Minnesota Electrician License: Requirements, Exam & How to Apply (2026)

Minnesota electricians are licensed and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Electrical Unit. Whether you're starting an apprenticeship in Minneapolis, completing your journeyman hours in St. Paul, or upgrading to a master electrician license anywhere in the state, the DLI oversees the entire process — from application through renewal.

The Twin Cities metro area is one of the largest construction markets in the Upper Midwest, with strong demand for licensed electricians across commercial, residential, and industrial sectors. Understanding Minnesota's licensing pathway — and clearing the PSI exam on your first attempt — is the key to getting to work.

This guide covers everything you need to know in 2026: license types, experience requirements, the PSI exam, the application process, fees, CE requirements, and reciprocity.

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Minnesota Electrician License Types

Minnesota issues electrician licenses for individuals at each stage of the trade, as well as business-level electrical contractor licenses. The core pathway is:

Minnesota also issues specialty and limited licenses for specific work scopes. For most electricians entering the trade, the goal is the Journeyman Electrician license, followed by the Master Electrician license for those who want to run their own business or take on supervisory roles.

For more detail on how these tiers compare, see our guide: Journeyman vs. Master Electrician — What's the Difference?

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Experience Requirements

Journeyman Electrician

To qualify for a Minnesota Journeyman Electrician license, you must complete:

• 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) under the direct supervision of a licensed electrician

This is typically completed through a 4-year registered apprenticeship program through an IBEW local union or an independent electrical apprenticeship program approved in Minnesota. The 8,000 hours represents roughly four years of full-time work.

During your apprenticeship, you must work under a licensed electrician at all times. Once you've accumulated the required hours and your apprenticeship is complete or you otherwise satisfy DLI's experience requirements, you're eligible to apply for the journeyman exam.

Master Electrician

To qualify for a Minnesota Master Electrician license, you generally must:

• Hold a valid Minnesota Journeyman Electrician license
• Accumulate additional supervisory or journeyman-level experience as specified by DLI

Verify the exact master experience requirements — including minimum years as a licensed journeyman — directly with DLI at dli.mn.gov/electrical, as these details can be updated.

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The Minnesota Electrician Exam

Exam Vendor: PSI Exams

All Minnesota electrician licensing examinations are administered by PSI Exams. PSI operates testing centers throughout Minnesota, including locations in the Twin Cities metro area.

Important: Minnesota requires that you submit your exam application to DLI and receive approval before you contact PSI to schedule your exam. You cannot book directly with PSI first.

NEC Edition: 2023

The Minnesota electrician exam tests the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC). If you are preparing for a Minnesota electrical licensing exam in 2026, study the 2023 NEC.

The 2023 NEC brought significant changes from the 2020 edition, including updates to AFCI/GFCI requirements, solar/PV systems, EV charging infrastructure, and dwelling unit load calculations. See our article on NEC 2023 vs. 2020 changes for a breakdown of what's new.

Open Book Format

The Minnesota PSI electrical exam is open book. You may bring your 2023 NEC codebook and approved reference materials into the exam room.

Do not let the open-book format make you complacent. Licensing exams are timed, and if you can't find NEC articles and tables quickly, you will run out of time. Before exam day:

• Tab every major article and table in your NEC
• Build a personal index for the sections tested most often (Article 100 definitions, Tables 310.12 and 310.15, Articles 210, 215, 220, 230, 250, 300, 310, 430, 700)
• Practice under timed conditions — 100 questions with a strict time limit

Passing Score

A score of 70% or higher is required to pass the Minnesota electrician licensing examination.

Exam Fee

The PSI exam fee is approximately $65. Verify the current fee with DLI at dli.mn.gov/electrical before submitting your application, as fees are subject to change.

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Application Process

Minnesota's application process runs through DLI before you can schedule with PSI. Here is the step-by-step path:

1. Verify your eligibility — Confirm you have completed the required OJT hours (8,000 for journeyman) and have documentation of your apprenticeship completion or equivalent experience.

2. Submit your application to DLI — Apply online through the DLI licensing portal at dli.mn.gov/electrical. Submit all required documentation of your experience and any supporting credentials.

3. Wait for DLI approval — DLI reviews your application to confirm you meet the experience requirements. You must receive approval from DLI before scheduling your PSI exam.

