Texas Electrical Contractor License: Requirements, Steps, and Cost
If you want to start an electrical contracting business in Texas, the license you ultimately need is an Electrical Contractor license. Most electricians reach that point by progressing from Apprentice Electrician to Journeyman Electrician to Master Electrician, although business owners can also qualify by employing a licensed Master Electrician rather than holding that license themselves.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) handles all of it. A TDLR license is valid anywhere in Texas, which means you don’t need to hold separate licenses for each city or municipality where you work.
| License | Type | Minimum Experience | Can Perform Work? | Can Contract With Customers? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | Individual | Register only | Yes (supervised) | No |
| Journeyman Electrician | Individual | 8,000 hours | Yes | No |
| Master Electrician | Individual | 2 yrs as Journeyman + 12,000 hrs total | Yes | No |
| Electrical Contractor | Business | Must employ a Master Electrician | Yes | Yes |
The Electrical Contractor license is the credential that legally allows your company to contract with customers in Texas. And unlike the plumbing licensing system, you don’t have to be the Master Electrician yourself to get one. You just need to employ one.
If you’re earning the license yourself, expect the process to take at least six years from the day you register as an apprentice.
- Register as an Apprentice Electrician
- Complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training
- Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam
- Work as a Journeyman for at least 2 years
- Accumulate 12,000 total hours under a licensed Master
- Pass the Master Electrician exam
- Obtain liability and workers’ compensation insurance
- Apply for the Electrical Contractor license
How Much Does a Texas Electrical Contractor License Cost?
Expect to pay several hundred dollars in application and examination fees over the course of becoming a Master Electrician, plus annual license renewals and the cost of required insurance once you open your contracting business. The Electrical Contractor license itself carries an application fee and annual renewal on top of that.
TDLR updates its fee schedule periodically. The current amounts for each license type are listed at tdlr.texas.gov. Check there directly before submitting any application rather than relying on third-party summaries.
Start as a Registered Apprentice Electrician
Anyone performing electrical work in Texas must be licensed. There’s no grace period. If you’re starting from scratch, register as an Apprentice Electrician with TDLR before you set foot on a job site.
Applicants who register online and report no criminal convictions are automatically issued a temporary license while the full license processes. Your experience hours don’t begin until you’re registered. Don’t work unregistered.
As an apprentice, you work under the direct on-site supervision of a licensed Master Electrician.
Get Your Journeyman Electrician License
To qualify for the Journeyman Electrician exam, you need at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Master Electrician. You can apply to take the exam after 7,000 hours, but the license won’t be issued until you hit the full 8,000. Every supervising Master Electrician must sign off on your hours using a TDLR Experience Verification Form.
Applications are submitted by mail with a non-refundable fee. After TDLR verifies your application, you’ll be cleared to sit for the licensing exam. Current fees and forms are at tdlr.texas.gov.
Once licensed as a Journeyman, you can perform electrical work throughout Texas, but always under the general supervision of a Master Electrician. You cannot contract directly with the public or run your own electrical contracting company.
Get Your Master Electrician License
The Master Electrician exam requires that you’ve held a Texas Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years and completed a total of 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician. One important catch: time spent as a Journeyman Industrial Electrician does not count toward Master Electrician qualification.
As with the Journeyman, you apply by mail, wait for TDLR to verify your experience, then take the exam. Current fees are at tdlr.texas.gov.
A Master Electrician can perform all covered electrical work and directly supervise apprentices and journeymen. Passing the Master exam does not authorize you to operate an electrical contracting company. You still need the Electrical Contractor license.
Get Your Electrical Contractor License
The Electrical Contractor license is issued to a business, not an individual. No exam is required. To apply, you designate a licensed Master Electrician as your Master Electrician of Record. That can be you, a partner, or an employee. But that Master can only be assigned to one contractor at a time, unless they own more than 50 percent of the business.
You’ll also need to carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, plus at least $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations. Workers’ compensation insurance is required as well. You submit the application, proof of both insurance types, and the application fee. Current amounts are at tdlr.texas.gov.
If your Master Electrician of Record leaves the company, you have 30 business days to notify TDLR and designate a replacement. Missing that window puts your contractor license at risk.
What the Electrical Contractor License Gets You
Most electricians spend years working toward this. Once licensed, you can legally bid projects, sign contracts with customers, pull permits, hire electricians, and operate your own electrical contracting business. Commercial and residential work both fall under the license. You’re no longer working under another contractor’s license or business. Instead, you’re operating under your own company. It’s also the license customers, general contractors, and inspectors expect your business to hold before awarding or permitting electrical work.
It’s the difference between working for a business and running one.
Renewing Your Texas Electrical License
Individual electrician licenses renew annually and require continuing education. The Electrical Contractor license also renews annually, but contractors are not required to complete CE. Either way, don’t let either license lapse. Reinstatement after extended expiration can mean starting over.
Once you’re licensed, the paperwork doesn’t stop. Texas contractors still need to manage estimates, invoices, insurance documents, permits, and customer records. That’s where software like Cinderblock helps.
Check Current TDLR Requirements Before You Apply
Texas electrical license requirements and fees can change. Always verify the current requirements directly with TDLR before submitting any application at tdlr.texas.gov.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Licensing requirements can change. Consult the relevant licensing authority or a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
Andrew Booth
Andrew is a construction industry writer focused on contractor operations, scheduling, estimating, and field workflows.
