Electrical Contractors in the State of Minnesota are required to be properly licensed with the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry. The Department issues licenses to individuals and businesses performing electrical contracting work within the state.
As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to meet a minimum number of years of work experience, pass a qualifying exam and license their business entity with the state.
License Classifications for Electrical Contractors in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry offers the following license classifications to Electrical Contractors:
- Class A Master Electrician License
- Class A Journeyman Electrician License
- Maintenance Electrician License
- Lineman Electrician License
- Class A Installer License
- Class B Installer License
- Power Limited Technician License
Process to Obtain an Electrical Contractor License in Minnesota
- Contractors must meet the minimum number of years of work experience for their license classification. In some cases education and training may count toward a portion of the work experience requirement
- Contractors must submit an application and pay the fee to take the exam. This includes providing proof that they meet the work experience requirement.
- Contractors must take and pass the qualifying examination for their license classification, proving that they have the knowledge and skills to perform work electrical work
- Contractors must choose their business type and properly register their business with the MN Secretary of State, including obtaining the proper tax identification numbers and the proper forms of bonding and insurance.
- Contractor must submit a license application for their business to the Department along with the appropriate fee.
- Contractors must attend continuing education courses upon renewal.
Verifying Work Experience and Applying to Take the Examination
Before contractors are able to schedule an exam with the Department, they must verify that they meet the minimum requirements for work experience based on their license classification.
Contractors must prove:
- Class A Master Electrician- 60 months of work experience
- Class A Journeyman Electrician- 48 months of work experience
- Maintenance Electrician- 48 months of work experience
- Lineman Electrician- 48 months of work experience
- Class A Installer- 12 months of work experience
- Class B Installer- 12 months of work experience
- Power Limited Technician- 36 months of work experience
In some cases, education may count toward a portion of the work experience requirement, such as:
- Bachelor’s/ Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university
- Completion of a 2-year technical/vocational program from a school approved by the Department
- Military experience and training
For more information on the specific types of work experiences/education that count toward the requirement, please visit the Department’s website.
Contractors are required to fill out an examination application, which includes providing mandatory information about their current/previous employer and their work experience/education.
There is a $50 application fee.
The Department accepts payments in the form of check or money order, made payable to, “Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry.”
Mail the completed application, work experience verification and fee to:
Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry
Construction Codes and Licensing Division
P.O. Box 64227
St. Paul, MN 55164-0227
Once the Department has verified that the contractor meets the appropriate experience requirement, they will mail a notification, letting the contractor know that they are eligible to take the exam. This notification will also contain instructions to schedule the exam.
For questions about the work experience requirement or applying for the exam, contact the Department:
Phone Number: 651-284-5031
The Examination Process
All contractors are required to pass an exam, based on their license classification. Examinations prove that contractors have the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to hold a license and work in the electrical trade.
The Department’s License Examination Guide contains all the information needed to prepare for the exam, including reference and study materials, and sample test questions.
Examinations are open-book and based on the information found in the National Electric Code/ National Electrical Safety Code booklet. The Department provides the most current version of theses references to all contractors preparing for the exam.
Upon receiving verification from the Department that the contractor is qualified to take the exam, contractors must schedule their test.
For more information about scheduling and exam, visit the exam registration web page.
Exams are held weekly, usually on Wednesdays, starting at 8:45am and ending at 1:45pm. When scheduling the exam online, contractors are able to choose their testing center site. The primary testing center is located at:
Department of Labor & Industry Building
443 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55164
However, there are other testing sites located throughout greater Minnesota.
Be sure to arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before the scheduled test to allow time for check-in. Contractors are required to present a photo ID when checking-in for their exam.
The exam consists of 25 to 80 questions, depending on the license classification. The Department allots testers 5 ½ hours to take the exam.
Contractors are required to pass the exam with a minimum score of 70%.
Scores are issued within 2 weeks of taking the exam. If the contractor passes the exam, they will receive instructions for obtaining their license.
If the contractor does not pass the exam on the first attempt, they will receive instructions to re-apply and re-take the test.
Preparing and Submitting a License Application
All contractors are required to properly register and license their business entity.
Download a copy of the license application from the Department of Labor & Industry website.
Be sure to read all and follow all instructions when filling out the application. Sign and notarize all pages of the application packet, as indicated. Be sure to provide the exact business name that the contractor plans to use, on the application. The contractor’s business name should match all corresponding documents.
