- None stated. The board says anyone who performs electrical work in Texas must be licensed, unless an exemption applies, and that includes unincorporated areas.
- Master Electrician: hold a Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years and show 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas licensed Master Electrician.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Electrician licenses are valid for one year and renew every year. Master Electricians need 4 hours of continuing education before each renewal. Contractors do not need continuing education.
Do you need a state license in Texas?
Texas licenses electrical work at the state level through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Electricians Program. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
None stated. The board says anyone who performs electrical work in Texas must be licensed, unless an exemption applies, and that includes unincorporated areas.
Texas license types for electrical work
Texas splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor | Business license to design, install, repair or alter electrical wiring for light, heat, power or signaling |
| Master Electrician | Individual license to install, maintain or extend electrical wiring systems, including service entrance conductors |
| Journeyman Electrician | Individual license held for two years before the Master Electrician license |
Steps to get licensed in Texas
- Work under a licensed electrician and earn a Journeyman Electrician license.
- Hold the Journeyman license for two years and log 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician.
- Apply by mail for the Master Electrician license with the $45 fee and experience verification forms.
- Pass the Master Electrician exam with PSI.
- Buy the required liability insurance and set up workers comp or file the no-coverage notice.
- Apply for the Electrical Contractor license with the $110 fee and your certificate of insurance.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master Electrician: hold a Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years and show 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas licensed Master Electrician.
The license to apply for. Electrical Contractor license, with a Master Electrician of record.
Texas electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. The Master Electrician exam is given by PSI. It is open book, using the National Electrical Code, 2026 Edition.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Texas
The board lists 2 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor application | $110 |
| Master Electrician application | $45 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Electrical contractors must carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, and $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations. You must also show workers comp, a self-insurance certificate, or a statement that you elected not to carry it.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Electrician licenses are valid for one year and renew every year. Master Electricians need 4 hours of continuing education before each renewal. Contractors do not need continuing education.
Reciprocity. Texas has no path to transfer an electrical contracting business license from another state. Individual electricians licensed elsewhere should see the board's out-of-state applicant page.
Good to know in Texas
- A Master Electrician can be assigned to only one Electrical Contractor, unless they own more than 50 percent of that business.
- If your Master Electrician of record leaves, you must name a new one within thirty business days.
- TDLR runs a criminal history check, including fingerprints, on contractor applicants.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Electricians Program and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.