There are many reasons to get a Texas electrician license. The Lone Star State ranks first in the country for its electricity production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Texas also boasts the second-highest employment of licensed electricians in the U.S., with over 52,000 of these pros.
In Texas, you need an electrician license to work. Jump ahead to learn:
You must have a license issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation if you perform electrical work in Texas.
The state defines electrical work as “any labor or material used in installing, maintaining or extending an electrical wiring system and the appurtenances, apparatus or equipment used in connection with the use of electrical energy in, on, outside or attached to a building, residence, structure, property or premises.” This also includes service entrance conductors as defined by the National Electrical Code.
How you get your electrician license depends on the license classification you’re pursuing. Here’s a quick overview of the steps for each type of Texas electrician license.
Additional licenses for specific types of electrical work are available, including:
See the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation website for more information on how to apply for these licenses.
You may need to satisfy certain experience qualifications depending on which license you are applying for.
Applicants for an electrical apprentice license do not need to fulfill any work experience requirements.
You must have at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician. However, you may apply once you reach 7,000 hours of training, which allows you to take the Texas journeyman electrical exam in anticipation of reaching the full 8,000 hours required for licensure.
You must have held a journeyman electrician 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.
Once you receive your license, consider what type of self-employed electrician insurance can help protect you professionally and financially. Here are some of the types of Texas business insurance to consider:
General liability insurance in Texas can help cover routine incidents that can occur on the job, like damage to property or a customer injury.
Workers’ compensation insurance can help cover lost wages, medical expenses and more if you or an employee gets injured on the job.
Tools and equipment insurance can help cover the cost of repairing or replacing your work gear in the event of theft or damage.
Commercial auto insurance can help provide coverage for property damage, medical costs and more if you get into an accident while driving for work.
Commercial property insurance can help cover buildings you own or rent and the gear, inventory and equipment stored inside.
You must renew your Texas electrician license annually. The date of issuance becomes the expiration date for the following years. You can renew online by filling out an application and submitting the appropriate renewal fee:
You must complete four hours of continuing education credits within each one-year license period. This coursework must cover the following topics:
The continuing education course provider will report your completed hours to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Texas has reciprocal licensing agreements with select states for journeyman and master electrician licenses. There are no reciprocal agreements for apprentice licenses.
Journeyman electrician reciprocity:
Master electrician reciprocity:
Electricians applying for reciprocity must have held their out-of-state license for at least one year and must demonstrate that they meet the minimum requirements for licensing in Texas.
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Ashley Henshaw was a contributing writer at NEXT. She specializes in small business topics, covering everything from insurance and branding to web hosting and cryptocurrency.
Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, AOL City's Best, Citysearch, USA Today, The San Francisco Chronicle and Livestrong.