4. Schedule your exam with PSI — Once approved by DLI, contact PSI to schedule your exam at a convenient testing location. PSI has testing centers in the Twin Cities and other locations throughout Minnesota.

5. Take the exam — Bring your tabbed 2023 NEC and any other approved reference materials. You need a 70% or higher to pass.

6. Receive your license — After passing the exam, your license is issued by DLI. Keep your license number on file — you will need it for renewal and any future applications.

For the most current application instructions and required documentation checklist, visit dli.mn.gov/electrical directly.

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Fees

Minnesota electrician licensing involves two separate fees:

Both figures should be verified with DLI before submitting your application, as fees are updated periodically. Visit dli.mn.gov/electrical for the current fee schedule.

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License Renewal

Renewal Cycle: Annual

Minnesota electrician licenses renew annually. Keep your renewal date on your calendar — an expired license means you cannot legally perform electrical work in Minnesota until it is reinstated.

Continuing Education Requirements

Minnesota requires continuing education (CE) hours for license renewal:

• Journeyman Electrician: 16 CE hours per year
• Master Electrician: 16 CE hours per year

CE courses must be approved by DLI. Approved providers offer code update courses, safety training, and other topics that satisfy the requirement. Verify the current CE requirements and find approved providers at dli.mn.gov/electrical, as requirements can be updated when Minnesota adopts a new NEC edition or changes its rules.

Renewing Online

DLI processes license renewals through its online portal. Log in to your account at dli.mn.gov/electrical, confirm your CE completion, pay the renewal fee, and your license is extended for another year.

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Reciprocity

Minnesota has reciprocity agreements with several other states, allowing licensed electricians from those states to obtain a Minnesota license without retesting — or with reduced requirements.

States with known reciprocity relationships with Minnesota include:

• Iowa
• North Dakota
• South Dakota

(And potentially others — reciprocity agreements change over time.)

To use reciprocity, you typically must hold a current, active license in good standing from the reciprocating state, and you must apply through DLI. Some agreements require that your home-state license be equivalent in scope to the Minnesota license you are seeking.

Verify current reciprocity agreements directly with DLI at dli.mn.gov/electrical before applying, as the list of participating states and the specific terms of each agreement are subject to change.

If you are licensed in Minnesota and want to work in another state, check whether that state has a reciprocity agreement with Minnesota — it may save you from retesting. For example, Iowa lists Minnesota among its reciprocity partners. See our Iowa electrician license guide for details from that side.

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Start Studying

The Minnesota PSI exam on the 2023 NEC is open book — but that doesn't mean it's easy. The electricians who pass on the first try are the ones who can navigate their codebook quickly and accurately under timed conditions.

Where to focus your prep:

• Article 100 — Definitions are foundational; exam questions frequently turn on precise definitions
• Articles 210, 215, 220 — Branch circuits, feeders, and load calculations appear heavily
• Article 230 — Services
• Article 250 — Grounding and bonding; one of the most tested articles on every state exam
• Tables 310.12 and 310.15 — Conductor ampacity and correction/adjustment factors
• Article 430 — Motors
• Article 700 — Emergency systems

For a deep dive on which NEC articles carry the most exam weight, see: How to Pass the Electrician Exam.

GetLicenseReady offers 1,600+ NEC 2023-aligned practice questions in exam mode — timed, 100 questions per session, structured to mirror the pressure of a proctored PSI licensing exam. The first 25 questions are free with no account required.

Looking for Minnesota-specific exam details and practice? Visit our Minnesota electrician exam prep page for a full breakdown of the PSI exam, NEC 2023 question distribution, and what to expect on test day.

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All requirements, fees, and procedures in this guide are drawn from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Electrical Unit at dli.mn.gov/electrical, verified as of April 2026. Minnesota licensing requirements are subject to change — always confirm current requirements at dli.mn.gov/electrical before submitting any application.

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Related guides:

• How to Pass the Electrician Exam: 6 NEC Articles That Cover 60%
• NEC 2023 vs. 2020 Changes: What's New for the Exam
• Journeyman vs. Master Electrician: What's the Difference?
• NEC Article 250: Grounding and Bonding Questions Most Get Wrong
• Box Fill Calculations: NEC 314.16 Explained