Texas Contractor License Requirements
How contractor regulation actually works in Texas: there is no statewide general contractor license — instead Texas licenses specific trades at the state level (electrical and air conditioning through TDLR, plumbing through TSBPE), while permits, inspections and any contractor registration are decided city by city. Every claim below is traced to an official source with a verification date.
01 The Texas model
Texas is not California, Florida or Arizona. General contracting is simply not licensed by the state — the official state publication says so in one sentence:
- No statewide general contractor license — "General contractors are not required to obtain a license to practice in Texas. A general contractor may be subject to local (county or city) requirements and may need to coordinate with those localities." S-TX-GOV-GUIDE
- State trade licenses — electrical work (Occ. Code Ch. 1305), air conditioning and refrigeration contracting (Ch. 1302) and plumbing (Ch. 1301) each require their own state credential. S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC
- Local permits and registration — permits, inspections, permit fees and any contractor registration are municipal. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-COMPLIANCE
The same conclusion appears in official municipal and legislative documents: Houston's New Business Guide states "PRIME AND/OR GENERAL CONTRACTORS ARE NOT PROFESSIONALLY LICENSED IN HOUSTON OR BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. THERE IS NO 'GENERAL CONTRACTOR LICENSE'," and the House committee analysis of C.S.H.B. 3344 opens with "Texas does not currently require a state-issued license for reroofing contractors." S-TX-HOU-GUIDE S-TX-LEG-HB3344
02 Who regulates
State occupational licensing agency. Licenses electrical work under the Electrical Safety and Licensing Act (Occ. Code Ch. 1305), air conditioning and refrigeration contractors under Occ. Code Ch. 1302, and residential solar retailers/salespersons under Occ. Code Ch. 1806 (SB 1036, 89th Leg.). Publishes the program fee pages, exemptions, continuing education rules and the official license search.
https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/verify.htmState board licensing plumbers under Occ. Code Ch. 1301 ('The Plumbing License Law'). Publishes the verbatim chapter text (PlainView PDF, September 1, 2025 version as amended by H.B. 3214), license/registration/endorsement types, fees, continuing education and the public license search.
https://tsbpe.texas.gov/https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-verification/Official bill text, bill analyses and bill histories. Used for HB 3344 (89R, reroofing contractor licensing — died in Calendars 05/08/2025, NOT law). NOTE: statutes.capitol.texas.gov now serves a JavaScript app shell to plain fetchers and to Googlebot UA — statute section text could not be retrieved from it; Chapter 1301 was read verbatim via TSBPE's own publication instead (published limitation, research record §S.1).
https://capitol.texas.gov/Workers' compensation coverage rules for Texas employers: most private employers may choose whether to carry coverage; employers that elect not to must file the Employer E-File notice of no coverage with TDI (referenced by TDLR's electrical contractor application).
https://www.tdi.texas.gov/Publisher of the Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide — the official state publication that states general contractors are not required to obtain a license to practice in Texas.
https://gov.texas.gov/Used ONLY as the documented LOCAL EXAMPLE of the local layer (contractor registration before permit work, annual trade-contractor updates, permit assignment, inspections). No other Texas locality was researched — local specifics are LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED throughout this site.
https://www.austintexas.gov/development-servicesCorroborating official municipal source (NOT the labeled local example): its New Business Guide states prime/general contractors are not professionally licensed in Houston or by the state of Texas, and its permits page documents the licensed-and-registered trade-contractor permit layer, inspections and the city fee schedule.
https://www.houstontx.gov/business/plan/permits-inspections.htmlTDLR licenses electrical (Electrical Safety and Licensing Act, Occ. Code Ch. 1305), air conditioning and refrigeration (Ch. 1302) and residential solar retailers (Ch. 1806); the Plumbing Examiners board licenses plumbers under Ch. 1301 (its PlainView publication supplies the verbatim statute text — statutes.capitol.texas.gov itself is a JavaScript shell that could not be read, a published limitation); the Governor's office publishes the business guide; TDI governs workers' compensation; the two city authorities document the local layer. All are official sources here.
03 State vs local
The boundary in Texas is unusually clean — and unusually important, because the state layer answers NONE of the permit questions:
| Question | State answer | Local answer |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor license | None exists — no state license, no state registration, no state dollar threshold, no state bond. S-TX-GOV-GUIDE | Registration varies by city (Austin requires it — LOCAL EXAMPLE) S-TX-AUS-REG |
| Electrical / ACR / plumbing work | State occupational license required (with exemptions below) S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC | Building & trade permits, plan review, inspections, permit fees S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-COMPLIANCE |
| Roofing | No state license (the 2025 reroofing bill died in Calendars) S-TX-LEG-HB3344 | Permit and any registration decided by the city |
| Plumbing permit | §1301.551 sets the statewide framework: municipalities shall require permits except for five statutory minor repairs — and may NOT charge a plumbing registration or administrative fee for permit-holders. S-TX-TSBPE-LAW | The city issues the permit, sets the terms and inspects S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-COMPLIANCE |
| Local registration fee on state licensees | Barred for electrical licensees (§1305.201) — a city may require registration but "may not charge a fee to do so"; building permit fees remain chargeable. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-COMPLIANCE | Registration itself can still be mandatory locally |
We do not publish local permit amounts, timelines or registration requirements beyond the documented City of Austin example — those are LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED, and no other Texas locality was researched in this phase.
