South Dakota electrician license & renewal
The requirements, the timing and the official sources. Everything we’ve verified, in one place.
License fee
—
Not verified yet
Required hours
Journeyman exam eligibility: four years totaling 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice employed and supervised by an electrical contractor.
Exam
—
Not verified yet
Renewal
—
Not verified yet
Before you begin
Agency guidance
2026 renewal instructions require CE certificates for July 1, 2024–June 30, 2026 and use of the official renewal form; renewals submitted by June 30 avoid the late fee.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Renewals submitted by June 30 with not have a late fee. You must include copies of your continuing education completion certificates for July 1, 2024–June 30, 2026 to renew. Complete and submit Biennial Renewal FormOfficial source
Agency guidance
In a partnership or corporation, the licensed person is exempt from insurance and undertaking requirements if the employer satisfies them.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
In the case of a partnership or corporation, the licensed person is exempt from insurance or undertaking requirements if the employer satisfies the requirements.Official source
How to get this license
Use the agency’s requirements below to plan your next steps. Missing details stay marked.
Start with the licensing authority
Licensing board
South Dakota Electrical Commission
Official agency page
Check the qualifications
Required hours
Journeyman exam eligibility: four years totaling 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice employed and supervised by an electrical contractor.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
After completing four years (for a total of 8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice electrician working under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor, you will be ready to write the journeyman's exam.
Official sourceExperience
Contractor exam eligibility: another two years as a licensed journeyman, totaling 4,000 additional supervised contractor-employed hours, including at least 2,000 commercial hours.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
It will then take another two years as a licensed journeyman (with a total of 4,000 hours of additional work under the employment and supervision of a contractor, including a minimum of 2,000 hours of commercial work) to write the electrical contractor's exam.
Official sourceBond
Contractor and Class B applicants must submit the required bond application; the undertaking is $10,000.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
an undertaking in the sum of ten thousand dollars Electrical Contractor and Class B Electricians' Bond Application
Official sourceInsurance
Electrical contractors and Class B electricians: liability coverage of at least $100,000 per occurrence/$300,000 aggregate bodily injury and $25,000 per occurrence property damage, or a $300,000 combined single limit or approved equivalent security; coverage must remain in force.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
a public liability insurance policy in a sum of not less than one hundred thousand dollars per occurrence and three hundred thousand dollars aggregate limit for bodily injury and property damage insurance with limits of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars per occurrence or a combined single limit of three hundred thousand dollars, or security approved by the commission in a sum equal to that amount The required undertaking and liability insurance shall be in force at all times
Official sourceReview fees and apply
Application fee
Not verified yet
Exam fee
Not verified yet
License fee
Not verified yet
Apply with the agency
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Visit our Forms page for the Apprentice and General Electrical license applications.
Official source
Reciprocity
Reciprocal licensing requires a license earned by examination and held active for at least one year unless otherwise specified. Consult the Commission's state/classification table; additional education, supervision and passing-score requirements can apply.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
To take advantage of a reciprocal licensing agreement with the following states, you must have earned your license there by examination and you must have held it for at least one year unless otherwise specified. The license must be in an active status for one year in order to reciprocate the license to South Dakota. Please note reciprocating states may require additional education/supervision and score levels differing from South Dakota.Official source
Official sources and verification (12)
Last verified 2026-10-24. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.
Visit our Forms page for the Apprentice and General Electrical license applications.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
After completing four years (for a total of 8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice electrician working under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor, you will be ready to write the journeyman's exam.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
It will then take another two years as a licensed journeyman (with a total of 4,000 hours of additional work under the employment and supervision of a contractor, including a minimum of 2,000 hours of commercial work) to write the electrical contractor's exam.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
an undertaking in the sum of ten thousand dollars Electrical Contractor and Class B Electricians' Bond ApplicationOfficial source
Verified 2026-10-24
a public liability insurance policy in a sum of not less than one hundred thousand dollars per occurrence and three hundred thousand dollars aggregate limit for bodily injury and property damage insurance with limits of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars per occurrence or a combined single limit of three hundred thousand dollars, or security approved by the commission in a sum equal to that amount The required undertaking and liability insurance shall be in force at all timesOfficial source
Verified 2026-10-24
Licensees are required to attain 16 hours of continuing education (a minimum of 8 code hours) due by the time you send in your renewal or by June 30 whichever is sooner.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
a minimum of 8 code hours by the time you send in your renewal or by June 30 whichever is sooner. only 8 hours of continuing education are allowed for pre-approved online courses.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Renewals submitted by June 30 with not have a late fee. You must include copies of your continuing education completion certificates for July 1, 2024–June 30, 2026 to renew. Complete and submit Biennial Renewal FormOfficial source
Verified 2026-10-24
In the case of a partnership or corporation, the licensed person is exempt from insurance or undertaking requirements if the employer satisfies the requirements.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
To take advantage of a reciprocal licensing agreement with the following states, you must have earned your license there by examination and you must have held it for at least one year unless otherwise specified. The license must be in an active status for one year in order to reciprocate the license to South Dakota. Please note reciprocating states may require additional education/supervision and score levels differing from South Dakota.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Keep exploring.
Same license in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Last verified 2026-10-24.
Official sources (3)
Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.