How to Verify an Electrician License in Texas

Step 1: Understand Texas Electrician License Types

Before you verify, it helps to know what type of license the person doing the work should hold. TDLR issues several electrician credential types:

• Master Electrician (ME): The highest individual electrician license. A Master Electrician can design electrical systems, pull permits, supervise other electricians, and run an electrical contracting business. Any permitted electrical work — panel upgrades, new circuits, new construction — requires a Master Electrician to be on record.
• Journeyman Electrician (JE):Can perform electrical work without direct supervision but cannot pull permits independently. Most working electricians at the journeyman level operate under a Master Electrician's permit.
• Residential Wireman (RW): A limited license for residential electrical work in one- and two-family dwellings only. A Residential Wireman cannot work on commercial buildings, multi-family (3+ units), or industrial sites. Verify this license type matches the type of property you own.
• Maintenance Electrician (MaE): Licensed to maintain, but not install, electrical systems in commercial or industrial settings. Not appropriate for new residential installations.
• Apprentice Electrician: In training; must work under direct supervision of a licensed electrician at all times. An apprentice should never be the sole electrician on your job.

Additionally, the electrical contracting company must hold a separate Electrical Contractor License (TECL)issued to the business entity itself. This is separate from the individual electrician's personal license.

Step 2: Ask for the License Number

Before work begins, ask the electrician for their TDLR license number. It will typically start with "ME-" (Master), "JE-" (Journeyman), "RW-" (Residential Wireman), or "MaE-" (Maintenance). The contracting company's license number will be prefixed with "TECL."

Licensed professionals should provide their license number without hesitation. Many have it printed on their business card, truck, or invoice. If they can't provide it promptly, that's a red flag.

Step 3: Search on LicenseStatusVerify or TDLR

You have two options to look up an electrician's license:

• LicenseStatusVerify: Use the free search tool to look up the electrician by name or license number. We pull directly from TDLR records, updated regularly.
• TDLR directly: Search the official TDLR license search for the most current information. Select "Electrician" or "Electrical Contractor" from the program dropdown.

Step 4: Check Status and Expiration Date

Once you find the electrician's record, check two things:

• Status: Must show ACTIVE. EXPIRED, SUSPENDED, REVOKED, or CANCELLED means the person is not currently licensed to work.
• Expiration date: TDLR electrician licenses are renewed annually. Even if the status is currently active, a license expiring within the next 30 days could lapse before your job is complete on longer projects.

Step 5: Verify the Electrical Contractor License (TECL)

In addition to the individual electrician's license, confirm the company holds an active Electrical Contractor License (TECL). This is the business-level license that authorizes the company to perform electrical work for hire and to pull permits. Search for the company name in TDLR under "Electrical Contractor."

For any permitted job, the TECL must be on file with the local permit office. If you're hiring for permitted work and the company can't provide their TECL number, do not proceed.

What to Do If the License Is Expired or Doesn't Match

If you find a license is expired or the license type doesn't match the job:

• Do not allow work to begin until you see an active license in the TDLR system — not just the contractor's word that they are renewing.
• If they show you a paper license card but the TDLR system shows a different status, trust the TDLR system. Paper cards can be forged or out of date.
• If the electrician has a Journeyman license but no Master Electrician is associated with the project and permits are required, do not hire for that scope of work.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Can't provide a license number: The most obvious red flag. Any licensed electrician knows their license number.
• Offers to skip the permit:Permitted electrical work requires a licensed Master Electrician and a valid TECL. An offer to "avoid the hassle" of a permit is an offer to do unlicensed work.
• Claims a homeowner exemption applies to your job: The Texas homeowner exemption only applies to a homeowner doing their own work on their own primary residence, not to contractors they hire.
• Residential Wireman on a commercial job: An RW license is not valid for commercial, multi-family, or industrial work. Verify the license type matches your property type.
• Significant price gap versus other quotes: Unlicensed electricians often undercut licensed competitors by avoiding overhead costs like bonding, insurance, and renewal fees.