Texas license lookup / Get licensed / Residential appliance installer
How to get a residential appliance installer license in Texas
Installing appliances that need electrical connections is licensed work in Texas, but the license is narrow and quick to get: no experience requirement, one exam, $30.
Reviewed 8 October 2026 against TDLR's application page
At a glance
| Scope | Residential appliance installation, including residential pool-related electrical installation and maintenance |
|---|---|
| Experience | None |
| Application | By mail, $30 non-refundable |
| Exam | Yes, through PSI |
| Works for | A residential appliance installation contractor |
Official TDLR application page Exam guide and pass rates
Step by step
- Mail the application. Form and $30 fee to TDLR, PO Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711-2157.
- Wait for exam approval. TDLR verifies the application first.
- Pass the exam. See TDLR's electrician examinations page for fees.
- Work through a licensed contractor. Installers work on behalf of a residential appliance installation contractor, which is licensed separately.
No continuing education
Residential appliance installers are exempt from the electrician continuing education requirement, which makes this one of the lowest-maintenance licenses in the electrical program.
How many people hold this license
The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 2,203 active residential appliance installer licenses, of which 2,105 come up for renewal in the next twelve months.
Where they are: Harris County (298), Tarrant County (195), Dallas County (171), Collin County (164), Denton County (130).
See the full county breakdown and renewal calendar
After you are licensed
- Renewal: every year, judging by the expiration dates in the license file.
- Continuing education: Exempt from electrician CE. TDLR CE rules
- Full renewal guide for this trade
Before you apply
- Criminal history. TDLR runs a background check on every applicant. With any conviction other than a minor traffic offence, or a guilty or no-contest plea with deferred adjudication, include the Criminal History Questionnaire. Reviews take one to six weeks. You can ask TDLR in advance whether a conviction would bar you, through a criminal history evaluation letter.
- Lawful presence. TDLR may ask for proof of lawful presence in the United States. Send documents only if it asks. What TDLR accepts.
- Military. Service members, veterans and spouses may qualify for fee waivers and other provisions.
Questions
Do you need a license to install appliances in Texas?
For electrical connections, yes: a residential appliance installer license, working for a licensed residential appliance installation contractor.
How many people hold this license in Texas?
The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 2,203 active residential appliance installer licenses.
Related licenses
- How to get a residential wireman license in Texas
- How to get an apprentice electrician license in Texas
- How to get an electrical contractor license in Texas
- All license guides
Sources
TDLR: Apply for a Residential Appliance Installer license. License counts compiled from the public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026.
Reviewed 8 October 2026. Written by an independent site; not an official TDLR publication and not legal advice. Fees and requirements change: confirm them on the TDLR page before you apply.
Cite this page
PermitPulled (2026). How to get a residential appliance installer license in Texas. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/get-licensed/appliance-installer-license-texas
Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.