04 Credential model
Texas does not have one credential shape — it has three, and forcing them into a single "contractor license" model would be false:
- Business license + designated individual — the company holds the Electrical Contractor license and must employ a licensed Master Electrician of record (who may be the owner; assignable to only ONE contractor unless the master owns more than 50% of the business). S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC
- Individual license + RMP (plumbing) — plumbers hold personal licenses (§1301.351: proper license + supervision), and a plumbing company operates under ONE Responsible Master Plumber who allows the license to be used, obtains permits, assumes responsibility and files a certificate of insurance. S-TX-TSBPE-LAW
- Registration — plumber's apprentice (TSBPE) and residential solar retailers/salespersons (TDLR, in effect since 2026-09-01) are registrations, not licenses. S-TX-TDLR-SOLAR
Occ. Code §1301.359: '(a) A license, endorsement, or registration issued under this chapter is valid throughout this state. (b) … the number of a license, endorsement, or registration issued under this chapter is not assignable or transferable.' S-TX-TSBPE-LAW
05 State trade credentials
There is no general contractor classification in Texas — so none is shown. These 9 rows are the actual state credential categories, each carrying the credential that issues it (business license, individual license or registration):
| Code | Credential | Category | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TACL/B | acr contractor license | Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor — Class B | S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY |
| TRADESMAN-PLUMBER-LIMITED | plumber license | Tradesman Plumber-Limited (individual) | S-TX-TSBPE-LAW |
| TECL | electrical contractor license | Electrical Contractor (business) | S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLY |
| MASTER-ELECTRICIAN | electrician license | Master Electrician (individual) | S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC |
| MASTER-PLUMBER | plumber license | Master Plumber (individual) | S-TX-TSBPE-LAW |
| TACL/A | acr contractor license | Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor — Class A | S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY |
| RMP | plumber license | Responsible Master Plumber (individual designation) | S-TX-TSBPE-LAW |
| JOURNEYMAN-PLUMBER | plumber license | Journeyman Plumber (individual) | S-TX-TSBPE-LAW |
| APPRENTICE-REGISTRATION | plumber registration | Plumber's Apprentice (registration) | S-TX-TSBPE-LAW |
06 Exemptions and thresholds
Because there is no general license, Texas "exemptions" live inside the TRADE statutes — each keeps its own conditions, and every electrical exemption carries TDLR's override note:
TDLR's exemptions page carries the note, verbatim: 'Municipal or regional regulations may override these exemptions, as outlined in Sec. 1305.201 of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act.' The Compliance Guide states the practical test: the homeowner exemption applies where 'the electrical work is not regulated by city ordinance.' S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT
- Maintenance person exemption — TWO conditions (§1305.003(a)(8)) — 'A maintenance person/electrician who does not engage in electrical work for the public and does not install electrical equipment in new construction is not required by the state to be licensed as an electrician' (§1305.003(a)(8)) — BOTH conditions are mandatory: no electrical work for the public AND no new construction. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT
- HVAC electrical connections exempt only for LICENSED ACR work (§1305.003(a)(11)) — 'Those who perform electrical work on electrical connections for heating and air-conditioning work done by licensed air-conditioning and refrigeration contractors including any disconnect exclusively for the equipment are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians' (§1305.003(a)(11)). The condition is the ACR work itself being done BY A LICENSED ACR CONTRACTOR. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT
- Low-voltage, fire alarm and landscaping lighting exemptions (§1305.003(a)(12)-(13)) — Not required to be licensed as electricians: persons performing electrical work on class 1, 2, or 3 remote control, signaling or power limited circuits, fire alarm circuits, optical fiber cables, or communications circuits (§1305.003(a)(12)); landscapers performing electrical work on low-voltage exterior lighting, EXCLUDING power sources (§1305.003(a)(13)); landscape irrigation installers on irrigation control systems (§1305.003(a)(13)). S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT
- Agricultural-use buildings/structures/equipment (§1305.003(a)(18)) — 'Those who perform electrical work on buildings, structures, or equipment in agricultural use, as defined by Sec. 11.002 of the Texas Water Code, are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians' (§1305.003(a)(18)) — conditioned on AGRICULTURAL USE as defined by Water Code §11.002. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT
- Service mains on certain private property — NOT 1-2 family dwellings (§1301.059) — §1301.059: no license is required to install, service, or repair service mains or service lines providing water, sewer, or storm drainage services on private property in an area extending from a public right-of-way or public easement to not less than five feet from a building — but 'This section does not apply to plumbing work performed on private property designated for use as a one-family or two-family dwelling.' S-TX-TSBPE-LAW
- Homeowner electrical exemption — owns AND resides (§1305.003(a)(6)) — TDLR: 'A person who perform electrical work on a dwelling that they own and resides in is not required by the state to be licensed as electricians' (§1305.003(a)(6)). TWO conditions must hold together — the person OWNS the dwelling and RESIDES in it — and the exemption is a state floor that municipal regulation may override (§1305.201). S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT
- Residential appliance dealers servicing EXISTING appliances (§1305.003(a)(22)) — 'Residential appliance dealers, manufacturers, or their authorized designees who perform electrical work while repairing or performing service on an existing appliance are specifically exempted by the law to be licensed as electricians' (§1305.003(a)(22)) — repair/service on an EXISTING appliance only. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT
- Property owner plumbing in own homestead (§1301.051) — Occ. Code §1301.051: 'A property owner is not required to be licensed under this chapter to perform plumbing in the property owner's homestead.' No price cap; the exemption is tied to THE HOMESTEAD, and local permits still apply (§1301.551). S-TX-TSBPE-LAW
- Rural/unconnected property plumbing — not new construction, repair or remodeling (§1301.052) — §1301.052: a person is not required to be licensed to perform plumbing — OTHER than plumbing performed in conjunction with new construction, repair, or remodeling — on a property that is: (1) in a subdivision or tract not required to be platted under Local Gov't Code §232.0015; (2) not connected to a public water system and located outside a municipality; (3) outside a municipality and connected to a public water system that does not require a license to perform plumbing; or (4) as further listed in the statute for certain extraterritorial-jurisdiction connections. S-TX-TSBPE-LAW
- Municipal regulations may override the state electrical exemptions — TDLR's exemptions page carries the note, verbatim: 'Municipal or regional regulations may override these exemptions, as outlined in Sec. 1305.201 of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act.' The Compliance Guide states the practical test: the homeowner exemption applies where 'the electrical work is not regulated by city ordinance.' S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT
- Appliance dealers and maintenance work — EXCEPT water heaters (§1301.053) — §1301.053 exempts plumbing incidental to the business of a regularly employed maintenance person (no plumbing for the public); railroad employees on railroad premises; public service company service mains to the point of measurement; appliance dealers connecting appliances to existing openings with a code-approved appliance connector — 'other than installation and service work on water heaters' — and water treatment installations/exchanges/services (not rainwater-to-fixture). §1301.053(b): all such work 'is subject to inspection and approval as provided by applicable state law or municipal ordinance'. S-TX-TSBPE-LAW
Because no statewide general contractor license exists, Texas sets no statewide dollar threshold that turns general construction work into licensable work; the trigger for general work is a LOCAL permit requirement (city by city), not a price. S-TX-GOV-GUIDE
The only numeric scope gate in Texas licensing is equipment capacity: ACR Class B covers cooling ≤ 25 tons and heating ≤ 1.5 million BTU/hour — above either limit, Class A is required (rule TX-ACR-CLASS). S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY
07 Local layer (Austin example)
LOCAL EXAMPLE — NOT STATEWIDE. The City of Austin is used here only to show what the local layer actually contains. No other Texas locality was researched, and nothing below applies automatically to any other city.
