- After the exam you get a restricted certification and work under an approved mentor until your experience is documented and approved. At least five jobs need extra documentation.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Proof of an SSTS surety bond.
- The business license renews every year. Send the form, fee and proof of insurance at least 21 days before it expires.
Do you need a state license in Minnesota?
Minnesota licenses septic system work at the state level through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, SSTS Program. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in Minnesota
- Take the pre-certification course and pass the installer specialty exam with 70 percent.
- Apply for individual certification with an experience plan signed by your mentor.
- Complete and document your experience to lift the restriction.
- License the business: surety bond, liability insurance and $200 per specialty.
- Renew the business license every year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. After the exam you get a restricted certification and work under an approved mentor until your experience is documented and approved. At least five jobs need extra documentation.
The license to apply for. SSTS business license (installer specialty), with an SSTS certified individual.
Minnesota septic installer exams
Trade exam. A separate exam for each specialty, after the pre-certification course. You need 70 percent.
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 one fee for this license. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Business license, per specialty area per year | $200 (no more than $400) |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Proof of general liability insurance, every year.
Bond. Proof of an SSTS surety bond.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The business license renews every year. Send the form, fee and proof of insurance at least 21 days before it expires.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Minnesota
- If the business license lapses, all SSTS work must stop until it is renewed.
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 septic installation 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 Pollution Control Agency, SSTS Program and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.