8-hour Continuing Education Course for Texas Licensed Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors

SECTION 21 - 6 MINUTES

8. Can a city or region still require me to have a city license and charge me a fee?

Yes. However, they may not require you to take a municipal or regional examination if you hold a state electrical license.

9. I have a municipal electrician’s license. Can I perform electrical work in Texas?

Yes, but you can only perform electrical work within the city where you are licensed. A municipal license is not valid statewide.

10. I work as an electrician in agricultural operations only, such as farming and ranching. Do I need a statewide electrician’s license?

No, a state electrician’s license is not required for electrical work performed on a building, structure, or equipment used in agriculture. For more on exemptions, see the “Exemptions” section below.

11. What is the definition of an agricultural operation?

An agricultural operation is defined as:

cultivating the soil to produce crops for human food, animal feed, or planting seed for the production of fibers;
the practice of floriculture, viticulture, silviculture, and horticulture, including the cultivation of plants in containers or non-soil media, by a nursery grower;
raising, feeding, or keeping animals for breeding purposes or for the production of food or fiber, leather, pelts, or other tangible products having a commercial value;
raising or keeping equine animals;
wildlife management; and
planting cover crops, including cover crops cultivated for transplantation, or leaving land idle for the purpose of participating in any governmental program or normal crop or livestock rotation procedure.

12. Are there any vision acuity requirements for the electrician’s license in Texas? Does the law require 20/20 or 20/40 vision?

No.

13. Are there any insurance requirements for a licensee?

Yes, for Electrical Contractors, Electrical Sign Contractors, and Residential Appliance Installation Contractors. The requirements are as follows:

(1) Minimum $300,000 per occurrence (combined for property damage and bodily injury);
(2) Minimum $600,000 aggregate (total amount the policy will pay for property damage and bodily injury coverage); and
(3) Minimum $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.

For additional requirements, please see Administrative Rule 73.40.

14. If I am or have been a master/master sign electrician, can I verify my own “on-the-job training” for my state licensing application?

Yes. If you hold or have held a municipal or regional master/master sign electrician’s license, then you can verify your own “on-the-job training” for those years that you held the license. Please provide the verification information on the experience history portion of your application and complete an Experience Verification Form.

15. What license number should be displayed on my vehicle?

Your business contracting license number is required to be displayed on your vehicle. For more information, see Section 1305.166 and Administrative Rules 73.51, 73.52, & 73.54.

16. What is the format for a contractor’s license number to be displayed on the side of the vehicle?

A licensed contractor (i.e. electrical, sign, residential appliance installation) must display its name and license number on both sides of each vehicle owned or operated by the business, and used in the conduct of electrical work. Lettering must be of a contrasting color, and at least two inches in height. The lettering must be permanently affixed in conspicuous places on both sides of the vehicle.

• The license number for an Electrical Contractor must be preceded by the letters “TECL”:

Example: for an Electrical Contractor license number "1234" the sign would read "TECL 1234."

• The license number for an Electrical Sign Contractor must be preceded by the letters "TSCL”:

Example: for a Sign Contractor license number "1234", the sign would read "TSCL 1234."

• The license number for a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor must be preceded by the letters “TICL”:

Example: For a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor license number "1234", the sign would read "TICL 1234."

17. My work history does not require using all of the experience history sheets. Do I need to include the “blank” experience history sheets when submitting my application?

No. It is not necessary to include any blank experience history sheets when submitting a completed application - only submit sheets that contain experience/work history information.

18. Do new hires have to possess an apprentice card before they can begin work on a job site?

Yes, anyone performing electrical work must obtain a license prior to performing the work. There is no grace period that allows you to work while waiting for your license to be issued. NOTE: Apprentice applicants who register online and report no criminal convictions will automatically be issued a temporary license.

19. Are public entities required to have an electrical contractor's license?

No. Texas law does not require a political subdivision (i.e. school district, municipality, etc.) to hold an electrical or electrical sign contractor’s license to allow an employee to perform electrical work. These public entities are not required to have a contractor's license because they do not contract with the public; however, the employees performing electrical work are still required to work under the general supervision of a master electrician.

