HOW TO BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN IN TEXAS AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you’re considering a career as an electrician, you may have a lucrative and fulfilling professional future. Working as an electrician is more than just a job; it’s a career path – and a skilled professional role that will always be in demand.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of U.S. electricians is projected to grow by 8%. With an annual mean of $63,310 and an hourly wage of over $30, becoming a licensed electrician is an excellent career path.

How to Become an Electrician in Texas?

Before you can start working as an electrician in Texas, you’ll need to complete the necessary steps to obtain your electrician license. The good news is that you can often receive a competitive wage throughout the training process.

Is a License Required to Work as an Electrician in Texas?
Yes. The Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) is responsible for all aspects of license application, renewal, and examinations and breaks down the licenses into four different levels: Apprentice Electrician, Residential Wireman, Journeyman Electrician, and Master Electrician.

Anyone who performs electrical work in the state of Texas must be licensed. Electrical work is defined by TDLR as: “Any labor or material used in installing, maintaining or extending an electrical wiring system and the appurtenances, apparatus or equipment used in connection with the use of electrical energy in, on, outside, or attached to a building, residence, structure, property, or premises…” or “Service entrance conductors, as defined by the National Electrical Code.”

How to Become an Electrician in Texas
The apprentice license is the first step in your journey to working as a licensed electrician in Texas. Apprentices work under the supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician, or residential wireman. As an IEC apprentice, you will work under one of our contractor members and learn through on-the-job training and classroom courses.

For a Texas apprentice license, there are no experience qualifications required or examination. Simply complete an online application and include the non-refundable $20 renewal fee. Apprentice licenses are valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually. Renewals may be completed online.

Why Do Electricians Need A License?

When it comes to common electrical problems, most homeowners in the U.S. have no idea where to begin when it comes to trying to fix them.

If you’re in this boat, it’s important to avoid trying to handle electrical issues on your own. This is a recipe for disaster and could leave you injured or your home seriously damaged. Instead, you need to hire an electrician who has the training and experience necessary to handle the job the right way.

In order to see the best results from working with an electrician, it’s important to hire someone who has the proper license and qualifications.

Read on to learn more about the licensing process for electricians and how to verify that your electrician is qualified to handle the issues you’re experiencing in your home.

Licensing Requirements for Electricians

Every state has different licensing requirements for electricians. In the state of Texas, an electrician must receive a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.

There are several different types of licenses an electrician can obtain in the state of Texas, including the following:

Electrical Apprentice License

This is a license to learn to become an electrician.

Texas does not require any education to obtain this license. The apprentice must pass a background check, though, and pay a fee in order to receive their license. They must also work under a master electrician.

An electrical apprentice will never work on your house alone. A master electrician will supervise them, teach them what to do, and ensure all their work is up-to-par.

Journeyman License

In order to obtain a basic license, which is known as a journeyman license, they need to have completed at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience and passed a licensing exam.

An electrician with a journeyman license can install wiring and other pieces of electrical equipment. They cannot plan or design systems, though.

Electricians with a journeyman license also work under the supervision of a master electrician.

Once they’ve received their license, electricians need to keep it up-to-date by renewing it every year. In order to renew their license, electricians in the state of Texas need to complete four hours of continuing education on an annual basis.

Master Electrician

In Texas, an individual can also become a master electrician by completing 12,000 hours of on-the-job training while being supervised by another master electrician.

They must also have held a journeyman license for at least two years and passed an additional standardized test.

A master electrician has up-to-date knowledge of the National Electrical Code and all of its most recent updates. They’re qualified to plan and design electrical systems, as well as install and maintain them.

Verifying an Electrician’s License

If you’ve decided that it’s time to call an electrician to address a problem in your home, the first thing you should do is ask about whether or not they have a license. Don’t stop there, though. You also need to verify that their license is up-to-date.

The following are some steps you can take to verify an electrician’s license and ensure they’re credible before you hire them:

Contact the Department of Licensing and Regulations.

The easiest way to verify a Texas electrician’s license is to contact the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.

If you provide them with the electrician’s full name, the name of their company, or the number that’s on their license, they should be able to tell you whether that electrician is licensed to work in your community.

Ask for Proof of Insurance

You can also ask the electrician for proof of liability insurance. Then, you can reach out to their insurance provider and ask them to verify the electrician’s license.

This is a good step to take anyway, even if you’ve already verified the license through the Department of Licensing and Regulations.

