General contractors in North Dakota must meet multiple requirements that need to be verified with the Secretary of State. This is also true for electrical contractors, though additional fees and licenses need to be obtained.
Compared to other states, North Dakota’s contractor requirements are relatively straight-forward. A few fees and no exams are required for general contractors, but they must acquire licenses for projects that exceed $4,000.
Requirements for electricians are slightly more intricate. Those looking to become an electrical contractor need to go to trade school, become an apprentice, transition to Journeyman, and finish as a Master electrician if they wish. Both the apprentice and the Journeyman stage require a certain number of hours before progressing to the Master stage.
It also states that any person, partnership, company, corporation, or association that undertakes any electrical project should apply to the board for a license.
North Dakota Electrical License Reciprocity
North Dakota is part of a Multi-state Reciprocal Licensing Group, and recognizes journeyman and master licenses from these states:
Master and Journeyman Licenses:
- Minnesota;
- South Dakota.
Journeyman Licenses Only:
A reciprocal license requires:
- A completed written exam from the state you’re reciprocating from;
- 8,000 hours (Journeyman) or 10,000 hours (Master) of electrical construction experience;
- And a valid license, which must be held for one year prior to reciprocity.
The application and license fees are each $25 for the Journeyman and $50 for the Master.
North Dakota Master Electrician License Requirements
According to the North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB), three types of Master electricians exist:
- Contracting Master: someone who adheres to all laws and rules of the state’s wiring standards and shows proof of liability insurance.
- Master of Record: someone who adheres to all laws and rules of the state’s wiring standards for the partnership, company, corporation, limited liability company, or association, and shows proof of liability through the organization.
- Non-Contracting Master: someone who adheres to all laws and rules of the state’s wiring standards and holds the same responsibilities as a Journeyman.
A Master electrician must have at least 2,000 hours of experience working as a Journeyman.
North Dakota Journeyman Electrician License Requirements
In North Dakota, a Journeyman electrician is qualified to work under a Master electrician’s supervision. The steps to becoming a journeyman are:
- 8,000 hours of experience;
- Employment verification records;
- Registration as an apprentice electrician under the supervision of a
- contracting master or master of record licensed electrician;
- And a minimum of 4,000 hours of practical experience.
Journeyman Electrician Test
An exam is required to apply for Journeyman status which is given by the NDSEB. First, apprentices fill out an exam application, which requires:
- A notarized NDSEB Electrical Employment Verification Record;
- An official transcript, if graduated from a technical school;
- An Apprenticeship Training Completion Certificate;
- Application for electrician’s license;
- And a $25 fee for the exam.
The applicant then waits for approval by the board to take the exam.
North Dakota Electrical Insurance Requirements
The state of North Dakota requires that all contracting master electricians and class B electricians to carry general liability insurance. Master electricians must obtain minimum $500,000 coverage, and class B electricians must obtain minimum $250,000 coverage.
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Apprentice Electrician Requirements
An apprentice electrician in North Dakota is defined as anyone who is learning the trade under the supervision of a state-licensed electrician. Those wanting to register as an apprenticeship need to fill out an application.
To register as an apprentice, applicants must be more than 16 years of age and have either:
- 576 hours of training approved by the board and 8,000 hours of experience in installation and repair;
- Or at least two years of electrical school approved by the board and 8,000 hours of experience in installation and repair.
Both instances are to be completed in less than three years. Some education hours count as credit towards the 8,000 hours of experience.
North Dakota Electrical Apprentice Jobs
NDSEB and many schools have programs to connect students with employers.
Electrical Trade Schools in North Dakota
Schools that provide electrical programs include:
- Program: Electric Power Technology
- Cost: Rates contingent upon EPCE membership
- Location: Bismarck, ND
- Type of School: Career/Technical/Liberal/Academic college accredited by
- the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of
- Colleges and Schools.
- For more information, visit their contact page.
North Dakota State College of Science
- Program: Electrical Technology
- Cost: $30,099
- Location: Fargo, ND or Wahpeton, ND
- Type of school: Public Two-year college
- For more information, fill out an information request form.
North Dakota Professional License Search
The Secretary of State website provides a search query that allows exploration and verification of contractor licenses in North Dakota.
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become an Electrical Contractor in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in New North Dakota, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
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