In the state of Texas, the profession of electrician, including electrician apprentice, is governed and regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Becoming an apprentice electrician is your first step to becoming a full-fledged electrician, of which there are several different kinds. In this Fact Sheet, we'll take you step by step through the process of becoming a licensed apprentice electrician in Texas, and lay out a little bit about how this license and profession works.

Obtaining a License

So, what is an electrician apprentice, exactly? What does a license allow them to do? In essence, the purpose of becoming an electrician apprentice is not to work, directly, although that is a component of it. In the state of Texas, to be an electrician of any kind – a highly paid and in-demand profession – you must be fully licensed, and you cannot obtain this license without first being an electrician apprentice. The license also allows you to being your actual career, performing electrical work for paying clients.

With that in mind, the very first step is ensuring you meet the requirements. You must have at least a high school diploma or GED, and be at least 18 years old. If that's you, you can move to the next step: enrolling in an electrician apprenticeship program. It's important to understand the order here: first, you have to submit a very simple application to Department of Licensing and Regulation. You can do this online here, after creating an account, or download a printable application here. The application asks basic background information, including any criminal convictions, and the fee for application is 20 dollars. Pretty easy, huh?

The next step is the big one: enrolling in and successfully completing an apprentice electrician program. The state of Texas helpfully provides a full list of these programs here. Picking the right program for you is key. The majority of educational programs – for which you must pay tuition – also include a work component, for which you will be paid. Texas apprentice electricians start out making $12.70 an hour, and the pay then rises each year. Usually, to ensure that you'll be able to successfully become a higher-level electrician, these programs last several years and include a large number of required work hours. Think of it as your college education, except you'll actually be getting paid for a large portion of it. In fact, you may not progress to the next level prior to competing at least 4000 hours of work as an apprentice electrician, which may or may not be through your chosen vocational school.

Note that there is no reciprocity program for apprentices in other states, though there are applications by reciprocity for actual, non-apprentice, electricians. So the key is to ensure that you are able to complete the entire apprentice process in the state you begin it, or risk having to restart when you move to Texas. All of the forms you need, application and otherwise, can be found on this page.

Maintaining a License, and the Next Steps in the Profession

Apprentice electricians must complete at least four hours of classroom instruction every year to renew their license. This will be almost automatic at first, when you are completing the educational component. However, after the classroom component is finished and you are actually out in the field, make sure you take the required continuing education classes, which are offered by the same schools linked above. Provided you have done that, you may then renew your license online at this link.

So, we know what you're asking: what comes next? Once you have completed the full 4000 hours and the educational component, you can take apply to become one of two things: a journeyman electrician or a residential wireman. You'll learn more about the differences between these professions during your education. The highest and most well-paid type of electrician is a master electrician. And while the rewards are great, it is a long process, which large work requirements taking years, to reach this level. Good luck!