Home / Electrician / North Dakota
North Dakota State Electrical Board · checked 2026-10-21
North Dakota Electrician License Requirements
Statewide master, journeyman and class B electrician licenses issued by the State Electrical Board under N.D.C.C. chapter 43-09. Master electrician: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1J · Journeyman electrician 4 years
- 2M · Master electrician 5 years
License levels in North Dakota
The North Dakota path has 2 steps on this page: Journeyman electrician and Master electrician. The source counts experience in hours; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Journeyman electrician | 8,000 hours | — | 4 years | Yes | Not printed |
| M Master electrician | 1 year at the prior level | — | 5 years | Yes | Not printed |
Journeyman electrician (J)
8,000 hours installing and repairing electrical wiring, gained over at least three years; apprentices registered after January 31, 2008 also need approved apprenticeship training or a board-approved course of at least two years. Then the board's technical and practical exam. Source: N.D.C.C. chapter 43-09, Electricians.
Master electrician (M)
One year of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician, then the technical and practical exam. Source: N.D.C.C. chapter 43-09, Electricians.
North Dakota also issues narrower classes on the same page: Class B electrician (18 months of farmstead or residential wiring, exam).
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journeyman electrician and Master electrician. The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees
The North Dakota source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. The board sets the exam and annual license fees (§ 43-09-13); the chapter prints no amounts.
Reciprocity
The North Dakota sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
Seen from the other side: New Hampshire, Maine and Arkansas list North Dakota among their partners on their own board pages (New Hampshire, Maine, Arkansas). Each state applies its own conditions, so read both pages.
How North Dakota compares
Among the 24 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top electrician credential, North Dakota ranks 13 of 24 from shortest (2 years) to longest (9 years). Massachusetts, Ohio, Minnesota and Virginia set the same 5 years.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Texas · Florida · Ohio · Georgia. All states side by side: Electrician license requirements by state.
Other trades in North Dakota
- Plumber: Master plumber: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Class A contractor (no limit): the source states no minimum time.
All covered trades on one page: North Dakota trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the electrician license in North Dakota?
North Dakota State Electrical Board. Statewide master, journeyman and class B electrician licenses issued by the State Electrical Board under N.D.C.C. chapter 43-09.
How long does it take to qualify for the Master electrician in North Dakota?
5 years by this site's count. One year of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician, then the technical and practical exam.
Does North Dakota have electrician license reciprocity?
The North Dakota sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | North Dakota State Electrical Board | 2026-10-21 |
| J requirements | N.D.C.C. chapter 43-09, Electricians | 2026-10-21 |
| M requirements | N.D.C.C. chapter 43-09, Electricians | 2026-10-21 |
| Law cited | N.D.C.C. §§ 43-09-09, 43-09-11, 43-09-13 | 2026-10-21 |
This page summarises what the North Dakota source said on 2026-10-21. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with North Dakota State Electrical Board before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.