Quick answer: most Texas electricians need 4 hours a year, ACR contractors 8, tow operators 4, auctioneers 6, water well licensees 8 every two years, and cosmetologists 4 every two years (2 after 15 years). Electrical contractors, residential appliance installers, and ACR technicians need none. Find your license below.
| License | CE hours | Required topics | Renewal cycle | Exempt? | Rule | AATCE course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical — TDLR | ||||||
| Master Electrician | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25 | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Journeyman Electrician | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25 | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Residential Wireman | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25 | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Maintenance Electrician | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25 | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Journeyman Lineman | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25 | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Journeyman Industrial Electrician | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25 | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Master Sign Electrician | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25 | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Journeyman Sign Electrician | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25 | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Apprentice ElectricianOr enrollment in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training program instead of the 4 hours. | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25(c) | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Electrical Sign ApprenticeOr enrollment in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship training program instead of the 4 hours. | 4 hours | National Electrical Code; Texas Electrician Law (Occ. Code Ch. 1305); TDLR rules (16 TAC Ch. 73); NFPA 70E electrical safety | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §73.25(c) | Texas Electrical 4-Hour CE TDLR #31233Enroll · $24.99 |
| Electrical ContractorContractor licenses carry no CE. The master electrician who qualifies the business still needs 4 hours for their own master license. | None (exempt) | — | Annual (1-year license) | Yes | TDLR Electrician CE page | — |
| Residential Appliance Installer (and RAI Contractor)TDLR: contractors and residential appliance installers are not required to complete CE. | None (exempt) | — | Annual (1-year license) | Yes | TDLR Electrician CE page | — |
| Air Conditioning & Refrigeration — TDLR | ||||||
| ACR Contractor (Class A or B) | 8 hours | At least 1 hour of Texas law and rules regulating ACR licensees; remainder from approved ACR topics | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §75.25 | Texas ACR/HVAC 8-Hour CE TDLR #31984Enroll · $34.99 |
| Registered ACR TechnicianTDLR's CE rule applies to contractor licensees. Technician renewal is an online application plus fee ($20 registered). | None (exempt) | — | Annual (1-year license) | Yes | 16 TAC §75.25; TDLR technician renewal page | — |
| Certified ACR TechnicianTDLR's CE rule applies to contractor licensees. Technician renewal is an online application plus fee ($35 certified). | None (exempt) | — | Annual (1-year license) | Yes | 16 TAC §75.25; TDLR technician renewal page | — |
| Towing — TDLR | ||||||
| Tow Operator: Consent Tow | 4 hours | 1 hr roadway safety; 1 hr Texas towing law and rules; 2 hrs from approved towing topics | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §86.250 | Texas Towing 4-Hour CE TDLR #30967Enroll · $29.99 |
| Tow Operator: Private Property | 4 hours | 1 hr roadway safety; 1 hr Texas towing law and rules; 2 hrs from approved towing topics | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §86.250 | Texas Towing 4-Hour CE TDLR #30967Enroll · $29.99 |
| Tow Operator: Incident Management (2nd renewal onward) | 4 hours | 1 hr roadway safety; 1 hr Texas towing law and rules; 2 hrs from approved towing topics | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §86.250 | Texas Towing 4-Hour CE TDLR #30967Enroll · $29.99 |
| Tow Operator: Incident Management (first renewal)Replaces the 4-hour CE at the first IM renewal only. Must be in person. AATCE does not offer this course. | 8 hours | 8-hour professional development course, completed in person: at least 2 hrs live demonstration / hands-on and at least 2 hrs classroom | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §86.250(j) | — |
| Water Well — TDLR | ||||||
| Water Well DrillerApplies to renewals on or after March 1, 2025 (two-year license). | 8 hours | 1 hr Texas water well driller / pump installer law and rules; 7 hrs water-well industry topics | Every 2 years | No | 16 TAC §76.25 | Texas Water Well 8-Hour CE TDLR #31976Enroll · $79.99 |
