The Texas master exam outline: ten subject areas
The Texas master electrician exam is two open-book portions that PSI gives for TDLR: NEC Knowledge (75 items in 150 minutes) and Calculations (33 items in 170 minutes), and you need 70% on each. PSI publishes a content outline for each portion, with the number of items in each subject area. Together they give you a map: study the heavy subject areas first, and use your free check to see where your own score trails their share.
- Questions
- 108
- Time
- 320 minutes
- Exam fee
- $78
- Where
- PSI test centers across Texas (computer-based)
The ten subject areas and their items
Scored items per portion, from the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 9/15/2026). The master outline uses the same ten subject areas as the journeyman outline, with more items on services, motors and generators, and definitions. The Calculations portion names two areas a little differently ("Calculations and Theory" and "Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors"); they are grouped with their NEC Knowledge match here.
| Subject area | NEC Knowledge | Calculations | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definitions, theory and plans | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Services, service equipment and separately derived systems | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| Feeders | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Branch circuits and conductors | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| Wiring methods and materials | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Equipment and devices | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| Motors and generators | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| Control devices and disconnecting means | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Special occupancies, equipment and conditions | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Renewable energy (solar PV and EV charging) | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Scored items | 70 | 30 | 100 |
Each portion also carries non-scored items (5 in NEC Knowledge, 3 in Calculations), so you see 75 and 33 items on screen: 108 questions in 320 minutes across both portions.
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How to prepare
- Take the free check and compare each subject area's score with its share of the 100 scored items.
- Services and motors carry 32 of the 100 scored items between them, and 14 of the 30 Calculations items. Work load, service and motor problems early.
- Work the calculations with your own 2026 NEC open, the way you will at PSI. We cite the NEC by article, section and table number only and never reproduce its text.
- Practice each portion on its own clock: 150 minutes for NEC Knowledge, then 170 for Calculations. Unless a question says otherwise, treat conductors as copper.
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The exam in brief
- Format: two multiple-choice portions, NEC Knowledge (75 items, 5 of them non-scored) and Calculations (33 items, 3 of them non-scored).
- Time: 150 minutes for NEC Knowledge and 170 for Calculations. Time left on one portion does not carry over to the other.
- Passing: 70% on each portion.
- Cost and retakes: $78 for both portions. If you fail one portion or both, the retake is $78. TDLR lets you retake as many times as you need, and each attempt may carry its own fee.
- Book: a soft-bound 2026 NEC with publisher tabs only; no NEC Handbook.
- Time to pass: TDLR gives you one year from the date it received your application to meet every requirement, including the exam.
FAQ
What is on the Texas master electrician exam?
Ten subject areas run through both portions. The heaviest are services, service equipment and separately derived systems (19 scored items), branch circuits and conductors (15), motors and generators (13) and equipment and devices (10). Together those four carry 57 of the 100 scored items. The table above gives every area's count for each portion.
How many questions are on the master electrician exam, and how long is it?
108 questions in 320 minutes, of which 100 are scored. NEC Knowledge has 75 items in 150 minutes and Calculations has 33 items in 170 minutes. Time left on one portion does not carry over to the other, so practice each one on its own clock.
What are the requirements for a Texas master electrician license?
TDLR asks for at least two years holding a Texas journeyman electrician license and 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician licensed in Texas. Each supervisor signs an Experience Verification Form for the hours. Experience as a journeyman industrial electrician cannot be used to qualify for the master license.
How do I apply for the master electrician exam in Texas?
You apply to TDLR by mail with the Master Electrician License Application and a non-refundable $45 application fee. Once TDLR has received and verified your application, it tells you that you are approved to take the exam. You then book with PSI and pay $78 for both portions. TDLR runs a criminal history check on every applicant, which can take one to six weeks.
How do I prepare for the master electrician exam?
Study from the 2026 NEC, since the Texas exam has been referenced to it since 1 September 2026. Services and motors carry 32 of the 100 scored items, so work load, service and motor calculations early, with your book open. Take the free 10-question master check to see which subject areas cost you points, and try the sample questions for the question style.
What score do I need to pass the Texas master electrician exam?
70% on each portion, and each portion is passed separately. If you fail one portion or both, the retake is $78. Our journeyman vs master post compares the two exams.
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Sources
Show the list
- Candidate Information Bulletin, Texas electricians (updated 9/15/2026), PSI for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
- Electrician exam information, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
- Apply for a New Master Electrician License, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 29 Oct 2026.
Exam facts
| Questions | 108 multiple-choice items in two separately scored portions, 100 scored: NEC Knowledge 75 items (5 non-scored), Calculations 33 items (3 non-scored) |
| Time | 320 minutes |
| Book | open: the candidate brings a soft-bound National Electrical Code, 2026 Edition (loose-leaf, spiral- and ring-bound copies are not allowed). Highlighting, underlining and notes made before the exam are allowed; publisher-made permanent index tabs only, no homemade tabs; no marking during the exam; the NEC Handbook is not allowed |
| Calculator | Non-programmable, silent, battery-operated calculator without paper tape or an alphabetic keyboard |
| Passing | 70% on each portion; each portion is passed separately, and time left on the first portion does not roll over to the second |
| Where you test | PSI test centers across Texas (computer-based) |
| Exam fee | $78 |
| Retakes | Retake as many times as needed within the eligibility period; a retake of one or both portions is $78 |
| Eligibility | TDLR approves the license application first (Master: a Journeyman Electrician license held at least two years, 12,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training, $45 application fee). Applicants have one year from the date TDLR received the application to meet every requirement, including passing. |
What the exam covers
| Definitions, Theory, and Plans | 9% |
| Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems | 19% |
| Electrical Feeders | 7% |
| Branch Circuits and Conductors | 15% |
| Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials | 9% |
| Electrical Equipment and Devices | 10% |
| Motors and Generators | 13% |
| Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means | 4% |
| Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions | 9% |
| Renewable Energy Technologies | 5% |
Facts checked 29 October 2026 against TDLR's own documents (sources above). If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it within 2 business days.
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