Contractor License from California to Texas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license ↗
A contractor license transfers from California to Texas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license, verify your California license, and meet Texas's endorsement requirements. Texas has no statewide general-contractor license — general and building contracting is regulated locally — so there is no state-level GC reciprocity. The trades are licensed separately and each runs its own narrow agreement list: TDLR waives the electrician exam for master applicants from 7 states and journeyman applicants from 10; the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners reciprocates only Louisiana and Arkansas journeyman plumbers; and TDLR's Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program reciprocates only Georgia and South Carolina. Applicants from every other state must sit the Texas examination for that trade..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Texas does not have a trade agreement covering California for the selected trade, so this move runs on Texas's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether Texas accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check Texas's NERA status.
What changes, California → Texas
| California (current) | Texas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $650–$800 (Original license application (exam or waiver, one classification) $450 + initial license fee $200 sole owner / $350 non-sole owner. The $25,000 bond premium and Live Scan fingerprint fees are additional.) | $30–$115 (Fees differ by agency and trade: TDLR journeyman electrician $30 and master electrician $45; TSBPE reciprocal license verification $40 non-refundable, plus the IdentoGO fingerprint fee; TDLR ACR out-of-state application $115. There is no state general-contractor license fee because Texas does not license general contractors.) |
| Processing time | CSLB does not publish a firm reciprocity processing range. | No single figure applies. TSBPE states a reciprocal plumbing license arrives by US mail within 30 days of the completed online application and payment; TDLR publishes no processing time for electrician or ACR reciprocity. |
| Licensing authority | California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Texas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Texas's current requirements on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Provide a letter of good standing showing the out-of-state license is active and was obtained by examination.
- Electricians must hold the reciprocal license at least one year and document 8,000 hours (journeyman) or 12,000 hours (master) of supervised experience.
- Plumbers must submit fingerprint data through IdentoGO and pay the $40 non-refundable verification fee.
- ACR/HVAC applicants must have held the qualifying out-of-state license for at least one year and carry commercial general liability insurance ($100,000/$200,000 for Class B, $300,000/$600,000 for Class A).
- Pay the fees ($30–$115 (Fees differ by agency and trade: TDLR journeyman electrician $30 and master electrician $45; TSBPE reciprocal license verification $40 non-refundable, plus the IdentoGO fingerprint fee; TDLR ACR out-of-state application $115. There is no state general-contractor license fee because Texas does not license general contractors.)) and allow No single figure applies. TSBPE states a reciprocal plumbing license arrives by US mail within 30 days of the completed online application and payment; TDLR publishes no processing time for electrician or ACR reciprocity..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas accept a California contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from California to Texas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license, verify your California license, and meet Texas's endorsement requirements. Texas has no statewide general-contractor license — general and building contracting is regulated locally — so there is no state-level GC reciprocity. The trades are licensed separately and each runs its own narrow agreement list: TDLR waives the electrician exam for master applicants from 7 states and journeyman applicants from 10; the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners reciprocates only Louisiana and Arkansas journeyman plumbers; and TDLR's Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program reciprocates only Georgia and South Carolina. Applicants from every other state must sit the Texas examination for that trade..
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Texas's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the California-to-Texas move cost and how long does it take?
$30–$115 (Fees differ by agency and trade: TDLR journeyman electrician $30 and master electrician $45; TSBPE reciprocal license verification $40 non-refundable, plus the IdentoGO fingerprint fee; TDLR ACR out-of-state application $115. There is no state general-contractor license fee because Texas does not license general contractors.); processing No single figure applies. TSBPE states a reciprocal plumbing license arrives by US mail within 30 days of the completed online application and payment; TDLR publishes no processing time for electrician or ACR reciprocity..
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Texas is one on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- TDLR — Transfer Your Out-of-State Electrician License to Texas (master and journeyman reciprocal states; $45/$30 fees; hour requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Licensing Reciprocity for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Georgia and South Carolina license-to-class mapping) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Out of State Applicants, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration ($115 fee; insurance minimums; exam may still be required) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TSBPE — Reciprocal License Verification Request (Louisiana and Arkansas only; $40 fee; IdentoGO fingerprints; per-state conditions) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TSBPE — Reciprocal License Agreement with Louisiana (~30 days by mail) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- California CSLB — Reciprocity (program states: Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- California CSLB — Reciprocal Classifications List (AZ full incl. C-10/C-36/C-20; NV incl. C-20; LA/MS/NC = B only) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- California CSLB — Reciprocity Requirements (active license in good standing for the previous 5 years; NASCLA 'B' waiver) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- California CSLB — List of All Fees ($450 application; $200 sole / $350 non-sole initial license) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]