![Licensed Houston Electricians]()
Houston electricians Must be Licensed by the State of Texas and Should be Permitted to Work in Your Municipality
The State of Texas defines electrical work as “Any labor or material used in installing, maintaining or extending an electrical wiring system and the appurtenances, apparatus or equipment used in connection with the use of electrical energy in, on, outside, or attached to a building, residence, structure, property, or premises; or Service entrance conductors, as defined by the National Electrical Code.“
This rather broad definition of electrical work underscores the need for Houston electricians to occasionally hold multiple licenses for different types of services. It is important to understand the basics of licensing–and the importance of permitting and insurance– to make sure you are getting the level of service for which you are paying.
Mentoring and Apprenticeship
To begin with, please understand that all electrical incensing is obtained through a process of mentoring and apprenticing. There are 3 levels of licensing: master, journeyman, and apprentice. An apprentice must first complete 8,000 hours of supervised work under a master electrician and pass a journeyman exam. A journeyman must then complete 12,000 hours of training under a master electrician and have held a journeyman electrician’s license for at least 2 years before taking the master electrician exam.
All three license levels are required by the state to take continuing education classes before annual renewal. Additionally, each level of licensing requires proof of insurance to protect homeowners from catastrophic losses that can result from mishaps that can result from electrical work.
Business Licenses and Permits are Paramount
Houston electricians must hold a State Business license. If they are freelance, sole proprietors, they must hold a master electrician license. If an electrical contractor is a business entity, that business must employee at least one master electrician in order to qualify for this license.
Because each city or municipality requires registration of your contractor’s license and proof of insurance., only a master electrician can pull a permit. Hiring a freelance, licensed journeyman without the proper permit can result in a homeowner being denied an insurance claim if anything goes wrong with the equipment or the labor involved in the project.
Most of these individuals are highly skilled individuals with a journeyman’s licensed. We do not debate their level of skill, nor do we question their ethics.
We simply point out the facts that many freelance Houston electricians are not permitted to work at the residence and therefore cannot insure their work.
We all see neighbors who hire an individual electrician to install new wiring, or a new light fixture, in or around their home.
Reliable Houston electricians also use only UL or ETL approved equipment.
UL and ETL codes are mandatory for insurance claims to be paid. Cheap equipment may save the homeowner money on the front end, but it will cost a family dearly if it causes an electrical fire that an insurance company refused to cover due to noncompliance with code.
The Most Reliable Houston electricians work in Teams Structured Around the State Apprenticing Program
ILD has always seen to it that our clients receive the maximum benefit from the State of Texas’s licensing program. We have 2 master electricians on staff that function as the supervisory body of our electrical services division. This makes it possible to properly permit and insure every job we do.
Additionally, we make sure our clients get the most for the labor they pay for by requiring every journeyman to be accompanied by at least one apprentice electrician. This maximizes safety, code compliance, and project quality assurance.
Call us now at 713-863-1133 if you are planning a home remodel, lighting system upgrade, or lighting control system installation.