Exemptions to Electrician Licensing (2024)

The following persons are specifically exempted by the law, or those who perform the following examples of electrical work are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

*NOTE: Municipal or regional regulations may override these exemptions, as outlined in Sec. 1305.201 of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act.

Agriculture

Those who perform electrical work on buildings, structures, or equipment in agricultural use, as defined by Sec. 11.002 of the Texas Water Code, are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about agricultural exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(18).

Air-Conditioning

Those who perform electrical work on electrical connections for heating and air-conditioning work done by licensed air-conditioning and refrigeration contractors including any disconnect exclusively for the equipment are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about air-conditioning exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(11).

Appliances, Residential

Residential appliance dealers, manufacturers, or their authorized designees who perform electrical work while repairing or performing service on an existing appliance are specifically exempted by the law to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about appliance exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(22).

Buildings

Those who perform electrical work on the following items are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians:

• elevators, escalators, or related equipment excluding power sources (1305.003(a)(15) )
• building, structure, or equipment in agricultural use (1305.003(a)(18) )
• a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in the dwelling (1305.003(a)(6) )
• construction and assembly of HUD-code manufactured housing or modular housing and building units, excluding service entrance conductors, performed by a licensed manufacturer or installer 1305.003(a)(20)

Colleges and Universities

A person performing work exempt under Section 1305.003 (a) of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act is not required to hold a journeyman lineman license.

Employees of higher education institutions who hold a journeyman electrician license are not required to hold a journeyman lineman license to perform electrical work that would otherwise require a journeyman lineman license.

Construction

Licensed manufacturers or installers of modular housing and building units who perform electrical work as part of the construction and assembly of HUD-code manufactured housing or modular housing and building units, excluding service entrance conductors, are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about construction exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(20).

Elevators and Escalators

Those who perform electrical work on elevators, escalators, or related equipment excluding power sources are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about elevator and escalator exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(15).

Farming

Those who perform electrical work on buildings, structures, or equipment in agricultural use, as defined by Sec. 11.002 of the Texas Water Code, are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about farming exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(18).

Government

Those who perform electrical work on government controlled street lighting, traffic signals, and telecommunications are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about government exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(5).

Homeowners

A person who perform electrical work on a dwelling that they own and reside in is not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about homeowner exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(6).

HVAC Systems

Licensed air-conditioning and refrigeration contractors are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians in order to establish electrical connections for heating and air-conditioning work or for any disconnect exclusively for the equipment.

For more information about HVAC exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(11).

Irrigation Systems

Landscape irrigation installers who perform electrical work on irrigation control systems are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about irrigation system exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(13).

Landscaping

Landscapers who perform electrical work on low-voltage exterior lighting, excluding power sources, are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about landscaping exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(13).

Low Voltage Wiring

Persons who perform electrical work on class 1, 2, or 3 remote control, signaling or power limited circuits, fire alarm circuits, optical fiber cables, or communications circuits are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians ( see 1305.003(a)(12)).

Landscapers who perform electrical work on low-voltage exterior lighting, excluding power sources, are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians ( see 1305.003(a)(13)).

Manufacturing

Authorized employees of electrical equipment manufacturers who perform electrical work are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about manufacturing exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(7).

Maintenance Work

A maintenance person/electrician who does not engage in electrical work for the public and does not install electrical equipment in new construction is not required by the state to be licensed as an electrician.

For more information about maintenance exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(8).

Mining

Individuals who install electrical equipment in underground mines and in self-propelled mobile surface mining machinery are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about mining exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(2).

Petrochemical, Oil, and Gas

Employees of a chemical plant, petrochemical plant, refinery, natural gas plant, natural gas treating plant, pipeline, or oil and gas exploration/production operation, including individuals contracted for a minimum of 12 months, are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

The exemption for contracted electrical work does not include new construction unless the contractor’s principal place of business is in Texas.

For more information about petrochemical, oil and gas exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(14).

Plumbing

Persons who perform electrical work necessary for plumbers to install, service, maintain, repair, or replace any type of plumbing fixture or appliance on existing electrical circuits are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about plumbing exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(21).

Railroads

Those who perform electrical work on equipment for railroads to operate rolling stock or for signaling and communications are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about railroad exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(1).

Telecommunications

Individuals who perform electrical work performed on the following are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians:

• equipment or network facilities provided or used by a cable operator (1305.003(a)(16) )
• communications equipment provided by telecommunications providers (1305.003(a)(4) )

Utilities

Individuals who perform electrical work performed on the following are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians:

• equipment under the exclusive control of an electric utility, electric cooperative, or power generation company (1305.003(a)(5) )
• equipment and associated wiring under exclusive control of a gas utility (1305.003(a)(9) )
• on-site sewage disposal systems or by an on-site sewage facility installer (1305.003(a)(17) )

Vehicles

Individuals who perform electrical work performed on the following are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians:

• ships and watercraft other than floating buildings
• railway rolling stock
• aircraft
• motor vehicles or recreational vehicles

For more information about vehicle exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(1).

Well Pumps

Those who perform electrical work on well pumps and associated equipment are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.

For more information about well pump exemptions, see 1305.003(a)(19).