- To take the master exam you need a degree in electrical engineering, or one year as a journeyworker electrician, or five years of planning, laying out, supervising and installing electrical work.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- A $25,000 surety bond on a DLI approved form.
- Electrical contractor licenses expire the last day of February in even numbered years. Master licenses expire the last day of February in odd numbered years and need 16 hours of continuing education, at least 12 on the National Electrical Code.
Do you need a state license in Minnesota?
Minnesota licenses electrical work at the state level through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), with the Board of Electricity. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Minnesota license types for electrical work
Minnesota splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor | Contract for electrical work; needs a master electrician as responsible licensed individual |
| Master Electrician | Top individual license |
| Journeyworker Electrician | Electrical work as an employee |
| Registered unlicensed electrician | Works under direct supervision of a licensed electrician |
Steps to get licensed in Minnesota
- Register with DLI as an unlicensed electrician and work for a licensed contractor.
- Build the required experience and pass the journeyworker exam.
- After one year as a journeyworker, pass the master electrician exam.
- Get liability insurance, workers compensation and a $25,000 surety bond.
- Apply in iMS for the electrical contractor license and pay $188.
- Renew on schedule and complete 16 hours of continuing education for the master license.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. To take the master exam you need a degree in electrical engineering, or one year as a journeyworker electrician, or five years of planning, laying out, supervising and installing electrical work.
The license to apply for. Electrical Contractor license (with a Master Electrician as responsible licensed individual).
Minnesota electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. You must pass a written exam before applying for a master or journeyworker license. Electrical exams move to the 2026 NEC starting September 8, 2026.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Minnesota
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Electrical contractor initial license or renewal | $188 |
| Contractor late renewal fee | $90 |
| Master electrician renewal | $93 |
| Journeyworker exam | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate and $50,000 property damage, plus workers compensation. DLI must be listed as certificate holder.
Bond. A $25,000 surety bond on a DLI approved form.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Electrical contractor licenses expire the last day of February in even numbered years. Master licenses expire the last day of February in odd numbered years and need 16 hours of continuing education, at least 12 on the National Electrical Code.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Minnesota
- General contractors that hire licensed electrical subcontractors do not need their own electrical contractor license.
- A licensed electrician may supervise no more than two unlicensed workers.
- Your company license number must appear on company vehicles.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), with the Board of Electricity and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.