Large states · 3 trades verified · checked 2026-10-20
Texas trade licenses
Electrician, Plumber and HVAC credentials in Texas, from the issuing board's page or the statute: who issues each one, the levels, the time it takes and the exam.
| Trade | Issued by | Top credential | Time to top | Exam | Fees printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | Master Electrician | 6 years | Yes | Yes |
| Plumber | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners | Master Plumber | 6 years | Yes | Yes |
| HVAC | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | ACR Contractor, Class A | 4 years | Yes | Yes |
Electrician in Texas
Statewide TDLR licenses for apprentice, journeyman, master, residential wireman, maintenance, sign and lineman electricians, plus electrical contractor business licenses. Master Electrician: 6 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Journeyman Electrician — 4 years, exam, application $30. Master Electrician — 6 years, exam, application $45. Reciprocity partners named: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee.
What the top level asks for: A journeyman electrician license held for at least two years (journeyman industrial experience does not count) and 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed master electrician.
Texas electrician details · Electrician in every state
Plumber in Texas
Statewide apprentice registration and tradesman, journeyman, master and responsible master plumber licenses. Master Plumber: 6 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Journeyman Plumber — 4 years, 48 classroom hours, exam, application $40, exam $40, initial license $40. Master Plumber — 6 years, exam, exam processing $25, exam (pearson vue) $128.50, initial license $75. Out-of-state route: reviewed case by case under the source's rules.
What the top level asks for: A journeyman plumber license in Texas or another state held for at least two years (or one year plus a U.S. Department of Labor approved program).
Texas plumber details · Plumber in every state
HVAC in Texas
Statewide air conditioning and refrigeration contractor licenses; each ACR company employs a licensed ACR contractor at every permanent location. Technicians hold a registration or certification. ACR Contractor, Class A: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
ACR Contractor, Class B — 4 years, exam, application $115. ACR Contractor, Class A — 4 years, exam, application $115. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: The same 48 months of experience within 72 months (or certification plus 36 months); one endorsement per license: environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, or process cooling or heating.
Texas HVAC details · HVAC in every state
Moving to or from Texas
Electrician: Texas names Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. Plumber: Texas reviews out-of-state licenses without naming partners. HVAC: no route is named in the source. Conditions differ by board, so read the state page for each trade before relying on a partner list.
Not covered yet
General contractor is not on this page because no Texas board page or statute for it was fetched and verified in this run. The methodology lists every exclusion.
Nearby and comparable: California · Florida · Georgia · Michigan · North Carolina. Guides: how long each state takes · license or registration.
General information from the Texas sources on 2026-10-20, not legal advice. Each board is the authority; confirm before applying.