Texas Solar License Requirements (2026)
By Gabriel Giner, Editor · Reviewed 2026-04-13 · CLR Editorial Review Desk
Texas does not issue a dedicated solar contractor license. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) regulates electrical work statewide under the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act (Tex. Occ. Code Chapter 1305), and any solar photovoltaic installation involving wiring, inverters, or interconnection to the grid is electrical work that must be performed by a TDLR Licensed Electrician under the supervision of a Master Electrician. To operate a solar business in Texas you need a TDLR Electrical Contractor license, the Master Electrician must serve as the qualifying party, and individual installers must hold at least a Texas Electrical Apprentice registration. Solar thermal water-heating work additionally requires a TSBPE Plumber license. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the industry standard but is voluntary in Texas.
Governing Authority
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305 (Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act); 16 Tex. Admin. Code Chapter 73. TDLR licenses electricians and electrical contractors statewide. The agency adopts the National Electrical Code by reference and enforces solar PV installation standards through the electrical contractor program.
- Official portal: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/
- Address: P.O. Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711-2157
- Phone: (512) 463-6599 / (800) 803-9202
Eligibility Requirements
An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Texas residency requirement.
Good moral character
TDLR conducts a criminal history review on every applicant under Tex. Occ. Code Chapter 53.
Background investigation
Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.
Experience & Education Matrix
Eligibility requires four years and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Texas Master Electrician (to qualify for the Journeyman exam, which is a prerequisite to the Master Electrician credential), documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.
Accepted proof of experience or eligibility
- TDLR On-the-Job Training (OJT) form signed by each supervising Master Electrician
- W-2 statements covering the qualifying period
- Completion certificate from a TDLR-registered apprenticeship
Education substitution
TDLR allows up to 4,000 hours of approved technical training to substitute for OJT on a sliding scale.
Examination Structure
Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to TDLR). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:
- Texas Master Electrician Examination — NEC, Texas amendments, theory, calculations — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Examination fee: $74 examination fee paid to PSI on the day of testing.
Retake policy: Failed examinations may be retaken by paying a new $74 fee. There is no waiting period between attempts.
Insurance & Financial Security
This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.
General liability
TDLR requires every Electrical Contractor to maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate.
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation is not mandatory under Texas law but is strongly recommended.
Additional financial requirements
No financial statement required for the electrical contractor license.
Application and License Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application (non-refundable) | $115 |
| Examination | $74 |
| Initial license | $115 |
| Renewal (every year) | $115 |
Maintenance & Renewal
Expect to renew the Texas — No State Solar License (TDLR Electrician + local permits) every year. Renewal currently costs $115. TDLR licenses renew annually.
Continuing education: Four hours of TDLR-approved continuing education each year for Master Electricians.
Downloadable Asset
2026 Texas Solar License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.
Download the PDF roadmap →Reciprocity and Endorsement
Texas does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.
| Reciprocal State | Accepted Exam | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Trade exam waived | Limited TDLR–Arkansas Master Electrician reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare). |
| Oklahoma | Trade exam waived | Limited TDLR–Oklahoma CIB reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare). |
| Louisiana | Trade exam waived | Limited TDLR–LSLBC reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare). |
TDLR maintains limited Master Electrician reciprocity (electrical credential only — solar contractor reciprocity is rare) with several neighboring states.
Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Solar license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.
Step-by-Step Application Roadmap
- Register as a Texas Electrical Apprentice. File the TDLR apprentice registration before doing any electrical work.
- Document four years and 8,000 hours of OJT. Track all hours under a Texas Master Electrician on the TDLR OJT form.
- Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam. Required prerequisite to the Master Electrician credential.
- Document two more years as a Journeyman. Two additional years (12,000 hours total) are required for the Master credential.
- Pass the TDLR Master Electrician exam at 75%. 100-question PSI exam covering NEC, Texas amendments, and calculations.
- Apply for an Electrical Contractor license. File the TDLR Electrical Contractor application designating the Master Electrician as the qualifying party.
- File proof of $300K/$600K commercial general liability insurance. TDLR will not issue the contractor license without the certificate of insurance on file.
Common Filing Mistakes
Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Texas Solar application.
Assuming a "solar license" exists
It does not. You operate under the electrical contractor license.
Skipping the Master Electrician requirement
Every Electrical Contractor must designate an active Master Electrician as the qualifying party.
Letting insurance lapse
TDLR will administratively suspend the contractor license the moment the certificate of insurance lapses.
Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing
Solar hot water work falls under TSBPE, not TDLR. A separate plumber license is required.
Skipping local permits
TDLR licensure does not exempt you from city building and electrical permits.
Study and Reference Materials
What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.
- NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
- TDLR Electrical Examination Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining the exam content areas.
- Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act — State of Texas. Statutory framework.
Pre-Submission Checklist
The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with TDLR:
- ☐ TDLR Electrical Apprentice registration
- ☐ TDLR Journeyman Electrician credential
- ☐ TDLR Master Electrician credential
- ☐ TDLR Electrical Contractor license
- ☐ $300K/$600K commercial general liability insurance
- ☐ Local building and electrical permits per project
- ☐ NABCEP certification (recommended, not required)
Other Texas Trade Licenses
If the Solar license is not the right fit, the following published Texas trade guides are also covered by CLR:
- Texas Electrician License Requirements
- Texas Plumber License Requirements
- Texas HVAC Technician License Requirements
- Texas Roofing Contractor License Requirements
- Texas Painting Contractor License Requirements
- Texas Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
- Texas Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
- Texas Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
- Texas Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
- Texas Home Inspector License Requirements
- Texas Pool Contractor License Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas issue a solar contractor license?
No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under TDLR. Solar thermal is regulated as plumbing work under TSBPE.
Do I need NABCEP certification to install solar in Texas?
No. NABCEP is voluntary. Many utilities and incentive programs prefer it but TDLR does not require it.
Can I sell solar without a license?
A salesperson can market solar systems but the installation must be performed by a TDLR Licensed Electrician under an Electrical Contractor.
What credential supervises the work?
A Texas Master Electrician must serve as the qualifying party for any Electrical Contractor performing solar PV.
Are there local solar permits?
Yes. Every Texas city requires a building and electrical permit for rooftop PV. Some cities also require a separate solar registration.
Primary Sources
Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.
- TDLR Electricians Program
- Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305
- 16 Tex. Admin. Code Chapter 73
- NABCEP Certifications
Verified 2026-04-13 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-12