- Master: one year as a licensed journeyman and at least 2,000 hours as a journeyman under a contracting master. Journeyman: 8,000 hours over at least three years as a registered apprentice, plus apprentice training.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Master licenses expire April 30 and journeyman licenses March 31. You need eight hours of continuing education, four of them on the code.
Do you need a state license in North Dakota?
North Dakota licenses electrical work at the state level through the North Dakota State Electrical Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
North Dakota license types for electrical work
North Dakota 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 |
|---|---|
| Contracting Master | Runs an electrical business and shows proof of liability insurance |
| Master of Record | Master responsible for a company's own property only |
| Journeyman Electrician | Works under a contracting master or master of record |
| Class B Electrician | Farmstead or residential wiring |
Steps to get licensed in North Dakota
- Register as an apprentice and complete 8,000 hours and apprentice training.
- Pass the journeyman exam and work at least one year as a licensed journeyman.
- Send the master exam application and employment verification to the board.
- Take the exam within six months of your invite and score 70 percent or more.
- Choose contracting master status and file proof of $500,000 liability insurance.
- Get a North Dakota contractor license from the Secretary of State, then renew yearly with eight hours of CE.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master: one year as a licensed journeyman and at least 2,000 hours as a journeyman under a contracting master. Journeyman: 8,000 hours over at least three years as a registered apprentice, plus apprentice training.
The license to apply for. Master Electrician (Contracting Master).
North Dakota electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. The exam covers basic electricity, North Dakota laws and wiring standards, and the National Electrical Code. Passing grade is 70 percent. The master exam has a closed part (1 hour) and an open part (3.5 hours).
Business and law exam. No business and law exam is listed.
What it costs in North Dakota
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 |
|---|---|
| Master license, annual renewal | $50 |
| Journeyman license, annual renewal | $25 |
| Class B license, annual renewal | $40 |
| Reciprocal application, master | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. A licensee acting as a contractor must file proof of public liability insurance with limits of at least $500,000.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Master licenses expire April 30 and journeyman licenses March 31. You need eight hours of continuing education, four of them on the code.
Reciprocity. Master license reciprocity with Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. Journeyman reciprocity with several more states.
Good to know in North Dakota
- Contracting masters must also meet the Secretary of State contractor rules in NDCC chapter 43-07.
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 North Dakota State Electrical Board 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.