Electrician license
Minnesota electrician license
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) licenses journeyworker and master electricians and electrical contractors and registers unlicensed electricians statewide, under Minnesota Statutes section 326B.33 and the Board of Electricity. The licenses are Registered Unlicensed Electrician, Class A Journeyworker Electrician, Class A Master Electrician and Electrical Contractor. Each is below with its hours, exam, fees and official source, followed by how to apply, renewal, reciprocity and the official license lookup.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Unlicensed Electrician | Not set in hours | No exam | $14 to register; $19 a year to renew, with 2 hours of continuing education |
| Class A Journeyworker Electrician | Not set in hours | Yes | $50 exam fee; renewal $53 every two years |
| Class A Master Electrician | Not set in hours | Yes | $93 to renew |
| Electrical Contractor | Not set in hours | No exam | $188 for the initial license and each renewal |
How to get each Minnesota license
Registered Unlicensed Electrician
Requirements. Register online with DLI before doing electrical work. You must be at least 17, a W-2 employee of a licensed electrical contractor or registered employer, and directly supervised at all times by a licensed journeyworker or master electrician.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $14 to register; $19 a year to renew, with 2 hours of continuing education.
Source: Electrical licensing basics (Minnesota DLI).
Class A Journeyworker Electrician
Requirements. At least 48 months of verified electrical work experience, with at least 24 months wiring for and installing electrical equipment, gained while registered with DLI or working for a licensed contractor. A board-approved two-year electrical program counts for up to one year. Then pass the state exam.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (state-run exam at DLI's St. Paul office and regional sites) |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2026 NEC |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | 330 minutes (5.5 hours) |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | $50 |
Fees. $50 exam fee; renewal $53 every two years.
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test on the 2026 NEC has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the Minnesota exam outline.
Sources: Electrical license experience and education (Minnesota DLI); Electrical licensing basics (Minnesota DLI); License exam schedule (Minnesota DLI); Minnesota Statutes section 326B.33 Electricians; Minnesota Board of Electricity meeting minutes, July 14, 2026.
Class A Master Electrician
Requirements. Qualify for the master exam with a degree in electrical engineering, one year of experience as a journeyworker electrician, or five years of experience planning, laying out, supervising and installing electrical wiring. Then pass the exam.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2026 NEC |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | 330 minutes (5.5 hours) |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
Fees. $93 to renew.
Sources: Electrical licensing basics (Minnesota DLI); License exam schedule (Minnesota DLI); Minnesota Board of Electricity meeting minutes, July 14, 2026.
Electrical Contractor
Requirements. Name a responsible licensed individual who holds an active master electrician license and is an owner, officer or W-2 employee; carry liability and workers' compensation insurance; and file a $25,000 surety bond.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $188 for the initial license and each renewal.
Source: Electrical contractor licensing basics (Minnesota DLI).
How to apply
Apply online in iMS, DLI's licensing system, uploading your work experience verification forms. Once DLI approves you to sit for the exam, you get an email with scheduling instructions. Apply on the official site.
Source: License exam schedule (Minnesota DLI).
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Journeyworker licenses: every two years, at the end of the month the license was first issued. Master licenses: by the end of February of each odd-numbered year. Contractor licenses: March 1 of each even-numbered year. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | 16 hours of DLI-approved continuing education each two-year renewal, at least 12 of them on the National Electrical Code. Registered unlicensed electricians need 2 hours a year. |
Sources: Electrical licensing basics (Minnesota DLI); Minnesota Statutes section 326B.33 Electricians.
Reciprocity with other states
Journeyworker licenses by agreement with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming; master licenses with Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. The license must have been earned by state exam and held for at least a year.
Source: Electrical license reciprocity (Minnesota DLI).
Look up a Minnesota electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official DLI license and registration lookup (iMS).
Good to know
All Minnesota electrical licensing exams moved to the 2026 NEC on September 8, 2026.
Source: Minnesota Board of Electricity meeting minutes, July 14, 2026.
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Minnesota?
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) licenses journeyworker and master electricians and electrical contractors and registers unlicensed electricians statewide, under Minnesota Statutes section 326B.33 and the Board of Electricity.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Minnesota?
Class A Journeyworker Electrician: At least 48 months of verified electrical work experience, with at least 24 months wiring for and installing electrical equipment, gained while registered with DLI or working for a licensed contractor. A board-approved two-year electrical program counts for up to one year. Then pass the state exam. Apply online in iMS, DLI's licensing system, uploading your work experience verification forms. Once DLI approves you to sit for the exam, you get an email with scheduling instructions.
Does Minnesota accept electrician licenses from other states?
Journeyworker licenses by agreement with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming; master licenses with Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. The license must have been earned by state exam and held for at least a year.
How often does a Minnesota electrician license renew?
Journeyworker licenses: every two years, at the end of the month the license was first issued. Master licenses: by the end of February of each odd-numbered year. Contractor licenses: March 1 of each even-numbered year. Continuing education: 16 hours of DLI-approved continuing education each two-year renewal, at least 12 of them on the National Electrical Code. Registered unlicensed electricians need 2 hours a year.
How do I look up an electrician license in Minnesota?
Use the official DLI license and registration lookup (iMS) at https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/lookup/licensing.aspx
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Minnesota's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- Electrical licensing basics (Minnesota DLI), opened November 11, 2026
- Electrical license experience and education (Minnesota DLI), opened November 11, 2026
- Minnesota Statutes section 326B.33 Electricians, opened November 11, 2026
- Electrical contractor licensing basics (Minnesota DLI), opened November 11, 2026
- License exam schedule (Minnesota DLI), opened November 11, 2026
- Minnesota Board of Electricity meeting minutes, July 14, 2026, opened November 11, 2026
- Electrical license reciprocity (Minnesota DLI), opened November 11, 2026
- License and registration lookup (Minnesota DLI), opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.