Short answer: Texas electrician exams are hard to pass. In TDLR’s fiscal year 2025 figures, 24.46% of Journeyman NEC Knowledge attempts and 20.56% of Journeyman Calculations attempts passed. First attempts do far better than retakes: in early 2026, 67.23% of first-time early Journeyman takers passed, against 19.72% on repeat attempts.
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In detail: Texas electrician exams are hard to pass. In TDLR’s fiscal year 2025 figures, 24.46% of Journeyman NEC Knowledge attempts and 20.56% of Journeyman Calculations attempts passed, and only 23.50% of all 26,303 electrician exam attempts passed. Master Calculations was the lowest of the Journeyman and Master parts at 19.08%. First attempts do far better than retakes: in early 2026, 67.23% of first-time early Journeyman takers passed, against 19.72% on repeat attempts.
Pass rates next to license counts: 40,226 current Journeymen and 18,651 Masters in Texas (TDLR data, September 2026).
Every number below comes from TDLR. Fiscal year 2025 statistics read October 1, 2026; fiscal year 2024 statistics read October 2, 2026; staff report of May 12, 2026 read October 1, 2026. TDLR counts exam attempts, not people.
Journeyman and Master, fiscal years 2024 and 2025
| Exam | FY2024 attempts | FY2024 pass rate | FY2025 attempts | FY2025 pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman (single exam, before the split) | 8,490 | 27.86% | 5,050 | 27.52% |
| Journeyman NEC Knowledge | – | – | 5,731 | 24.46% |
| Journeyman Calculations | – | – | 6,328 | 20.56% |
| Master NEC Knowledge | 2,934 | 26.01% | 3,472 | 22.21% |
| Master Calculations | 3,487 | 19.96% | 3,946 | 19.08% |
The Journeyman exam was split into an NEC Knowledge part and a Calculations part on March 11, 2025, which falls inside fiscal year 2025. That is why fiscal year 2025 shows both the old single exam and the two new parts.
Other Texas electrician licenses
| Exam | FY2024 pass rate | FY2025 pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Wireman | 32.78% (967 attempts) | 30.15% (1,098 attempts) |
| Journeyman Industrial Electrician | 15.15% (33) | 15.69% (51) |
| Maintenance Electrician | 22.22% (18) | 44.44% (18) |
| Residential Appliance Installer | 43.85% (374) | 35.83% (480) |
| Journeyman Sign Electrician | 38.46% (52) | 25.45% (55) |
| Master Sign Electrician | 59.38% (32) | 42.59% (54) |
| Journeyman Lineman | 24.24% (33) | 40.00% (20) |
| All electrician exams | 26.37% (15,170) | 23.50% (26,303) |
Small exams swing a lot from year to year because a few candidates change the rate.
First attempt versus retake (early 2026)
TDLR’s May 12, 2026 staff report tracks candidates who take the Journeyman exam early, at 7,000 hours, from January 1 to March 31, 2026:
| Group | First attempt | Repeat attempts |
|---|---|---|
| All early Journeyman candidates | 67.23% (119 of 177) | 19.72% (98 of 497) |
| Candidates in apprenticeship programs | 83.54% (66 of 79) | 23.71% (46 of 194) |
Two things stand out. Most attempts are retakes (497 of 674), and retakes pass far less often. Structured preparation before the first attempt matters more than anything you do after a fail.
What the averages say about the Calculations part
In the same report, first-time takers averaged 13.15 of 24 scored points on the Journeyman Calculations part and repeat takers 13.75. The pass line is 70%, or 16.8 points. The typical candidate is 3 to 4 correct answers away from passing. See how the Calculations part is scored.
Preparing for the Master exam? Try the Texas Master practice exam to practice NEC questions and calculations before test day.
How to use these numbers
- Treat the first attempt as the real one. Do timed two-part mocks before you book.
- If you failed, read the retake guide before paying the $78 again.
- Check the full format in the Texas Journeyman exam guide and the Texas Master exam guide.
Start with the free Texas Journeyman practice: 20 questions, no sign-up. Taking the Master exam? Try 20 free Master questions, or see the Texas Master practice pack, US$79.
Next step on the Texas ladder
You are here: Pass rates. Next: Exam calculations. Calculations has the lower Journeyman pass rate, so start there.
Also useful: Retake rules · All Texas electrician exams
Free first: try 20 Texas Journeyman questions, no sign-up. Ready for full timed two-part mocks? See the practice pack: 1,000 questions and 10 mocks, one payment. See what’s inside.
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FAQ
What is the pass rate for the Texas journeyman electrician exam?
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What percentage of electricians pass the journeyman test in Texas?
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- TDLR fiscal year 2025 electrician exam statistics, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR fiscal year 2024 electrician exam statistics, read October 2, 2026
- TDLR staff reports, May 12, 2026, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR: Electrician exam information, read October 1, 2026
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code: code development page (the exams use the 2026 edition), read October 3, 2026