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Electrician in a hard hat working on an electrical control panel

Texas license lookup / Get licensed / Electrical contractor

How to get an electrical contractor license in Texas

An electrical contractor license is a business license. It does not test anyone: it requires the business to have a master electrician, carry insurance and pay $110.

Reviewed 8 October 2026 against TDLR's application page

At a glance

Master electricianMust employ one (can be the owner); one master per contractor unless the master owns over 50%
General liability$300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, $300,000 products and completed operations
Workers' compProof of coverage, a self-insurance certificate, or an election not to cover filed with TDI
Application fee$110, non-refundable, by mail
License term1 year

Official TDLR application page

Step by step

  1. Have a master electrician of record. Employ a licensed master electrician, who may be you. If that master leaves, TDLR must be notified and a replacement named within 30 business days.
  2. Buy the liability insurance. Minimums of $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate and $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations, shown on TDLR's Electrical Contractor Certificate of Insurance form.
  3. Sort out workers' compensation. Provide proof of coverage, a certificate of authority to self-insure, or a statement electing not to obtain coverage, filed online with the Texas Department of Insurance.
  4. Mail the application and \$110. To TDLR, PO Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711-2157. Expect a background check.

No CE for the business

The contractor license itself is exempt from electrician continuing education. The master and every other individual electrician on the payroll still owe their 4 hours a year.

How many people hold this license

The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 12,243 active electrical contractor licenses, of which 11,526 come up for renewal in the next twelve months.

Where they are: Harris County (1,508), Dallas County (791), Bexar County (667), Tarrant County (607), Travis County (423).

See the full county breakdown and renewal calendar

After you are licensed

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 master electrician to be an electrical contractor in Texas?

Yes. The business must employ a licensed master electrician, who may be the owner.

What insurance does a Texas electrical contractor need?

General liability of at least $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate and $300,000 for products and completed operations, plus a workers' compensation filing.

How many people hold this license in Texas?

The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 12,243 active electrical contractor licenses.

Related licenses

Sources

TDLR: Apply for an Electrical Contractor 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 an electrical contractor license in Texas. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/get-licensed/electrical-contractor-license-texas

Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.

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