Texas license lookup / Get licensed / Residential wireman
How to get a residential wireman license in Texas
The residential wireman license is the faster route for electricians who want to work on homes. It takes 4,000 supervised hours, half of what a journeyman needs, in exchange for a narrower scope.
Reviewed 8 October 2026 against TDLR's application page
At a glance
| Scope | Electrical installations in single-family and multifamily dwellings not exceeding four stories |
|---|---|
| Experience | 4,000 hours under a master electrician or residential wireman, or an approved career and technology education program |
| Application | By mail, form ELC-LIC-013, $20 non-refundable |
| Exam | PSI, open book, 70% to pass |
| License term | 1 year |
Official TDLR application page Exam guide and pass rates
Step by step
- Qualify by hours or by school. Either 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician or residential wireman, or proof of an approved career and technology education program.
- Get each supervisor to sign form ELC017. One Experience Verification Form per supervisor.
- Mail the application. Form ELC-LIC-013 with the forms attached and the $20 fee.
- Pass the exam. Once TDLR approves you, pay the exam fee to PSI and test.
Wireman or journeyman?
The wireman license is a full license, not a step down, but it stops at four stories and at dwellings. If you expect to work on commercial buildings, the journeyman path is the one that does not close doors.
How many people hold this license
The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 1,966 active residential wireman licenses, of which 1,926 come up for renewal in the next twelve months.
Where they are: Harris County (268), Dallas County (200), Bexar County (181), Tarrant County (156), Williamson County (111).
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: 4 hours a year: NEC, Texas law and rules, electrical safety. 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
What can a residential wireman do in Texas?
Electrical work in single-family and multifamily dwellings not exceeding four stories.
How many hours for a residential wireman license in Texas?
4,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training, or an approved career and technology education program.
How many people hold this license in Texas?
The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 1,966 active residential wireman licenses.
Related licenses
- How to get an apprentice electrician license in Texas
- How to get a journeyman electrician license in Texas
- How to get a residential appliance installer license in Texas
- All license guides
Sources
TDLR: Apply for a Residential Wireman 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 wireman license in Texas. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/get-licensed/residential-wireman-license-texas
Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.