Minnesota Electrician License Requirements

Official classification: Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician as Responsible Licensed Individual) · Issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).

⚡ ElectricianMN ✔ Verified 2026-06-22

In Minnesota, electricians must hold the Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician as Responsible Licensed Individual), issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), and a $25,000 surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed electrician in Minnesota

Follow these steps to earn your Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician as Responsible Licensed Individual). Every figure is verified against the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Electrical contractor license: the designated Responsible Licensed Individual must hold an active Master Electrician license. Master Electrician individual license: 5 years (60 months) of qualifying experience including at least 12 months wiring/installing and at least 2 months each in planning and layout; OR 1 year as licensed journeyworker plus the balance in qualifying work; OR electrical engineering degree from an accredited institution. Journeyworker Electrician: 4 years (48 months) of qualifying experience including at least 24 months wiring for and installing electrical systems; up to 1 year credit for an approved 2-year post-secondary electrical course.
Pass the Journeyworker Electrician Exam and Master Electrician Exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Secure your surety bond. Minnesota requires $25,000 surety bond written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in Minnesota; must be on DLI-approved form.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Minimum $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate; must cover premises, operations and products, and completed operations; DLI must be listed as certificate holder. Property damage: Minimum $50,000 (included within liability policy). Workers' compensation: Required; proof of compliance submitted on DLI-approved form.
Clear the background check. Not explicitly required by DLI for the electrical contractor business license per published DLI pages (unlike residential contractor licenses, DLI pages do not list a criminal background check form for electrical contractor licensure; verify with DLI if applying).
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) — $188 (initial application, which also serves as the license fee) application fee, plus a Included in $188 application fee license fee. Processing time: Not publicly disclosed by DLI; apply online via iMS portal at dli.mn.gov.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 2 years (contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years; master electrician individual license expires last day of February in odd-numbered years). Continuing education: Individual electrician licenses: 16 hours of DLI-approved CE per renewal period — minimum 12 hours on National Electrical Code (NEC), up to 4 hours on statutes/rules/technical topics. Applies to journeyworker and master licenses. Unlicensed electrician registrations: 2 hours annually. CE for the electrical contractor business license itself is not separately stated by DLI; the RLI's individual license CE fulfills the requirement.

For the general path in every state, see the Electrician guide →

Minnesota electrician license lookup

To confirm an electrician is properly licensed in Minnesota — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official dli.mn.gov database →

License types

Electrical Contractor License — Business license required for any company contracting to perform electrical work in Minnesota. Must designate a licensed master electrician as the Responsible Licensed Individual (RLI).
Master Electrician (individual) — Individual license required to serve as RLI for a contractor; may plan, lay out, supervise, and install electrical systems. Requires 5 years of qualifying experience.
Journeyworker Electrician (individual) — Individual license to perform electrical wiring and installation under a licensed contractor. Requires 4 years of qualifying experience.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Electrical contractor license: the designated Responsible Licensed Individual must hold an active Master Electrician license. Master Electrician individual license: 5 years (60 months) of qualifying experience including at least 12 months wiring/installing and at least 2 months each in planning and layout; OR 1 year as licensed journeyworker plus the balance in qualifying work; OR electrical engineering degree from an accredited institution. Journeyworker Electrician: 4 years (48 months) of qualifying experience including at least 24 months wiring for and installing electrical systems; up to 1 year credit for an approved 2-year post-secondary electrical course.
Application fee	$188 (initial application, which also serves as the license fee)
License fee	Included in $188 application fee
Renewal fee	$188 every two years (electrical contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years)
Renewal period	Every 2 years (contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years; master electrician individual license expires last day of February in odd-numbered years)
Continuing education	Individual electrician licenses: 16 hours of DLI-approved CE per renewal period — minimum 12 hours on National Electrical Code (NEC), up to 4 hours on statutes/rules/technical topics. Applies to journeyworker and master licenses. Unlicensed electrician registrations: 2 hours annually. CE for the electrical contractor business license itself is not separately stated by DLI; the RLI's individual license CE fulfills the requirement.
Bond required	$25,000 surety bond written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in Minnesota; must be on DLI-approved form
Liability insurance	Minimum $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate; must cover premises, operations and products, and completed operations; DLI must be listed as certificate holder
Property damage	Minimum $50,000 (included within liability policy)
Workers' comp	Required; proof of compliance submitted on DLI-approved form
Background check	Not explicitly required by DLI for the electrical contractor business license per published DLI pages (unlike residential contractor licenses, DLI pages do not list a criminal background check form for electrical contractor licensure; verify with DLI if applying).
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	Journeyworker Electrician (individual license only): Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming — exam waived if licensed by exam in those states; Master Electrician (individual license only): Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska — exam waived if licensed by exam in those states; Note: Reciprocity applies to individual electrician licenses, not to the electrical contractor business license · compare all states
Processing time	Not publicly disclosed by DLI; apply online via iMS portal at dli.mn.gov