The application asks contractors to identify the type of Electrical Contracting business they plan to operate, such as:
- Individual/Sole Proprietor
- Partnership
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Corporation
- Foreign Corporation
- Foreign Limited Liability Company
- Other
The application also asks that contractors disclose and provide information for all key persons within their business, such as:
- Partners
- Members
- Officers
- Shareholders
Along with the license application, contractors are required to complete the following steps and submit the following documents:
- Contractors must contact the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for information about starting a new business within the state. For more information, please visit their website or call:
651-556-8425 - Contractors must provide proof that they have registered their business entity with the Minnesota Secretary of State. If the contractor is using an assumed business name (a name other than their legal name for their business), they must also file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Secretary of State. For more information about Secretary of State registration, please visit their website.
- Contractors must obtain the proper tax and employment identification numbers for their business, as well as the proper forms of insurance. Please refer to the agencies below for the appropriate information:
- Federal Employer Identification Number: 800-829-4933
- Minnesota Tax Identification Number: 651-556-3000
- Employment and Economic Development for Unemployment Insurance:
651-296-6141 - Department of Labor & Industry for Workers Compensation Insurance:
651-284-5032 - Department of Revenue for Sales Tax ID if making retail sales in MN:
651-296-6181
- Contractors are required to post a surety bond in the amount of $25,000. For more information about bonding, please visit the Electrical Bond Information page of the Department’s website.
- Contractors are required to obtain general liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 per occurrence with a $300,000 aggregate limit for bodily injury and property damage with limits of at least $50,000; OR a policy with a single limit, covering both bodily injury and property damage, for $300,000 per occurrence and a $300,000 aggregate limit. For more information about general liability insurance, please visit the Certificates of Insurance page of the Department’s website.
- Contractors are required to prove that they are in compliance with Workers Compensation law. Contractors must obtain Workers Compensation Insurance if they plan to employ workers. For more information, please visit the Workers Compensation page of the Department’s website.
- All contractors must choose a licensed Master Electrician to act as their Responsible Licensed Individual. This person is responsible for overseeing and ensuring that the contractor’s electrical work is in compliance with laws and codes in the State of Minnesota. Contractors must complete and submit the Certificate of Responsible Licensed Individual along with their license application.
There is a $168 application fee. The Department does not accept cash payments. Please submit the application with a check or money order, made payable to, “Department of Labor & Industry.”
Mail the completed application, along with all the required documents and fees to:
Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry
Construction Codes and Licensing Division/ Electrical
P.O. Box 64227
St. Paul, MN 55164-0027
For questions about the application or licensing process, contact the Department:
By Phone: 651-284-5034
OR
How Long is a Minnesota Electrical Contractor License Valid?
Electrical Contractor Licenses are good for a period of 1 year in the State of Minnesota. Licenses are renewed annually.
Prior to expiration, before renewing a license, contractors must complete the required number of hours of continuing education, based on their license classification:
- All license classes, except Power Limited Technicians and Lineman, must complete 16 hours of continuing education courses. 12 of those hours must cover National Electric Code with 4 hours based on technical-related subjects, the Minnesota Electrical Act and Minnesota Rules.
- Power Limited Technicians are also required to attend 16 hours of continuing education; however they must break their course time up with 4 hours covering National Electric Code and 12 hours based on technical-related subjects, the Minnesota Electrical Act and Minnesota Rules
- Contractors who hold a Lineman License do not have a continuing education requirement
*Master Electricians are not required to attend continuing education in their first pro-rated term; however they must earn 16 hours in each subsequent term.
In order to count toward the requirement, all continuing education courses must be approved by the Department. Contractors may find a list of approved courses and more information about continuing education on the Department’s website.
The cost to renew an Electrical Contractors license is $206.80. Additional fees apply if the contractor does not renew their license on-time.
In order to avoid delays in the renewal process, be sure to complete the renewal packet and provide all the required documentation. For more information and online renewal please visit the Department’s website.
For questions about license renewal, contact the Department:
By Phone: 651-284-5034
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $50 | Application Fee to apply for the exam | Upon submitting the Examination Application |
| $168 | License Fee | Upon submitting the License Application |
| $206.80 | License Renewal Fee | Every year upon renewal |