Electrician License: Ohio → Texas

A step-by-step breakdown of what it takes for a licensed electrician in Ohio to become licensed in Texas, based on Texas's current master: reciprocity (texas–ohio agreement) · journeyman: no reciprocity rules.

Master: Reciprocity (Texas–Ohio Agreement) · Journeyman: No Reciprocity

Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) ↗

Updated October 1, 2026

Start here instead: Texas Electrician License Reciprocity — Master and Journeyman shown separately, including Ohio

Portability Score

76/100

Easy Transfer

PermitBridge's own estimate, based on the exam, fee, and processing-time factors below — not an official government rating.

Exam: Not required
Processing: Processing time not published by the board
Fee: $45
Extra Hours: None

Step-by-Step Process

1
MASTER ELECTRICIANS: Ohio is on TDLR's Master Electrician reciprocity list (Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina and Ohio). TDLR announced the Texas–Ohio agreement on June 5, 2026; it covers "licensed master electricians and master electrical contractors."
2
Master requirements per TDLR's announcement: hold an Ohio state master electrician license in good standing for at least one year, obtained by passing Ohio's state-administered exam; each state's prerequisite requirements still apply, including journeyman licensure. TDLR's out-of-state page asks Ohio applicants for documentation showing a journeyman electrician license has been held for at least 1 year.
3
Master license fee: $45, per TDLR's out-of-state page. Under reciprocity, TDLR verifies that your original exam was passed and does not require a separate Texas exam.
4
JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIANS: no reciprocity. TDLR's out-of-state page lists its Journeyman reciprocity states (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming) and adds "Currently there are no reciprocal licensing agreements for any other license types." Ohio is not on that list. TDLR's Ohio announcement names only "licensed master electricians and master electrical contractors," and lists Texas's journeyman agreements without Ohio. Journeyman applicants follow Texas's standard route: 8,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training (7,000 to take the exam), the $30 application fee, and the $78 PSI exam ($108 total).
5
Await processing. TDLR does not publish a processing timeline on its out-of-state licensing page.

Note: Rewritten 2026-10-01. The previous version wrongly said Ohio had no TDLR reciprocity; TDLR's announcement (https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/news/2026/06/05/texas-expands-electrician-reciprocity-with-ohio-to-support-skilled-workforce-and-economic-growth/) and current out-of-state page (https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/out-of-state.htm) both list Ohio for Master. Journeyman: not covered. TDLR's own Journeyman list is closed ('no reciprocal licensing agreements for any other license types') and omits Ohio. The announcement names master licenses only and lists Texas's journeyman agreements without Ohio. Correction 2026-10-01: an earlier version of this note quoted the announcement as explicitly excluding journeyman electricians; it contains no such sentence (that was a tool paraphrase), though the conclusion is unchanged. Headline fields (pathway, fee $45, no exam, 1 year) describe the Master path; the Journeyman path is in the steps. Journeyman figures from TDLR's Journeyman page (https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/journeyman-electrician.htm) and PSI's bulletin (https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1682).

Electrician Transfers From Ohio to Other States

State	Pathway	Exam?	Score	Link
California	Full New Application Required	Yes	21	View
Florida	Universal License Recognition (Endorsement)	No	76	View
New York	Universal License Recognition (Endorsement)	Yes	50	View

Frequently Asked Questions About This Transfer

Can I transfer my electrician license from Ohio to Texas?+

Yes, via master: reciprocity (texas–ohio agreement) · journeyman: no reciprocity. No additional trade exam is required in most cases. The licensing board does not publish a processing time.

How much does it cost to transfer a electrician license to Texas?+

Budget approximately $45 for the Texas application fee alone. Exam fees, if required, and any additional continuing-education hours are typically separate costs charged by third-party providers.

Can I use my electrician license in another state?+

In most cases you cannot simply use an out-of-state license as-is. You typically need to apply for licensure by reciprocity or endorsement in the new state, which may waive the trade exam but almost always requires a state-specific business and law exam.