Why become a licensed electrician?
To become an electrician in Texas, you’ll need an electrical license.
Whether you plan to do commercial wiring, service equipment, residential electrical work, or many other tasks, being an electrician in Texas requires a license.
The Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) is responsible for all aspects of license application, renewal, and examinations for anyone who wishes to become an electrician in Texas.
The Job Market for a Licensed Electrician When you become an electrician, you’ll enter a consistently in-demand field, like many skilled trade fields. Residential and commercial development, the growth of renewable energy resources, and modernization of electrical grids, plus other trends, have created a rapidly growing job market for electricians.
In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently projected a growth rate of 8% in jobs for qualified electricians.
Salary Prospects for Licensed Electricians With median salaries of nearly $60,000 and accessible entry-level education requirements, becoming a licensed electrician is an excellent career path for many. Given the demand for electricians, salary prospects will probably improve over the near future.
Many electricians belong to the electrician’s union, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Union electricians can benefit from collective bargaining in matters of salary, vacation, pensions, and more.
Types of Electrician Licenses in Texas
You must be licensed to perform residential or commercial electrical work in Texas. The type of license you qualify for will reflect the type of electrical work you do and your level of training and experience.
The licensing process can be broken down into four different levels: Apprentice Electrician, Residential Wireman, Journeyman Electrician, and Master Electrician.
Apprentice Electrician License.
The apprentice license is the starting point for an electrical career. As an electrical apprentice, you’ll perform work under the supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician, or residential wireman.
While an Apprentice Electrician, you’ll learn electrical wiring methods and other skills through on-the-job training and classroom courses offered through trade schools or trade organizations and unions.
There is no examination or experience requirement, but you must meet the following criteria to apply for your apprentice electrician license:
Be at least 16 years old
Complete an online application
Pay a $20 fee
The Apprentice Electrician license for an apprentice is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.
Residential Wireman License
The Residential Wireman license qualifies the holder to perform electrical work in single- and multi-family homes not exceeding four stories.
The electrical services that the residential wireman performs may include wiring, installing electrical control devices, or a variety of other tasks related to electrical wiring and apparatus. Qualifications for the Residential Wireman license include:
Be at least 18 years old.
Complete at least 4000 hours of work as an apprentice electrician under the supervision of a Residential Wiremen or Master Electrician licensed in the state of Texas, documented in an experience verification form.
Complete an online application.
The Residential Wireman license is valid for one year.
Journeyman Electrician License.
Becoming a Journeyman Electrician is the next step in the licensing and regulation process. As a Journeyman Electrician, you’ll be licensed to perform electrical work, including various electrical maintenance and installation tasks in residential and commercial structures.
To become a licensed Journeyman Electrician, you’ll need to meet these criteria:
Be at least 18 years old.
Complete at least 8000 hours of work as an apprentice electrician under a Master Electrician licensed in the state of Texas, documented in an experience verification form.
Complete an online application.
Schedule, pay the examination fee and pass the Journeyman Certification Test.
You must renew your journeyman license every year, and there is also a 4-hour continuing education requirement that must be completed annually.
Master Electrician License
The Master Electrician License is the highest license issued for electricians by the Texas Department of Licensing.
A licensed Master Electrician can supervise other electricians in addition to performing residential and commercial electrical work. Some of the requirements for the license include:
Complete at least 12,000 hours of work under a Master Electrician licensed in Texas.
Provide experience verification forms to verify work experience
Complete an online application.
Pass the Master Electrician exam
You must renew your Master Electrician license every year and complete four hours of continuing education annually.
Specialized Licenses
in addition to the licenses that we’ve discussed above, several specialized electrician licenses are available in Texas. These include:
Apprentice Sign Electrician
Journeyman, Industrial Electrician
Journeyman Sign Electrician
Journeyman Lineman
Maintenance Electrician
Master Sign Electrician
Residential Appliance Installer
Links to the requirements and application process for these licenses are available here at TDLR.
Your Path to a Texas Electrical License and Career
As we’ve seen through our examination of the various licenses, getting an apprentice license is the key to getting started on an electrical career.
You’ll need a high school diploma and a valid Texas driver’s license or other identification to begin the process. After applying for an apprentice license, you’ll need to enroll in an apprenticeship program.
The Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation has a list of electrical apprentice training programs throughout the state.
You can also find apprenticeships through independent Electrical Contractors(IEC) or the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), as well as the Electrician Training Alliance Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATC).
Choose an apprenticeship program that blends classroom time with hands-on, on-the-job training. Electrician programs are offered by trade schools, community colleges, and other organizations. Different programs may focus on different aspects of electrical work, such as residential, commercial, or industrial. There are significant differences between the work involved in each of these categories.
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