Checked against primary sources 2026-09-07

Twenty questions, twenty sources

Minnesota Electrician Questions, Answered and Cited

The wording follows what people actually search for. The answers are ours and each one is tied to Minnesota Statutes, a DLI page, the fee schedule or the Board of Electricity minutes. Where the state's own sources disagree, we say so instead of picking one.

Test yourself: thirty free questions, timed

Do I need a license to do electrical work in Minnesota?

You need at least a registration. Minnesota Statutes 326B.33, subdivision 13 says unlicensed individuals performing electrical work for a contractor or employer shall register with the department, and subdivision 12(a) limits a licensed individual to supervising no more than two unlicensed individuals, or three on technology circuits.

You need a license of your own to perform or supervise electrical work outside that arrangement, and a contractor license to perform or offer to perform electrical work for others under subdivision 14.

Is it journeyman or journeyworker in Minnesota?

Journeyworker. The statute, the rules, the fee schedule, DLI, mn.gov elicense and the Board of Electricity minutes all use it. Minnesota Statutes 326B.31, subdivision 8 defines the Class A journeyworker electrician.

Journeyman is the national word and the higher volume search term, and it means the same license. We carry both.

How long does it take to become an electrician in Minnesota?

Four years of qualifying experience for the Class A journeyworker license, counted as 48 months with at least 24 in wiring for and installing.

An approved two year post high school electrical course is worth a maximum of one year of that. Then the application, which the mn.gov elicense entry puts at approximately 60 days including experience verification, board approval and examination scheduling.

Does Minnesota count electrician hours or months?

Months, in nine named categories, each with a minimum and a maximum. The rule is Minnesota Rules 3800.3520 and the matrices are published on DLI's experience requirements page.

You will see 8,000 hours quoted for a Minnesota journeyworker license. That figure comes from apprenticeship standards and from one college page, not from the state.

Can I get a Class B electrician license in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota Statutes 326B.33 closed the Class B master electrician and Class B journeyworker electrician licenses to new applicants as of August 1, 1985. Holders from before that date may keep and renew them.

Class B installer, code IB, is a different credential and it is still issued. Class A installer closed on December 1, 2007.

How much does a Minnesota electrician license cost?

Fifty dollars for the examination application, which is not refundable, then the license fee after approval. That is $48 for the journeyworker, maintenance, power limited technician, lineman, Class B installer and satellite installer licenses, and $88 for the Class A master.

Contractor licenses are $188 new and $188 to renew.

What is the registered unlicensed individual registration?

A $14 state registration on the RE or RT code, valid one year from the end of the registration month, with no examination. It is what makes your work experience count toward a license.

Renewal is $19 and asks for two hours of DLI approved continuing education and a completed work experience verification form. The form says renewing prevents the loss of accrued work experience.

Who issues electrician licenses in Minnesota?

The Department of Labor and Industry, through its Construction Codes and Licensing Division, at 443 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155. Licensing is on 651-284-5034.

The Board of Electricity sits alongside DLI with 12 members, 11 appointed by the governor and one by the DLI commissioner, and adopts the electrical code and the licensing rules.

Does any Minnesota city license electricians?

No. Duluth states it on its own page: the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry licenses electricians, and the city does not license residential building contractors or plumbers either.

Saint Paul routes licensing questions to DLI and issues permits instead. Minneapolis runs its own electrical inspection program. None of the three issues an electrician credential.

How do I become a master electrician in Minnesota?

Three routes, and they are alternatives. Graduation from a four year electrical course at an accredited college or university, one year of experience as a licensed journeyworker, or five years in planning for, laying out, supervising and installing electrical work.

Then an 80 question examination at 70 percent, and $88 for the license. The DLI matrix for the third route is 60 months with minimums of two months each in planning, laying out and supervising.

What does a Minnesota electrical contractor license need?

A responsible licensed individual holding an active master electrician license who is an owner, officer, member or W-2 employee and is not the responsible individual for another contractor. A $25,000 bond under Minnesota Statutes 326B.33, subdivision 15.

