Municipal Licensing and Regulation information for Electricians
Thirteenth edition of the TDLR FLASH - Newsletter of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Program
September 2009 (also
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108KB PDF)
Welcome to the TDLR FLASH
Our newsletter is intended to keep city officials and electricians throughout Texas informed of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act and TDLR’s efforts to enforce the associated requirements. To receive news or updates on the electrical program you may go to http://www.license.state.tx.us/newsletters/TDLRnotificationLists.asp.
City Electrical Requirements
We have posted a webpage list of local electrical requirements (i.e. code, permitting, licensing, etc.) for many cities throughout the state. We encourage you to review the most current information that we have on record for your city at http://www.license.state.tx.us/electricians/forms/citylist.pdf. If you have not provided the agency with your local requirements OR if you need to update us on any changes, please do so by utilizing the Municipal Electricians Requirements Questionnaire. We want to assist in keeping all electricians in Texas adequately informed, so please get us the information as soon as you can. Your input is invaluable!
State Electrical Exams and Pre-Qualification
TDLR has entered into a new contract with PSI to develop, maintain, and administer our state electrician licensing examinations. Effective September 1, 2009, PSI will be offering the electrical examinations at 22 locations throughout Texas. It is important for license candidates to review the Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB) which contains detailed information regarding the examinations and is vital to understanding the process. Additional questions may be answered by reviewing our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at http://www.license.state.tx.us/electricians/elecfaq.htm#exams. For general information about PSI, you can go to the company’s website, www.psionline.com.
Exam Pre-qualification is Required!!!
Electrician license candidates may not sit for an examination without first submitting a completed license application (with all required documentation and applicable fees) to TDLR. Department staff will review the application and determine if the applicant is eligible for examination. If the candidate is approved, they will be notified that they can schedule their examination. Applicants will also be informed if their application is incomplete or does not satisfy the required criteria.
IMPORTANT: International Code Council (ICC) examinations taken on or after September 1, 2009 will NOT be accepted for Texas electrician licensing.
Electrical Safety and Licensing Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, at 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held in the 1st Floor Public Meeting Room of the North Campus Bldg. located at 1106 Clayton Lane in Austin, Texas. In addition to staff reports, agenda items may include discussion of reciprocity agreements and an update regarding recent legislation. If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to listen to the meeting via streaming audio/video go to http://www.license.state.tx.us/agendas.htm#upcoming.
Town Hall Meetings – Coming Soon to a Town Near You!
Compliance Division staff will be holding informal “town hall” meetings to touch base with local area contractors, wholesalers, inspectors, and any other interested persons. We hope these meetings will allow us to
1) put some faces to our names;
2) find out about electrical safety issues/concerns that may be specific to your area;
3) establish working partnerships with the local jurisdictions;
4) answer any “hot topic” questions regarding state electrical requirements, and
5) provide additional education on the law and rules.
This quarter’s Town Hall meetings are scheduled for:
McKinney on September 9, 2009 at the McKinney Performing Arts Center at 111 N. Tennessee St. McKinney, Texas 75070 starting at 6:00 PM. If you plan on attending, please contact Douglas Lichnovsky, City of McKinney, Building Inspection Department at (972)547-7478 or e-mail him at dlichnovsky@mckinneytexas.org so that they can estimate the number of attendees and arrange for adequate seating.
Tyler on October 8, 2009 at the Plyler Instructional Complex, 802 W Glenwood, Tyler, TX. 75701 starting at 6:00 PM. If you plan on attending, please contact Benny Swan, Swan Electrical Service Corp, (903)595-6792 or e-mail him at benny@swanelectricalservice.com so that they can estimate the number of attendees and arrange for adequate seating.
If you would like to invite us to hold a “town hall” meeting in your area please contact Jerry Daniel at jerry.daniel@license.state.tx.us or (512) 799-1489.
Monthly “Licensing Sweeps”
TDLR’s monthly “licensing sweeps” continue. Our most recent activities included visits to the incorporated and unincorporated areas of:
- Galveston County
- Chambers County
- Harris County
- Potter County
- Carson County
- Randall County
- Swisher County
- Hale County
- Comal County
The “licensing sweeps” are intended to curtail unlicensed activity by establishing a TDLR presence, to educate the public on the state electrical licensing requirements, and to verify that electrical work is being performed by licensed electricians in accordance with state law and rules. If you would like to coordinate for a license sweep in your area please contact Jerry Daniel at jerry.daniel@license.state.tx.us or (512) 799-1489.
TDLR Compliance Staff (Other Notable Activities)
- June 4th - Participated in Electrical/Air Conditioning Enforcement Task Force meeting in Houston
- June 11th - Spoke at the Photovoltaic Installers meeting in Waco
- June 25th - Provided Electrical Inspector Training for the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office
- June 27th - Spoke at the 56th Annual Texas Sign Association’s Conference in San Antonio
- June 29th thru July 1st - Participated in Master and Journeyman Sign Electrician exam development for Texas
- July 6th thru 8th - Participated in Residential Wireman and Maintenance Electrician exam development for Texas
- July 15th - Conducted Town Hall Meeting in Plainview
- July 16th - Spoke at the Texas Industrial Vocational Association Summer Conference in Houston
- July 27th thru 31st - Participated in Residential Appliance Installer exam development for Texas
- August 3rd thru 4th - Attended the Multi-State Reciprocal Group meeting in New Hampshire
Continued Concerns from the Texas Electrical Sign Industry
We are still hearing concerns from members of the Texas electrical sign industry that some sign electricians may not be abiding by state requirements. All sign electricians must remember:
- That all electric signs must be "listed" per Article 600.3 of the NEC unless the local authority having jurisdiction has amendments that would supersede these requirements;
- To display their contractor # on all vehicles used in conducting electrical work and to include “TDLR” contact information on all of their invoices and proposals;
- In order to “perform or offer to perform electrical sign work” you must hold the appropriate (TECL or TSCL) contracting license; and
- All of a contractor’s non-exempt electrical sign work shall be performed by licensed individuals. A contractor is responsible for compliance with applicable codes for all such electrical sign work performed on its behalf.
Additional Contact Information
For general questions about the electrical program you may contact TDLR at (512) 463-6599 or toll-free (in Texas) (800) 803-9202. For the hearing impaired, Relay Texas - TDD is available at (800) 735-2989.
To Email Questions about the State Electrical Program: electricians@license.state.tx.us
To File a Complaint or Report a Violation go to: http://www.license.state.tx.us/Complaints/
Did You Know...
Effective September 1, 2010 all Apprentice Electricians (who are NOT currently enrolled in a Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program) will need to provide proof of obtaining 4 hours of continuing education (annually) in order to renew their licenses. For more information, reference Senate Bill 470 which was passed during the 81st Regular Session.
Closing the Circuit
Your participation/input is critical! If you have any questions, concerns, comments, or observations, please contact us – we want to hear from you. You may reach Jerry Daniel at (512) 799-1489 or e-mail him at: Jerry@license.state.tx.us. You may reach Larry Reichle at (512) 539-5722 or e-mail him at: larry.reichle@license.state.tx.us. Please feel free to take this information and PASS IT ON!
Remember: “To discover all of the possibilities, you must sometimes consider the impossibilities.”
Jerry Daniel – Electrical Occupations and Code Specialist
Larry Reichle – Electrical Program Specialist
Compliance Division, TDLR
