Texas

Only specialty contractors, including HVAC, fire sprinkler systems, plumbing, electricians and well drilling/pump installation specialists, need to be licensed in Texas.

Home builders are not licensed, though it is advisable to check with your local municipality or county in areas of the state outside of municipal jurisdiction, for local requirements.

To find out if a specialty contractor is licensed for HVAC, well drilling and pumping, or industrialized housing in Texas, call (512) 463-6599 or (800) 803-9202.  To find out if a plumber is licensed click   or call (512) 458-2145. To find out if a contractor is licensed for fire sprinkler systems call (512) 305-7933. You can search for licensed individuals online at http://www.license.state.tx.us/LicenseSearch/.
 

• HVAC Contractor's Licenses

• Fire Sprinkler Systems Contractor's License

• Plumber's Licenses
    
• Electrician's Licenses

• Well Drilling/Pump Installation License

• Department of Transportation (DOT)

• Out-of-State Corporations

HVAC Contractor's Licenses

To do HVAC work in Texas you need to be licensed. To get an application, contact:

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation E. O. Thompson State Office Building P. O. Box 12157 Austin, TX 78711 (512) 463-6599 (800) 803-9202 (in Texas only) Fax: (512) 475-2871 http://www.license.state.tx.us/acr/acr.htm

The Department issues two types of licenses -- Class A and Class B. The Class A license lets you work on any size HVAC equipment. The Class B license limits you to 25 tons of cooling and 1.5 million Btu of heating. For either the Class A or Class B license, you also need an endorsement for environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration and process cooling and heating, or both.

You have to pass an exam for each type of endorsement. To take an exam you need at least three years of practical work experience in the preceding five years. If you have a degree in air conditioning engineering, refrigeration engineering, or mechanical engineering from a Department-approved school, you can use it for up to two years of the work experience requirement.

Exams are administered by:

PSI Exams http://www.psiexams.com

Here's a list of the subjects on each exam and the number of questions on each subject for Class A and Class B:

Environmental air conditioning exam:

Commercial refrigeration and process cooling and heating exam:

After you pass the exams you have these insurance requirements for a license:

• Class A license: $300,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, $300,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, and $300,00 aggregate for products and completed operations
• Class B license: $100,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, $100,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, and $100,00 aggregate for products and completed operations

If you have a valid HVAC license in Georgia or South Carolina you can use it to get a Texas license.

HVAC contractor's license fees: It will cost you $50 to file an application. Each exam costs $90. A license costs $115 and it's good for one year. The renewal fee is $65.

Fire Sprinkler Systems Contractor's License

To work as a fire sprinkler systems contractor in Texas you must get a certificate of registration for your business. To get an application, contact:

State Fire Marshall's Office P. O. Box 149221 Austin, TX 78714-9221 (512) 305-7933 Fax: (512) 918-7107 http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/fire/fmlisprinkler.html

The Fire Marshall issues three types of certificates -- general, dwelling, and underground water supply piping. Here are the general requirements you must have to get a certificate:

• $100,000 insurance per occurrence with $300,000 total coverage
• authority to do business in Texas from the Texas Secretary of State or the County Clerk
• letter of good standing with the Texas Comptroller (franchise tax)

You must also employ at least one full-time person you designate as a Responsible Managing Employee (RME) who is licensed by the Fire Marshall. To get a RME license, you must pass an exam on the statutes and rules in the Texas Insurance Code Article 5.43-3 -- Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems.

The exam is administered by:

Prometric 1260 Energy Lane St. Paul, MN 55108 http://www.prometric.com/texas

Unless you're registered as a professional engineer in Texas you must also pass a course given by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) which includes an exam. For a RME general license you must pass the NICET III course. For the RME dwelling license you need to pass a NICET II course and a Fire Marshall's Office exam on the NFPA 13D -- Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One and Two Family Dwellings and Mobile Homes. For a RME underground piping license you don't need any NICET course but you'll have to pass a Fire Marshall's Office exam on NFPA 24 -- Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances. 

