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How to get an electrician license in North Dakota

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for North Dakota, pulled from official ND sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: North Dakota State Electrical Board
  • State journeyman license: Yes (The State Electrical Board licenses journeyman electricians statewide.)
  • Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours of experience (not obtained in less than three years) registered as an apprentice under a contracting master or master of record, plus successfully completed apprentice electrician training. Up to 2,000 hours credit may be granted for a graduate of a two-year or more board-accepted electrical school. Practical experience is wiring and installing electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment.
  • Exam: open book, via North Dakota State Electrical Board (exam at board testing dates)
  • Code edition: North Dakota wiring standards reference NFPA 70, 2026 edition. Exams are based on the current NEC plus ND laws, rules and wiring standards.

Requirements by license

Journeyman Electrician

Experience8,000 hours of experience (not obtained in less than three years) registered as an apprentice under a contracting master or master of record, plus successfully completed apprentice electrician training. Up to 2,000 hours credit may be granted for a graduate of a two-year or more board-accepted electrical school. Practical experience is wiring and installing electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment.Source: ndseb.com · as of · Laws booklet: ndseb.com
ExamNorth Dakota State Electrical Board (exam at board testing dates). Open book. After the Board approves you, you pick an exam date from the invite list and must test within six months. Passing grade is 70%. Exams cover fundamental electricity, ND laws/rules/wiring standards and the current NEC. NDSEB provides the code book for the exam. Exam fees, if any, are paid separately to the testing center provider.Source: ndseb.com · as of · Fees rule: ndseb.com
Fees
  • Application (journeyman): $25
  • Annual license / renewal: $25
Source: ndseb.com · as of · Renewal page: ndseb.com
RenewalEvery year. Journeyman licenses expire each year on March 31. Renewals open January 1. Expired licenses need a reinstatement fee equal to the annual fee.Source: ndseb.com · as of
CE to renew8 hours per year (on file before renewal)
  • Code-related hours (at least 4 of the 8)
Only board-approved courses count. Providers submit the roster; the Board does not accept individual certificates. Credits can be banked for up to two renewal periods. Same course (same sponsor, title and approval number) does not count twice in a code cycle.
Source: ndseb.com · as of

License types in North Dakota

  • Journeyman Electrician
  • Master Electrician (contracting, master of record, non-contracting)
  • Class B Electrician
  • Power Limited Electrician
  • Apprentice
Source: ndseb.com · as of

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

North Dakota is in a multi-state reciprocal group (NERA). Journeyman reciprocity is listed with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. You must have passed that state's written exam, held the license active for one year, and document 8,000 hours under a contracting master. If that state has no CE requirement, bring an ND-approved 8-hour code class.Source: ndseb.com · 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 North Dakota have a state journeyman electrician license?

Yes. You need 8,000 hours of apprentice experience (not in less than three years), completed apprentice training, and a Board exam.

What score do you need on the North Dakota electrician exam?

You need 70%. The Board invites you to scheduled exam dates after it approves your application, and NDSEB provides the code book.

How much does a North Dakota journeyman license cost?

The application fee is $25, and the annual license fee is $25.

Does North Dakota have electrician license reciprocity?

Yes. Journeyman reciprocity is listed with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming through the multi-state / NERA group.

Already licensed? See North Dakota electrician license renewal & CE requirements.

Other states

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