Getting Your Apprentice License
Pull up the apprentice application online to apply through the TDLR. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) manages all trade licensing in Texas. Go to the TDLR’s website and select “Apply/Renew” from the menu at the top. Then, select “Electricians” and “Apprentice Electrician Application” to start.Tip: Texas is one of the easiest states in the country to become an electrician, so don’t worry if this feels overwhelming. You only need to be older than 16 to apply for an apprentice license. Then, you’re able to work as an apprentice electrician to work your way towards a journeyman’s license. You can start this application online at https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/App_Online/?program=ELC. You can also print and mail this application along with a $20 check to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711.
Fill out your personal information and pay $20 to submit your application. Enter your social security number and birthdate to start the application. Then, enter all of your personal information. This includes your address, phone number, and email address. Then, click a “yes/no” option to indicate if you have a criminal record and click “continue.” Enter a credit card or debit card number to pay the $20 fee and select “submit” to finish your application. If you don’t have a social security number, you cannot currently apply to become a licensed electrician in Texas. If you click “yes” under the question about your criminal record, don’t worry. You just need to complete an additional form explaining the conviction and submit it alongside your application. The link for this form is on the application page you’re filling out.
Wait a maximum of 30 days for the results to come back in. You will receive an email or notice in the mail within 30 days letting you know if you’ve been approved for an apprenticeship license. The state of Texas will email you your credentials and mail you a copy of your license. Unless you entered something incorrectly on your application or you have a criminal history with a violent crime on it, you’ll be approved. If you have experience as an electrician, your next best step is to skip trade school and apply for apprentice positions. If you do not have experience as an electrician, you’ll likely need some classroom experience before you can start working as an electrician. Your next best bet is likely to go to trade school. You can apply for the apprentice license after you get into trade school if you prefer, but you’ll need it to do any hands-on work and start working as an apprentice electrician. There are no requirements for the apprentice license other than being 16 years old and a citizen of Texas, so there’s no real reason to wait.
Going to Trade School
Opt for trade school if you want an educational background in the field. If you don’t have any experience as an electrician, it will be extremely difficult to find an apprentice position. Instead, consider applying for a trade school with a licensed electrician program. Most of these trade schools will place you in an apprenticeship position once you’ve completed your coursework.Tip: Just as an overview, anyone with an apprentice license can work as an apprentice electrician. You must get a total of 4,000 hours of experience before you can apply for a permanent journeyman position. There are two ways to get these hours: in the classroom or on the job. If you start at a trade school, you will be placed into an apprentice position after 1,000-2,000 hours, so the result is the same whether you go to trade school or not.
Fill out an application for a licensed trade school near you. There are dozens of trade schools in Texas that are licensed to teach apprentice electricians. Find one near you and look at the tuition fees to ensure that you can afford the program. Once you find a licensed trade school that appeals to you, fill out an application and wait to hear back regarding the start of classes. Some of these programs host classes at night if you’re currently working a day job or you don’t have a ton of time during the day. Others host some online classes if you have a variety of responsibilities at home. Just like regular colleges, each trade school is different so weigh your options before applying. You can find a list of approved electrician programs at https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/AMPS/ShowApprenticePrograms.aspx.
Attend your classes and complete the coursework for 1,000-2,000 hours. In electrician school, you will learn how to wire systems, solder wires, ground systems, and install control panels. Classes will cover everything you need to know about working as an electrician, from calculating voltages to completing government-required paperwork. Continue attending classes and completing the coursework for at least 6 months. Electrician school has homework, quizzes, and tests, just like any other academic program. Do not skip out on your studies to ensure that you graduate on time.
Transition into an apprentice position to finish your coursework. Depending on your specific program, you will be placed in an apprentice position after 1,000-2,000 hours in the classroom. Once you complete the final classroom course, work with your counselor or educator to find a placement that works for you. Most of these apprentice positions will pay you, although it usually isn’t more than minimum wage.
Finding an Apprenticeship
Apply for apprenticeship positions to learn the skills on the job. Go online and pull up a job-hunting website. Enter “apprentice electrician” into the search bar and include your zip code. Scroll through the available positions and apply to any positions that seem interesting to you. The job duties from position to position will be basically identical, so focus instead on applying to paying positions with benefits that seem interesting to you. If you went to trade school, most of the time you will be placed into an apprentice position by your trade school. If they don’t place you, you’ll need to apply to a position yourself. Don’t worry if your resume looks a little light. Most electricians hiring apprentices will care more about the interview than your work history.
