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How to get an electrician license in Minnesota

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Minnesota, pulled from official MN sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Licensing Unit
  • State journeyman license: Yes (DLI licenses journeyworker and master electricians statewide and also registers unlicensed electricians.)
  • Class A Journeyworker Electrician: 48 months of qualifying electrical work experience, including at least 24 months of wiring for and installing electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment. Work must be verifiable: registered with DLI as an unlicensed electrician (in Minnesota since 2009) or employed by a licensed electrical contractor. A board-approved 2-year post-high-school electrical course can count for up to 1 year.
  • Exam: open book, via Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
  • Code edition: The 2026 National Electrical Code became effective in Minnesota on Aug. 17, 2026, and is the edition used for the license exam questions.

Requirements by license

Class A Journeyworker Electrician

Experience48 months of qualifying electrical work experience, including at least 24 months of wiring for and installing electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment. Work must be verifiable: registered with DLI as an unlicensed electrician (in Minnesota since 2009) or employed by a licensed electrical contractor. A board-approved 2-year post-high-school electrical course can count for up to 1 year.Source: dli.mn.gov · as of · Credit rules: dli.mn.gov
ExamMinnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Open book. 80 questions. DLI provides a soft-cover copy of the NEC (no tabs), a Laws and Rules Booklet and a calculator; you may not bring any other materials. 70% to pass; 5½ hours allowed. After a failed exam you can apply to retake it 30 days after you are notified.Source: dli.mn.gov · as of · Exam format in effect since Sept. 8, 2026.
Fees
  • Exam application: $50
  • License after you pass (2 years: $40 base + $8 board fee): $48
Source: dli.mn.gov · as of · License fee: Minn. Stat. 326B.092, subd. 7 (revisor.mn.gov). A 1-year license is $24 ($20 + $4).
RenewalEvery 2 years. Expires at the end of the month in which the license was first issued, every 2 years. $53 to renew; $20 late fee.Source: dli.mn.gov · as of
CE to renew16 hours per 2-year renewal
  • At least 12 hours on the National Electrical Code
  • Up to 4 hours on related technical topics or the Minnesota Electrical Act and rules (chapters 3800 and 3801)
Courses must be approved by DLI. Extra hours do not carry over to the next term.
Source: dli.mn.gov · as of · Renewal page: dli.mn.gov · Hour split: dli.mn.gov

Class A Master Electrician

ExperienceOne of: a degree in electrical engineering from an accredited college or university; 1 year of experience as a licensed journeyworker electrician; or 5 years (60 months) of experience planning, laying out, supervising and installing electrical wiring and equipment.Source: dli.mn.gov · as of · Experience categories: dli.mn.gov
ExamMinnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Open book. 80 questions. DLI provides a soft-cover copy of the NEC (no tabs), a Laws and Rules Booklet and a calculator; you may not bring any other materials. 70% to pass; 5½ hours allowed. After a failed exam you can apply to retake it 30 days after you are notified.Source: dli.mn.gov · as of
Fees
  • Exam application: $50
  • License after you pass (2 years: $80 base + $8 board fee): $88
Source: revisor.mn.gov · as of · Minn. Stat. 326B.092, subd. 3 and 7. A license issued for 1 year is $44 ($40 + $4). Renewal adds a $5 CE fee.
RenewalEvery 2 years. All master licenses expire on the last day of February of each odd-numbered year. $93 to renew; $40 late fee.Source: dli.mn.gov · as of
CE to renew16 hours per 2-year renewal
  • At least 12 hours on the National Electrical Code
  • Up to 4 hours on related technical topics or Minnesota electrical laws and rules
Not required in your first, pro-rated master term.
Source: dli.mn.gov · as of · Hours: dli.mn.gov

License types in Minnesota

  • Class A Journeyworker Electrician
  • Class A Master Electrician
  • Class B Journeyworker and Master Electrician
  • Maintenance Electrician
  • Power Limited Technician
  • Lineman
  • Registered Unlicensed Electrician
Source: dli.mn.gov · as of

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

Minnesota has journeyworker reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, and master reciprocity with Iowa, North Dakota, Nebraska and South Dakota. You must have earned the license by state exam and held it for at least 1 year.Source: dli.mn.gov · as of

What we couldn't confirm yet

We only publish what we can tie to an official source. These items aren't published anywhere we could verify, so ask the office listed:

FAQ

Does Minnesota have a state journeyman electrician license?

Yes. The Department of Labor and Industry licenses Class A journeyworker electricians; you need 48 months of qualifying experience, including 24 months of wiring and installing, and a passing exam.

Is the Minnesota journeyworker electrician exam open book?

DLI provides the NEC, a laws and rules booklet and a calculator, and you may not bring other materials. The exam has 80 questions, allows 5½ hours and takes 70% to pass.

How do you become a master electrician in Minnesota?

You need 1 year of experience as a licensed journeyworker, 5 years of qualifying experience or an electrical engineering degree, and then you pass the 80-question master exam.

Does Minnesota have electrician license reciprocity?

Yes. Minnesota has journeyworker reciprocity with states including Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, for licenses earned by state exam and held at least 1 year.

Already licensed? See Minnesota electrician license renewal & CE requirements.

Other states

Compare every state side by side: license requirements by state · renewal & CE by state.