StateLicensed

Electrician License Requirements in Minnesota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
8000 hrs
Upfront cost
$50
Exam
Journeyworker Electrician Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Construction Codes and Licensing Division

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 17 years old. Minimum age 17. DLI's licensing-basics page and application materials found in this research pass do not describe a criminal background check as part of the standard journeyworker application. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 8000 hours of training (including 576 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. Standard path is 8,000 hours of on-the-job training/practical electrical experience plus 576 classroom hours, functionally requiring a structured apprenticeship program before an applicant can sit for the journeyworker exam. [1]

  3. 3

    Journeyworker Electrician Examination

    Pass the Journeyworker Electrician Examination (fee: $50). 80 questions, 5.5 hours, minimum 70% to pass; based on the 2023 National Electrical Code The $50 fee is described as an 'examination application fee' by DLI; a written exam must be passed before applying for the journeyworker license itself. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Construction Codes and Licensing Division. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Construction Codes and Licensing Division issues your Class A Journeyworker Electrician License for Minnesota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $53
Journeyworker Electrician Examination [1] $50
Journeyworker Electrical (AJ/BJ) late renewal [2] $73
Master Electrical (AM/BM) renewal [2] $93

DLI's Electrical Personal License Renewal form (rev. 6/20/2024) lists Journeyworker Electrical (AJ, BJ) renewal at $53 ($73 if late) — confirmed directly from the fillable PDF. The $50 fee paid to sit the exam is recorded in the exams[] fact group. A separate distinct 'initial license issuance' fee beyond the exam fee was not found in this research pass; DLI's application materials indicate the license is issued upon passing the exam and submitting the license application, with the first renewal fee due at the 2-year mark.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Licenses expire at the end of the month in which they were originally issued, every 2 years. 16 hours of DLI-approved continuing education are required per cycle: at least 12 hours on Minnesota electrical statutes/rules and technical topics, and at least 4 hours specifically on the National Electrical Code.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Minnesota recognizes journeyworker electrician licenses without examination from Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, provided the applicant has held the license at least 1 year in good standing in the originating state and has not previously failed the same or greater class of license in Minnesota; a $50 fee plus applicable license fees still applies. Licenses expired more than 2 years in Minnesota require retaking the exam rather than using reciprocity. No multistate electrician licensure compact exists for this occupation, so compacts is empty.

13 state-approved training providers in Minnesota — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $50
Total$50

Frequently asked questions

How much experience do I need before I can take the journeyworker exam?

8,000 hours of on-the-job electrical experience plus 576 classroom hours — in practice, completion of a structured apprenticeship program.

Who administers the journeyworker exam and what does it cost?

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry administers an 80-question, 5.5-hour exam (70% to pass) for a $50 fee, based on the 2023 NEC.

How often do I need to renew, and what continuing education is required?

Every 2 years, for a $53 renewal fee, with 16 hours of DLI-approved continuing education (at least 4 hours on the NEC and at least 12 hours on Minnesota electrical statutes/rules and technical topics).

Is Minnesota's journeyworker license reciprocal with other states?

Yes, without examination, for licensees from Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, if held at least 1 year in good standing (a $50 fee plus license fees still applies).

What is the minimum age to hold a journeyworker electrician license?

17 years old.

Sources

  1. [1] dli.mn.gov/workers/electrician-or-electrical-installer/electrical-licensing-basics — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/ele_renewal.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] dli.mn.gov/workers/electrician-or-electrical-installer/electrical-license-reciprocity — accessed 2026-07-11