How to Check a Texas Electrician's License With TDLR (and What to Ask Before Hiring)
How to verify a Texas Electrical Contractor license on TDLR, understand license types and insurance rules, and what to ask before hiring.
Why checking the license matters
Texas licenses electricians at the state level through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). A licensed contractor has to meet experience and exam requirements, carry insurance, and answer to a state regulator if something goes wrong. The check takes a couple of minutes and is free. This guide shows how to do it and what to ask before you sign.
Understand the license types
TDLR issues licenses to individuals and to businesses. According to TDLR's electricians program page, individual licenses include Apprentice, Residential Wireman, Journeyman, Journeyman Industrial, Maintenance, and Master Electrician, along with sign, lineman and appliance-installer categories. Business licenses include Electrical Contractor, Electrical Sign Contractor, and Residential Appliance Installation Contractor.
- Electrical Contractor (business). This is the license a company needs to offer and perform electrical work for customers. Under TDLR's contractor application instructions, the business must either be a Texas master electrician or employ one, and that master electrician is assigned to the contractor. A master electrician can be assigned to only one electrical contractor unless they own more than 50 percent of the business.
- Master Electrician. This is the highest individual license. It is the credential tied to the contractor's responsibility for the work.
- Journeyman and Residential Wireman. These licensed individuals do the hands-on work. A residential wireman's scope is limited to residential work.
- Apprentice. Apprentices are registered with TDLR and must work under the supervision of licensed electricians.
For an EV charger, panel upgrade or generator, you should be hiring a business with an active Electrical Contractor license, and the people on site should hold individual licenses.
How to look up a license
- Go to the TDLR license search for electricians.
- Search by business name, person's name, or license number. You can also search by city, county or ZIP code.
- Confirm that the license type is Electrical Contractor, the status is active, the expiration date has not passed, and the name matches the company on your quote.
- Check the individual license of the electrician who will do the work as well.
TDLR requires electrical contractors to display their license number on their vehicles with the prefix TECL, in letters at least two inches tall, according to the TDLR compliance guide. A truck without it is worth asking about.
Insurance requirements
Under 16 TAC Section 73.40, electrical contractors must maintain general liability insurance at all times of at least:
- $300,000 per occurrence (combined property damage and bodily injury)
- $600,000 aggregate
- $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations
The rule also requires the contractor to give customers insurance information on request, so ask for a certificate of insurance. Workers' compensation is different. Texas allows employers to opt out of workers' compensation coverage, and TDLR's application lets a contractor state that it has elected not to carry it. Ask directly whether the company carries workers' compensation, because it affects who pays if a worker is hurt on your property.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What is your TDLR Electrical Contractor license number, and who is your master electrician?
- Who will actually do the work, and what licenses do they hold?
- Will you pull the permit, and is the permit fee in the quote?
- Did you run a load calculation? Do I need a panel or service upgrade, or would load management work?
- What breaker size, wire size and route will you use? For a plug-in charger, how will the receptacle get GFCI protection?
- Can I have a certificate of insurance? Do you carry workers' compensation?
- What warranty do you give on workmanship, and who handles the equipment warranty?
- Will you set up the charger and help with the paperwork my utility's rebate requires?
Red flags
- A contractor who suggests skipping the permit or asks you to pull it as a "homeowner" while they do the work. The homeowner exemption in state law covers owners doing their own work, not hired help.
- A license number that doesn't match the business name, or one that is expired.
- Pressure to pay most of the price upfront in cash.
- No written scope that lists the circuit size and materials.
If something goes wrong
Try to resolve the problem with the contractor in writing first. If that fails, or if you believe someone is working without a license, you can file a complaint with TDLR online at the TDLR complaints page. TDLR's customer service line is 1-800-803-9202. Contract and payment disputes may also need to go through other channels, such as small claims court. Keep your contract, invoices, photos, and permit records.