The state issues the credential and nothing else: plumbing licenses are "valid throughout this state" and nontransferable (§1301.359); TDLR performs no local inspections and states that "cities have their own authority under state law to establish local ordinances and fee schedules." S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-COMPLIANCE
Two fee bars ARE statewide: a city may require a registration of a state electrical licensee but "may not charge a fee to do so" (§1305.201), and a person required to obtain a plumbing permit owes no municipal plumbing registration or administrative fee (§1301.551(g)) — building permit fees remain chargeable. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-COMPLIANCE
City of Austin: 'Before beginning any construction associated with a building permit and trade permit(s), trade contractors, general contractors, and homeowners acting as contractors must register as a Contractor with Building and Trade Contractor Services. Once the Contractor is registered, they can be assigned to the applicable permit and can begin construction and inspections.' 'In the State of Texas, a license and registration are required for each type of trade with the applicable board or State department, along with the City of Austin's Building and Trade Contractor Services.' Trade contractors update registration annually with their state license information; General Contractors are 'not required to update their registration annually since a license is not required.' S-TX-AUS-REG
Houston — corroboration only, not the labeled example: licensed and registered contractors pull trade permits online, and "All construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official." S-TX-HOU-PERMIT
Permit amounts, timelines, local bonds and every other city's registration rules are LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED.
08 Bonds
Texas is the first state here with a deliberately EMPTY bond table — zero bond_requirement rows, because nothing statewide requires one:
- No statewide contractor bond — there is no state general contractor license for a bond to attach to. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLY
- State trade programs require insurance, not bonds — every TDLR and TSBPE application, renewal and fee page read on 2026-10-02 demands liability insurance; none mentions a surety bond. S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC
- Local bonds — some Texas cities require a bond as part of contractor registration; never researched to a verifiable amount, so none is published — LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED.
- Bill context only — C.S.H.B. 3344 would have required a reroofing surety bond by rule; the bill died in Calendars and is not law. S-TX-LEG-HB3344
No statewide general contractor license exists (REQ-TX-NO-GC-001), so no statewide contractor license bond attaches to general construction. The TDLR electrical and ACR programs and the TSBPE plumbing program impose COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE requirements (and the RMP certificate of insurance), not surety bonds — every application, renewal and fee page of those programs read on 2026-10-02 requires insurance, not a bond.
09 Insurance
Where California, Florida and Arizona post bonds, Texas trade programs demand liability insurance — with different amounts per credential class:
| Coverage | Status | Applies when / amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGL | required by board | electrical contractor license held — must be maintained at all times while licensed $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate / $300,000 products-completed operations aggregate TDLR board requirement (not a statute amount); identical figures repeat on the renew page — checked, consistent. | S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLY |
| CGL | required by board | ACR contractor license held (Class A or Class B) — Texas-authorized insurer Class A $300,000/$600,000/$300,000; Class B $100,000/$200,000/$100,000 (per occurrence / aggregate / products-completed operations) Waiver available only when no longer serving the public or employed by another contractor — a waived licensee may not contract with the general public (renew page). | S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY |
| CGL | required by law | before a master plumber works as a Responsible Master Plumber (§1301.3576 → §1301.552) commercial general liability, Texas-authorized insurer, not less than $300,000 for all claims arising in a one-year period Political subdivisions verify the board filing before issuing plumbing permits — the insurance requirement is what the local permit desk checks (§1301.552). | S-TX-TSBPE-LAW |
| WC | not required | most private employers may choose (Texas non-subscriber state); electrical contractor APPLICANTS must give proof, self-insure authority, or a statement of election not to obtain WC (Labor Code Ch. 406 Subch. A) and non-subscribers file the TDI Employer E-File notice AMOUNT: NOT VERIFIED — no licensing dollar figure exists to publish. 'not_required' describes the general private-employer baseline; the licensing decision point is documented in appliesWhen (research §K). | S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLY |
Texas does not require most private employers to carry workers' compensation. However, an electrical contractor LICENSE APPLICANT must submit one of: proof of having obtained workers' compensation insurance, a certificate of authority to self-insure, OR a statement of election not to obtain workers' compensation (Labor Code Ch. 406 Subchapter A) — and an employer who elects not to obtain coverage must file the online Employer E-File notice of no coverage with the Texas Department of Insurance. S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLY
10 Renewal and continuing education
Every Texas credential in this data set renews annually — but the CE rules split sharply between contractors and individuals:
A first plumbing license term may land 6–18 months after the exam pass date; §1301.401(b) expressly authorizes the board's varied-expiration system, so the published cycle stays annual and the variance is published as a note (full detail in Conflicts below). S-TX-TSBPE-TYPES
11 State fees
The 21 verified whole-dollar LICENSING fees charged by TDLR and the Plumbing Examiners board. Building permit fees are local and deliberately absent; three official amounts carrying cents ($128.50 master exam, $37.50 and $7.50 late renewals) are published as statement text because the fee table stores whole dollars.
