How to Become a Licensed Electrician in North Dakota

North Dakota boasts a cost of living that is roughly 10% lower than in other states. Electricians can enjoy a financially stable lifestyle in ND, as they make roughly $69,900 per year – over 20% higher than the average electrician’s salary in the U.S.

North Dakota licenses master, class B, journeyman, and provisional/military spouse electricians. To become a licensed electrician in North Dakota, you’ll need to complete the work experience requirement, apply for and pass an examination, and pay an application fee. Read on to learn more about each step of the licensure process.

Do You Need an Electrician’s License in North Dakota?

North Dakota requires all persons, companies, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, and associations to apply for an ND State Electrical Board license if performing electrical work in the state. Electrical work is defined as planning, laying out, supervising, installing, altering, making additions, or repairing electrical wiring, equipment, or apparatus for light, heat, or power. 

Types of Licenses for Electricians in North Dakota

ND licenses electricians at all career levels. Even apprentices can and should register with the state board within the first 6 months of employment. 

After an apprenticeship, an electrician may look into the following state licenses:

  • Master Electrician License: Master electricians are top-level electricians who can plan, lay out, and supervise the installation and repairing of almost all electrical power-limited systems.
  • Class B Electrician License: Class B electricians in ND wire, install, and repair electrical apparatus and equipment. They have experience in and take an exam on farmstead or residential wiring for one- and two-family dwellings.
  • Journeyman Electrician License: Journeyman electricians can wire, install, and repair power-limited systems and electrical apparatus. 
  • Provisional/Military Spouse Electrician License: This special provisionary license is for military members or their spouses. These individuals have demonstrated competency as an electrician, but are still making process toward licensure requirements.

North Dakota Master Electrician License

There are three types of master electricians in North Dakota: a contracting master electrician, a master electrician working for a contracting entity, or a non-contracting master electrician.

Master electricians in North Dakota must have at least 10,000 years of verifiable and relevant experience. Two thousand of these hours must come from at least one year of working as a licensed journeyman electrician. 

License Reciprocity

North Dakota has reciprocity agreements with Minnesota and South Dakota for inbound licensed master electricians.

For more information, see below under “Obtaining Your ND License Through Reciprocity”.

North Dakota Class B Electrician License

Class B electricians in ND must have 18 months of experience working with farmstead or residential wiring. This experience is limited to one- or two-family dwellings.

ND Journeyman Electrician License

Journeyman electricians in North Dakota must have completed 8,000 hours of work experience over at least 3 years.

If you had registered as an apprentice after 2008, you must also have successfully completed your apprenticeship program OR completed another electrician’s course of study that lasted for at least 2 years. Up to 2,000 hours of work experience credit may be granted for a graduate of an approved electrical school program.

Reciprocity

North Dakota offers Journeyman Electrician License reciprocity agreements with:

  • Alaska
  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire 
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Wyoming

For more information, see below under “Obtaining Your ND License Through Reciprocity”.

ND Provisional/Military Spouse Electrician License 

Provisional Electrician Licenses are distributed on a case-by-case basis. The Board will analyze the military member or their spouse’s experience as an electrician to determine if they can safely work in the state. 

If granted, the licensee is expected to work towards meeting the official requirements for another non-provisional license (Class B, Journeyman, or Master) while holding the Provisional License. The Provisional License is only good for 2 years, after which you should apply for a non-provisional license.

How to Obtain Your Electrician’s License in North Dakota

Before applying for your electrician’s license in North Dakota, you will need to apply for an examination. After meeting the work experience requirements for your license type, you will:

  • Complete the application for examination 
  • Pay the appropriate application fee:
    • Master Electrician License: $50
    • Class B Electrician License: $40
    • Journeyman Electrician License: $25
    • Provisional/Military Spouse Electrician License: no fee
  • Include one signed and notarized Employment Verification sheet for each of your current or previous employers

When the Board reviews and approves your application, you will receive an invitation to take the appropriate exam. This invitation will outline testing dates and details. You must pass the exam with at least a 70% to receive your license. If you do not pass the test, you can apply again using the same application and instructions, but make sure to check off the “Re-Exam” box on page one.

Obtaining Your ND License Through Reciprocity

You may be able to apply for an ND electrician’s license through reciprocity if you’re coming from one of the approved states listed above. Reciprocity agreements are only available for journeyman and master electricians moving to ND from certain states. 

Both types of electricians must meet the same working hours requirement as new applicants. They must also:

  • Have passed a written exam from their home state
  • Hold a valid license from their home state that is in good standing
    • Have held that license for at least one year before applying for reciprocity
  • Complete the Application for an Electrician’s License by Reciprocity
  • List verifiable work experience including the name of the master electrician who supervised them
  • Pay the fee
    • Master Electrician License by reciprocity: $50
    • Journeyman Electrician License by reciprocity: $25

Renewing Your North Dakota Electrician License

Below are the expiration dates for all ND electrician licenses.

  • Master and Class B Electrician Licenses expire annually on April 30th
  • Journeyman Electrician Licenses expire annually on March 31

Each license also has a unique renewal fee. 

  • Master Electrician License: $50
  • Class B Electrician License: $40
  • Journeyman Electrician License: $25

To renew your license online, you will need:

  • Your ND State Electrical Board license number
  • The last 4 digits of your Social Security number
  • A valid debit or credit card
  • At least 8 hours of approved and completed Continuing Education on file

When you have all of your documents and information ready, scroll to the bottom of this page and click “I ACCEPT” to begin your renewal application.

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