Texas licenses each of the three core home-service trades differently. HVAC and electrical are regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Plumbing has its own agency, the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). HVAC technicians also need a federal certification from the EPA.
This is a summary for hiring managers and technicians, not legal advice. Always check the official pages linked below, and verify a candidate's license yourself before they start.
HVAC: TDLR air conditioning and refrigeration
TDLR offers three credentials (program page):
| Credential | What it means | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Technician | Assists a licensed ACR contractor with maintenance and repair, under their supervision | Age 16+, $20 a year (details) |
| Certified Technician | A tested, more experienced technician | Age 18+, 24 months of ACR work or an approved 2,000-hour program, plus an exam; $50 a year (details) |
| Contractor, Class A or B | Can run ACR jobs and a company. Class B covers cooling up to 25 tons and heating up to 1.5 million BTU/hr; Class A has no size limit | 48 months of supervised experience in the last 72 (or a certified tech for 12 months plus 36 months of experience), an exam and liability insurance (details) |
EPA Section 608
Anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerants must hold EPA Section 608 certification (EPA). There are four levels: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure equipment, which covers most residential split systems), Type III (low-pressure equipment) and Universal (all three). Section 608 certification doesn't expire.
When hiring: confirm the 608 type, and whether the candidate is a TDLR Registered or Certified Technician.
Electrical: TDLR
TDLR licenses Texas electricians (program page). The common residential path:
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Apprentice Electrician | No exam. Works under a Master, Journeyman or Residential Wireman. $20 a year (details) |
| Residential Wireman | 4,000 hours of on-the-job training (or an approved CTE program) plus an exam. Covers homes up to four stories (details) |
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas master (you can sit the exam at 7,000) plus an exam (details) |
| Master Electrician | 12,000 hours plus a Journeyman license held for at least 2 years, and an exam (details) |
Exams are open book, based on the National Electrical Code, and need 70% to pass (TDLR exams).
When hiring: match the license to the work. Service calls in homes usually need at least a Residential Wireman or Journeyman, with an apprentice working under them.
Plumbing: TSBPE
Plumbing is still licensed by its own board, the TSBPE (license types), not TDLR.
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Apprentice registration | Age 16+, works under direct on-site supervision of a licensed plumber; $15 (details) |
| Tradesman Plumber-Limited | 4,000 hours plus a 24-hour approved course, and an exam. One- and two-family homes (details) |
| Journeyman Plumber | 8,000 hours plus a 48-hour approved course, and an exam (details) |
| Master Plumber | Journeyman license held at least 2 years (or 1 year plus an approved program), and an exam (details) |
| Responsible Master Plumber | A Master who carries the contracting liability; needs at least $300,000 in liability insurance (details) |
TSBPE also offers endorsements for Medical Gas Piping, Water Supply Protection Specialist and residential fire sprinklers, each with a 24-hour course and an exam (endorsements).
When hiring: most service plumbers who run calls on their own are Journeymen working under the company's Responsible Master Plumber.
A simple hiring checklist
- Ask for the license or registration number and look it up on the TDLR or TSBPE website.
- For HVAC, ask which EPA 608 type they hold.
- Check the license fits the work you'll send them on.
- Note renewal dates, since most registrations renew every year.
Every candidate we put forward has been asked about their licenses and certifications on the phone. See how we screen or start a search.