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How to become a licensed electrician in North Dakota. State-level licensing required. Apprenticeship: 8,000 hours. Total initial fees: $25. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Electrician
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87% of data points are verified against official sources. 6 fields based on preliminary research. 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
North Dakota requires state-level electrician licensing administered by the NDSEB. The board distinguishes between Contracting Master (individual contractor) and Master of Record (responsible for a company). Class B is limited to farmstead and small residential. Power Limited Electrician is a separate track for low-voltage work.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB)
Official Title
Apprentice Electrician
Experience Required
No prior experience required. Registration required. Must work under supervision of a contracting master or master of record licensed electrician.
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Journeyman Electrician
Experience Required
8,000 hours of experience (minimum 3 years) as a registered apprentice under supervision of a contracting master or master of record. 2,000 hours credit may be granted for graduates of a 2-year or more electrical school accepted by the Board.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Master Electrician (Contracting Master / Master of Record)
Experience Required
1 year as a licensed journeyman with at least 2,000 hours of experience working as a licensed journeyman under supervision of a contracting master or master of record.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
3
Years
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) administers exams directly
NEC Version
2023 NEC (NFPA 70), effective July 1, 2024
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
270 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Master Exam Details
270 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Retake Policy
Must test within 6 months of receiving exam invitation. Specific retake waiting period determined by the Board.
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Fee Annual registration fee for apprentice | |
Journeyman License Fee Application and exam fee for journeyman. Annual renewal: $40/year. | |
Master License Fee Application and exam fee for master. Annual renewal: $50/year. | |
Exam Fee Journeyman exam: $25. Master exam: $50. Class B exam: $40. Included in application fee. | |
Renewal Fee Journeyman: $40/year. Master and Power Limited: $50/year. Class B: $40/year. Apprentice: $10/year. | |
Total Initial Fees Journeyman application/exam fee: $25. Master: $50. Class B: $40. Fees are notably lower than many states. |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified1 year
Renewal Period
8 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$40
Journeyman: $40/year. Master/Power Limited: $50/year. Class B: $40/year.
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
Full reciprocity
Transfer Details
Member of the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA). Reciprocal states include: Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Utah, Wyoming. No written exam required for reciprocal licenses. Must have 8,000 hours for Journeyman, 10,000 hours for Master. If reciprocating from a state without CE requirements, must complete an ND-approved 8-hour code class.
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.
North Dakota is one of few states that administers its own electrical exams directly through the NDSEB rather than using a third-party provider. The exam uniquely has a closed-book portion in addition to the open-book portion, and the Board provides all materials including codebooks. The Class B license has an unusual population restriction, limiting work to cities of 2,500 or fewer residents. Annual renewal is required (not biennial), with different expiration dates depending on license type.
North Dakota administers exams directly through the NDSEB rather than through a third-party provider like PSI.
The exam is two-part: closed-book portion (1 hour) and open-book portion (3.5 hours). The Board provides codebooks, calculators, and pencils.
Exam covers fundamental electricity, Laws/Rules/Wiring Standards of North Dakota, and the current NEC.
Class B Electrician is limited to farmstead electrical wiring or residential wiring in 1-2 family dwellings in cities with population of 2,500 or fewer. Requires only 3,000 hours of experience.
Power Limited Electrician requires 6,000 hours (minimum 2.5 years) of experience for low-voltage work.
Annual renewal: journeyman licenses expire March 31, master/Class B/power limited expire April 30.
The 2023 NEC was adopted effective July 1, 2024.
Contracting Master requires $500,000 liability insurance. Workers' compensation required if employing others.
NDSEB is a member of the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA).
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in North Dakota.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#20 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
$52,640
25th percentile
Median
$65,820
+6% vs. national avg ($62,350)Experienced
$81,860
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
3,150 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+22% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
$65,820
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$65,820
Master electrician license + contractor license
$80,340
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: North Dakota State Electrical Board — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: North Dakota State Electrical Board — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official homepage
Accessed 2026-03-19
License requirements
Accessed 2026-03-19
Exam details
Accessed 2026-03-19
Application and fee information
Accessed 2026-03-19
Renewal and CE requirements
Accessed 2026-03-19
NERA reciprocity
Accessed 2026-03-19
Contractor insurance and bonding
Accessed 2026-03-19
Power limited license details
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official NDSEB booklet
Accessed 2026-03-19
North Dakota requires state-level licensing. An apprenticeship of 8,000 hours is required. All licensing is managed through the North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB).
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.