Q&A for How to Become an Electrician in Texas

At a maximum, 30 days. If you don't get your license after 30 days, call the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Possibly. Call the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and ask about your specific license. They may be able to grandfather you in. Texas does have grandfathering laws on the books for electricians, but it's on a case-by-case basis.

It depends on Texas's reciprocity agreement with Illinois. Call the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and explain your question--they'll be able to walk you through what you need to do.

If it was a violent felony, possibly. The good news is that it isn't hard to figure out if you're excluded. Just submit a regular apprentice application through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and fill out the supplemental form explaining your conviction.

Yes, if you attend a trade school or a college with a licensed electrician program.

Maybe. You'll have to contact the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and ask about license reciprocity.

Yes, typically. So long as you weren't convicted of a violent crime there shouldn't be any issue.

You have to reapply. This sounds like a pain, but getting the electrician license is actually pretty easy. You just fill out the form online and pay $20. Then, you can have the wait period waived by passing the licensing exam and calling the TDLR.

The only requirements for an apprentice license are your age and residency. You must be at least 16 years old and a resident of Texas. Other than that, there are no tests or classes. However, to actually work as an apprentice, you must work directly under a master electrician that's qualified to teach apprentices. So to answer your question, you can do any combination of the three options. You can go to trade school and get the license, you can get the license and then go to trade school, or you can get the license and apply for work as an apprentice. Keep in mind, most companies will not hire an apprentice if you don't have experience in another state or at trade school.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation handles these cases directly since their agreements with other states are all different. Call or email them to ask about your state's agreement with Texas regarding reciprocity.

You can typically transfer licenses to Texas. Call the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation directly and explain what you're trying to do. They'll walk you through it.

Yes, this would be a great point from which to take the exam.

Yes, you will. You will also have to complete a 4 hour online continuing education program certified by to the state of Texas.

No, there are no educational requirements in Texas to receive an electrical license, but you will have to earn supervised hours as an apprentice for an electrician before you can be fully licensed.

Your best bet is to find out when your local union is accepting applications and go from there. I am partial to unionized trades, as they without a doubt have the best training available. Once you complete your apprenticeship, you can transfer into other locales around the country.

You will still need two years in the field under a licensed master electrician before you can apply to take the test.

You need a willingness to learn, you don't need any specific experience to become an electrician. You do need to be able to learn and retain knowledge.

No, but you could just try cold-calling the electrical companies in the area. We are always looking for people who want to learn.

Most likely, if you want to work at the same company that you use to work for you could let your manager know and you could go there. If not, you can make your resume and give it to them showing them you have experience.