To get information on NICET courses and exams, you can contact them at:

National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies 1420 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (800) 787-0034 http://www.nicet.org

Fire sprinkler systems contractor's license fees: The exam will cost $45 or $60 depending on license category. It costs $50 to apply for a certificate for your company or a RME license. A general certificate costs $900 and a dwelling or underground piping certificate costs $300. A RME general license costs $175 and a dwelling or underground license is $100. A certificate or license is good for two years.

If you have a valid license from another state with requirements generally the same as those in Texas, the Fire Marshall's Office may waive any of its license requirements.

Plumber's Licenses

You need a license to do plumbing work in Texas. To get an application, contact:

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners 929 East 41st Street P. O. Box 4200 Austin, TX 78765-4200 (512) 936-5200 http://www.tsbpe.state.tx.us/

You'll have to pass an exam to get a plumbing license. To qualify for the master exam you must have held a journeyman license in Texas for one year. If you have a journeyman or master license in another state you can get a Texas journeyman license directly. Then you don't have to pass the two-year Texas journeyman license period. Texas doesn't have any reciprocity agreements with other states.

The examination relates to work performed and decisions made on the job by a Master Plumber. The examination consists of a written part and a hands-on part.

Questions come from:

OSHA Code of Federal Regulations; Title 29 Labor Part 1926
LPG Safety Rules, 1999, NFPA-54
ADA Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS)
Construction Standards For On-Site Sewage Facilities and Collective Regulatory Guidance RG-355
International Plumbing Code and International Fuel Gas Code, 2000 version, International Code Council,  (703) 931-4533
Uniform Plumbing Code, 2006 version, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, (800) 854-2766 

Plumber's license fees: It will cost you $155 to take the master exam. The fee you pay for a license and its duration will depend on when Board issues it to you.

To qualify to take the journeyman exam, you must have at least 8,000 hours of work experience in the trade or a combination of work experience and technical training that equals 8,000 hours. If you have a journeyman or master license in another state, you qualify to take the Texas journeyman exam.

The journeyman exam has a written part and a hands-on part. The written part of the exam has multiple choice questions on the following topics:

Questions come from: 

International Plumbing Code and International Fuel Gas Code, International Code Council,  (703) 931-4533
Uniform Plumbing Code, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, (800) 854-2766 

The hands-on part of the exam is split in two parts as described below. 

The sanitary waste and vent installation portion will test your knowledge of proper planning, layout and installation of sanitary waste and vent systems. You will design the sanitary waste and vent system for a reduced scale two story building and perform the material "take-off", order the material and actually install the system on the reduced-scale two story building. 

The hands-on shop-work portion will test your knowledge and ability to properly use plumbing tools to measure, cut, prepare, assemble and install plumbing materials and recognize proper installations of water heaters.

Journeyman plumber's exam fee: It will cost you $27 to take the journeyman exam. The fee you pay for a license and its duration will depend on when Board issues it to you.

Electrician's Licenses

You need a license to do electrical work in Texas. To get an application, contact:

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation P.O. Box 13489 Austin, TX 78711 (800) 803-9202 Fax: (512) 475-2871  http://www.license.state.tx.us/electricians/elec.htm  electricians@license.state.tx.us.