| Fee | Amount | Kind | Charged by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor license — annual renewal (non-refundable) Standard on-time renewal. The often-seen '$165 renewal' figure is the expired-tier fee below, not this one (CONFLICT check §Q). | $110 | renewal | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-RENEW |
| Electrical Contractor license — renewal when expired 90 days or less Verbatim expired-license ladder on the TDLR renew page. | $165 | renewal | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-RENEW |
| Electrical Contractor license — renewal when expired 91 days to 18 months The same $220 applies to 18–36 months expired, by mail with a Request to Executive Director. Expired 36+ months: NOT renewable — re-apply as a new applicant. | $220 | renewal | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-RENEW |
| Master Electrician license — application (non-refundable, by mail) Individual license application; exam fee is NOT VERIFIED (PSI Bulletin) — no exam number published. | $45 | application | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC |
| Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license — application License valid 1 year from date of issue; applicant must be at least 18; exam requirements within 1 year of filing. | $115 | application | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY |
| Air Conditioning and Refrigeration license — class upgrade or added endorsement change fee Class B→A or add-endorsement: $25 change fee PLUS a new exam ($74 for the upgrade) and, for an upgrade, the higher insurance tier. | $25 | miscellaneous | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-ACR-RENEW |
| Air Conditioning and Refrigeration licensing exam — class upgrade / new endorsement (PSI) The ONLY exam fee published on a TDLR page: the upgrade/add-endorsement exam (renew page). The INITIAL ACR exam fee lives in the Candidate Information Bulletin — NOT VERIFIED, withheld (research §S.2). | $74 | application | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-ACR-RENEW |
| Master Plumber — exam processing fee (payable to TSBPE) The $128.50 exam fee itself is payable to Pearson VUE on the day of the exam — published as text in REQ-TX-EXAM-PLUMB-001 (the fee table stores whole dollars). | $25 | application | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-MASTER |
| Master Plumber — initial license (certificate of licensure and pocket card) Paid after passing the exam. This is the same charge as the page's '$75 fee to obtain your certificate of licensure' sentence — checked, counted once (research §Q). | $75 | license | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-MASTER |
| Master Plumber — annual renewal Holders of both journeyman and master pay only the master renewal fee. | $75 | renewal | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-MASTER |
| Master Plumber — late renewal when expired more than 90 days The <90-days late fee is $37.50 — published as text (whole-dollar fee table). Nothing may be renewed after 2 years expired (reinstatement instead). | $75 | renewal | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-MASTER |
| Journeyman Plumber — exam fee Exam application submitted with documentation and Employer Certification Form(s). | $40 | application | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-JOURNEYMAN |
| Journeyman Plumber — initial license Paid after passing the exam to obtain the certificate of licensure and pocket card. | $40 | license | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-JOURNEYMAN |
| Journeyman Plumber — annual renewal Only the master renewal is paid when both journeyman and master licenses are held. | $40 | renewal | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-JOURNEYMAN |
| Journeyman Plumber — late renewal when expired less than 90 days | $20 | renewal | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-JOURNEYMAN |
| Journeyman Plumber — late renewal when expired more than 90 days | $40 | renewal | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-JOURNEYMAN |
| Plumber's Apprentice — registration application Registration, not a license; must be registered before experience hours start counting. | $15 | application | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-APPRENTICE |
| Plumber's Apprentice — annual renewal | $15 | renewal | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-APPRENTICE |
| Plumber's Apprentice — late renewal when expired more than 90 days The <90-days late fee is $7.50 — published as text (whole-dollar fee table). | $15 | renewal | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | S-TX-TSBPE-APPRENTICE |
| Electrical Contractor license — application (non-refundable) Submitted with the Electrical Contractor or Electrical Sign Contractor License Application. | $110 | application | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLY |
| Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license — annual renewal Late renewal is charged as 1-1/2× (expired ≤90 days) or 2× (>90 days–<18 months; 18 months–3 years with executive-director approval) — official multipliers, dollar products not published. | $65 | renewal | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | S-TX-TDLR-ACR-RENEW |
Withheld on purpose (never guessed): initial electrician and ACR exam fees (live in PSI Candidate Information Bulletins — NOT VERIFIED), tradesman-plumber fees, solar retailer registration fees, and the ACR late-renewal dollar products (official multipliers only).
12 Exams and experience
ACR exams — application first, PSI, per class + endorsement; initial fee NOT VERIFIED
Applicants must submit an application before becoming eligible; TDLR verifies eligibility and sends a PSI eligibility email. Contractor endorsement examinations: TX Commercial Refrigeration A, TX Environmental Air A, TX Commercial Refrigeration B, TX Environmental Air B (the exam follows the class and endorsements selected). Retakes are possible until the application expires (one year from the date submitted). The initial exam fee lives in the Candidate Information Bulletin — NOT VERIFIED; the only published exam fee is the $74 class-upgrade/new-endorsement exam (renew page).
Source S-TX-TDLR-ACR-EXAM — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Exam Information | TDLR — tdlr.texas.gov/acr/acrexam.htm (read 2026-10-02); $74 from contractor-renew.htm
https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/acr/acrexam.htm
Retrieved 2026-10-02 · last verified 2026-10-02
Read verbatim 2026-10-02 (HTTP 200). Application first, then TDLR verifies eligibility, then PSI eligibility email; contractor endorsement exams: TX Commercial Refrigeration A, TX Environmental Air A, TX Commercial Refrigeration B, TX Environmental Air B; retakes until the application expires (one year from submission); fee details live in the Candidate Information Bulletin — initial exam fee NOT VERIFIED (only the $74 upgrade exam on the renew page is published).
