How to Become an Electrician in Texas
In Texas, becoming an electrician, also known in some cases as a journeyman, is a great career path. Electricians in Texas receive accelerated career growth and a competitive salary. To make the job even more accessible, Texas offers an uncomplicated entry into the field.
The path to becoming an electrician or a journeyman is complicated and lengthy in most states, but Texas differs in its straightforward and uncomplicated requirements that grant entry into the field. This guide shows the steps to accomplish the goals needed to become an electrician or journeyman in Texas.
Anyone performing electrical work in the state of Texas must be licensed. However, you can obtain an apprentice license and start working for a master electrician after filling out and submitting a form. This is just the beginning of a lucrative and promising career as an electrician or journeyman.
What Electrician Licenses Are Available In Texas?
If you want to legally work as an electrician or journeyman in the state of Texas, you must first get licensed. Apply for your license through the Texas Department of Licensing Regulations. Depending on your experience, the following licenses are available. We also listed how long it takes to reach each stage of their electrician career for someone working full-time.
- Apprentice Electrician: To get an apprentice license, you must submit the correct form and be over 16 years old. You can start right away after submitting your application.
- Residential Wireman: Residential wireman licensees need 4,000 hours of experience working for a master electrician. These hours must be documented and signed by a supervisor. If you work 40 hours a week, this will take two years.
- Journeyman Electrician: To get a journeyman license, you need 8,000 hours of experience working as an apprentice under a master electrician. After completing these hours, you must apply for a journeyman license and pass a journeyman certification test. If you work 40 hours a week, this will take four years.
- Master Electrician: To become a master electrician, you need 12,000 hours of experience working for a master electrician. Before applying, you also need to hold a journeyman license for at least two years. After meeting these requirements, you must apply for your license and pass the master electrician test. If you work 40 hours a week, this will take six years.
There are a few additional licensing options, such as getting licensed as an electrical sign apprentice, a journeyman sign electrician, a master sign electrician, a journeyman lineman, and a maintenance electrician.
How Much do Electricians Make?
A career as an electrician or journeyman is stable and can earn you a great living wage. As with almost any career, the starting pay can increase with hard work and persistence.
Even the starting wage is a fantastic incentive to start an electrician career. Apprentice electricians typically earn about $19 per hour or $39,520 a year.
After a few years in the field, electricians earn an average of $26.53 per hour, or $55,190 a year according to a 2018 study. Master electricians and business owners make even more.
What are the Steps to Becoming an Electrician or Journeyman?
- Obtain an electrician apprentice license by filling out this online application and submitting it with the $20 fee.
- After completing your apprenticeship, you can become a residential wireman electrician or a journeyman electrician.
- Residential Wireman Electrician (4,000 hours or two years of full-time experience)
- A residential wireman electrician must submit the application form and the $64 fee to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
- Once the application is accepted, you must pass an 80-question test with at least a 70% through PSI Exams.
- Every 18 months, you must complete a license renewal process. The license renewal includes continuing education courses and a licensing fee.
- Journeyman Electrician (8,000 hours or four years of full-time experience)
- A journeyman electrician must submit the application form, detailed work experience, and the $30 fee to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
- Once the application is accepted, you must pass an 80-question test with at least a 70% through PSI Exams.
- The exam fee is $78
- Every 18 months, you must complete a license renewal process. The license renewal includes four continuing education courses and a $30 licensing fee.
- Residential Wireman Electrician (4,000 hours or two years of full-time experience)
- After 12,000 hours or about six years of full-time experience, you can apply to become a master electrician.
- Send the master electrician application form with a $45 fee.
- Once the application is accepted, you must pass the exam with at least a 70% on each section through PSI Exams.
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- The exam fee is $78 per section
- The two portions of the exam are the NEC Knowledge portion with 75 questions and the Calculations portion with 33 questions.
- Every 18 months, you must complete a license renewal process. The license renewal includes four continuing education courses and a $45 licensing fee.
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