20. Are employees of public entities required to have an electrician’s license?

Yes. Persons performing subject electrical work must be licensed as electricians, unless exempt under Section 1305.003.

21. Can a licensed master electrician be the master of record for an electrical sign contractor’s license?

Yes, a master electrician may serve as “master of record” for an electrical sign contractor. See Section 1305.153 of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act.

22. How many electrical contractor/sign contractor licenses may a Master Electrician or Master Sign Electrician be assigned to?

A Master Electrician’s/Master Sign Electrician’s license may be assigned to multiple companies if the Master Electrician/Master Sign Electrician owns more than 50% of the electrical contracting business.

If the Master Electrician/Master Sign Electrician does not own more than 50% of a company, his license may only be assigned to one electrical contractor, and he must be an employee of that company.

Examples:

A Master Electrician/Master Sign Electrician desires to be assigned to Company A and B, but does not own more than 50% of either company. NOT CORRECT. He can only be assigned to one of the companies, and he must be an employee of that company.
A Master Electrician/Master Sign Electrician desires to be assigned to company A and B. He owns more than 50% of company A, but he owns less than 50% of company B. He must also be an employee of company B. CORRECT
A Master Electrician/Master Sign Electrician desires to be assigned to company A, B and C. He owns more than 50% of companies A and B, but 50% or less of company C. He must also be an employee of company C. CORRECT

23. How do I change the business name on my Electrical/Electrical Sign Contractor license?

Complete an ELC004 Contractor Notice of Change and Duplicate License Request form.
All current and new information must be completed on the form.
Only the company owner of record can authorize changes to an Electrical/Electrical Sign Contractor license. The owner must sign on the bottom line (owner's signature), authorizing the name change.
An updated Certificate of Liability Insurance (COI) must be submitted with the form.
The new company name must match the name on the COI.

NOTE: If the company is being sold or transferred to a different owner, the new company owner must apply for a new license.

24. How do I delete and add a new Master/Master Sign Electrician to my Electrical/Electrical Sign Contractor license?

Complete an ELC004 Contractor Notice of Change and Duplicate License Request form. All current and new information must be completed on the form. Have the new master/master sign electrician complete and sign in the box near the bottom of the form. The company owner of record must sign the bottom line of the form (owner's signature) authorizing the change to the new master/master sign electrician.

III. RESIDENTIAL APPLIANCE INSTALLERS LICENSING

1. When did the licensing requirements for Residential Appliance Installers take effect?

As of March 1, 2008, all persons in Texas performing residential appliance installation must be licensed.

2. Are there any pre-qualifying requirements needed to take the Residential Appliance Installer exam?

You must first apply to TDLR before taking the exam. After your application has been accepted, PSI will notify you on how to schedule your examination.

3. What is the difference between a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor License and a Residential Appliance Installer License?

A Residential Appliance Installation Contractor is a person or entity licensed as a residential appliance installation contractor that is in the business of residential appliance installations. A Residential Appliance Installer is a licensed individual who performs electrical work limited to residential appliance installation on behalf of a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor.

4. Do Residential Appliance Installer experience hours count as credit towards another electrical license?

No.

5. Do I have to be a Master Electrician, or employ a Master Electrician, to conduct business as a Texas Residential Appliance Installation Contractor?

No. To be a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor you must either obtain and assign your own Residential Appliance Installer license to your company, or employ a licensed Residential Appliance Installer to assign their license number to the company as the “appliance installer of record.”

6. Can a Master, Journeyman, or an Apprentice Electrician also be the license holder of record for a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor license?

Yes, if the Master, Journeyman, or Apprentice Electrician also holds a Residential Appliance Installer license. Only the Residential Appliance Installer license will be assigned to the Residential Appliance Installation Contractor license.

7. Can I assign my Residential Appliance Installer’s license to more than one Residential Appliance Installation Contractor?

No, a Residential Appliance Installer license may only be assigned to one Residential Appliance Installation Contractor, unless the Residential Appliance Installer owns more than 50% of the installation contracting business.

8. Who is responsible for supervising residential appliance installers?

The Residential Appliance Installer of record for the Residential Appliance Installation Contractor is responsible for all work performed by the Installers for the Contractor.