Plumbing exams — journeyman and master eligibility, fees, fingerprints, reciprocity
Every license requires its examination (§1301.352). Journeyman eligibility: registered apprentice or tradesman (or journeyman/master in another state), ≥8,000 hours, 48-hour TSBPE-approved course or DOL apprenticeship (course waived for out-of-state journeyman/master holders); exam application fee $40, initial license $40 after passing. Master eligibility: journeyman ≥2 years, or ≥1 year + DOL-approved apprenticeship, or master elsewhere with prior journeyman history; exam processing $25 to TSBPE + exam fee $128.50 to Pearson VUE on the day of the exam + $75 for the certificate of licensure and pocket card. All applicants/examinees submit fingerprints (one-time); felony convictions require the Supplemental Criminal History Information Form. Reciprocity: §1301.3581 — the board MAY waive prerequisites for substantially equivalent licenses; not automatic.
Source S-TX-TSBPE-MASTER — Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)
Master Plumber | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners — tsbpe.texas.gov master-plumber + journeyman pages (fees/eligibility, read 2026-10-02); §1301.3581 from the law PDF
https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/master-plumber/
Retrieved 2026-10-02 · last verified 2026-10-02
Read verbatim 2026-10-02 (HTTP 200). Exam eligibility: journeyman in Texas or another state held ≥2 years, or ≥1 year + DOL Office of Apprenticeship approved training, or master elsewhere with prior journeyman history (both variants). Scope: 'A Master Plumber may install, change, repair, service, or renovate plumbing under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber.' Fees block: Exam Processing Fee (TSBPE) $25; Exam Fee (Pearson VUE, day of exam) $128.50; Initial License Fee $75; Renewal Fee $75; Late Renewal Fee expired <90 days $37.50; >90 days $75. $75 also described as the post-exam certificate of licensure/pocket card fee — SAME charge as the initial license fee (checked, not double-counted — research §Q).
Master Electrician — journeyman license ≥2 years + 12,000 hours
To apply for a Master Electrician license you must have held a Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years and show 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician licensed in Texas; each supervisor verifies on an Experience Verification Form (a prior municipal or regional master electrician license lets you verify your own years). $45 non-refundable application by mail; exam after TDLR approval; license valid one year.
Source S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Apply for a New Master Electrician License | TDLR — tdlr.texas.gov master-electrician apply page (read 2026-10-02)
https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/master-electrician.htm
Retrieved 2026-10-02 · last verified 2026-10-02
Read verbatim 2026-10-02 (HTTP 200). VERBATIM: 'With the exception of certain allowed exemptions, anyone who performs electrical work in the state of Texas must be licensed.' Eligibility: Journeyman Electrician license held at least two years + 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician (prior municipal/regulatory master experience self-verifiable for those years); $45 non-refundable application fee by mail; exam after application approval; license valid one year, renewed annually; criminal-history questionnaire for convictions.
ACR contractor experience — 48/72 months, or 12+36/48, or an exception
Eligibility (one of): at least 48 months of practical ACR experience under the supervision of a licensed ACR contractor in the past 72 months; OR technician certification for the past 12 months plus at least 36 months of such experience in the past 48 months. Exceptions: ACR degree/diploma/certification; licensed engineer or mechanical engineering degree; military ACR training; employment by an industrial operation performing process cooling or heating. All experience documented on TDLR's Experience Verification Form completed by the supervisor.
Source S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Apply for an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License | TDLR — tdlr.texas.gov/acr/contractor-apply.htm 'Experience Requirements' (read 2026-10-02)
https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/acr/contractor-apply.htm
Retrieved 2026-10-02 · last verified 2026-10-02
Read verbatim 2026-10-02 (HTTP 200). Source of: $115 application fee; license valid 1 year; age 18+; experience 48 months under a licensed contractor in the past 72 months OR technician certification 12 months + 36 months in the past 48, with four exceptions (ACR degree, licensed engineer/mechanical engineering degree, military ACR training, industrial process cooling/heating employment); Class A = any size unit, Class B = cooling ≤25 tons and heating ≤1.5 million BTU/hour; endorsements Environmental Air Conditioning / Commercial Refrigeration / Process Cooling or Heating; license number form TACL/A/000000/C; 'The license class and endorsements that you choose will determine what type of work you can perform'; insurance table Class A $300,000/$600,000/$300,000 and Class B $100,000/$200,000/$100,000 from a Texas-authorized insurer with COI after the exam; all requirements including the exam within one year of filing.
Electrician exams — PSI, 70%, open book NEC 2026, fee NOT VERIFIED
Testing is approved only after TDLR reviews the application and receives the fee; exams are administered by PSI throughout Texas; applicants have one year from the date the application was received to satisfy ALL requirements including passing; a score of 70% or better is required; the exam is open book with the National Electrical Code 2026 Edition (candidate brings their own); retakes allowed. From March 11, 2025 the Journeyman Electrician exam consists of a knowledge portion and a calculations portion. The examination FEE is published only in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin — NOT VERIFIED, no number published.
Source S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXAM — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Electrician Exam Information | TDLR — tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecexam.htm (read 2026-10-02)
https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elecexam.htm
Retrieved 2026-10-02 · last verified 2026-10-02
Read verbatim 2026-10-02 (HTTP 200). PSI-administered; testing approved only after application review and fee receipt; one year from application receipt to satisfy all requirements; 70% to pass; open book with the NEC 2026 Edition (candidates bring their own); Journeyman exam split into knowledge + calculations portions since 2025-03-11; retakes allowed. Exam FEE amount is NOT on this page ('fees can be found in the Candidate Information Bulletin') — NOT VERIFIED, no number published.
The initial electrician and ACR exam fees were never retrievable from the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin — NOT VERIFIED. Rather than publish a half-guessed page, all verified exam facts (PSI, 70%, open-book NEC 2026, plumbing eligibility and fees, reciprocity §1301.3581) live here. NOT_DETERMINED beats a plausible invention. S-TX-TSBPE-MASTER
13 Official lookup
Before hiring — or before claiming your own license status — check the official state searches. Both are linked, not mirrored, so the status vocabulary is whatever the agency publishes:
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/verify.htm S-TX-TDLR-VERIFY
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) — https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-verification/ S-TX-TSBPE-VERIFY
Verified by fetch on 2026-10-02: the TDLR hub serves License Search (individuals and businesses, by industry), enforcement actions and TABS project search; TSBPE exposes its Public License Search from the homepage (the inner results render via JavaScript — capability announced, content not scraped).
