How to get an electrician license in South Dakota: the official requirements
The Journeyman Electrician license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the South Dakota Electrical Commission.
In South Dakota, the state electrical license for individual electricians is issued by the South Dakota Electrical Commission. The Journeyman license, issued by the South Dakota Electrical Commission. An apprentice moves up to journeyman after at least four years of electrical training, and journeyman hours later count toward the electrical contractor's exam. Apprentice or trainee registration: Start with an apprentice license from the Commission, using the Apprentice License Application; the application process takes about 30 days. Your experience hours must be licensed for your working time to count toward the exams. Experience and training: Four years (8,000 hours in total) as a licensed apprentice electrician, working under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor, before you write the journeyman's exam. The license application states the requirement as at least four years of electrical training under the employment and supervision of a licensed electrical contractor or Class B electrician. Licensing exam: The journeyman's exam, which you may take only with the Commission's prior written approval. All tests are on the 2023 National Electrical Code (since December 2, 2024). How to apply: Submit the Electrician License Application, with the required application fee, to the Commission office by mail or fax (the Commission's web portal has been offline since October 21, 2025, so the forms are filled, printed and mailed). Once your application is approved, the Commission sends the details to locate an exam site, and you have 90 days to make the arrangements.
South Dakota electrician license requirements
| Requirement | South Dakota |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The Journeyman license, issued by the South Dakota Electrical Commission. An apprentice moves up to journeyman after at least four years of electrical training, and journeyman hours later count toward the electrical contractor's exam. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Start with an apprentice license from the Commission, using the Apprentice License Application; the application process takes about 30 days. Your experience hours must be licensed for your working time to count toward the exams. |
| Experience and training | Four years (8,000 hours in total) as a licensed apprentice electrician, working under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor, before you write the journeyman's exam. The license application states the requirement as at least four years of electrical training under the employment and supervision of a licensed electrical contractor or Class B electrician. |
| Classroom hours | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the South Dakota Electrical Commission. |
| Licensing exam | The journeyman's exam, which you may take only with the Commission's prior written approval. All tests are on the 2023 National Electrical Code (since December 2, 2024). |
| How to apply | Submit the Electrician License Application, with the required application fee, to the Commission office by mail or fax (the Commission's web portal has been offline since October 21, 2025, so the forms are filled, printed and mailed). Once your application is approved, the Commission sends the details to locate an exam site, and you have 90 days to make the arrangements. |
| Background check | The license application asks whether you have ever been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime of violence; if yes, you attach the date, place and full particulars. |
| State fees | Apprentice license application: $20. Renewals submitted after June 30 add a $50 reinstatement fee. Application and license fees are not pro-rated and are non-refundable. |
| License term | Two years; all licenses expire June 30 of the even-numbered years and are renewed on a biennial form. |
| Continuing education | 16 hours of continuing education to renew, with at least 8 code hours and 8 in-person hours; all of it must be preapproved by the Commission. |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in South Dakota
- Apply to the Commission for an apprentice license with the Apprentice License Application.
- Work four years (8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor.
- Mail or fax the Electrician License Application, with the application fee, to the Commission.
- Once approved, arrange your exam site within 90 days and write the journeyman's exam.
- Renew every two years by June 30 with 16 hours of preapproved continuing education.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become an electricianThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayElectrician salaryWhat electricians earn.
Open →CareerElectrician career guideThe job, skills and outlook.
Open →ResumeElectrician resumeHow to present your hours and licenses.
Open →InterviewElectrician interview questionsWhat hiring managers ask.
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Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the South Dakota Electrical Commission (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the South Dakota Electrical Commission's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the individual license named above. Master, contractor, specialty, sign, residential, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- South Dakota Electrical Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation), Licensing & Renewals, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- South Dakota Electrical Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation), Exams, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- South Dakota Electrical Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation), License Applications and Other Forms, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- South Dakota Electrical Commission, Electrician License Application (Rev 10/2025), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- South Dakota Electrical Commission, Apprentice License Application (Rev 10/2025), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.