This step will help you ensure their insurance is comprehensive and up-to-date. That way, you won’t be held responsible for anything that goes wrong while they’re working on your home.

Make Sure Everything Matches

Finally, make sure that everything matches up on the electrician’s license. Their name and their business name should match the names listed on the license.

This might seem like a no-brainer, but a lot of people forget to look closely when they receive the license. Doing a quick double check when you first obtain a copy of the license can save you a lot of trouble and frustration later on.

Tips for Hiring a Trustworthy Electrician

There are more than 656,510 electricians currently working in the U.S. and approximately 61,000 who work in the state of Texas. Clearly, there are a lot of electricians out there for you to choose from. They’re not all created equal, though.

The first step to ensuring you’re working with a trustworthy electrician is to make sure they have an up-to-date license. There are some other factors you need to consider, too, including the following:

Check their references
Read online reviews and testimonials
Make sure there are no complaints against them with the Better Business Bureau
Discuss their area of expertise and make sure they’re equipped to handle the specific issues you’re experiencing

It’s also a good idea to request a quote before you agree to work with a particular electrician. This will help you know what the repairs will cost you and avoid unpleasant surprises later on.

Work with an Electrician Today

Now that you know more about the licensing process and requirements for electricians, you’ll be better able to vet candidates and find someone who’s qualified to handle your electrical issues.

If you’re looking for a qualified, reliable electrician in the Rockwall, TX area, we can help at Rockwall Electric.

Contact us today to learn more about our services or to fill out our electrician service request form. We’ll get back to you right away and get someone out to service your home!

Don’t miss out A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE ELECTRICIAN CLASSES

Also on BECOMING AN ELECTRICIAN WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW STEPS BY STEPS

How long does it take to complete an Electrical Apprenticeship Program?

In Texas, it takes approximately four (4) Years to complete the four (4) level program of 8,000 hours on the job (OJT) training hours, 576 hours of classroom hours with passing grades, and passing the required state of Texas journeyman exam, to receive your state electrical license.

With the IEC Fort Worth/Tarrant County Chapter, students work full time while attending class one night a week (4 hours) if you begin in September. For those students joining the program in January, the class is two nights (4 hours each) a week. You are supervised by a Journey level licensed electrician for all your on-the-job training while you are enrolled in the IEC program. IEC instructors are Master electricians with field and teaching experience. You must complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training as one of the requirements for graduation. Joining an apprenticeship program, it is an opportunity for you to gain on-the-job experience and build critical skills while working towards your journeyman license.

Types of Electrician Licenses in Texas
Did you know that there are four different basic types of electrician licenses in Texas? Each of these licenses involves a different level of experience and specific training or areas of expertise.

Journeyman electrician:8,000 hours of work as an apprentice electrician under a Master Electrician licensed in the state of Texas, documented in an experience verification form. Renewal is annual, along with completing four hours of continuing education training.
Master electrician: Complete at least 12,000 hours of work under a Master Electrician license in Texas; have held a journeyman electrician license for at least two years and pass a master electrician exam. Renewal is annual, along with completing four hours of continuing education training.
Residential wireman: 4,000 hours of experience (two years) 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. Renewal of this license is annual.
Electrical Contractor: Has the proper licensing, including a master electrician license (or hiring someone with that license), and holds workers’ compensation insurance.
There are also specialized electrician licenses in Texas, such as apprentice sign electricians, maintenance electricians, master sign electricians, and residential appliance installers.

Starting Your Career as an Electrician with Assistance from IEC Fort Worth/Tarrant County
You have a lot of options when planning your educational path. A good education leads you into new territories, arms you with solid skills that will support you for a lifetime, and helps you turn a passion into a career. At IEC Fort Worth/Tarrant County, we offer such a path and encourage you to explore Electrical Apprenticeship as an option. Unlike a traditional 4-year program, graduates of the IEC Fort Worth/Tarrant County Apprenticeship Program leave school employed, with no school debts to carry, and the typical pay ranges of graduates are $40,000-$80,000 a year!

For individuals ready to take their first steps towards becoming a licensed electrician in Texas, the IEC Tarrant County/Fort Worth Chapter is the place to go. We can help you find training, apprenticeship, and job opportunities throughout Tarrant County and more Western parts of the state.

If you’re interested in more information about getting a job as an electrician in Texas, contact https://www.clementselectric.com/

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