Electrician Classes in Texas (Top Schools)

Job Outlook

The Texas Labor Market & Career Information Department discovered that electrician jobs will see a 27.8% increase by 2024.

As an electrician in the State of Texas, expect to be paid $46,992 per year, though the salary can reach $53,547 annually.

By contrast, these salaries are a bit lower than at the national level, with the median one being $47,951 per year, and the highest being $54,640 per year.

If you are considering a career in this industry, read on to find out more about the requirements for working in Texas.

Become an apprentice

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issues the electrician certifications, which require:

• 8,000 hours and 4 years of experience for a journeyman license
• 4,000 hours and 2 years of experience for a residential wire-man

You can either get trained in a union or non-union program or attend a vocational school.

Vocational Schools

During the 48 weeks of training, you will learn subjects like:

• Commercial Wiring
• Tech Electrical
• Electronics for Electricians
• Grounding Electrical
• Programmable Controllers
• Conduit Bending for Electrical
• Electrical/Micro Comp
• Fiber Optic Electrical
• Fire Alarm/Security
• Electric Motor Control
• Electrical Code
• Arc Welding
• Standard First Aid

The vocational schools provide practical training for an electrician career.

You can then attend a union or non-union program to complete the remaining training for an electrician license.

Union or Non-Union Programs

Texas has 44 programs, from which 11 are Electrician Training Alliance Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committees (JATCs), and they can be found on the list above.

The non-union programs are managed by either Texas chapters of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc (ABC) or Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and you can find them on the list above.

To get your apprenticeship registered, submit a form and a fee of $20 to:

• The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
  • PO Box 12157
  • Austin, Texas 78711

You will need to renew it each year for the duration of your training.

Pass the journeyman exam

You will need to submit an application, proof of experience and $30 fee to:

• The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
  • PO Box 12157
  • Austin, Texas 78711

The test requires a $74 fee, has 80 questions, lasts 4 hours and needs a 70% passing score.

The topics are:

• Definitions, Calculations, Theory, and Plans—6 questions
• Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems—9 questions
• Electrical Feeders—3 questions
• Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors—15 questions
• Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials—18 questions
• Electrical Equipment and Devices—10 questions
• Motors and Generators—5 questions
• Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means—3 questions
• Special Occupancies, Equipment—9 questions
• Renewable energy technologies—2 questions

You will need to renew the license every 1.5 years, attend 4 extra education hours and pay a $30 fee.

For the TDLR, you need to bring proof of one hour of education on each of the following subjects:

• National Electric Code (NEC)
• Texas Law (Title 8, Occupations Code, Chapter 1305)
• Texas Rules (Title 16, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 73)
• Electrical safety (NFPA 70E)

Residential Wireman License

For this license, you need to bring proof of experience, complete an application and pay a $20 fee.

The exam requires a $60 fee, has 80 questions, lasts 4 hours and needs a 70% passing score.

The topics cover:

• Definitions, Calculations, Theory, and Plans—8 questions
• Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems—16 questions
• Electrical Feeders—7 questions
• Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors—14 questions
• Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials—10 questions
• Electrical Equipment and Devices—12 questions
• Motors and Generators—2 questions
• Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means—2 questions
• Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions—7 questions
• Renewable Energy Technologies—2 questions

You will need to renew the license every 1.5 years, attend 4 extra education hours and pay a $20 fee.

Become an electrical contractor

To apply for the master electrician license, you need 12,000 hours of job experience.

You also need to submit a form, pay a $45 submission fee along with a fee of $74 covering the exam.

The exam has 100 questions, lasts for 5 hours and requires a 70% passing score.

The subjects covered are:

• Definitions, Calculations, Theory, and Plans—12 questions
• Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems—16 questions
• Electrical Feeders—4 questions
• Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors—15 questions
• Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials—16 questions
• Electrical Equipment and Devices—12 questions
• Motors and Generators—8 questions
• Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means—3 questions
• Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions—12 questions
• Renewable Energy Technologies—2 questions

The license needs to be renewed every 1.5 years which costs $45 and requires 4 additional education hours.

If you decide to become an electrical contractor and start a business, you need a master electrician license.

You will also need to submit an application along with a $110 fee, and renew it every 1.5 years for the same amount.

Electrician Schools by City

• Austin
• Brownsville
• Dallas
• El Paso
• Fort Worth
• Houston
• McAllen
• San Antonio