How to Become an Electrician in Texas

In order to be able to perform electrical work in Texas you need a valid electrician license. The Texas State legislation permits a license holder to work anywhere in the state.

There are several different license options, so make sure that you choose the one that is appropriate for the work you wish to perform. The available licenses are as follows:

Apprentice Electrician: With an apprentice license, you just have to submit the right form and be over the age of 16 years old.
Residential Wireman: To become a residential wireman, you must get 4,000 hours of experience under a master electrician. This experience must be documented and signed by your supervisor.
Journeyman Electrician: If you want to get a journeyman license, you must complete 8,000 hours of work as an apprentice under a master electrician. Afterward, you need to apply for a journeyman license and take the journeyman certification test. If you pass, you will officially become a journeyman electrician.
Master Electrician: To become a master electrician, you must complete 12,000 hours of work under a master electrician. You must also have a journeyman license for at least two years before you apply. Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for your license and take the master test.

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

The licensing process is overseen by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). It’s mission is to ensure public safety and consumer protection and provide a fair and efficient regulatory environment. You may find its contact information below:

Main Office
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
920 Colorado
Austin, Texas 78701 (map)
Telephone: (512) 463-6599
Toll-Free (in Texas): (800) 803-9202
Fax: (512) 463-9468
Customer Service: CS.Electricians@tdlr.texas.gov
Website: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/

Mailing Address:
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
P.O. Box 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

Texas Electrician Career Path

In general, the first step in becoming a Texas electrician is to get a high school diploma as a General Educational Development (GED) equivalent. You can then apply for an apprenticeship program.

As an apprentice, you will work with a master electrician to obtain an apprenticeship certificate. It is best to choose an apprentice program that includes classroom training. Apprentices usually practice class 1 day a week for several semesters. Make sure you choose a program that focuses on the type of work you want to do in the future. Keep in mind that commercial, residential and industrial wiring is very different.

After working for 4 or 5 years as an apprentice electrician and under the supervision of a licensed master electrician for at least 4,000 hours of practice for a residential wireman or 7,000 to test to become a journeyman electrician (8,000 hours are required for becoming a journeyman).

After gaining even more experience, you will have the option to become a master electrician once you have achieved 12,000 hours of supervised electrical work. You must also be a journeyman electrician for at least 2 years.

If you aspire to start your own business, then a good option for you would be to obtain the electrical contractor license. In addition to being a master electrician, you will also have to start a business that meets Texas’ licensing requirements.

Texas Master Electrician License

In order to apply for a Master Electrician license, the following requirements have to be met:

– You must have held a Journeyman license for at least two years.
– You must have at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a
Master Electrician.
– You must include the full 12,000 hours of the employment history portion of the application.
– For each employer, you will have to provide an Experience Verification Form which will be signed by the supervising Master Electrician.

The fee for the master electrician license is $50 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

After your application is approved, the Board will contact the exam provider (PSI) and they will schedule your examination. You will receive a postcard with the required information. The exam fee will be paid directly to PSI. For more information on the exam, please see here.

Regarding reciprocity for the master electrician license, the states of Louisiana and North Carolina currently hold an agreement with Texas.

Texas Journeyman Electrician License

To apply for a Journeyman Electrician license, you must have completed at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas. Submitting at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training will simply allow you to take the examination before reaching the full 8,000 hours required for licensure.

You will need to contact and obtain verification from each Master Electrician who supervised you.

This experience must be documented and signed by each supervisor on an Experience Verification Form (PDF). Your license application form (see below) will include one attached Experience Verification Form. Each supervisor should complete a new form.

If you cannot reach your supervisor(s) directly, you may be able to contact the Electrical Contractor that the Master Electrician worked under and request that they have the Master Electrician contact you. If you do not have the contact information for a Master Electrician or Electrical Contractor, you may try using the TDLR license search to obtain their contact information.

TDLR may contact individuals to verify the experience.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due ($30), payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

Regarding reciprocity for the journeyman electrician license, the states of Arkansas, Idaho, New Mexico and Wyoming currently hold an agreement with Texas.

You may find the journeyman electrician license by reciprocity application form here.

For license renewal information and Continuing Education requirements, please see here.

Texas Residential Wireman License

In order to apply for a Residential Wireman license, the following requirements have to be met:

– You must have at least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a
Master or Residential Wireman prior to taking the exam.
– You must include the full 4,000 hours of the employment history portion of the application.
– For each employer, you will have to provide an Experience Verification Form which will be signed by the supervising Residential Wireman.

The fee for the residential wireman license is $25 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

You may find the residential wireman license application form here.

For license renewal information and Continuing Education requirements, please see here.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Texas.

Texas Maintenance Electrician License

In order to apply for a Maintenance Electrician license, the following requirements have to be met:

– You must have at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a
Master or Maintenance Electrician.
– You must include the full 8,000 hours of the employment history portion of the application.
– For each employer, you will have to provide an Experience Verification Form which will be signed by the supervising Master Electrician or the supervising Maintenance Electrician.

The fee for the maintenance electrician license is $25 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

You may find the maintenance electrician license application form here.

For license renewal information and Continuing Education requirements, please see here.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Texas.

Texas Apprentice Electrician License

In order to apply for an apprentice electrician license, there are no special requirements. You should be at least 16 years old and be assisting in installation of electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician.

Note that if you have been convicted of a criminal offense in the past, you will have to attach a completed Criminal History Questionnaire and any attachments requested on
the questionnaire for each conviction.

Additionally, if you have had an occupational license (not a drivers license) suspended, revoked, probated, or denied in any state, county or municipality, you should attach a completed Disciplinary Action Questionnaire and any attachments requested on the questionnaire for each sanction.