Interview for potential positions and accept an offer to start working. When you’re called in for an interview, put a suit or business-appropriate outfit on. Show up 15 minutes before your interview and bring a copy of your resume with you. Answer questions in your interview and ask potential employers about what it’s like working for them. Once you’re offered a position, take it to begin working as an apprentice electrician.Tip: As an apprentice electrician, you’ll be working directly under a master electrician. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to answer a question and feel free to say “I’d defer to the master electrician” or “I’d ask my supervisor.” In many cases, this may be the answer your interviewer is looking for! The interviewer may ask you about how you would wire a potential set up, handle an upset client, or fix a mistake made by a previous electrician. Just do your best and be honest about your experience.
Get 4,000 hours of experience as an apprentice electrician. Once hired, you will be assigned a master electrician to work under. Show up to work on time and wait for them to tell you where you’re going, what they need you to do, and how you can help them as they work. In most cases, you’ll start out doing very minor wiring work. Continue working as an apprentice until you get at least 2 years of experience, or 4,000 hours. In the field, feel free to ask questions about what the master electrician is doing or why they’re completing a job in a particular way. The entire goal of an apprentice position is for apprentices to learn from experienced electricians, so ask away!
Taking the Electrician License Exam
Go online to register for the Electrician License Exam through PSI. The TDLR runs all of their testing through a company called PSI. Once you’ve completed your 4,000 hours of experience, go online to PSI’s website to enroll for the state of Texas’s Electrician License Exam. Your trade school or employer is tasked with tracking your hours as part of the licensing certification with the state of Texas. They’ll let you know when you’re close to 4,000 hours. To start this process, go to https://www.psionline.com/.
Create an account using the records from your apprentice license. Create an account on PSI’s website and enter your personal information and email to sign up. On the homepage of the PSI website, select “Schedule a Test” and type in your trade school or apprentice company. Your sponsor’s name will pop up from the drop-down menu. Click their name and select the “locate existing records” button to automatically enter all of your personal information.Warning: If you do not click the “locate existing records” button, the exam you’re signing up for will not be tied to the coursework and apprenticeship hours you completed. You must click this button if you want your results to count.
Select your test and pick a test center and date to complete the exam. On the next page, select “Journeyman” or “Wireman” depending on which exam you’re sitting for. A list of testing centers and dates will pop up on your screen. Select a date and testing center that works for you and pay $78 to sign up for your exam. The journeyman exam is exponentially more popular than the wireman test. Approved journeymen can work on a variety of electronic systems while wiremen are limited to working on residential constructions. The exam takes 4 hours to complete, so make sure you set some time aside on your schedule!
Show up with your photo ID and registration form 30 minutes before the test. On the day of your exam, show up 30 minutes before your test and check in at the front desk. Show the clerk your driver’s license, state ID, or passport and hand over your registration receipt. They will collect your phone and any other electronics and show you where to wait for your exam.
Sit for 4 hours and complete the exam to the best of your ability. The test will cover electrical systems, definitions, calculations, motors, wiring, and other essential information. It is multiple choice, so do your best to rule out bad options and answer questions correctly. Once 4 hours have passed or as soon as you finish the exam, let the test proctor know you’re done and collect your things before leaving. You must score a minimum of 70% on the journeyman exam and an 80% on the wireman exam to pass the test.
Wait 30 days at most for your results to come in. Within 30 days, you will receive an email or letter with your results. If you passed the exam, it will include a copy of your certification to begin working as a certified journeyman electrician. If you didn’t pass, you can re-enroll to take the exam again. Many people do not pass the first time they complete the test, so don’t get discouraged.
Find a position as a licensed electrician to start working. Once you have your journeyman or wireman license, you can apply for any positions looking for standard electricians. Update your resume to include your new license and begin applying for positions. Start with the company that hired you on as an apprentice, since they’ll be familiar with your work ethic and dependability. If they aren’t hiring, reach out to companies in your area and interview to find a permanent position. You can now begin working towards your master electrician license. You must acquire 12,000 of on-site experience before you can sit for the master’s exam. Renew your license every year with the TDLR to keep your license active.
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