Texas Electrician License: How to Get Certified as an Electrician in TX

Do you need a license to be an electrician in Texas?

Yes, you need a license to be an electrician in Texas. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) oversees licensing for electricians, and they require anyone performing electrical work (big or small, cheap or expensive) to obtain certification. 

However, a few exceptions qualify for exemption:

• Agriculture: Those working on farms, irrigation systems, and agricultural equipment don’t need licensing.
• Air-Conditioning: Those working on heating and air-conditioning previously worked on by licensed HVAC-R contractors don’t need licensing.
• Appliances: Appliance dealers and manufacturers don’t need a license to service or repair existing appliances.
• Building: You don’t need an electrician license for work on elevators, escalators (excluding power sources), agricultural buildings, or your own home if you live there.
• Colleges and Universities: Journeyman electricians who are employees of colleges or universities do not need an additional license to perform work that would require a lineman license.
• Construction: Manufacturers or installers of modular housing doing electrical work as part of the assembly of the units do not require licensing.
• Elevators and Escalators: Professionals who perform electrical work on elevators and escalators are exempt from licensing.
• Farming: Those who do electrical work on agricultural buildings, structures, or equipment do not require licensing.
• Government: Those who work on electrical systems controlled by the government, such as street lights, traffic signals, and telecommunication, do not require licensing.
• Homeowners: You don’t need a license to perform electrical work on a property you reside in. Note that this doesn’t mean you can perform electrical work on any property you own—it must be a dwelling you live in.
• HVAC Systems: Licensed HVAC contractors don’t need an electrician license for electrical connections related to their systems.
• Irrigation Systems: Irrigation system installers can handle electrical connections without needing an electrician license.
• Landscaping: Landscapers working on low-voltage outdoor lighting do not require licensing.
• Low Voltage Wiring: Those working on low-voltage systems like fire alarms and communication circuits don’t require an electrician license.
• Manufacturing: Electrical equipment manufacturers can have employees work on equipment without electrician licenses.
• Maintenance Work: Those doing electrical maintenance on projects that don’t include work for the public or new buildings do not need an electrician license.
• Mining: Those working on electrical systems in mines don’t need an electrician license.
• Petrochemical, Oil, and Gas: Employees and long-term contractors in oil, gas, or chemical plants do not require licensing unless it’s new construction or a principal place of business in Texas.
• Plumbing: Plumbers working on electrical systems necessary for their plumbing work don’t need an electrician license.
• Railroads: People working on electrical systems for operating rolling stock or signals/communications for trains do not require licensing.
• Telecommunications: Those working on telecommunications or cable systems provided by service providers don’t need an electrician license.
• Utilities: Utility workers or those working on sewage systems don’t need an electrician license.
• Vehicles: Those performing electrical work on motor and recreational vehicles, ships, railway rolling stock, or aircrafts do not require licensing.
• Well Pumps: Those who work on well pumps and related equipment do not need an electrician license.

Beyond those exemptions, you need a Texas electrician license to perform electrical work in the Lone Star State.

Penalties for contracting without a license

Your electrician license protects yourself, customers, and the public, and the TDLR takes these violations seriously. Operating without a license could land you a hefty $500 to-$5,000 fine and/or a revocation of your license.

Penalties for license violations are grouped into four classes—-A, B, C, and D.

• Class A: $500 to $2,000 fine
• Class B: $1000 to $3,500 fine and/or 1-year license suspension
• Class C: $2,000 to $5,000 fine and 1-year probated suspension with possibility of revocation
• Class D: $5,000 fine and/or revocation

The Department looks at various factors to determine the penalty, including the number of similar violations in the past and what level of penalty is necessary to avoid this reoccurring.

Types of electrician licenses in Texas

Texas offers a variety of electrician licenses. Not sure which is right for you? Here are the types of electrician licenses in Texas and what they provide:

Apprentice licenses

• Apprentice Electrician: Perform electrical work under the on-site supervision of a Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, or Residential Wireman.
• Apprentice, Electrical Sign: Perform electrical sign work under the on-site supervision of a Master Electrician, a Master Sign Electrician, or a Journeyman Sign Electrician. Signs include electronic billboards, signs on buildings, and scoreboards at sporting venues.