The fee for the apprentice electrician license is $20 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

Texas Electrical Contractor License

The Electrical Contractor license is a Business license and you must either be a licensed master electrician or employ one, show proof of financial responsibility and meet statutory requirements for workers compensation coverage.

You will have to indicate in your application how the business is organized. The following options exist:

Corporation
Sole proprietorship
Partnership
Limited Liability Company
Limited Liability Partnership
Other (attach a description)

You must also attach proof of the minimum liability insurance required by law and rule.

As an electrical contractor, you are required to maintain at least the minimum general liability insurance coverage at all times to satisfy proof of financial responsibility. The insurance must:

be at least $300,000 per occurrence (combined for property damage and bodily injury)
be at least $600,000 aggregate (total amount the policy will pay for property damage and bodily injury coverage)
be at least $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations

The fee for the electrical contractor license is $115 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

As mentioned above, an applicant for a license as an electrical contractor must be licensed in Texas as a master electrician or employ a person licensed in Texas as a master electrician.

Texas Residential Appliance Installer License

In order to apply for a residential appliance installer license, there are no special requirements. You should be at least 16 years old and and pass the residential appliance installer examination.

The fee for the residential appliance installer license is $35 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

Texas Residential Appliance Installer Contractor License

The Residential Appliance Installer Contractor license is a Business license and you must either be a residential appliance installer or employ one, maintain business liability insurance, and meet statutory requirements for workers compensation coverage.

You will have to indicate in your application how the business is organized. The following options exist:

Corporation
Sole proprietorship
Partnership
Limited Liability Company
Limited Liability Partnership
Other (attach a description)

You must indicate that you have the minimum liability insurance required by law and rule. A certificate of insurance must be attached to the application.

Residential appliance installation contractors are required to maintain at least the minimum general liability insurance coverage at all times to satisfy proof of financial responsibility. The insurance must:

be at least $300,000 per occurrence (combined for property damage and bodily injury)
be at least $600,000 aggregate (total amount the policy will pay for property damage and bodily
injury coverage)
be at least $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations

The fee for the residential appliance installer contractor license is $115 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

Texas Master Sign Electrician License

In order to apply for a Master Sign Electrician license, the following requirements have to be met:

– You must have at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a
Master Electrician or Master Sign Electrician.
– You must include the full 12,000 hours of the employment history portion of the application.
– For each employer, you will have to provide an Experience Verification Form which will be signed by the supervising Master Electrician or Master Sign Electrician..

The fee for the master sign electrician license is $50 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

Regarding reciprocity for the master electrician license, the states of Louisiana and North Carolina currently hold an agreement with Texas.

Texas Journeyman Sign Electrician License

In order to apply for a Journeyman Sign Electrician license, the following requirements have to be met:

– You must have at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a
Master Electrician or Master Sign Electrician.
– You must include the full 8,000 hours of the employment history portion of the application.
– For each employer, you will have to provide an Experience Verification Form which will be signed by the supervising Master Electrician or Master Sign Electrician..

The fee for the journeyman sign electrician license is $35 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

You may find the journeyman sign electrician application license form here.

For license renewal information and Continuing Education requirements, please see here.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Texas.

Texas Electrical Sign Contractor License

The Electrical Sign Contractor license is a Business license and you must either be a licensed master sign electrician or employ one, show proof of financial responsibility and meet statutory requirements for workers compensation coverage.

You will have to indicate in your application how the business is organized. The following options exist:

Corporation
Sole proprietorship
Partnership
Limited Liability Company
Limited Liability Partnership
Other (attach a description)

You must also attach proof of the minimum liability insurance required by law and rule.

As an electrical sign contractor, you are required to maintain at least the minimum general liability insurance coverage at all times to satisfy proof of financial responsibility. The insurance must:

be at least $300,000 per occurrence (combined for property damage and bodily injury)
be at least $600,000 aggregate (total amount the policy will pay for property damage and bodily injury coverage)
be at least $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations

The fee for the electrical contractor license is $115 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

As mentioned above, an applicant for a license as an electrical sign contractor must be licensed in Texas as a master / master sign electrician or employ a person licensed in Texas as a master / master sign electrician.

Texas Electrical Sign Apprentice License

In order to apply for an electrical sign apprentice license, there are no special requirements. You should be at least 16 years old and be assisting in installation of electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician or a master sign electrician.

The fee for the apprentice electrician license is $20 and it is non-refundable.

You should send one check or money order for the total amount due, payable to TDLR at:

TDLR
PO BOX 12157
Austin, Texas 78711

Texas Electrician License Exam Information

The licensing examinations for the TDLR electrician occupation are administered by PSI Online. There are 22 testing locations throughout Texas and some in adjoining states.

For general information about PSI, please visit the company’s website.

The reference material for the exams is the National Electrical Code.

Note that you must file an application and have it accepted before becoming eligible to sit for the examination. See the above sections for details on each of the different licenses. You will be notified by mail if your application is incomplete.

Once you are eligible to sit for an examination, TDLR will notify PSI electronically. PSI will then send you an eligibility postcard to the address given on the application to notify you. The postcard will contain instructions for registering and scheduling examinations. The examination fee will be paid directly to PSI. Check the CIB for amounts and additional information.

Texas Electrician License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

You may renew your license online via the TDLR website. Note that the following Credit Cards are currently accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express.

Choose the corresponding license from the list below:

If you cannot renew online, please contact TDLR for a paper renewal form here.

Regarding continuing education, four hours of board approved education are required per year.

Electrical Contractors and Electrical Sign Contractors are not required to meet the continuing education requirement for renewal.

Continuing education courses must be completed within the term of the license being renewed.

Licensees may not receive continuing education credit for attending the same course more than once for one renewal period.