14 Project examples
Solar Installation solar-installation
- may require TECL Electrical Contractor (business) S-TX-TDLR-SOLAR rule TX-SOLAR
- component basis MASTER-ELECTRICIAN Master Electrician (individual) S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLY
HVAC Repair hvac-repair
- may require TACL/B Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor — Class B S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY rule TX-ACR-CLASS
- alternative TACL/A Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor — Class A S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY rule TX-ACR-CLASS
Roof Replacement roof-replacement
Texas has no state roofing or general-contractor credential for this project to relate to (HB 3344 died in Calendars; Governor's guide: "General contractors are not required to obtain a license to practice in Texas"). The answer comes from the rules and the local permit layer — the absence of rows IS the finding. S-TX-LEG-HB3344
Water Heater Replacement water-heater-replacement
- may require MASTER-PLUMBER Master Plumber (individual) S-TX-TSBPE-LAW rule TX-OWNER-PLUMBING
Minor Work minor-work
- may require TECL Electrical Contractor (business) S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC rule TX-ELECTRICAL-WORK
- may require MASTER-PLUMBER Master Plumber (individual) S-TX-TSBPE-LAW rule TX-OWNER-PLUMBING
Every project page runs the deterministic rule first: missing facts return NOT_DETERMINED, never a forced answer — and no project page pretends Texas has one statewide answer where the answer is genuinely the city's.
15 Scope assertions
Scope is recorded as typed assertions — officially included, officially excluded, requires another classification, not determined, or our interpretation (always marked). There is no boolean "covers".
- Officially included texas:acr-contractor-a — Acr Work On Units Of Any Size (TDLR ACR contractor apply page (Occ. Code Ch. 1302)) S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLYVerbatim: 'The Class A license allows you to work on any size unit.' Class A also requires the $300,000/$600,000/$300,000 insurance tier. Encoded by rule TX-ACR-CLASS (outcome class_a_required when capacity exceeds Class B).
- Officially included texas:acr-contractor-b — Cooling Up To 25 Tons And Heating Up To 1 5m Btu Per Hour (TDLR ACR contractor apply page (Occ. Code Ch. 1302)) S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLYVerbatim: 'The Class B license allows you to work on cooling systems of 25 tons and under, and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and under.' The ONLY numeric scope threshold in Texas licensing (research §H) — encoded by rule TX-ACR-CLASS. Above either limit the work needs Class A (rule outcome class_a_required).
- Officially included texas:acr-contractor-a — Electrical Connections For Licensed Acr Work Without Electrician License (Occ. Code §1305.003(a)(11)) S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT'Licensed air-conditioning and refrigeration contractors are not required by the state to be licensed as electricians in order to establish electrical connections for heating and air-conditioning work or for any disconnect exclusively for the equipment.' The exemption is for LICENSED ACR work — if the ACR work itself is unlicensed, no electrical exemption exists. Subject to the §1305.201 local override (REQ-TX-LOCAL-OVERRIDE-001).
- Officially included texas:acr-contractor-b — Electrical Connections For Licensed Acr Work Without Electrician License (Occ. Code §1305.003(a)(11)) S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPTSame statutory exemption as SCOPE-TX-ACR-A-HVAC-ELECTRICAL — recorded per class so each classification row carries its own scope evidence. Still limited by Class B capacity (SCOPE-TX-ACR-B-CAPACITY) and the local override.
- Requires another classification texas:journeyman-plumber — Supervision By A Responsible Master Plumber (Occ. Code §1301.002(4)(C); §1301.351(a)(2)) S-TX-TSBPE-LAWVerbatim scope: the journeyman 'installs, changes, repairs, services, or renovates plumbing or supervises any of those activities UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A RESPONSIBLE MASTER PLUMBER.' The journeyman may directly supervise apprentices on all job sites and tradesman plumbers on job sites other than one- and two-family dwellings.
- Requires another classification texas:plumbers-apprentice — Direct Supervision By A Tsbpe Licensee On The Job Site (Occ. Code §1301.002(6); TSBPE apprentice scope page) S-TX-TSBPE-APPRENTICEAlso: 'You MUST register as a Plumber's Apprentice before you can start counting the hours of experience you have working in the plumbing trade' — hours worked before registration do not count toward the tradesman or journeyman exams.
- Officially included texas:master-electrician — Serving As Master Of Record For Electrical Contractor Licenses (Occ. Code §1305.153 (master of record); TDLR apply/renew/compliance pages) S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLYA Master Electrician may only be assigned to a single Electrical Contractor unless the master owns more than 50 percent of the electrical contracting business; when the master leaves, the business must notify TDLR and designate a new master within thirty business days. This is the qualifying-individual mechanism of the Texas electrical credential model (research §E).
- Officially included texas:tradesman-plumber-limited — Plumbing In One And Two Family Dwellings Under Rmp Supervision (Occ. Code §1301.002(10)(C)) S-TX-TSBPE-LAWThe word 'constructs and installs plumbing for one-family or two-family dwellings' is the LIMIT of this license — larger structures need journeyman/master coverage under an RMP. Qualification: 4,000 apprenticeship hours or an approved CTE course sequence, plus the exam.
- Officially excluded texas:responsible-master-plumber — Allowing The Master License To Be Used By More Than One Plumbing Company (Occ. Code §1301.002(9-a)(A)) S-TX-TSBPE-LAWVerbatim: the RMP 'allows the person's master plumber license to be used by ONE plumbing company for the purpose of offering and performing plumbing work under the person's master plumber license.' The RMP also is authorized to obtain permits, assumes responsibility for the work, and must have the §1301.3576 certificate of insurance on file.