Journeyman licenses

• Journeyman Electrician: Perform electrical work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician. General supervision means the professional doesn’t need to be by your side every moment—they can oversee, direct, and double-check your work.
• Journeyman Industrial Electrician: Perform electrical work exclusively at businesses that operate chemical plants, petrochemical plants, natural gas plants, natural gas treating plants, refineries, pipelines, or oil and gas exploration and production operations. Industrial Electricians don’t work on residential or commercial projects.
• Journeyman Lineman: Perform electrical work involving the operation and maintenance of equipment used to transmit and distribute electricity from an original source to a substation.
• Journeyman Sign Electrician: Perform electrical sign work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician or Master Sign Electrician.
• Maintenance Electrician: Perform electrical maintenance work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician.

Master licenses

• Master Electrician: Install, maintain or extend electrical wiring systems.
• Master Sign Electrician: Work on behalf of Electrical Sign Contractors to install, maintain, or extend electrical systems for electric sign work.

Residential licenses

• Residential Appliance Installer: Perform electrical work for residential appliance installation and pool-related electrical installation and maintenance.
• Residential Wireman: Perform electrical installations in single-family and multi-family dwellings (not exceeding 4 stories).

Texas electrician license requirements

Apprentice license requirements

• No experience required
• No examination required
• Submit your application with payment

Journeyman license requirements

• 8,000 hours of on-the-job training
• Submit your application with payment
• Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam

Master license requirements

• Hold Journeyman license for at least 2 years
• 12,000 hours of on-the-job training
• Submit your application with payment
• Pass the Master Electrician exam

How do I get an electrician license in Texas?

Getting your electrician license in Texas takes time, but the steps are straightforward and the information is at your fingertips to make sure you are following the process properly.

The steps include:

1. Register for an apprenticeship
2. Get a job and work a certain number of hours to get the experience needed to become a journeyman
3. Take the journeyman electrician license exam
4. Gain more work experience to qualify for a master electrician license
5. Take the master electrician license exam
6. Become an independent electrical contractor (requires hiring a master plumber and necessary liability insurance)

How do I become an electrician in Texas?

Here’s the step-by-step process for getting your electrician license:

• Apply for an electrical apprentice license (no examination or prior experience necessary)
• Gain 8,000 of work experience (under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas)
• Apply to become a Journeyman Electrician and submit this Experience Verification Form
• Take and pass the Journeyman electrical licensing exam
• Hold your Journeyman license for 2 years and accumulate an additional 4,000 hours of on-the-job training (for a total of 12,000 hours) under the supervision of a Master Electrician in Texas
• Apply to become a Master Electrician

Ready to take one of the examinations? TDLR partners with PSI to offer electrician examinations across the state:

• Abilene
• Amarillo
• Arlington
• Austin
• Corpus Christi
• Dallas
• El Paso
• Fort Worth
• Harlingen
• Houston
• Lubbock
• McAllen
• Midland
• San Antonio
• Tyler
• Waco

Visit the PSI website or call them at (833) 333-4741 to schedule your exam. Check the Candidate Information Bulletin for available dates and required fees for each examination.

The exams are open book style, but you’re responsible for bringing your own National Electrical Code®, 2020 Edition textbook.

How long does it take to get an electrician license in Texas?

The whole process of becoming a licensed electrician in Texas takes a minimum of 4 years. You must accumulate at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training to qualify for your Journeyman Electrician License, and construction professionals typically work around 2,000 hours yearly.

You’ll need at least another two years to apply for your Master Electrician License.

• Journeyman license: With a requirement of 8,000 hours of experience before you qualify to take your journeyman license exam, the average person will take 4 years to gain a journeyman electrician license.
• Master license: With a requirement of 12,000 total hours of experience (at least two holding a journeyman electrician license) in order to take the master electrician license exam, the average person will take 6 years to gain a master electrician license.

Does my Texas electrician license work in any other states?

Texas has reciprocity agreements with a handful of states. If you have licensing in one of the following states, the TDLR will allow you to skip examination and accelerate your application process for licensing in Texas—however, your level of certification will impact your reciprocity eligibility. Journeyman electricians have looser requirements than Master’s, allowing more states to qualify under this certification.

