Contractors in the state of Texas are required by law to hold the appropriate license in order to practice their trade. For this reason, prospective individual electricians must provide proof of sufficient experience and pass an exam in order to gain their desired license. Additionally, any electrical contracting businesses must acquire the necessary type of electrician license in order to legally run their business.
In the state of Texas, electricians are subdivided into several different categories, each with their own license and permissions for scope and type of electrical work:
- Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Electricians;
- Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Sign Electricians;
- Electrical Contractors and Electrical Sign Contractors;
- Residential Appliance Installers and Contractors;
- Maintenance Electricians;
- Residential and Journeyman Linemen;
- Residential Wiremen.
You can find more detailed explanations of each type of professional, along with the training and testing requirements for obtaining a license for each type of electrician below.
Texas Electrical License Reciprocity
Texas has reciprocal electrical license agreements with many states; these agreements allow electricians from these states to also acquire an electrical license in Texas. Texas has master license reciprocity agreements with North Carolina and Louisiana, as well as journeyman license reciprocity agreements with Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Texas Master Electrician License Requirements
Master electricians can perform electrical work with complete independence, and have the authority to oversee large-scale electrical work. The following are the requirements to become a master electrician in the state of Texas:
- 12,000 hours of in-field experience supervised by a master electrician;
- A journeyman electrician license held for at least 2 years;
- A passing grade on the master electrician exam;
- Submission of an application.
Electrical Master Exam
Texas electrical exams are administered by PSI. The master electrician exam can be scheduled online.
Texas Electrical Insurance Requirements
The state of Texas requires electrical contractors to meet or exceed minimum insurance standards.
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Texas Journeyman Electrician License Requirements
Although not as much so as master electricians, journeyman electricians still have a high degree of autonomy. They are capable of working independently on many projects. The following requirements are necessary to become a journeyman electrician in the state of Texas:
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- 8,000 hours of in-field experience under the supervision of a master electrician;
- A passing grade on the journeyman electrician exam;
- Submission of an application.
Journeyman Electrician Exam
Texas electrical exams are administered by PSI. The journeyman electrician exam can be scheduled online on the PSI examination website.
Texas Residential Wireman License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become a residential wireman in the state of Texas:
- 8,000 hours in-field experience under the supervision of a master electrician or residential wireman;
- A passing grade on the appropriate exam;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Journeyman Lineman License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become a journeyman lineman in the state of Texas:
- 7,000 hours in an apprenticeship program approved by the United States Department of Labor OR 3 years of applicable experience with an electric company;
- A passing grade on the appropriate exam;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Maintenance Electrician License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become a maintenance electrician in the state of Texas:
- 8,000 hours of in-field experience under the supervision of a master electrician or maintenance electrician;
- A passing grade on the appropriate exam;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Residential Appliance Installer License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become a residential appliance installer in the state of Texas:
- A minimum of 16 years of age;
- A passing grade on the appropriate exam;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Residential Appliance Installer Contractor License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become an appliance installer contractor in the state of Texas:
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- Employment of at least one residential appliance installer;
- Proof of financial responsibility;
- Meets the requirements for worker’s compensation;
- Proof of minimum liability insurance;
- Indication of the type of business;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Master Sign Electrician License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become a master sign electrician in the state of Texas:
- 12,000 hours of in-field experience under the supervision of a master electrician or master sign electrician;
- A passing grade on the appropriate exam;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Journeyman Sign Electrician License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become a journeyman sign electrician in the state of Texas:
- 8,000 hours of in-field experience under the supervision of a master electrician or master sign electrician;
- A passing grade on the appropriate exam;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Electrical Sign Contractor License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become a sign contractor in the state of Texas:
- Employment of at least one master sign electrician;
- Proof of financial responsibility;
- Meets the requirements for worker’s compensation;
- Proof of minimum liability insurance;
- Indication of the type of business;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Electrical Sign Apprentice License Requirements
The following requirements must be met to become a sign apprentice in the state of Texas:
- A minimum of 18 years of age;
- Ongoing experience in the field under the supervision of a master sign electrician.
Electrician Apprenticeship Requirements
The following requirements are necessary to become licensed as an electrical apprentice in the state of Texas;
- A minimum of 16 years of age;
- Ongoing experience in the field under the supervision of a master electrician;
- Submission of an application.
Texas Electrical Apprentice Jobs
Community and trade colleges are a great way to find an electrical program, while online job boards are a great resource for finding apprenticeship jobs in the field.
Electrical Trade Schools in Texas
El Paso Community College
Location: Multiple Locations
Contact Info: (915) 831-3722
Tuition: $2,746 (In-state tuition)
Type: Public
Houston Community College
Location: 3100 Main Street, Houston TX 77002 (Multiple locations)
Contact Info: (713) 718-2000
Tuition: $3,360 (In-state tuition)
Type: Public
Northeast Texas Community College
Location: 2886 FM1735, Mt Pleasant, TX 75455
Contact Info: (903) 434-8100
Tuition: $4,542 (In-state tuition)
Type: Public
North Lake College
Location: 5001 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75038
Contact Info: (972) 273-3000
Tuition: $3,330 (In-state tuition)
Type: Public
St. Phillip’s College
Location: 1801 Martin Luther King Dr, San Antonio, TX 78203
Contact Info: (210) 486-2000
Tuition: $5,824 (In-state tuition)
Type: Public
Texas State Technical College
Location: 3801 Campus Dr, Waco, TX 76705
Contact Info: (254) 799-3611
Tuition: $4,665 (In-state tuition)
Type: Public
Texas Professional License Search
It is the legal obligation of electricians to be properly licensed for their work. Residents of Texas can check the credentials of electricians in the state using the state website’s license search tool.
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become an Electrical Contractor in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in Texas, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
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