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.
Line up insurance. You'll need 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), and workers' compensation coverage.
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. Renew 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), completing 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.

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

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)

Preparing for the Electrician exam? State-specific contractor exam-prep courses help you pass the first time. Start exam prep →

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).

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 Workers' compensation: Required; proof of compliance submitted on DLI-approved form

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.