9. What is required to be on the invoice for a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor?

The following information is required to be on all proposals, invoices, and written contracts proposed by the contractor:

• Contractor’s name
• Address
• Phone number
• License number

All invoices and written contracts must also contain the following information:

“Regulated by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas, 78711, 1-800-803-9202, 512-463-6599; website: www.tdlr.texas.gov/complaints”

10. What licensing information do we need on our company vehicle(s)?

The company name and license number on both sides of all vehicles owned and operated by the business, and used in the conduct of electrical work;
The lettering must be of a contrasting color, and at least two inches in height;
The license number must be preceded by the letters “TICL”.

11. Can a Residential Appliance Installer or Contractor change out a receptacle to make it compatible with the cord or plug on the appliance being installed?

No, a licensed electrician working through a licensed electrical contractor must perform the receptacle work.

12. Can a Residential Appliance Installer run a new circuit for a new appliance?

No, a licensed electrician working through a licensed electrical contractor must perform the new electrical circuit work.

13. Can a Residential Appliance Installer install luminaires?

No – with two (2) exceptions:

A Residential Appliance Installer may install listed and labeled “light kits” (i.e. luminaires) in conjunction with the replacement or upgrade of an existing ceiling mounted fan.
A Residential Appliance Installer may install listed and labeled lights (i.e. luminaires) for a pool provided that they are:

installed as a unit;
directly connected to an electrical circuit;
perform a specific function; and
use single-phase power of 240 volts or less.

14. Can a Residential Appliance Installer replace an appliance of greater ampacity than was on the existing electrical circuit?

No, you may only replace an appliance with one of equal or lesser capacity.

15. If I have another type of electrical license issued by TDLR, do I have to obtain a Residential Appliance Installer license to perform the appliance installation?

No, but you must work for a licensed electrical contractor and hold the appropriate electrical license in order to perform the installation.

16. I am a Residential Appliance Installation Contractor. Am I required to pull a permit to do a residential appliance installation?

It depends. Although the state does not require residential appliance installation permits, Section 1305.201(a) of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act does not prohibit a municipality or region from regulating residential appliance installers. They may, for example, require appliance installers to pull permits, pay fees, or have their work inspected when performing work within their municipality or region.

17. Are there standards of conduct for residential appliance installers?

Yes. The standards of conduct are listed in Section 73.60 of the Electrician Licensing Administrative Rules.

18. Can I perform maintenance on a 208V pool motor since it is less than 240V?

Yes, but ONLY IF the motor originates from a single phase system. IF the electrical originates on a 3 phase system, the answer is NO. For additional related questions you may contact one of TDLR’s Compliance Specialists: Jerry Daniel/Electrical Occupations Code Specialist (512-799-1489) OR Larry Reichle/Electrical Program Specialist (512-779-2857).

19. Since the law changed, can I now do ALL electrical pertaining to ALL pools - residential and commercial?

No. The law added pools that use single phase power of 240 volts or less at business properties and property owned by a municipality. The electrical work for Residential Appliance Installers is still limited to maintenance of electrical pool equipment. For additional related questions you may contact one of TDLR’s Compliance Specialists: Jerry Daniel/Electrical Occupations Code Specialist (512-799-1489) OR Larry Reichle/Electrical Program Specialist (512-779-2857).

20. If there is a three phase electrical system, can I install a single phase motor on 2 legs of the system?

No. If the electrical originates on a 3 phase system, the work can only be performed through a licensed electrical contractor. For additional related questions you may contact one of TDLR’s Compliance Specialists: Jerry Daniel/Electrical Occupations Code Specialist (512-799-1489) OR Larry Reichle/Electrical Program Specialist (512-779-2857).

21. Alternate for all above:

Who can I contact if I have technical questions pertaining to the Residential Appliance Installers Law regarding the “single phase, 240V and below” limitation?

For any related questions you may contact one of TDLR’s Compliance Specialists: erry Daniel/Electrical Occupations Code Specialist (512-799-1489) OR Larry Reichle/Electrical Program Specialist (512-779-2857).