Short answer: A Master job, a Master of Record assignment, and an Electrical Contractor business are three different decisions. Compare the written authority, compensation, business duties, insurance, records, and exit terms for the actual option in front of you.
This page organizes official licensing facts and private questions. It does not establish a license, assign a Master, form a company, interpret an agreement, or recommend an employment or ownership structure.
Compare three decisions that are often collapsed into one title
TDLR separates individual electrician licenses from the Electrical Contractor business license. Its contractor guidance says the business must employ a licensed Master Electrician or have the owner assign the owner’s Master license, and it describes limits on assignment as Master of Record. That assignment is not a third individual license class.
| Path | License or assignment | Primary responsibility questions | Income evidence | Risk and exit questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master position as an employee | Individual Master Electrician license plus the employer’s actual role description | What work, supervision, review, schedule, and decision authority does the employer assign? | Written pay, expected hours, benefits, bonus terms, and expense treatment | Who carries business obligations, and what happens when employment ends? |
| Master of Record | Individual Master license formally assigned to the Electrical Contractor | Which company, owner or employee relationship, compliance duties, review authority, and change-notice process apply? | Written employment or owner compensation plus assignment-specific terms | What records prove current assignment, and what must happen if the relationship ends? |
| Electrical Contractor route | Electrical Contractor business license with a qualifying Master of Record and required application evidence | Who owns bidding, contracts, insurance, payroll, tax, hiring, collections, warranty, and company controls? | Company revenue, direct and indirect costs, working capital, owner pay, and retained earnings kept separate | What capital, insurance, contract, collection, and operating exposure does the business carry? |
TDLR says a Master license may generally be assigned to only one Electrical Contractor unless the Master owns more than half of the contracting business. TDLR also states a change window when the Master of Record leaves. Check the current TDLR page and take any employment, ownership, compensation, contract, or liability question to qualified Texas counsel, a CPA, and an insurance professional.
Master of Record check
Use these official entry points to check the individual license, the contractor record, and the assignment questions separately, and keep unresolved items open in your decision packet.
| Item | Official source | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| Master license status lookup | TDLR homepage: license search | Current individual license status to compare with the name and license number in your records. |
| Master designation or change filing | TDLR forms page, search the form name | Which current designation or change form to check with TDLR before filing. |
| Contractor license link to the master | TDLR contractor application guidance | Master assignment requirements to compare with the contractor license record and your assignment documents. |
| Master serving more than one company | TDLR contractor application guidance | Current assignment limits to check for each company. |
| Ownership exceptions | TDLR contractor application guidance | Current ownership exception wording to compare with the ownership records. |
Example only. Check every item against the official source and your employer or school in writing.
The member version is a worksheet you can save and update as your checks change: view membership options.
Use a decision packet, not a title guess
- Attach the current TDLR individual-license record and contractor record that apply.
- Obtain the written role, assignment, authority, compensation, and termination terms.
- List business duties that remain with the company even when a Master is assigned.
- Compare employee cash flow with company cash flow without treating revenue as personal income.
- Keep every unanswered legal, tax, insurance, and ownership question open for the responsible professional.
Use the public Texas career map to connect this record to the role you are building. Review membership options for guided private practice. This site does not issue a license, approve work, file a return or claim, provide legal or insurance advice, or guarantee a job or business result.
Official sources checked 2026-10-27
Your next Master study step
Start your 7-day free trialStarts with a 7-day free trial. Your first payment of US$14.99 is on day 8, then US$14.99 every month until you cancel. Cancel anytime. If you cancel during the 7-day free trial, you are not charged and access ends when the trial ends. After the trial, you keep access until the end of the month you already paid for. If a payment is refunded, access to that month ends when the refund is made.
Tsai Electro: Texas Master Electrician Exam (PSI, 2026 NEC) Practice PackUS$79.00
