Arkansas to Texas: master electrician license reciprocity
Texas has a reciprocity agreement with Arkansas: a Arkansas master electrician can get a Texas license without retaking the trade exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Reciprocal agreement with Arkansas (master)
A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.
TDLR and the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing signed a master electrician reciprocity agreement announced December 30, 2025. An Arkansas master electrician who passed Arkansas's statewide exam, has held the master license in good standing for at least one year, has 12,000 hours under a master electrician, and held a journeyman license for at least two years receives a Texas Master Electrician license without taking the Texas exam. Apply with the Master Electrician by Reciprocity form, a copy of the Arkansas license, a letter of good standing, and the $45 fee.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Agreement
- Active
What you must already have
- Your Arkansas license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- You must have held your Arkansas license for at least 1 year.Reciprocal master license held at least one year
- Your Arkansas license must be active and in good standing.
- You must document at least 12,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Under the supervision of a master electrician
- Held a journeyman electrician license for at least 2 years
What you'll do to get licensed in Texas
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($45). Master Electrician by Reciprocity application fee (non-refundable).
- 2Other. Copy of the state-issued license and a letter of good standing / certification from the Arkansas licensing authority.
Published fees on this path total $45, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
How Texas licenses master electricians
Texas master electrician · “Master Electrician”
Statewide license
Issued by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Texas issues a statewide Master Electrician license through TDLR. A new applicant must have held a journeyman electrician license for at least two years, have 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician (TDLR's application page specifies a Texas-licensed master), and pass the PSI-administered master exam. TDLR has master-level reciprocity agreements with seven states, four of them added between December 2025 and June 2026; qualifying licensees are licensed without the Texas exam. Licenses are valid for one year and renewed annually.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Texas master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Arkansas?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Arkansas.
- How long do I need to have held my Arkansas license?
- At least 1 year before applying.
- What does it cost to get a Texas master electrician license from Arkansas?
- Published fees on this path total $45, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Sources
- Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305 - Electricians · Tex. Occ. Code §§1305.153, 1305.155, 1305.164 · Texas Legislature · Statute · verified September 14, 2026§1305.155 journeyman: 8,000 hours OJT under a master electrician and pass the exam. §1305.153 master: 12,000 hours OJT, journeyman license held at least two years, pass the exam. §1305.164: the executive director may license an applicant licensed in a state with which Texas has an agreement to recognize licenses.
- TDLR - Apply for a New Master Electrician License · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 14, 2026
- TDLR - Electrician Exam Information · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 14, 2026
- TDLR Form ELC-LIC-008 - Master Electrician License by Reciprocity Application · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Form · verified September 14, 2026$45 non-refundable fee; requires a copy of the state license and a letter of certification from the issuing licensing authority; all requirements must be met within 12 months of filing.
- TDLR News - Texas Expands Electrician Reciprocity with Arkansas (Dec 30, 2025) · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 14, 2026
- TDLR - Transfer Your Out-of-State Electrician License to Texas · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 14, 2026Lists the current journeyman and master reciprocity partner states, the eligibility bullets, fees, and the reciprocity application forms.
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.