16 Sources
Every source used on this page: official URL, publishing authority, retrieval date and verification date. Commercial contractor sites, SEO directories and law-firm marketing pages were discovery leads only and are never cited as authority.
17 Last verified
| Checked | Subject | Method | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-GOV-GUIDE | retrieval | confirmed | PDF downloaded from gov.texas.gov and text-extracted with pdftotext 2026-10-02 — VERBATIM centerpiece quote: 'General contractors are not required to obtain a license to practice in Texas. A general contractor may be subject to local (county or city) requirements and may need to coordinate with those localities.' The trade license list under that heading contains no general contractor or roofing license. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-APPLY | http check | confirmed | tdlr.texas.gov electrical contractor apply page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — contractor scope text, master-of-record rules (single contractor unless >50% owner; 30 business days to designate a new master), $110 non-refundable application, $300k/$600k/$300k liability, WC proof-or-election (Labor Code Ch. 406 Subch. A) + TDI Employer E-File, one-year term. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-RENEW | http check | confirmed | tdlr.texas.gov electrical contractor renew page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — $110 renewal; expired ladder $165 (≤90d) / $220 (91d–18mo) / $220 (18–36mo, mail + ED request) / N/A (>36mo, re-apply); insurance figures identical to the apply page (checked, consistent); master-of-record text repeated. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXEMPT | http check | confirmed | tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/exemptions.htm read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — §1305.003 exemptions with citations ((a)(6) homeowner owns+resides, (a)(11) HVAC connections for licensed ACR work, (a)(12) low voltage/fire alarm, (a)(13) landscaping lighting/irrigation, (a)(8) maintenance person two conditions, (a)(22) appliance dealers existing appliances, (a)(18) agriculture, (a)(5) government) and the global note 'Municipal or regional regulations may override these exemptions, as outlined in Sec. 1305.201'. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-COMPLIANCE | http check | confirmed | Compliance Guide read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — §2.1 local inspections, §4.1 city registration allowed but no fee (§1305.201) while building-permit fees remain chargeable and cities set ordinances/fee schedules, §3.2 plumber's limited electrical exemption (HB 1029 (80R)), §5.1 invoice/contract content, §5.2 TECL/TSCL/TICL vehicle lettering, §5.3 master-of-record rules, §1.1 NEC 2023 effective 2023-09-01. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-CE | http check | confirmed | elecce.htm read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — 4 hours CE for all individual electrician classes; 'Contractors and Residential Appliance Installers are not required to complete continuing education'; subjects NEC/Ch. 1305/16 TAC 73/NFPA 70E; registered providers; 1 hour = 50 minutes. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ELEC-EXAM | http check | confirmed | elecexam.htm read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — PSI, 70% pass, open book NEC 2026, one-year window, journeyman knowledge+calculations split since 2025-03-11. Exam fee lives in the Candidate Information Bulletin and is NOT published (NOT_VERIFIED — withheld, research §S.2). |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-MASTER-ELEC | http check | confirmed | master-electrician apply page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — 'anyone who performs electrical work in the state of Texas must be licensed' (with exemptions); journeyman ≥2 years + 12,000 hours OJT; $45 non-refundable by mail; one-year license; exam after approval. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ACR-APPLY | http check | confirmed | ACR apply page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — $115, 1-year license, 18+, Class A any size / Class B ≤25 tons & ≤1.5M BTU, three endorsements, TACL/A/000000/C format, experience 48/72 or 12+36/48 with four exceptions, insurance table 300/600/300 and 100/200/100, one-year application window for exam completion. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ACR-RENEW | http check | confirmed | ACR renew page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — $65 renewal, 8h CE/year, no contracting while expired, 1.5×/2×/2×+ED late ladder, class upgrade $25 + $74 exam, add endorsement $25 + relevant exam fee, insurance-waiver conditions. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-ACR-EXAM | http check | confirmed | acrexam.htm read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — application-first eligibility, PSI, four contractor endorsement exams, retakes until application expiry (1 year). Initial exam fee not on the page (Bulletin) — NOT VERIFIED; only the $74 upgrade exam fee (renew page) is published. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-SOLAR | http check | confirmed | residential-solar-retailers/effect.htm read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — SB 1036 / Ch. 1806 timeline (contract provisions 2025-09-01; registration 2026-09-01), installation by a licensed electrical contractor with name+license number in the contract, permit + interconnection obligations, 5th-business-day cancellation. Registration fees/cycle NOT captured (research §S.4). |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDLR-VERIFY | http check | confirmed | tdlr.texas.gov/verify.htm read (HTTP 200) — official verification hub (License Search for individuals and businesses, by industry, enforcement actions). Linked, not mirrored. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TSBPE-LAW | retrieval | confirmed | TSBPE 'Plumbing License Law (PlainView)' PDF (September 1, 2025) downloaded and text-extracted 2026-10-02 — verbatim Ch. 1301 as amended by H.B. 3214: §1301.051 owner homestead, §1301.052 rural, §1301.053 incidental work (water-heater carve-out), §1301.059 service mains, §1301.302 contract content, §1301.351 license+supervision+(a-2) RMP, §1301.3576/§1301.552 RMP insurance ≥$300k/year, §1301.359 statewide validity, §1301.401 annual + varied expiry, §1301.404 6h CPE (3 subjects), §1301.551 municipal permits/exception list/(g) no local fee, §1301.002 definitions (8,000h journeyman, 4,000h tradesman, master 2y/1y+apprenticeship, RMP one company). statutes.capitol.texas.gov itself serves a JS shell — published limitation. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TSBPE-TYPES | http check | conflict | license-types page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — 4 licenses / 3 endorsements / 4 registrations, annual renewal, 6h CPE, >2-year reinstatement rule, endorsement 3-year cycle. Its 'first expiration random 6-18 months' sentence disagrees at face value with §1301.401(a) 'valid for one year' — CONFLICT-TX-001, RESOLVED by §1301.401(b) (varied-expiration system expressly authorized). Both sources displayed in the conflict row; the published renewal cycle is 12 months with a first-term note. