License path
Texas Contractor License Exam Prep
Texas contractors are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Use the classification list below. Some states fold business questions into the trade exam. We do not sell a standalone Law & Business paper for Texas.
Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not publish a single Q-count for every classification on this page, and we do not guarantee a passing result.
Getting your Texas contractor license? Contractor Pathway gives you an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for each Texas trade classification that requires a state board exam — built to match the exam the state actually gives. Choose your classification below to start studying today, with 30-, 60-, and 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169.
Who licenses contractors in Texas
Texas does not license general “building” contractors at the state level, but it does license the skilled trades that protect health and safety, each through its own board:
| Trade | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians (Journeyman, Master) | Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) | National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC) | Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) | Mechanical & fuel-gas codes, EPA 608 |
| Plumbers (Journeyman, Master) | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | Adopted plumbing & fuel-gas codes |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and the passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule — Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with TDLR, the TSBPE, or any testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Texas
Texas splits contractor licensing across several agencies. Plumbing sits with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), air conditioning and refrigeration with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and electrical work with TDLR’s electrical programme. The requirements below are the plumbing ladder, which is the most structured of the three.
- Log the hours. A Tradesman Plumber-Limited licence requires at least 4,000 hours working in the plumbing trade. A Journeyman Plumber licence requires at least 8,000 hours.
- Complete the classroom training before you test. The Tradesman exam requires 24 hours of classroom training: a 6-hour Continuing Professional Education course, the OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Training, and 8 hours on the International Residential Code and/or Uniform Plumbing Code. The Journeyman exam requires 48 hours: two 6-hour CPE courses, OSHA 10-Hour, 8 hours on the IRC/UPC, and a further 18 hours on the commercial plumbing codes.
- Know the exemptions. The classroom requirement is waived if you are enrolled in or have completed a training programme approved by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, or already hold a current Journeyman or Master Plumber licence issued by another state.
- Budget for the fees. The Journeyman exam and renewal fees are $40 each. The Master Plumber route carries a $25 exam processing fee, a $128.50 exam fee, a $75 initial licence fee and $75 to renew.
- Renew with continuing professional education. All TSBPE licensees complete six hours of CPE to be eligible to renew. Holders of the Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement complete at least a further two hours.
- Air conditioning is a separate ladder. ACR contractors license through TDLR, and every ACR examination carries a 70% passing score; question count and time vary by licence class and endorsement, from 60 items for the Certified Technician to 120 for Environmental Air Class A.
Sources: TSBPE Journeyman Plumber and the Board’s licence-type and examination pages; TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration exam information. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with TSBPE or TDLR.
Choose your Texas classification
Each course below includes a comprehensive study guide — often 10,000 words or more (worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan) plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the Texas test.
Texas contractor licensing — FAQ
Does Texas license general contractors?
Not at the state level for general building work. Texas licenses the electrical, HVAC/refrigeration, and plumbing trades through TDLR and the TSBPE; general construction is regulated mainly at the local level. We build courses only for classifications that require a state board exam.
Are the Texas trade exams open book?
Yes, the trade exams are normally open book against the adopted code. You may bring a clean, tabbed copy of the code — which is why our guides teach you exactly what to tab and how to find a section fast.
What score do I need to pass?
The passing score is commonly around 70%, but confirm the current cut score, question count, and time limit on the candidate bulletin for your classification before you test.
How long should I study?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on their experience — which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan for whichever term you choose.
What experience do I need for a Texas trade license?
Each classification requires documented on-the-job hours, and senior licenses (such as Master Electrician or Master Plumber) require time first held as a licensed journeyman. Many candidates build their hours through a registered apprenticeship. Confirm the exact hour and tenure requirements with TDLR or the TSBPE for your classification.
What happens if I fail a Texas trade exam?
You can reschedule and retake the exam through the testing vendor after paying the exam fee again; you do not restart your license application. Reviewing which code areas you missed and drilling fast code navigation is the quickest route to passing the retake.