What a Minnesota electrician license costs

Application fee	$188 (initial application, which also serves as the license fee).
License fee	Included in $188 application fee.
Journeyworker Electrician Exam	$50.
Master Electrician Exam	$50 (paid before exam scheduling; additional fee after passing for license issuance).
Surety bond	$25,000 surety bond written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in Minnesota; must be on DLI-approved form. A bond's premium is a percentage of the bond amount, set by the surety.
Renewal fee	$188 every two years (electrical contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years).
Renewal period	Every 2 years (contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years; master electrician individual license expires last day of February in odd-numbered years).

Exams

Journeyworker Electrician Exam	Provider: Minnesota DLI (administered at DLI St. Paul office, Tues–Thurs) · Passing: Not publicly disclosed by DLI · Fee: $50
Master Electrician Exam	Provider: Minnesota DLI (administered at DLI St. Paul office, Tues–Thurs) · Passing: Not publicly disclosed by DLI · Fee: $50 (paid before exam scheduling; additional fee after passing for license issuance)

Renewing a Minnesota electrician license

The Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician as Responsible Licensed Individual) renews on a fixed cycle set by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Every 2 years (contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years; master electrician individual license expires last day of February in odd-numbered years)
Renewal fee	$188 every two years (electrical contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years)
Continuing education	Individual electrician licenses: 16 hours of DLI-approved CE per renewal period — minimum 12 hours on National Electrical Code (NEC), up to 4 hours on statutes/rules/technical topics. Applies to journeyworker and master licenses. Unlicensed electrician registrations: 2 hours annually. CE for the electrical contractor business license itself is not separately stated by DLI; the RLI's individual license CE fulfills the requirement.
Where to renew	Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI)

Local / municipal notes

Employees performing electrical work must individually hold a journeyworker electrician license, master electrician license, or be registered with DLI as a Registered Unlicensed Electrician (RE). The RLI cannot simultaneously serve as RLI for any other electrical contractor unless 25%+ common ownership exists.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Minnesota electrician license cost?

Application: $188 (initial application, which also serves as the license fee). License: Included in $188 application fee. Renewal: $188 every two years (electrical contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years).

How do I look up a electrician license in Minnesota?

Search the official license database at dli.mn.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do electricians in Minnesota need a surety bond?

$25,000 surety bond written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in Minnesota; must be on DLI-approved form

What experience is required for a Minnesota electrician license?

Electrical contractor license: the designated Responsible Licensed Individual must hold an active Master Electrician license. Master Electrician individual license: 5 years (60 months) of qualifying experience including at least 12 months wiring/installing and at least 2 months each in planning and layout; OR 1 year as licensed journeyworker plus the balance in qualifying work; OR electrical engineering degree from an accredited institution. Journeyworker Electrician: 4 years (48 months) of qualifying experience including at least 24 months wiring for and installing electrical systems; up to 1 year credit for an approved 2-year post-secondary electrical course.

Is insurance required for electricians in Minnesota?

Liability: Minimum $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate; must cover premises, operations and products, and completed operations; DLI must be listed as certificate holder. Property damage: Minimum $50,000 (included within liability policy). Workers' compensation: Required; proof of compliance submitted on DLI-approved form.

How long does it take to get a Minnesota electrician license?

Processing time: Not publicly disclosed by DLI; apply online via iMS portal at dli.mn.gov.

Is a background check required for electricians in Minnesota?

Background check: Not explicitly required by DLI for the electrical contractor business license per published DLI pages (unlike residential contractor licenses, DLI pages do not list a criminal background check form for electrical contractor licensure; verify with DLI if applying).

How often must a Minnesota electrician license be renewed?

Every 2 years (contractor license expires last day of February in even-numbered years; master electrician individual license expires last day of February in odd-numbered years). Continuing education: Individual electrician licenses: 16 hours of DLI-approved CE per renewal period — minimum 12 hours on National Electrical Code (NEC), up to 4 hours on statutes/rules/technical topics. Applies to journeyworker and master licenses. Unlicensed electrician registrations: 2 hours annually. CE for the electrical contractor business license itself is not separately stated by DLI; the RLI's individual license CE fulfills the requirement.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-22 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) before applying. This is not legal advice.