Anyone can print a business card that says “electrician.” In Texas, only a licensed professional can legally perform electrical work — and the State of Texas keeps a free, public database where you can verify any electrician’s license in about 30 seconds. Most homeowners in Austin have no idea it exists. Use it before you let anyone touch your panel.
🔎 Search the Official Texas TDLR License Database →
Free public tool provided by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Opens in a new tab.
How to Verify an Electrician’s License in Texas
- Open the TDLR Active License Search.
- Choose the program — for electrical work, select Electricians or Electrical Contractors.
- Search by license number if you have it, or by the person’s last name or the company name.
- Check three things: the license is Active, the license type matches the work being done, and the name on the license matches the company quoting you.
- Ask for the license number in writing on your estimate. A legitimate contractor will hand it over without hesitating.
What the Texas Electrical License Types Mean
- Electrical Contractor (TECL) — the business license. Any company that contracts electrical work in Texas must hold one and must employ a master electrician. This is the number you should be checking before you hire.
- Master Electrician — the highest individual license. Qualified to design, plan, install and supervise electrical systems, and to pull permits.
- Journeyman Electrician — licensed to perform electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician.
- Residential Wireman — licensed for one- and two-family dwellings only.
- Electrical Apprentice — registered and training, and must work under supervision.
Shipley Electric’s Texas License
We are happy to be checked. Look us up yourself:
Shipley Electric, LLC
Texas Electrical Contractor License: TECL #35244
Bert Shipley, MS — Master Electrician
Serving Greater Austin since 1999 — licensed, bonded and insured
Phone: (512) 652-5733
Shipley Electric is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Electricians Program, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711 — (800) 803-9202 or (512) 463-6599.
Why Hiring a Licensed Electrician in Austin Matters
- Permits and inspections. Panel replacements, service upgrades, EV chargers and battery backup systems require a permit in the City of Austin. Only a licensed contractor can pull one.
- Your insurance. If unpermitted, unlicensed work causes a fire, a claim can be denied. That is a far more expensive mistake than the money saved up front.
- Code compliance. Licensed electricians work to the current National Electrical Code and to Austin Energy’s interconnection requirements — which matters a great deal for solar, batteries and smart panels.
- Selling your home. Unpermitted electrical work surfaces during inspection and routinely costs sellers real money at closing.
- Recourse. If something goes wrong, TDLR gives you somewhere to file a complaint. With an unlicensed handyman, you have nothing.
Red Flags Worth Noticing
- Won’t give you a license number, or gives one that doesn’t match the company name in the state database.
- Cash-only, large deposit up front, no written estimate.
- Offers to skip the permit “to save you money.”
- No proof of liability insurance.
- The license shows as expired, inactive or in a different program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Texas electrician license lookup free?
Yes. The TDLR Active License Search is a free public database maintained by the State of Texas. No account or sign-up is required.
How do I check if an electrician is licensed in Austin, TX?
Austin electricians are licensed at the state level, not the city level. Search the contractor’s company name or license number in the TDLR Active License Search and confirm the status reads “Active.”
What does TECL stand for?
TECL is the Texas Electrical Contractor License — the license held by the business rather than the individual. Shipley Electric, LLC holds TECL #35244.
Does a handyman need an electrical license in Texas?
For most electrical work, yes. Texas law limits who may perform electrical installations, and contracting that work without the proper license is a violation reportable to TDLR.
🔎 Search the Official Texas TDLR License Database →
Free public tool provided by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Opens in a new tab.
Need a Licensed Electrician in Austin?
Verify us first — then call. Shipley Electric has been a licensed, family-owned electrical contractor in the Austin area since 1999, handling panel replacements, service upgrades, EV chargers, SPAN smart panels and Franklin whole-home battery backup. Call (512) 652-5733 or request service online.