How much does the TDLR Journeyman exam cost?

The exam fee is approximately $78 per attempt, paid to PSI when you schedule. The TDLR application fee is paid separately to the state when you submit your initial license application. Verify current amounts on the TDLR and PSI websites before paying — fees change periodically.

How much does it cost to retake if I fail?

Texas TDLR: approximately $78 per retake attempt. There is no separate re-application fee — your eligibility carries forward. California DIR: approximately $100 per retake attempt with the same carry-forward eligibility, but you must wait 60 days between attempts. Both states allow multiple retakes; there is no hard cap on attempts.

What's the total cost of getting an electrician license?

Texas TDLR Journeyman: roughly $200-300 total including application fee, exam fee, license issuance fee, and any required code book purchase. California General Electrician: at least $175 before any prep materials, based on the current $75 application fee and $100 examination fee. Retakes add the exam fee per attempt. Most candidates also invest in prep materials, which add another $50-600 depending on what you choose.

Is the prep platform cost worth it?

Pure ROI math: TDLR retake fee is $78. California retake fee is $100. Most candidates also lose 30-60+ days to a failed attempt. JourneymanIQ is $49 per month or $129 every three months. If structured prep helps you avoid one unfocused retake window, the time savings can outweigh the subscription cost. The diagnostic is free, no signup required, so you can see whether structured prep would help before spending anything.

ICP question · fees

How Much Does the Electrician Exam Cost?

Q: How much does the California General Electrician exam cost?

Current DIR materials list a $100 examination fee and a separate $75 application fee. For exams on or after June 1, 2026, DIR-approved candidates schedule through Pearson VUE under CPS HR Consulting administration. Verify current amounts on DIR before paying.

Texas TDLR Journeyman: about $78 per exam attempt. California General Electrician: current DIR materials list a $75 application fee and a $100 examination fee. Here's the full breakdown: exam fees, application fees, retake costs, and what you should also budget for prep.

Last reviewed June 2026

Texas TDLR Journeyman exam fees

Exam fee (paid to PSI per attempt): approximately $78
TDLR application fee (paid once when you submit your license application): varies by license track
License issuance fee (paid when you pass): additional fee
Retake fee: same $78 per additional attempt
No separate re-application fee for retakes — eligibility carries forward

Verify current amounts on the TDLR website (https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/) and PSI before paying. Fees change periodically.

California General Electrician exam fees

Exam fee: $100 under current DIR materials
DIR application fee: $75 under current DIR materials
Certification issuance fee: additional fee
Retake fee: same exam fee per additional attempt, with 60-day mandatory wait between attempts

For exams on or after June 1, 2026, DIR-approved candidates schedule through Pearson VUE under CPS HR Consulting administration. Verify current amounts on the DIR website before paying. California DIR also requires documentation of 8,000 qualifying hours, which may involve obtaining Social Security earnings statements.

Total cost from start to license

Texas TDLR Journeyman path

Application fee (one-time): varies
Exam fee (per attempt): ~$78
Code book (soft-bound NEC 2023, your purchase, required at the test center): ~$120-180 depending on edition and binding
License issuance fee (after passing): varies
Total minimum (first-time pass): ~$200-300

California General Electrician path

DIR application fee: $75 under current DIR materials
Exam fee: $100 per attempt under current DIR materials
Code book for exam day: references are provided at the test center under the current bulletin
Certification issuance fee: varies
Minimum before prep materials: at least $175, plus any certification issuance or document costs that apply

The cost of failing

With a 27.86% TDLR FY2024 overall pass rate (verified stats) and a 52.95% California first-time pass rate, the financial cost of failing is real:

TDLR retake: $78 per additional attempt + 30-45 days of additional prep time
California retake: $100 per additional attempt + mandatory 60 days waiting + prep time
Lost income during prep: working electricians who reduce hours to study give up real wages
Career delay: every retake postpones the salary uplift that comes with the new license tier

What to budget for prep

Most candidates invest somewhere between $50 and $600 in prep materials beyond the codebook itself:

Budget tier ($40-100): Tom Henry calculation workbook, used Mike Holt practice tests, free YouTube content. Works if you’re disciplined and willing to drill on your own.
Mid tier ($150-400): Mike Holt video sets, BuildForce online course, Ray Holder workbooks. Works if you have 90+ days and learn well from video.
Adaptive tier ($49-129): JourneymanIQ subscription. Adaptive practice surfaces your weakest topics, daily plan, mobile-first. Works if you have 30-60 days and want focused prep.
Premium tier ($400-800): In-person bootcamp, full Mike Holt library bundle. Works if you’re building from foundational knowledge over 6+ months.

We have full honest comparisons: vs Mike Holt, vs Tom Henry, and a 5-option TDLR comparison.

JourneymanIQ pricing

Free diagnostic: 90 seconds, no signup, no payment. Shows your weak topics across the actual exam domains.
Pro Monthly: $49 per month. Cancel anytime in your account.
Pro+ 3-Months: $129 every three months ($43/month effective). Renews automatically. Switch to monthly or cancel anytime.
Same pricing for Texas and California content.

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