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Becoming an Electrician (Texas)
Becoming an Electrician (Texas)

Want to become an electrician in Texas? Here is how to start.

Brittany Conard avatar
Written by Brittany Conard
Updated over a week ago

If you find satisfaction in performing hands-on work and are eager to solve mental challenges, consider electrician as a potential career. This line of work offers many benefits, such as the opportunity to use your problem-solving skills daily and the satisfaction of helping others with their electrical needs. Moreover, the practical nature of the job can be pretty rewarding. Ultimately, electricians can take pride in their work and enjoy feeling like a vital part of their local community.

The electrical trade offers exciting opportunities for individuals seeking to expand their career. With a suitable level of expertise, enjoying a lucrative, hands-on job while working alongside interesting and inspiring people is possible. The potential to start your own business is something many in this field aspire to. In sum, there are ample reasons why the electrical industry is a wonderful choice for a promising career.

Chartr Article 'Electricians Are In High Demand' states the job market for electricians is booming. Driven by a surge in the need to electrify various systems and appliances, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that 80,000 new jobs in the electrician trade will be created annually until 2031, an increase that would take the total number of electricians in the US past the 1 million mark for the first time in over 30 years.

One of the main benefits of this profession is secure employment, as the demand for electricians is not expected to dwindle anytime soon. Plus, unlike most jobs that require a college degree, electricians often get paid to learn the trade rather than pay to receive an education. Experience will be your education.

Summary: The electrical trade is a viable career option with secure employment, the potential for high earnings, and the opportunity to be paid to learn on the job. In Texas, becoming an electrician can be started by getting your license, finding an apprentice or helper job, and committing to learning the trade through on-the-job training and related courses. With determination and dedication, electricians can be successful and enjoy steady pay and career growth.


Electrician Licenses

To ensure safety and enforce building codes, the state of Texas requires all electricians to be licensed. If you are planning to undertake any residential, commercial, or industrial electrical services, you must be licensed or working under the guidance of someone who is. The specific license type required depends on the type of electrical work being completed and the individual’s level of training and experience.

License

Definition

Requirements

Apprentice

An apprenticeship allows individuals to learn under the supervision of experienced master electricians, journeyman electricians, or residential wireman.

  • 16+ years old

  • Complete an online application

  • Pay a $20 fee

  • Renewed Annually

Residential Wireman

A Residential Wireman license enables the holder to carry out electrical work in single and multi-family homes and related tasks like wiring, installing control devices, and other wiring and apparatus tasks that do not exceed four stories in height.

  • 18+ years old

  • Complete at least 4000 hours of work as an apprentice electrician under the supervision of a Residental Wireman or Master Electrician

  • Complete an online application

  • Renewed Annually

Journeyman

As a Journeyman Electrician, you will be licensed to execute many electrical maintenance and installation tasks in residential and commercial areas. You will oversee electrical repairs, installations, and replacements of existing electrical systems and supervise apprentices in day-to-day tasks.

  • 18+ years old

  • Complete at least 8000 hours of work as an apprentice electrician under a Master Electrician

  • Complete an online application

  • Schedule, pay the examination fee, and pass the Journeyman Certification Test

  • For Renewal, 4 Hour CE Course and License Annually

Master

The Texas Department of Licensing issues the Master Electrician License to qualified electricians, representing the highest level of licensure for this profession. This certification provides an individual with authority to work on electrical systems without additional supervision or monitoring—furthermore, this license grants recognition of the individual's accomplishments in electrical engineering and design.

  • Complete at least 12000 hours of work under a Master Electrician

  • Have held a Journeyman Electrician License for at least two years

  • Provide Experience Verification Forms to Verify Work Experience

  • Complete an online application

  • Pass the Master Electrician Exam

  • For Renewal, 4 Hour CE Course and License Annually


Sectors

The three main categories of electrical work are residential, commercial, and industrial.

🏠 Residential electrical wiring involves installing wiring for lights, outlets, and other electrical needs at home, such as air conditioners, televisions, and security systems.

🏢 Commercial electrical wiring, meanwhile, includes wiring in office buildings, schools, stores, and other business locations. These types of wiring may include the installation of equipment, data processing systems, lighting, and fire safety systems.

🏭 Industrial electrical wiring is typically done in large manufacturing facilities or power plants and involves much more intricate and complex wiring than in residential or commercial settings. This includes wiring external power plants, automation systems, and power centers. Industrial wiring also deals with grounding, insulation resistance tests, and welding issues.


How Much Will I Earn?

In Texas, entry-level commercial electrical apprentices, or "helpers," can expect to earn an average of $17 to $19 per hour in their initial year. This rate typically increases with knowledge and experience gained on the job, leading to pay of up to $35 an hour.

Regardless of the chosen route, the electrical trade is an attractive option providing plenty of growth opportunities and a steady income.


Getting Started (Texas)

🖥️ 1. Get your license: Want to become a licensed apprentice electrician? Right now, you can go to the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration's (TDLR) website and buy an electrical apprentice license for $20. 💥 Boom, you're an electrical apprentice!

👷 2. Find a helper job: What you'll want to do next is get employed as a helper. A helper in the electrical trade is really the same thing as an electrical apprentice. We recommend downloading the Buildforce App, which will connect you directly with dozens of top contractors across Texas looking for electrical helpers.


We believe the best way to learn the electrical trade is to get paid while doing it. Many of the best contractors with whom Buildforce is partnered provide on-the-job training to entry-level electricians; some even run formal apprenticeship programs with structured training.
There are also plenty of other places you can go to receive training:

✍️ 3. Work hard, learn, and report hours: Once you're employed, learn everything from the journeyman you're helping. If you're serious about the electrical trade, you'll also want to make sure that the Master Electrician where you're working is reporting all of your hours to TDLR. After 8000 of recorded work with TDLR, you will become eligible to take your Journeyman test to become a Journeyman electrician!

🌟 Buildforce tracks and signs off on all hours worked with us to help you meet this goal.


How is Buildforce Helping Tradespeople

Buildforce is devoted to helping tradespeople meet the demands of the ever-changing job market. Our technology and team are aimed at tradespeople trying to stay on top of their careers, allowing them to access the best jobs in the industry, increase their earnings, and offer specialized mentorship programs. By striving to be the best source of resources for electricians, Buildforce is dedicated to helping professional electricians improve their career prospects, be successful, and develop in their trade.

The skilled trades industry needs help attracting younger generations due to misconceptions about potential earnings and outdated perceptions. Buildforce is dedicated to challenging perceptions about the trades and construction industry and encouraging more women and young people to join the field. We aim to create a dynamic workforce in which everyone is welcomed and respected and further bridge the gap between gender and generational divides. We believe that diversity can only be maximized with the addition of these groups, promoting an inclusive and vibrant community.


Additional Resources

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