Texas license lookup / Exam guides / Residential appliance installer
The Texas residential appliance installer exam
No experience is needed to apply, but the exam is not easy: 36% passed in fiscal year 2025. Pool, spa and fountain equipment is the single largest topic.
Based on PSI's candidate bulletin dated 15 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 October 2026
The exam at a glance
| Exam | Questions | Time | To pass | Fee | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential appliance installer | 80 scored + 5 unscored | 240 min + 20 | 70% | $64 | Open book (NEC) |
"+ N" is extra time or questions for unscored items, which PSI includes to trial new questions. Exam fees are paid to PSI, separately from TDLR's license application fee.
How many people pass
| Pass rate | Taken | Passed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appliance installer | 35.8% | 480 | 172 |
Fiscal year 2025 (September 2024 to August 2025). Counts are exams taken, not people, and exclude no-shows. Source: TDLR examination statistics.
What is on it: exam (80 scored items)
| Topic | Items | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming pools, spas and fountain equipment | 18 | 23% |
| GFCI protection, equipment grounding and bonding | 15 | 19% |
| Equipment and devices | 15 | 19% |
| Definitions, calculations and theory | 12 | 15% |
| Wiring methods and materials | 10 | 13% |
| Motors | 5 | 6% |
| Control devices and disconnecting means | 5 | 6% |
Study NEC article 680
Pools, spas and fountains (18 questions) plus GFCI, grounding and bonding (15) are 33 of the 80 questions. In the NEC, swimming pools and similar installations are covered in article 680, which makes it the single most useful article to tab before the exam.
Scheduling and exam day
- Eligibility first. TDLR reviews your application, then PSI emails you that you are eligible and how to book. You cannot book before that.
- Booking. Online through your PSI account, or by phone; your name must match your government ID exactly.
- On the day. PSI's TDLR bulletins ask you to arrive 30 minutes early with one valid government photo ID; late arrivals are turned away and lose the fee.
- Cancelling. Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead through PSI, or the fee is forfeited.
- Results. Scores are given at the test center. PSI gives failing candidates a diagnostic report by topic, which is the best study guide for a retake.
Before and after the exam
- How to get a residential appliance installer license in Texas: hours, application and fees
- License statistics and renewal for this trade
- Renewal calculator for once you are licensed
- All exam guides and pass rates
For context: Texas has 2,203 active licenses of this type in the public TDLR file dated 20 September 2026.
Questions
What is on the Texas residential appliance installer exam?
80 open-book questions on the 2026 NEC. The largest topics are swimming pools, spas and fountain equipment (18), GFCI protection and grounding (15), and equipment and devices (15).
Sources
PSI Services, candidate information bulletin dated 15 September 2026. Pass rates: TDLR examination statistics. Exam fees, formats and outlines change when PSI reissues a bulletin: the bulletin sent with your eligibility notice is the one that applies to you.
Independent site, not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. We do not sell courses or practice tests.
Cite this page
PermitPulled (2026). The Texas residential appliance installer exam. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/exams/appliance-installer-exam-texas
Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.