Electrician License Requirements in South Dakota
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $140
- Exam
- Journeyman Electrician License Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- South Dakota Electrical Commission (South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. The Commission's official application form asks applicants to disclose whether they have ever been convicted of, or pled guilty/nolo contendere to, a crime of violence as defined under SDCL 22-1-2. The application and Commission pages do not state a minimum age requirement or a formal education/diploma requirement beyond completing the licensed apprenticeship hours. [3]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training. South Dakota requires 4 years (8,000 hours) as a Licensed Apprentice Electrician, working under the employment and supervision of a licensed electrical contractor, before an applicant may sit for the Journeyman exam. There is no state-approved classroom program requirement beyond licensed on-the-job apprenticeship hours — 'experience hours must be licensed in order for your working time to count toward the hours required to take the exams' (per the Commission's Licensing page). A further 2 years (4,000 hours, including a minimum 2,000 hours of commercial work) as a licensed Journeyman is required before eligibility for the Electrical Contractor/Class B exam. [1]
- 3
Journeyman Electrician License Examination
Pass the Journeyman Electrician License Examination. No exam fee is itemized separately from the $60 Journeyman application fee on the Commission's official application form; that fee covers the examination process. A passing score is required but the Commission's public pages do not state the exact percentage or question count — the Commission's exams page directs applicants to call 605-773-3573 for details. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to South Dakota Electrical Commission (South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation) with the $60 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, South Dakota Electrical Commission (South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation) issues your Journeyman Electrician License for South Dakota.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $60 |
| License fee [3] | $80 |
| Renewal fee [3] | None specified |
| Journeyman Electrician License Examination [2] | None specified |
Per the Commission's official Electrician License Application (REV 10/2025): Journeyman application fee $60, license fee $80 (Reciprocal Journeyman is the same, $60/$80). Renewal fee is not stated on the application form or the Commission's public Fees page (which lists only wiring-permit and inspection fees, not licensing renewal); left null pending a renewal-specific fee schedule.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.
The Commission's application form states 'All licenses expire June 30 of the even numbered years,' making this a biennial cycle. Per ARSD 20:44:17:01/:02, licensees must complete 16 hours of continuing education by renewal (or June 30, whichever is sooner), with a minimum of 8 hours on the National Electrical Code, and a maximum of 8 hours may be pre-approved online coursework. Licensees who first obtain a license in the second year of a biennium are not required to meet CE hours until their second renewal.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
South Dakota has reciprocal agreements for Journeyman licensure with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming (per the Commission's Reciprocal Agreements page). General condition: the applicant must have earned the out-of-state license by examination and held it for at least one year in active status, unless the specific agreement states otherwise. The Reciprocal Journeyman application/license fees ($60/$80) match the standard Journeyman fees. No interstate licensure compact exists for electricians.
3 state-approved training providers in South Dakota — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $60
- $80
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of experience does South Dakota require before I can take the Journeyman exam?
4 years (8,000 hours) as a Licensed Apprentice Electrician working under a licensed electrical contractor's employment and supervision. Only licensed apprenticeship hours count toward this requirement.
How much does a South Dakota Journeyman Electrician license cost?
A $60 application fee and an $80 license fee, per the Commission's official application form. These same amounts apply to Reciprocal Journeyman applications.
How often do I need to renew my South Dakota electrician license?
Every two years — all South Dakota electrical licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires 16 hours of continuing education, including at least 8 hours on the National Electrical Code, with a maximum of 8 hours completed online.
Does South Dakota offer reciprocity for out-of-state Journeyman electricians?
Yes, with 14 states (Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming), generally requiring the applicant to have earned their license by examination and held it at least one year.
Does South Dakota require a background check for an electrician license?
The application asks whether you have ever been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a crime of violence as defined under South Dakota law (SDCL 22-1-2).
Sources
- [1] dlr.sd.gov/electrical/licensing.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] dlr.sd.gov/electrical/exams.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] dlr.sd.gov/electrical/forms/Electrical-License-Application-General.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] dlr.sd.gov/electrical/continuing_education.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [5] dlr.sd.gov/electrical/reciprocal_agreements.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11