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How to become a licensed electrician in Minnesota. State-level licensing required. Apprenticeship: 8,000 hours. Total initial fees: $103. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Electrician
Governing Authority
Minnesota Board of Electricity, under the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI)
Official website →Most information on this page has been verified.
91% of data points are verified against official sources. 2 fields based on preliminary research. 2 fields need verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Yes
State Licensed?
Apprentice Hours
3 levels
License Levels
Total Initial Fees
CE Hours
NEC Version
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types
Notes
Minnesota uses 'Class A' and 'Class B' designations. Class B is limited to single-phase systems of not more than 200 ampere capacity for farms and single-family dwellings. Unlicensed workers must register with DLI and work under direct supervision (max 2 unlicensed per 1 licensed supervisor). Additional specialty categories include Maintenance Electrician, Power Limited Technician, and Outside Lineman.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Minnesota Board of Electricity, under the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI)
Official Title
Unlicensed Registered Electrician
Experience Required
No experience required. Must be registered with DLI and work under direct supervision of a licensed journeyworker or master electrician employed by the same contractor. Max 2 unlicensed per 1 licensed supervisor.
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Class A Journeyworker Electrician
Experience Required
48 months (8,000 hours) of full-time field experience under a licensed electrician, OR 36 months (7,000 hours) with completion of an approved 2-year post-secondary electrical program. 144 hours classroom training per year of experience.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Class A Master Electrician
Experience Required
60 months (5 years) of full-time field experience in planning, laying out, supervising, and installing electrical wiring and equipment. Must hold journeyworker license for at least 1 year before taking master exam.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
576
Classroom
8,000
On-the-Job
Not DOL Registered
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
Administered directly by MN DLI (not PSI or Prometric). Exams given at DLI's St. Paul office and other locations statewide.
NEC Version
2023 NEC (effective July 1, 2023)
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
80
Questions
330 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Master Exam Details
80
Questions
330 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Journeyman License Fee $40 license + $8 board fee + $5 CE fee | |
Master License Fee $80 license + $8 board fee + $5 CE fee | |
Exam Fee Same fee for all exam types | |
Renewal Fee Journeyworker renewal: $53. Master renewal: $93. Late journeyworker renewal: $73. Late master renewal: $133. | |
Total Initial Fees Journeyworker: $50 exam + $53 license = $103. Master: $50 exam + $93 license = $143. |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
16 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$53
Journeyworker: $53. Master: $93. Late fees apply.
Regulatory Board
Electrician licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering NEC code updates, safety practices, and applicable state/local amendments.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Reciprocity Type
Endorsement
Transfer Details
Journeyworker reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Master reciprocity with Iowa, North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Electrician license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states offer endorsement for experienced electricians, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials.
Minnesota self-administers all electrical licensing exams through DLI rather than using third-party testing providers. The state uses 'journeyworker' terminology and has Class A/B distinctions for both journeyworker and installer levels. With 5.5-hour exam windows, MN exams are among the longest in the country. The 2:1 unlicensed-to-licensed supervision ratio is strictly enforced.
Minnesota uses 'journeyworker' (not 'journeyman') as its official term.
Class B Journeyworker license is limited to single-phase systems of not more than 200 ampere capacity for farms and single-family dwellings.
Specialty license types include Maintenance Electrician (48 months experience), Power Limited Technician (36 months), and Outside Lineman (60 months).
Exams are administered directly by MN DLI, not by a third-party testing provider like PSI or Prometric.
Contractor license requires a $25,000 surety bond and general liability insurance. Installers require a $1,000 surety bond.
Master license expires last day of February in odd-numbered years. Contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years.
Extensive reciprocity agreements with 9 states at the journeyworker level and 4 states at the master level.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Minnesota.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#8 of 51
Cost
#3 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Electricians (SOC 47-2111)
Entry Level
$60,860
25th percentile
Median
$81,430
+31% vs. national avg ($62,350)Experienced
$102,820
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
12,970 employed in this state
Source: BLS OEWS – Electricians (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+7.1%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+60,000
over 10 years
Annual Openings
68,500
per year (avg.)
839,600 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+18% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
$81,430
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$81,430
Master electrician license + contractor license
$95,910
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 212–224 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Minnesota Board of Electricity — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Minnesota Board of Electricity — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official regulatory agency — added during electrician audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Primary source for MN electrician licensing
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official experience requirements
Accessed 2026-03-19
PDF dated June 2024
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official fee schedule
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official fact sheet
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official statute
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official board page
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official homepage
Accessed 2026-03-19
Minnesota requires state-level licensing. An apprenticeship of 8,000 hours is required. All licensing is managed through the Minnesota Board of Electricity, under the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.