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How to become a licensed electrician in South Dakota. State-level licensing required. Apprenticeship: 8,000 hours. Total initial fees: $170. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Electrician
Governing Authority
South Dakota Electrical Commission (under the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation)
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
2 levels
License Levels
Total Initial Fees
CE Hours
NEC Version
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types
Notes
South Dakota uses a state-level licensing system administered by the Electrical Commission under the Department of Labor and Regulation. The state does not have a traditional 'Master Electrician' license; instead it uses 'Electrical Contractor' as the highest tier. Class B Electrician is a limited scope license. Maintenance Electrician licenses are issued per county to entities for employee maintenance work.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the South Dakota Electrical Commission (under the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation)
Official Title
Apprentice Electrician
Experience Required
No prior experience required. Must register with the Electrical Commission. Must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or GED.
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Journeyman Electrician
Experience Required
4 years (8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice under employment and supervision of an electrical contractor. Alternative: 2-year AAS degree in electrical trades plus 6,000 hours (3 years) of electrical trade work experience. Experience hours must be while licensed.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Not Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
Pearson VUE (computer-based testing). Schedule at PearsonVUE.com or call 1-877-234-6082.
NEC Version
2023 NEC (NFPA 70). All permits received on or after November 12, 2025 inspected using 2023 NEC. All exams on 2023 NEC starting December 2, 2024.
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
80
Questions
240 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Retake Policy
Specific retake policy not detailed in available sources; contact the Electrical Commission for retake procedures.
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Fee Processing fee for apprentice registration | |
Journeyman License Fee Application fee for journeyman license. Exam fee of $110 CBT is separate (paid to Pearson VUE). | |
Exam Fee $110 CBT fee paid to Pearson VUE for all exam types (journeyman, contractor, Class B, inspector) | |
Renewal Fee Journeyman renewal fee for 2-year period. Contractor renewal varies. All licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years. | |
Total Initial Fees Journeyman: $60 application + $110 exam = $170. Contractor: $40 application + $100 license + $110 exam = $250. |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
16 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$60
Journeyman renewal for 2-year period. Contractor renewal varies.
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
Journeyman reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. Contractor/Master reciprocity with Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Must have earned license by examination and held it for at least 1 year in active status.
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.
South Dakota does not have a 'Master Electrician' license; the Electrical Contractor license serves as the highest tier and requires a 100-question exam. CE requirements mandate that at least 8 of the 16 hours must be completed in-person. Maintenance Electrician licenses are uniquely issued per county. The homeowner exemption allows unlicensed work on owner-occupied residences and farmsteads but still requires a wiring permit.
South Dakota does not have a traditional 'Master Electrician' license. The highest tier is 'Electrical Contractor,' which requires 2 years of journeyman experience including 2,000 hours of commercial work.
Electrical Contractor exam (Exam 530) is 100 questions over 5 hours, while Journeyman exam (Exam 531) is 80 questions over 4 hours.
Maintenance Electrician licenses are issued per county to public or private entities for employees performing maintenance electrical work ($80 per application).
Continuing education: 16 hours per 2-year period. Minimum 8 hours must be in-person; cannot complete all 16 hours online.
Contractors must obtain a $10,000 surety bond, $100,000 public liability insurance, and $300,000 bodily injury/property damage insurance.
The 2023 NEC is in effect: all permits received on or after November 12, 2025 inspected using 2023 NEC. Exams reference 2023 NEC since December 2, 2024.
Individual homeowners may personally install electrical wiring in their own residence or farmstead without a license, but a wiring permit is still required.
All licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years (next: June 30, 2026).
A 2-year AAS degree in electrical trades reduces journeyman experience requirement from 8,000 to 6,000 hours.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Dakota.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#43 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
$46,890
25th percentile
Median
$58,550
-6% vs. national avg ($62,350)Experienced
$64,630
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
2,790 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+30% salary growth potential
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Electrician (Journeyman)
$58,550
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$58,550
Master electrician license + contractor license
$75,840
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: South Dakota Electrical Commission — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: South Dakota Electrical Commission — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official homepage
Accessed 2026-03-19
Licensing requirements and fees
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Reciprocity information
Accessed 2026-03-19
ICC/Pearson VUE candidate bulletin with exam details
Accessed 2026-03-19
Third-party CE provider
Accessed 2026-03-19
South Dakota requires state-level licensing. An apprenticeship of 8,000 hours is required. All licensing is managed through the South Dakota Electrical Commission (under the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation).
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.