And insurance with limits of at least $100,000 per occurrence, a $300,000 aggregate for bodily injury and at least $50,000 in property damage. The fee is $188.

How many unlicensed workers can one electrician supervise?

Two. Minnesota Statutes 326B.33, subdivision 12(a) says licensed individuals shall supervise no more than two unlicensed individuals, and no more than three for technology circuits or systems work.

DLI prints the same limit on its licensing basics page.

How old do you have to be to get a Minnesota electrical license?

DLI states that applicants must be at least 17 years old. That age appears on the DLI licensing basics page and not in the text of Minnesota Statutes 326B.33.

Apprenticeship sponsors set their own ages on top of that. The Minneapolis Electrical JATC asks for 17 to apply and 18 to be hired, and the Rochester program asks for 18 before being hired.

Which states have electrical reciprocity with Minnesota?

Nine for the Class A journeyworker license: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Four of those also reciprocate the Class A master license: Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. There is no reciprocity for the maintenance, power limited technician, lineman, installer, satellite or contractor licenses.

How much continuing education does Minnesota require?

Sixteen hours per renewal period for most licenses, with at least 12 relating to the National Electrical Code. Power limited technicians run the split the other way, with at least 4 on the code.

Satellite installers owe four code hours, linemen owe none and registered unlicensed individuals owe two. DLI warns that renewing without completing it may result in license suspension and a fine of $1,000.

When does a Minnesota electrical license expire?

Two state sources word several of these differently and we print both. Minnesota Statutes 326B.33, subdivision 19(a) says master licenses expire March 1 of each odd numbered year and DLI says the last day of February of each odd numbered year.

For other personal licenses the statute says two years from the date of original issuance, DLI says two years at the end of the original issue month, and elicense says the anniversary date of initial issue. We could not confirm which form is enforced.

How many licensed electricians are there in Minnesota?

The Board of Electricity publishes counts each quarter. At April 14, 2026: 12,435 journeyworker electricians, 6,511 master electricians, 3,927 power limited technicians, 16,074 registered unlicensed electricians and 5,496 registered unlicensed power limited technicians.

The same minutes give 2,497 electrical contractors and 835 technology systems contractors. No count is published for linemen, Class B installers or satellite installers.

What do electricians make in Minnesota?

O*NET OnLine, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics 2025 wage data, gives a statewide median of $37.58 an hour or $78,160 a year.

By metro: Duluth $39.76, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington and St. Cloud $39.37, Rochester $38.29 and Mankato $39.96. The southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area is the lowest row at $30.80 an hour.

Which electrician apprenticeships does Minnesota register?

DLI names eight construction electrician sponsors: Associated Builders and Contractors of Minnesota and North Dakota, Design Electric, the Electrical Association, IBEW/NECA Twin Ports, Iron Range, Minneapolis, South Central Minnesota and St. Paul.

One limited energy sponsor, Minnesota Statewide Limited Energy in Fridley, feeds the power limited technician license, and two utility sponsors feed the lineman track.

How do I check a Minnesota electrician license?

Use the free DLI license lookup. One search covers personal licenses, registrations and the contractor licenses, because DLI licenses individuals and businesses in the same system.

Continuing education courses have a separate search. The DLI approved course directory is the only place a course is confirmed as approved.

What this page cites

• Minnesota Statutes 326B.33 The licensing statute: registration, supervision, qualifying experience, bonds, insurance and expirations. source
• Minnesota Statutes 326B.31 The definitions of every credential, from Class A master to satellite system installer. source
• DLI electrical licensing basics The department's own summary of licenses, ages, supervision and renewal. source
• CCLD licensing fee schedule Every fee, board fee, continuing education fee and late fee, updated July 1, 2025. source
• DLI experience requirements The month matrices by license, with category minimums and maximums. source
• DLI electrical license reciprocity The nine and four state lists and the nine conditions. source
• Board of Electricity minutes, April 14, 2026 The quarterly active license counts and enforcement figures. source
• O*NET OnLine local wages for 47-2111 Minnesota and metro medians for electricians, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics 2025 wage data. source