# Title 24.1 — State Electrical Board

## Article 24.1-03 — Licensure of Electricians

## Chapter 24.1-03-01 — Licensing Requirements

### § 24.1-03-01-01. Application, examination, and annual license fees.

1. Upon receiving an application packet for an electrician's license from an applicant, the board
shall process and review the applicant's employment verification of electrical construction
experience as outlined under this section. Upon final approval of the application by the board,
the applicant shall be sent an invitation to take the examination. The invitation shall outline the
available testing dates. Upon receiving the invitation, the applicant shall contact the board and
inform the board as to the date chosen to take the examination. Examination fees shall be
paid separately to the examination testing center provider, if required.
2. An applicant shall have the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to wire,
install, and repair electrical apparatus and equipment in accordance with the standard rules
and regulations of the National Electrical Code.
3. The board issues an identification card to currently licensed and registered electricians. This
identification card, along with a government-issued picture identification card, shall be in the
possession of the electrician when doing electrical work. If the identification card is misplaced
or destroyed, a replacement charge to cover board costs shall be imposed.
4. The application fees are as follows:
a. Master license $50.00
b. Journeyman license $25.00
c. Class B license $40.00
d. Apprentice registration $10.00
e. Power limited license $50.00
f. Power limited apprentice $10.00
registration
5. The license and registration or annual renewal fees are as follows:
a. Master license $50.00 Expires April thirtieth.

b. Journeyman license $25.00 Expires March thirty-first.
c. Class B license $40.00 Expires April thirtieth.
d. Apprentice registration $10.00 January thirty-first.
e. Power limited license $50.00 Expires April thirtieth.
f. Power limited apprentice $10.00 January thirty-first.
registration
Expired licenses and registrations shall require a reinstatement fee equal to the annual fee.
History: Effective April 1, 2017; amended effective October 1, 2020; July 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-09-13, 43-09-21, 43-09-22
### § 24.1-03-01-02. Master electrician.

A master electrician shall have at least two thousand hours of experience working as a licensed
journeyman electrician under the supervision of a contracting master electrician or master of record.
There are three categories of master electricians, which are as follows:
1. A contracting master is an individual responsible to adhere to all laws and rules of the North
Dakota wiring standards and has shown proof of liability insurance.
2. A master of record is an individual responsible to adhere to all laws and rules of the North
Dakota wiring standards for the partnership, company, corporation, limited liability company, or
association and has shown proof of liability insurance that the master of record is covered by
the organization. The master of record is not allowed to work on other property other than
property owned or leased by the organization.
3. A noncontracting master is an individual responsible to adhere to all laws and rules of the
North Dakota wiring standards and has the same responsibility as a journeyman electrician.
Electrical work shall be done under the supervision of a contracting master or master of
record.
History: Effective April 1, 2017; amended effective October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-09-21, 43-09-22
### § 24.1-03-01-03. Journeyman electrician.

A journeyman electrician shall have completed eight thousand hours experience, which experience
may not be obtained in less than three years, registered as an apprentice electrician (of which up to
three thousand hours may apply under the qualifications of a class B electrician) under the supervision
of a contracting master or master of record licensed electrician in an area where electrical construction
work is done in a jurisdiction with similar licensing and inspection rules to the state of North Dakota,
and successfully completed apprentice electrician training. Two thousand hours credit may be granted
for a graduate of a two-year or more electrical school accepted by the board. Practical experience
consists of a minimum of four thousand hours and a maximum of eight thousand hours credit may be
granted for wiring and installing electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment. Practical electrical
experience gained through a contracting master electrician also consists of an apprentice completing a
board-approved training program. Credit allowed in other areas may include any combination of the
following:

1. A maximum of one thousand hours credit for repairing electrical wiring, apparatus, and
equipment and light, heat, and power.
2. A maximum of one thousand hours credit for wiring fire alarm technology circuits or systems;
3. A maximum of two thousand hours credit for wiring process control circuits or power limited
systems; and
4. A maximum of two thousand hours credit of electrical construction experience gained in the
armed forces of the United States which the board has determined is equivalent to work
performed under the supervision of a North Dakota licensed electrical contractor.
History: Effective April 1, 2017; amended effective October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-09-21, 43-09-22
### § 24.1-03-01-04. Class B electrician.

A class B electrician shall have completed three thousand hours experience in farmstead or
residential wiring, in one-family or two-family dwellings, under the supervision of a master or class B
electrician. Commercial wiring experience will not be credited for experience toward a class B license.
One thousand hours credit will be granted for a graduate of a two-year electrical school approved by
the board.
History: Effective April 1, 2017.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-09-21, 43-09-22
### § 24.1-03-01-05. Power limited electrician.