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TSBPE-MASTER | http check | confirmed | master-plumber page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — eligibility routes, scope under RMP, fees block ($25 processing / $128.50 Pearson VUE / $75 initial / $75 renewal / $37.50 <90d / $75 >90d). The '$75 certificate of licensure' sentence and 'Initial License Fee: $75' are the same charge — counted once (checked, no conflict, research §Q). |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TSBPE-JOURNEYMAN | http check | confirmed | journeyman page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — eligibility (8,000 h + 48-hour course, waivers for out-of-state licensees), scope under RMP, supervision of apprentices/tradesman, fees ($40 exam / $40 initial / $40 renewal / $20 / $40 late). $40 exam application vs $40 initial license read as two distinct charges per the page's own Fees block — checked, no conflict (research §Q). |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TSBPE-APPRENTICE | http check | confirmed | apprentice page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — 16+, $15/$15 fees, late $7.50/$15, direct-supervision definition, hours-count rule (register before hours count), scope of manual tasks without a licensee present. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TSBPE-VERIFY | http check | confirmed | License Verification URL confirmed as the TSBPE 'Public License Search' target from homepage/consumer-information navigation 2026-10-02; the page body renders via JavaScript so inner text was not extracted. Linked, not mirrored — no scraping dependency. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-LEG-HB3344 | retrieval | confirmed | Two official pages read 2026-10-02: (1) the committee analysis — 'Texas does not currently require a state-issued license for reroofing contractors' plus what the bill WOULD create (TDLR licensing, 2-year term, insurance + bond by rule, rules due 2026-04-01, issuance from 2026-06-01, effective 2025-09-01); (2) the bill history — last action 'Committee report sent to Calendars' 05/08/2025 and nothing after. Conclusion: HB 3344 died; NOT law; no reroofing license exists (REQ-TX-ROOFING-001). |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-TDI-WC | http check | unavailable | The TDI employer coverage page was read successfully EARLIER on 2026-10-02 (WC optional for most private employers; non-subscribers notify via Employer E-File). A later re-fetch the same day returned HTTP 500 (site unavailable) — recorded honestly as 'unavailable' for that check. No requirement row depends on the TDI fetch alone: REQ-TX-WC-001 cites the TDLR application page (read verbatim), which states the proof-or-election trio and the Employer E-File duty. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-AUS-REG | http check | confirmed | Austin contractor-registration page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — mandatory GC/trade/homeowner registration before permit work, 'In Texas, anyone can be a General Contractor, including homeowners, and a state license is not required', state license + city registration for trades, annual trade updates, GC no annual update, AB+C portal + Letter of Authorization + PIN process, permit/inspection/CO responsibilities. NO local fee/bond/insurance amount on the page — none published (LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED). Labeled LOCAL EXAMPLE — NOT STATEWIDE. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-HOU-PERMIT | http check | confirmed | Houston permits-inspections page read VERBATIM (HTTP 200) — licensed and registered trade contractors pull plumbing/electrical/mechanical permits online and schedule inspections; inspection mandate quote; Certificate of Occupancy rules; City Fee Schedule reference. No fee amount extracted. Corroborating local source, NOT the labeled example. |
| 2026-10-02 | source:S-TX-HOU-GUIDE | retrieval | confirmed | Houston New Business Guide PDF downloaded and text-extracted 2026-10-02 — VERBATIM: 'PRIME AND/OR GENERAL CONTRACTORS ARE NOT PROFESSIONALLY LICENSED IN HOUSTON OR BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. THERE IS NO "GENERAL CONTRACTOR LICENSE".' and 'Some permits (especially for GENERAL CONTRACTORS) must be obtained on a job-by-job basis.' Official municipal corroboration of the centerpiece fact. |
18 Known conflicts and limitations
Occ. Code §1301.401(a): 'A license, registration, or endorsement under this chapter is valid for one year. Except as provided by Subsection (d), on payment of the required fee, a license, registration, or endorsement may be renewed annually.'
Plumbing License Law (PlainView), September 1, 2025 — Occ. Code Ch. 1301'When you are issued your license for the first time, you will be assigned a random expiration date anywhere from 6-18 months from the date you passed your licensure exam…' — while 'Licenses renew annually.'
License Types | Texas State Board of Plumbing ExaminersRESOLVED by the same chapter: §1301.401(b) provides 'The board by rule may adopt a system under which licenses, endorsements, and registrations expire on various dates during the year.' The statute expressly authorizes the varied-expiration system the agency implements, so both statements hold: the renewal CYCLE is annual (published fact), while the FIRST renewal may land 6–18 months after the exam pass date (published as a note, never as a shorter cycle). Both sources are displayed; no fact row carries a '6–18 month cycle'.
Analysis notes
Detected 2026-10-02 while seeding RENEW-TX-PLUMBER: read alone, side A and side B disagree on the length of the first license term; §1301.401(b) resolves it without discarding either source. Hierarchy: statute > agency paraphrase, with the agency page's wording preserved verbatim here.
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov serves a JavaScript shell to plain fetchers — Chapter 1301 was read verbatim through TSBPE's own PlainView publication and Chapters 1302/1305 through TDLR pages quoting them; a direct statute-site retrieval is a published limitation, not a silent gap.
- Local registration, permit fees, timelines and bonds beyond the labeled City of Austin example are LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED — no other Texas locality was researched in this phase.
- Initial electrician and ACR exam fees: NOT VERIFIED (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin not retrievable) — no number published.
- Workers' compensation coverage AMOUNT: no licensing dollar figure exists in Texas; the tdi.texas.gov page returned HTTP 500 on re-fetch and is recorded as an unavailable verification record.
- Solar retailer registration fees and tradesman-plumber fee schedule: not captured this phase — NOT VERIFIED, nothing published.
- Rules evaluate only the facts provided; anything unresolved returns NOT_DETERMINED.