Electrician Classes in Texas (Top Schools)

The Texas Labor Market and Career Information Department predicted a 27.8% increase in electrician jobs by 2024.

This could mean more job opportunities with higher-than-average salaries for incoming and seasoned electricians.

So if you want to practice this trade, here’s how you can become an electrician in Texas.

Potential Salary

Texas electricians have the following salary information according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2021.

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $53,080
• Hourly – $25.52

How to Become an Electrician in Texas

The TX Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) regulates and issues the licenses of the following:

• Apprentice electrician
• Electrical sign apprentice
• Journeyman electrician
• Journeyman industrial electrician
• Journeyman lineman
• Journeyman sign electrician
• Maintenance electrician
• Master electrician
• Master sign electrician
• Residential appliance installer
• Residential wireman

However, note that you may not need a license if you perform work under those exempted by the state.

Becoming an Apprentice Electrician / Electrical Sign Apprentice

Qualifications

TDLR doesn’t have any experience requirements for you to qualify for apprenticeship registration.

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed online application
• Application fee – $20
• Completed criminal history questionnaire if you’ve been convicted for any misdemeanor or felony
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire if you’ve been suspended, revoked, or denied a license, certification, or registration

License Renewal

Your registration will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $20
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours or approved apprenticeship training course
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Journeyman Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet one of these requirements:

Option 1

• At least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician
• Successfully pass the required licensure exam

Option 2

• Held a journeyman electrician license issued by a TX municipality or region that has discontinued the issuance or renewal of such licenses
• Held a municipal or regional journeyman electrician license in the last year
• Submitted the license application within 90 days from the date the municipality or region has discontinued the license issuance or renewal

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application
• Application fee – $30
• Proof of meeting license qualifications:
  • If option 1
    • Completed experience verification form or letters from previous supervisors
    • Completed employment history form
  • If option 2
    • Completed discontinued municipal or regional license program form
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

TDLR has contracted with PSI to help administer the licensure exams.

Here are the details for the journeyman electrician exam:

• Exam fee – $78
• No. of questions – 80 items
• Duration – 240 minutes
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

Note: You can apply for an early examination if you’ve completed 7,000 hours of on-the-job training.

But to obtain the license, you’ll have to submit proof of completing the remaining 1,000 hours to meet the 8,000-hour experience requirement.

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $30
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Journeyman Industrial Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet these requirements:

• At least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician
• Successfully pass the required licensure exam (effective January 1, 2023)

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application
• Application fee – $30
• Completed experience verification form for each employer
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

Here are the details for the journeyman industrial electrician exam:

• Exam fee – $64
• No. of questions – 60 items
• Duration – 180 minutes
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $30
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Journeyman Lineman

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet one of these requirements:

Option 1

• At least 7,000 hours of approved apprenticeship training OR 3.5 years of experience as a TX journeyman lineman
• Successfully pass the required licensure exam

Option 2

• Held a journeyman lineman license issued by a TX municipality or region that has discontinued the issuance or renewal of such licenses
• Held a municipal or regional journeyman lineman license in the last year
• Submitted the license application within 90 days from the date the municipality or region has discontinued the license issuance or renewal

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application
• Application fee – $30
• Proof of meeting license qualifications:
  • If option 1
    • Completed experience verification form or letters from previous supervisors
    • Completed employment history form
  • If option 2
    • Completed discontinued municipal or regional license program form
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

Here are the details for the journeyman lineman exam:

• Exam fee – $61
• No. of questions – 40 items
• Duration – 120 minutes
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $30
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Journeyman Sign Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet one of these requirements:

Option 1

• At least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master or master sign electrician
• Successfully pass the required licensure exam

Option 2

• Held a journeyman sign electrician license issued by a TX municipality or region that has discontinued the issuance or renewal of such licenses
• Held a municipal or regional journeyman sign electrician license in the last year
• Submitted the license application within 90 days from the date the municipality or region has discontinued the license issuance or renewal

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application
• Application fee – $30
• Proof of meeting license qualifications:
  • If option 1
    • Completed experience verification form or letters from previous supervisors
    • Completed employment history form
  • If option 2
    • Completed discontinued municipal or regional license program form
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

Here are the details for the journeyman sign electrician exam:

• Exam fee – $64
• No. of questions – 80 items
• Duration – 240 minutes
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $30
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Maintenance Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet one of these requirements:

Option 1

• At least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master or master maintenance electrician
• Successfully pass the required licensure exam

Option 2

• Held a maintenance electrician license issued by a TX municipality or region that has discontinued the issuance or renewal of such licenses
• Held a municipal or regional maintenance electrician license in the last year
• Submitted the license application within 90 days from the date the municipality or region has discontinued the license issuance or renewal

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application
• Application fee – $20
• Proof of meeting license qualifications:
  • If option 1
    • Completed experience verification form or letters from previous supervisors
    • Completed employment history form
  • If option 2
    • Completed discontinued municipal or regional license program form
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

Here are the details for the maintenance electrician exam:

• Exam fee – $64
• No. of questions – 60 items
• Duration – 180 minutes
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $20
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Master Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet one of these requirements:

Option 1

• At least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master or master sign electrician
• Held a journeyman license for at least 2 years
• Successfully pass the required licensure exam