A power limited electrician shall have completed six thousand hours experience, which experience
may not be obtained in less than two and one-half years, registered as a power limited apprentice
electrician under the supervision of a contracting master, master of record, contracting power limited, or
a power limited electrician of record. Experience must be obtained where power limited electrical
construction work is done in a jurisdiction with similar licensing and inspection rules to the state of
North Dakota. The board also may approve licenses based on power limited education or a board-
approved tradesman certification. Classification types of a power limited electrician must be defined by
the board. There are three categories of power limited electricians, which are as follows:
1. A contracting power limited electrician is an individual responsible to adhere to all laws and
rules of the North Dakota wiring standards and has shown proof of liability insurance.
2. A power limited electrician of record is an individual responsible to adhere to all laws and rules
of the North Dakota wiring standards for the partnership, company, corporation, limited liability
company, or association and has shown proof of liability insurance that the power limited
electrician of record is covered by the organization. The power limited electrician of record is
not allowed to work on other property other than property owned or leased by the
organization.
3. A noncontracting power limited electrician is an individual responsible to adhere to all laws and
rules of the North Dakota wiring standards. Power limited electrical work must be done under
the supervision of a contracting master, master of record, or a contracting power limited
electrician or a power limited electrician of record.
History: Effective April 1, 2017; amended effective January 1, 2018; October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-09-11

### § 24.1-03-01-06. Provisional military spouse licensure.

See North Dakota Century Code section 43-51-11.1
History: Effective April 1, 2017; amended effective October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-51-11.1
### § 24.1-03-01-07. Apprentice electrician.

There are two categories of apprentice electrician training:
1. Apprentice electricians who have successfully completed at least two years of electrical school
approved by the board.
2. Apprentice electricians who have successfully completed five hundred seventy-six hours of
training classes or a Professional Electrician Program (PEP) recognized by the board. An
applicant who has prior experience outside of the state of North Dakota may take a placement
examination to verify the practical experience obtained in order to apply credit toward the
verification of hours. If the applicant fails the placement examination, the applicant is ineligible
to retake the examination. An appeal may be submitted in writing to the board within thirty
days.
An apprentice electrician who has not successfully completed training as stated in
subsection 1 or 2 is required to be registered with the board, but is not eligible to take the
journeyman or class B license examination. If the individual receives a license from another
state based on the verification that the majority of practical experience was obtained in the
state of North Dakota the individual is not eligible for examination for licensure or a reciprocal
license.
History: Effective October 1, 2020; amended effective July 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-09-11, 43-09-15.1
### § 24.1-03-01-08. Power limited apprentice electrician.

A power limited apprentice electrician shall meet the following requirements to be eligible for
examination:
1. A power limited apprentice must be registered with the board under the same classification as
the power limited electrician under whom the apprentice will be working and have completed
six thousand hours of work experience under the direct supervision of a power limited
electrician; or
2. A power limited apprentice must possess a valid board recognized tradesman certification. An
applicant who has prior experience outside of the state of North Dakota may take a placement
examination to verify the practical experience obtained in order to apply credit toward the
verification of hours. If the applicant fails the placement examination, the applicant is ineligible
to retake the examination. An appeal may be submitted in writing to the board within thirty
days.
A power limited apprentice electrician who has not complied as stated in subsection 1 or 2 is
not eligible to take the power limited electrician license examination. If the individual receives
a license from another state based on the verification that the majority of practical experience
was obtained in the state of North Dakota, the individual is not eligible for examination for
licensure or a reciprocal license.

History: Effective October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-09-11, 43-09-13.1
### § 24.1-03-01-09. Supervision and responsibilities.

1. A licensed electrician shall supervise not more than three apprentices. Any individual over
sixteen years of age may work as an apprentice under a licensed master, class B, or power
limited electrician, but the master, class B, or power limited electrician may not allow an
apprentice to work on any installation without direct constant supervision by a North Dakota
licensed electrician working with the apprentice at the worksite.
2. When an apprentice is found to be doing electrical or power limited work not under the direct
supervision of a licensed electrician, an investigative fee may be charged to cover the costs
incurred by the board. Costs are to be calculated at a rate of fifty dollars per hour and mileage
rates currently allowed by North Dakota Century Code section 54-06-09 per mile of travel.
3. Contractors shall maintain records of all individuals who are or will be performing electrical or
power limited work for that contractor and shall permit the electrical board to examine and
copy all such records as required by this section. It is the responsibility of the master, class B,
or power limited electrician to ensure all individuals who are or will be performing electrical or
power limited work for that contractor either be licensed electricians or registered apprentices
with the board. Credit may not be given for hours spent working under a power limited
electrician to any applicant for a master, journeyman, or class B electrician license.
4. Any master, class B, or power limited electrician who fails or refuses to comply with this
section or who fails or refuses to comply or demonstrate compliance with this section at the
request of the board or its representative shall subject that individual's license to nonrenewal,
suspension, or revocation by the board.
5. A master, class B, or power limited electrician may exercise that person's privileges as a
licensed master, class B, or power limited electrician for no more than one shop or business,
and shall comply with provisions as required for contracting with the secretary of state's office
as stated in North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-07. A master, class B, or power limited
electrician must be actively engaged in the supervision of every project certified under that
electrician's license. A master, class B, or power limited electrician shall notify the board office
immediately upon changing their status for the business they represent.
6. Maintenance personnel regularly employed by the owner or property manager may maintain
or make minor repairs to existing electrical wiring devices and appliances, but are precluded
from extending or changing the characteristics of existing circuits, feeders, or other electrical
apparatus.
History: Effective October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-09-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-05-15, 43-09-18, 43-09-21
