much does a Texas journeyman license by reciprocity cost?

TDLR lists a $30 license fee for the journeyman reciprocity application, and the form says the fee is non-refundable. The master reciprocity fee is $45.

How long do I need to have held my out-of-state license?

At least one year, for both the journeyman and master routes. You also need at least 8,000 hours under a master electrician for the journeyman license, or 12,000 hours for the master license.

Can I transfer an electrical contractor license to Texas?

No. TDLR's electrician FAQ says Texas has no path for transferring electrical contracting business licenses, so a contractor applies for a new Texas license.

Sources

All read on 26 Oct 2026.

• Transfer Your Out-of-State Electrician License to Texas, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
• Journeyman Electrician License by Reciprocity Application, form ELC-LIC-006, revision June 2026, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
• Electricians Frequently Asked Questions, section 5, Reciprocity, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
• TDLR news: Arkansas, 30 Dec 2025, Iowa, 6 Feb 2026, Alabama, 20 Mar 2026 and Ohio, 5 Jun 2026.