How to Check an Electrician's License in Texas (TDLR Lookup)
Before anyone opens your panel or runs a new circuit, take five minutes to confirm they hold a Texas license. State law is direct: "a person or business may not perform or offer to perform electrical work or residential appliance installation unless the person or business holds an appropriate license" (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305, §1305.151). The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issues those licenses, and its search tool is free. This guide walks through the lookup for homeowners in Lubbock, TX and the South Plains.
How do I look up an electrician's license in Texas?
Open the TDLR license search
Go to tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch. TDLR also has a version filtered to electricians at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/?program=ELC.
Search by name or number
TDLR's FAQ says to "search for the individual or company by name or license number." A license number from the truck or quote is the fastest route.
Match the details
Confirm the business name matches the one on your quote, and that the license type fits the job. A company doing the work should hold an Electrical Contractor license, which starts with TECL.
Check the status
Make sure the license shows as active. If it has expired or the name doesn't match, ask about it before any work starts.
Call if something is unclear
TDLR's numbers are (512) 463-6599 and (800) 803-9202 (toll-free in Texas only).
Texas electrical license types
Texas licenses both businesses and individuals. These are the ones homeowners see most often (TDLR electricians page and Occupations Code Ch. 1305):
| License | Who holds it | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor (TECL) | The business you hire | Must be, or employ, a licensed master electrician and show proof of financial responsibility |
| Master Electrician | An individual | At least 12,000 hours of training, a journeyman license for two years, and the master exam; may supervise other electricians |
| Journeyman Electrician | An individual | At least 8,000 hours under a master, plus an exam |
| Residential Wireman | An individual | 4,000 hours (or an approved program) plus an exam; limited to dwellings up to four stories |
| Apprentice Electrician | An individual in training | Works under supervision of licensed electricians |
For a typical home job, you want the company to hold a TECL license and the people on site to hold individual licenses that match their role.
Where the license number should appear
TDLR's compliance guide says "your business contracting license number is required to be displayed on your vehicle," in letters "at least two inches in height" and "of a contrasting color." The contractor's name, address, phone and license number are also required on proposals, invoices and written contracts. If a quote arrives without a license number, ask for it.
Insurance: what Texas requires
To get an Electrical Contractor license, TDLR requires liability coverage of at least $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, and $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations, plus proof of workers' compensation coverage or a filed election not to carry it. Texas requires it; verify it. Ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts.
About this site. Lubbock Electrician Pros is a free quote service, not an electrical contractor, and holds no TDLR license. Independent contractors reply to requests and calls. Whoever you talk to, ask for the business name and TECL number and look it up yourself. See how it works for the full process.
Homeowner work and Lubbock permits
Texas exempts some work "performed in or on a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in the dwelling," but only where a city ordinance doesn't regulate it. The City of Lubbock does regulate it: owner-occupants need a homeowner permit and an inspection. Check the current rules with City of Lubbock Building Safety. Landlords working on a rental they don't live in, and tenants, are not covered by the owner exemption, and hiring an unlicensed handyman isn't either. Anyone you pay to do electrical work must be licensed.
The minimum City of Lubbock electrical permit fee is $50 (FY 2023–24 schedule). Ask every contractor who pulls the permit and whether it is in the quote. Outside the city, Wolfforth, Shallowater, Slaton, Levelland and Idalou run their own permit offices; Slaton, for example, asks for a valid master license and proof of insurance when the permit is applied for in person.
Red flags when hiring an electrician
- No business name, or a name you can't find in the TDLR search.
- No license number on the truck, the quote or the invoice.
- Cash only, or a request to pay in full before work starts.
- Pressure to decide today, especially after a storm.
- No written, itemized quote.
- A suggestion to skip the permit on work that needs one.
- A toll-free number that serves many cities and won't tell you which local business is coming.
For in-home sales over $25, Texas generally gives you until midnight of the third business day after signing to cancel (Bus. & Com. Code ch. 601); whether it applies depends on how the sale was made. Our guide to hiring a local electrician covers more of these questions.
What a license check does not tell you
An active license means the state has verified training, exams and, for contractors, insurance on file. It does not tell you whether a quote is fair, whether the company answers the phone after the job, or how it handles warranty questions. For that, compare at least two written quotes, ask how long the contractor has worked in the Lubbock area, and ask whether they have pulled permits with the City of Lubbock or your town before. A contractor who works locally should be comfortable answering all three.
How to file a complaint
TDLR takes complaints online at tdlr.texas.gov/complaints. Performing or offering electrical work without the right license is a Class C violation on TDLR's sanctions schedule, with penalties of $2,000 to $5,000. TDLR handles licensing complaints; billing disputes may need the Attorney General's consumer office or small-claims court. This is general information, not legal advice.
Put the lookup to work
A license check is most useful when you have quotes to compare. Before an urgent repair, a panel replacement or a rental inspection, get the TECL number, the insurance certificate and a written quote from each contractor. The Lubbock electrician cost guide shows typical published ranges so you know what a reasonable quote looks like. When you're ready, request a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up an electrician's license in Texas?
Use TDLR's free license search at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch. Search by the person's or company's name or license number, confirm the name matches your quote, check that the license type fits the job and that it is active. For a company, look for an Electrical Contractor license starting with TECL.
What does TECL mean on an electrician's truck?
TECL is the prefix for a Texas Electrical Contractor license issued by TDLR. TDLR requires the contractor's license number on its vehicles in letters at least two inches tall, and on proposals, invoices and written contracts.
Does a Texas electrical contractor have to carry insurance?
Yes. TDLR requires licensed electrical contractors to carry at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate in liability coverage, plus $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations. Ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts.
Can a homeowner do their own electrical work in Lubbock?
Texas exempts some work by an owner who lives in the home, but only where the city doesn't regulate it. The City of Lubbock requires a homeowner permit and inspection for owner-occupied work, so check with City of Lubbock Building Safety first. Landlords and tenants are not covered by the owner exemption.