Option 2

• Held a master electrician license issued by a TX municipality or region that has discontinued the issuance or renewal of such licenses
• Held a municipal or regional master electrician license in the last year
• Submitted the license application within 90 days from the date the municipality or region has discontinued the license issuance or renewal

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application
• Application fee – $45
• Proof of meeting license qualifications:
  • If option 1
    • Completed experience verification form or letters from previous supervisors
    • Completed employment history form
  • If option 2
    • Completed discontinued municipal or regional license program form
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

Here are the details for the master electrician exam:

• Exams to take
  • NEC Knowledge – 75 items in 150 minutes
  • Calculations – 33 items in 170 minutes
• Exam fee – $78 for both exam portions
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $30
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Master Sign Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet one of these requirements:

Option 1

• At least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master or master sign electrician
• Successfully pass the required licensure exam

Option 2

• Held a master sign electrician license issued by a TX municipality or region that has discontinued the issuance or renewal of such licenses
• Held a municipal or regional master sign electrician license in the last year
• Submitted the license application within 90 days from the date the municipality or region has discontinued the license issuance or renewal

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application
• Application fee – $45
• Proof of meeting license qualifications:
  • If option 1
    • Completed experience verification form or letters from previous supervisors
    • Completed employment history form
  • If option 2
    • Completed discontinued municipal or regional license program form
  • Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

Here are the details for the master sign electrician exam:

• Exam fee – $64
• No. of questions – 100 items
• Duration – 300 minutes
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $45
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Residential Appliance Installer

Qualifications

TDLR doesn’t have any experience requirements for you to qualify for this license.

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed online application
• Application fee – $30
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

Here are the details for the residential appliance installer exam:

• Exam fee – $64
• No. of questions – 80 items
• Duration – 240 minutes
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $30
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Residential Wireman

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet one of these requirements:

Option 1

• At least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician or residential wireman
• Successfully pass the required licensure exam

Option 2

• Held a residential wireman license issued by a TX municipality or region that has discontinued the issuance or renewal of such licenses
• Held a municipal or regional residential wireman license in the last year
• Submitted the license application within 90 days from the date the municipality or region has discontinued the license issuance or renewal

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application
• Application fee – $20
• Proof of meeting license qualifications:
  • If option 1
    • Completed experience verification form or letters from previous supervisors
    • Completed employment history form
  • If option 2
    • Completed discontinued municipal or regional license program form
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable
• Completed disciplinary action questionnaire, if applicable

Exam Details

Here are the details for the residential wireman exam:

• Exam fee – $64
• No. of questions – 80 items
• Duration – 240 minutes
• Exam type – open book
• Reference material allowed – NEC 2020
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $20
• Proof of completing 4 CE hours
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor

TDLR issues 3 types of electrical contractor licenses:

• Electrical contractor
• Electrical sign contractor
• Residential appliance installation contractor

Becoming an Electrical Contractor / Electrical Sign Contractor

Qualifications

To qualify, you must have the following:

• A master electrician of record
  • For the electrical contractor, you or your assigned employee must be a licensed TX master electrician
  • For the electrical sign contractor, your or your assigned employee must be a licensed TX master or master sign electrician
• Certificate of general liability insurance
  • At least $300,000 per occurrence (combined for property damage and bodily injury)
  • At least $600,000 aggregate (total pay for property damage and bodily injury coverage)
  • At least $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations
• Certificate of worker’s compensation insurance or an exemption

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application signed by the master electrician of record and owner
• Application fee – $110
• Proof of insurance – general liability and worker’s compensation
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $110
• Maintained a master electrician of record
• Proof of maintaining the general liability insurance
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Becoming a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor

Qualifications

To qualify, you must have the following:

• A residential appliance installer of record where you or your assigned employee must be a licensed TX residential appliance installer
• Certificate of general liability insurance – same coverage as with the electrical or electrical sign contractor
• Certificate of worker’s compensation insurance or an exemption

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed initial license application signed by the residential appliance installer electrician of record and owner
• Application fee – $110
• Proof of insurance – general liability and worker’s compensation
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

License Renewal

Your license will need annual renewal from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed online renewal application
• Renewal fee – $110
• Maintained a residential appliance installer of record
• Proof of maintaining the general liability and worker’s compensation insurance
• Completed criminal history questionnaire, if applicable

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Texas

An aspiring electrician such as yourself needs to have proper trade education and training.

You can obtain this either by enrolling in a vocational school or a sponsored apprenticeship program.

Vocational School

The school will give you the foundation you need to work in the trade, either as an apprentice or entry-level technician.

During the program, you’ll 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

Apprenticeship Program

Unions and non-unions will usually sponsor apprenticeship programs.

The apprenticeship program will provide you with real-world on-the-job training and relevant coursework.

To apply for an apprenticeship, union and non-union sponsors will commonly require the following:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Holds a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Passing grade in high school algebra
• Valid driver’s license or government-issued ID
• Pass the general aptitude test and physical exam

The table below lists some of the schools and associations offering accredited electrical programs in Texas.

Electrician Schools by City

• Austin1 Schools
• Brownsville1 Schools
• Dallas2 Schools
• El Paso1 Schools
• Fort Worth2 Schools
• Houston6 Schools
• McAllen1 Schools
• Plano1 Schools
• San Antonio2 Schools
• Waco1 Schools

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