Master electrician reciprocity agreements

• Louisiana
• Nebraska
• North Carolina

You must have passed the examination in your state, held the license for at least 1 year, completed 12,000 hours under the supervision of a master electrician, and provide proof of current good standing with the state. Use this form for your application.

Journeyman electrician reciprocity agreements

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Idaho
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Wyoming

You must have passed the examination in your state, held the license for at least 1 year, completed 8,000 hours under the supervision of a master electrician, and provide proof that your license is in good standing. Use this form for your application.

How much does it cost to get an electrician license in Texas? 

In Texas, there are costs that all individuals will need to pay to become a licensed electrician, and some additional costs if you want to run your own business. Below, we’ve broken down the costs you can expect for both individuals and businesses.

Individual electrician license costs

Apprentice Electrician and Electrical Sign Apprentice

• $20 application/renewal fee

Journeyman Electrician

• $30 application/renewal fee
• $78 exam fee

Journeyman Industrial Electrician and Journeyman Sign Electrician

• $30 application/renewal fee
• $64 exam fee

Journeyman Lineman

• $30 application/renewal fee
• $61 exam fee

Maintenance Electrician 

• $20 application/renewal fee
• $64 exam fee

Master Electrician 

• $45 application/renewal
• $78 exam fee

Master Sign Electrician

• $45 application/renewal
• $64 exam fee

Residential Appliance Installer 

• $30 application/renewal fee
• $64 exam fee

Residential Wireman

• $20 application/renewal fee
• $64 exam fee

Business owner costs

Electrical Contractor, Electrical Sign Contractor, Residential Appliance Installation Contractor, 

• $110 application/renewal fee

Apprentice Training Program Provider

• $95 registration fee

Do I need to renew my electrician license? 

Yes, you need to renew your license annually. You can renew your license online here by using the appropriate renewal link.

Apprentices must complete 4 hours of continuing education each license cycle to qualify for renewal. They can also use a department-registered electrical apprenticeship training course to qualify for their 4 hours of education. 

Journeyman and Master Electricians must also complete 4 hours of continuing education each license cycle.

What happens if my electrician license expires?

If your license expires, you won’t be able to legally perform any electrical work. You can renew a license online that has been expired for less than 18 months, but if it’s between 18 months and 3 years, you’ll have to apply by mail for renewal.

Licenses that have expired by over 3 years aren’t eligible for renewal. You’ll have to re-apply for a license as a new applicant.

Here are the late-renewal fees with expired licenses:

• 90 days or less: $45
• 91 days – 18 months: $60
• 18 – 36 months: $60

Requirements for business owners

Once you have your Master’s Electrician license, you can start your own business. You must obtain your Electrical Contractor License to hire and manage other electricians. Here are the different contractor licenses to consider:

• Electrical Contractor License: Engage in designing, installing, repairing, or altering electrical wires or conductors for lighting, heating, powering, and signaling purposes.
• Electrical Sign Contractor License: Engage in designing, installing, manufacturing, connecting, or servicing electric signs, neon gas tubing, cold cathodes, or outline gas tubing.
• Residential Appliance Installation Contractor: Engage in residential appliance installation and pool-related electrical maintenance and installation.

You also need to obtain the proper insurance before doing business:

• Liability Insurance Coverage: Must have a minimum of $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, and $300,000 aggregate for product and completed operation.
• Worker’s Compensation: Must provide proof of worker’s compensation insurance or a certificate of authority to self-insure. You can also elect for no compensation if you hire no employees.

Beyond these legal requirements, you’ll also want to brush up on the step-by-step process of launching a successful electrician business. You’ll want to think about financing, investing in the right equipment, hiring the best team, pricing your services, marketing your business, and earning your first customer.

READ MORE:12 electrician apps to make your job easier

Electrician training schools and programs in Texas

Texas is full of electrician training programs in colleges across the state. The following is a list of colleges, their location, the electrical training program offered, and the certifications you can earn upon completion of the course. 

