Texas · welder licensing · verified July 2026
Texas welder license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Texas has no occupational license for welders, welding does not appear on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's list of regulated programs. The one state-run credential is TxDOT's Steel Structures Welding Certification, required only for welders performing field splices of beams and girders or other structural steel connections on transportation structures. Everyone else works under industry credentials such as AWS Certified Welder, AWS D1.1, API 1104, and ASME Section IX.
Do you need a license to work as a welder in Texas?
Texas does not license welders. There is no state credential to obtain, and the recognized qualification is industry certification.
TDLR's full program list contains no welding occupation.
What licenses does Texas issue?
Texas issues the credentials below for this trade.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| TxDOT Steel Structures Welding Certification | not published | not published | Yes |
| TxDOT Miscellaneous Weld Qualification | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: the governing statute (tdlr.texas.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Texas require?
AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code qualification test (TxDOT Steel Structures Welding Certification). Administered by Independent testing laboratory employing an AWS CWI and ASNT Level II examiner; overseen by TxDOT Bridge Division.
Miscellaneous Weld Qualification Test (job-site). Administered by TxDOT.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: TxDOT certification has no fixed term; it remains valid as long as the welder performs acceptable work for TxDOT (Bridge Division determination)
Source: renewal requirements (txdot.gov). Verified July 2026.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No state welder license exists, so apprenticeship hours do not feed a licensure track. Welders typically train through community-college programs or USDOL-registered apprenticeships, then earn AWS Certified Welder credentials at an AWS Accredited Testing Facility; pipeline welders qualify to API 1104 and pressure welders to ASME Section IX through employers. Texas also has no general state contractor license, so a self-employed welder faces no state business-licensing barrier (local permits may apply).
How does Texas compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | not published | Not licensed |
| Oklahoma | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
Last verified July 2026. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: West Virginia, Wisconsin, California, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Carolina.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to welders overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with your employer or certifying body before making decisions. Not legal advice.