| Water Well Pump InstallerApplies to renewals on or after March 1, 2025 (two-year license). | 8 hours | 1 hr Texas water well driller / pump installer law and rules; 7 hrs water-well industry topics | Every 2 years | No | 16 TAC §76.25 | Texas Water Well 8-Hour CE TDLR #31976Enroll · $79.99 |
| Water Well Apprentice (registration)AATCE does not sell a standalone 1-hour law and rules course. | 1 hour | 1 hr Texas water well driller / pump installer law and rules | Every 2 years | No | 16 TAC §76.25(c) | — |
| Barbering & Cosmetology — TDLR | ||||||
| Cosmetology licensee, licensed under 15 years | 4 hours | 1 hr sanitation; 1 hr human trafficking awareness; 2 hrs elective (law and rules, sanitation, mental health awareness, or other approved topics) | Every 2 years | No | 16 TAC §83.25 | Texas Cosmetology 4-Hour CE TDLR #32729Enroll · $24.99 |
| Cosmetology licensee, licensed 15+ yearsThe other 2 hours are waived once you have held a Texas license for at least 15 years. | 2 hours | 1 hr sanitation; 1 hr human trafficking awareness | Every 2 years | No | 16 TAC §83.25 | Texas Cosmetology 2-Hour Experienced CE TDLR #32729Enroll · $19.99 |
| Auctioneer — TDLR | ||||||
| Auctioneer / Associate AuctioneerInactive licensees do not need CE until they return to active status. | 6 hours | At least 2 hrs of laws and rules regulating auctioneers (Occ. Code Ch. 1802, 16 TAC Ch. 67); remainder from approved auction topics | Annual (1-year license) | No | 16 TAC §67.25 | Texas Auctioneer 6-Hour CE TDLR #32727Enroll · $39.99 |
| Agricultural Pesticide (TDA) — TDA | ||||||
| Commercial / Noncommercial / NCPS Pesticide Applicator5 CEUs per 12-month licensing period, no carryover. Regulated by TDA, not TDLR. | 5 CEUs | At least 1 CEU laws and regulations; at least 1 CEU integrated pest management or drift minimization | Annual (1-year license) | No | 4 TAC Ch. 7 | Texas Agricultural Pesticide Applicator 5-CEU TDA #1000983Enroll · $69.99 |
| Structural Pest Control (TDA) — TDA | ||||||
| Certified Applicator (Commercial or Noncommercial)Earned Jan 1 - Dec 31 of the year before you renew. No CE in your first calendar year of certification. Our 3-CEU bundles each cover the 2 general CEUs + one category: General Pest, Termite & WDO, or Lawn & Ornamental. | 2 CEUs + 1 per category | 2 general CEUs (at least 1 in laws, pesticide safety, environmental protection, or IPM) + 1 CEU in each certified category | Annual (1-year license) | No | 4 TAC Ch. 7 | Structural Pest Control 3-CEU Bundles (General Pest, Termite & WDO, Lawn & Ornamental) General Pest TDA #1004465, #1004472, #1004469; Termite & WDO #1004465, #1004440, #1004448; Lawn & Ornamental #1004465, #1004443, #1004457Enroll · from $69.99 |
| Structural Pest Control TechnicianEarned Jan 1 - Dec 31 of the year before you renew. Each 3-CEU bundle supplies 3 of the 8 hours; the full 8-hour technician bundle is coming soon. | 8 hours | 8 hours of verifiable training | Annual (1-year license) | No | 4 TAC Ch. 7 | Structural Pest Control 3-CEU Bundles (General Pest, Termite & WDO, Lawn & Ornamental) General Pest TDA #1004465, #1004472, #1004469; Termite & WDO #1004465, #1004440, #1004448; Lawn & Ornamental #1004465, #1004443, #1004457Enroll · from $69.99 |
4 hours per annual renewal for master, journeyman, maintenance, lineman, industrial and sign electricians, residential wiremen, and electrical and sign apprentices (16 TAC 73.25). Apprentices may instead be enrolled in a TDLR-registered apprenticeship program. Electrical contractors and residential appliance installers need no CE.
ACR contractors need 8 hours per annual renewal, including at least 1 hour of Texas law and rules (16 TAC 75.25). Registered and certified ACR technicians renew with an application and fee; TDLR's CE rule applies to contractor licensees.
4 hours per annual renewal: 1 hour roadway safety, 1 hour Texas towing law and rules, and 2 hours from approved towing topics (16 TAC 86.250). Incident management operators take an 8-hour in-person professional development course instead at their first renewal.
8 hours per two-year renewal for renewals on or after March 1, 2025: 1 hour of law and rules plus 7 hours of industry topics (16 TAC 76.25). Apprentices need a 1-hour law and rules course.
4 hours every two years (1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking awareness, 2 elective hours). Licensees who have held a Texas license for at least 15 years need only the 2 required hours.
6 hours per renewal, including at least 2 hours of laws and rules regulating auctioneers (16 TAC 67.25).
TDLR does not give credit for attending the same course more than once. That rule appears on the electrician, ACR, towing, water well, cosmetology and auctioneer CE pages.