Here are the licensed the Department issues, followed by qualifications for licensure:

• Electrical contractor (Business license) - must either be a licensed master electrician or employ one, show proof of financial responsibility (will be defined by rule), and meet statutory requirements for workers compensation coverage
• Electrical sign contractor (Business license) - must either be a licensed master sign electrician or employ one, show proof of financial responsibility (will be defined by rule), and meet statutory requirements for workers compensation coverage
• Residential Appliance Installation Contractor (Business license) - Either be a residential appliance installer or employ one, maintain business liability insurance, and meet statutory requirements for workers compensation coverage
• Master electrician - must have 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under supervision of master electrician and pass the master electrician examination
• Master sign electrician - must have 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under supervision of a master sign electrician and pass the master sign electrician examination
• Journeyman electrician - must have 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under supervision of a master electrician and pass the journeyman electrician examination
• Journeyman sign electrician - must have 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master sign electrician and pass the journeyman sign electrician examination
• Residential wireman - must have 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician or residential wireman and pass the residential wireman examination
• Maintenance electrician - must have 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician or a maintenance electrician and pass the maintenance electrician examination
• Residential Appliance Installer - Be at least 16 years old, and pass the residential appliance installer examination
• Electrical apprentice - must be at least 16 years old and be assisting in installation of electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician

The exam is administered by:

PSI Exams 3210 E. Tropicana Las Vegas, NV 89121 (800) 733-9267 http://www.psiexams.com

Electrician's license and exam fees:

Texas has a reciprocal license agreement with Louisiana for master electricians, and with Washington and Arkansas for journeyman electricians. The agreement allows for reciprocal licensure of Texas master electricians and the qualifying persons for statewide Louisiana licensed electrical contractors only. The agreement does not allow for reciprocation of other electrical license classes, such as master sign electrician,  journey sign electrician, or residential wireman. For these other electricians from Louisiana who wish to be a licensed electrician in Texas must pass the state's electrical exam and also meet all of Texas' other qualifications.

Well Drilling/Pump Installation License

To do well drilling or pump installation work in Texas you must get a license. To get an application, contact:

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation P. O. Box 12157 Austin, TX 78711 (512) 463-6599 Fax: (512) 475-2871 http://www.license.state.tx.us/wwd/wwd.htm

The Department issues four types of well drilling license:

The Department issues these five types of pump installer licenses:

The master license lets you work on the other four types of pump installations.

On your license application you'll have to give the Department complete information on the following:

• at least two years of well drilling or pump installation work experience
• letters of reference on your competence from four persons who have been licensed as drillers or pump installers in Texas for at least two years
• letter of reference from your banker
• letters of reference from two satisfied customers

You'll also have to pass an exam the Department has developed to test your abilities in well drilling and/or pump installation to get a license. The exam is administered by:

PSI Exams 3210 E. Tropicana Las Vegas, NV 89121 (800) 733-9267 http://www.psiexams.com

You also need to prove you've lived in Texas for 90 days before you apply for a license and that you intend to reside permanently in the state. If you have a valid license from another state with requirements generally the same as those in Texas, the Department may waive any of the requirements it has for a license. The state you're licensed in must also extend the same privilege to drillers or pump installers licensed by the Department in Texas.

Well drilling/pump installation license fees: It will cost you $125 to apply for a well driller license and $125 to apply for a pump installer license. If approved you will be able to take the exams. If you pass the exams, a license will cost $215 for either the driller's license or the pump installer's license. If you are applying for a combination license, the fee will be $325. Any new licensee renewal period will be 12 months from the date issued.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

You have to be prequalified to bid on Texas Department of Transportation projects. To get an application contact:

Texas Department of Transportation 125 East 11th Street Austin, TX 78701-2483 (512) 416-2540 Fax: (512) 416-2538 http://www.dot.state.tx.us/

Some of the details the Department will ask you about are your organization, personnel, financial condition, equipment, and experience. You'll be asked what type of work you want to be qualified for. Here are the types of work the Department uses:

You also need to list the districts in Texas that you're willing to work in. Prequalification is good for one year.

Out-of-State Corporations

Out-of-state corporations must get a Certificate of Authority to do business in Texas from the Texas Secretary of State. To apply for this certificate, contact:

Corporations Section Office of the Secretary of State P. O. Box 13697 Austin, TX 78711-3697 (512) 463-5555 Fax: (512) 463-5709 http://www.sos.state.tx.us/

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