Altierus Career College-Houston – Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Area

• Program: Electrician
• Certification: Certificate

Brazosport College – Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Area

• Program: Industrial and Commercial Electricity
• Certifications: Certificate, Associate Degree

Brightwood College-El Paso – El Paso, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technician
• Certification: Certificate

Brightwood College-McAllen – McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technician
• Certification: Certificate

Del Mar College – Corpus Christi, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Engineering
• Certifications: Certificate, Associate Degree

El Paso Community College – El Paso, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technology
• Certification: Certificate

Galveston College – Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Area

• Program: Electrical & Electronics Technology
• Certifications: Certificate, Associate Degree

Grayson College – Sherman-Denison, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technology
• Certification: Certificate

Houston Community College – Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technology, Electrical Power Technology
• Certifications: Associate Degree, Certificate (Electrical Power), Certificate (Commercial)

Laredo Community College – Laredo, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technology
• Certification: Certificate

Lamson Institute – San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technician
• Certification: Certificate

Lee College – Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Construction, Electrical Technology
• Certifications: Certificate (Construction), Associate Degree (Technology)

Lone Star College System – Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Engineering
• Certification: Certificate

North Lake College – Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division

• Program: Electrical Technology
• Certifications: Certificate, Associate Degree

Northeast Texas Community College – Eastern Texas Nonmetropolitan Area

• Program: Electrical Technology
• Certification: Certificate

Odessa College – Odessa, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Lineman, Residential Wiring
• Certifications: Certificate (Lineman), Associate Degree (Residential Wiring)

Paris Junior College – Eastern Texas Nonmetropolitan Area

• Program: Electrician
• Certification: Certificate

Professional Career Training Institute – Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Installer and Service Technician
• Certification: Certificate

San Jacinto Community College – Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technology
• Certifications: Certificate, Associate Degree

South Plains College – Northwestern Texas Nonmetropolitan Area

• Program: ELPT Basic Electrical, Electrical and Power Transmission Technology (Electrician Specialization)
• Certifications: Certificate (Basic Electrical), Associate Degree (Specialization)

South Texas College – McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Area

• Program: Electrician Technology
• Certifications: Associate Degree, Certificate

St Philip’s College – San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Trades
• Certifications: Certificate (Level 1), Associate Degree

Texarkana College – Texarkana, TX-AR Area

• Program: Electrical Technology
• Certification: Certificate

Trinity Valley Community College – Eastern Texas Nonmetropolitan Area

• Program: Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician
• Certifications: Certificate (Journeyman), Associate Degree (Master)

Vista College – El Paso, TX Area

• Program: Electrical Technician
• Certifications: Certificate, Associate Degree

Western Texas College – Northwestern Texas Nonmetropolitan Area

• Program: Electrical Lineman Technology
• Certifications: Certificate, Associate Degree

These programs cover common topics like the National Electric Code (NEC), Blueprint reading, grounding theory, and CPP/first aid to give you the opportunity to learn what you need to know to become a well-rounded electrician.

Does an electrician license increase your earning potential? 

Absolutely. Without an electrician license, you can’t legally perform electrical work for pay. You can do your own home improvement projects, but you won’t be able to perform services for residential, commercial, or industrial customers.

As an apprentice, you’ll earn around $35,807 annually. Some of these wages will be deducted to pay for your apprenticeship program and materials, but you’ll get to keep most of it. As you progress from apprenticeship to Master, your earnings potential will increase. Master Electricians in Texas with 18+ years of experience tend to make an average of $60,066.

Texas isn’t the highest-paying location for electricians, though. States like Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, and Hawaii all pay higher average wages. For example, electricians working in California earn $67,826 on average—that’s 36% more than electricians in Texas.

Of course, you have to factor in the cost of living and quality of life, but these are wages you want to know when planning your career. 

Want more insights into how much money you can expect to earn depending on your licensing, years of experience, and geographic location? Take a peek at our Essential Electrician Salary Guide. It provides crowdsourced salary information you can use to make data-backed decisions about your career.

Use this guide when planning your career, finding where to put down roots, and paying your employees. It’ll help ensure you get the most bang for your buck and keep up with the industry benchmarks.

Originally published in July 2022. Last updated on October 4, 2024.