Journeyman and master electrician license and test requirements in South Dakota — what the state requires, who gives the exam, which NEC edition it is written on, the fees, and how to sign up. Free — no account needed.
Requires about 4 years / 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice electrician under an electrical contractor's supervision, plus prior written approval before testing. Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam (80 open-book multiple-choice questions, 70% to pass).
South Dakota's top individual license is the Electrical Contractor license: roughly 6 years' experience including 2 years (about 4,000 additional hours, with at least 2,000 hours commercial) as a licensed journeyman. Requires prior written approval and passing the Electrical Contractor exam (70% to pass).
Kevin's Electrical Prep Course is built by a licensed master electrician, instructor and electrical inspector: 630+ practice questions with every math problem worked out step by step, timed practice exams, video lessons and drive-along audio. Both code books included — NEC 2023 and NEC 2026. So you study the edition South Dakota actually tests on — the NEC 2023. $200 for 6 months, and a pass guarantee.
See the course & take 15 free sample questions → Get 6-month access — $200South Dakota uses State board (South Dakota Electrical Commission administers its own exams; computer-based) as its testing provider. Licensing is handled by South Dakota Electrical Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation).
2023 NEC (all SD exams moved to the 2023 NEC as of Dec 2, 2024)
Journeyman: 80 questions, open book, 70% to pass (state-administered CBT). Electrical Contractor (SD's master-tier): state exam, 70% to pass. Prior written Commission approval required before testing.
$110 (CBT), journeyman and contractor exams · License/app: $40 non-refundable application fee + $80 license fee (journeyman)
Requires about 4 years / 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice electrician under an electrical contractor's supervision, plus prior written approval before testing. Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam (80 open-book multiple-choice questions, 70% to pass).
South Dakota's top individual license is the Electrical Contractor license: roughly 6 years' experience including 2 years (about 4,000 additional hours, with at least 2,000 hours commercial) as a licensed journeyman. Requires prior written approval and passing the Electrical Contractor exam (70% to pass).
Journeyman: Requires about 4 years / 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice electrician under an electrical contractor's supervision, plus prior written approval before testing. Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam (80 open-book multiple-choice questions, 70% to pass). Master: South Dakota's top individual license is the Electrical Contractor license: roughly 6 years' experience including 2 years (about 4,000 additional hours, with at least 2,000 hours commercial) as a licensed journeyman. Requires prior written approval and passing the Electrical Contractor exam (70% to pass).
Reciprocal agreements with 13 states (must have earned the license by exam and held it in active status 1+ year): Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming (level varies by state - journeyman and/or master/contractor). link
Statewide licensing through the SD Electrical Commission. You must obtain prior written approval from the Commission before sitting for either exam, and only licensed (documented) experience hours count. SD calls the master-tier credential an 'Electrical Contractor' license.
Everything above is kept current, but South Dakota can change a fee, a form or an exam provider at any time — and the state's own site is always the live answer. Before you register, click through and confirm:
These open South Dakota's official pages in a new tab. Nothing on this site replaces what your state board publishes.