North Dakota Electrician License Guide: Exam Format, Fees & Reference Rules (2026)
North Dakota runs one of the more unusual exam structures in the country: every license-level exam is split into a closed-book hour followed by an open-book block — and for the open portion, the state supplies the code book itself. You don't bring your own tabbed, highlighted copy into a North Dakota electrical exam. Here's exactly how the North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) runs licensing, straight from the board's own website and application forms.
Quick Answer
| Licensing board | North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) |
| License classes | Class B (farmstead/residential only), Journeyman, Master, Power Limited Electrician |
| Experience required | Class B: 3,000 hrs · Journeyman: 8,000 hrs (min. 3 years) · Master: 10,000 hrs (or 1 yr/2,000 hrs if already a ND Journeyman) · Power Limited: 6,000 hrs |
| Exam format | Closed-book hour (1 hr) + open-book block (3.5 hrs; 4.5 hrs for Power Limited) |
| Reference materials | Code books, calculators, and pencils are provided by NDSEB — you do not bring your own |
| Passing score | 70% |
| NEC edition | The board's own language says "the current edition" — not pinned to one year (see note below) |
| Application fees | Master $50 · Class B $40 · Journeyman $25 · Provisional-Military Spouse $0 |
| Reciprocity | Yes, through the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA) with specific states — see below |
Who Regulates Electrical Work in North Dakota
The North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB), based in Bismarck, licenses electricians statewide and directly administers its own exams — there's no PSI, Prov, or PSI-style third-party testing vendor in this state. Applications, employment verification, exam scheduling, and even the physical exam materials all run through NDSEB itself.
License Classes: Class B, Journeyman, Master, Power Limited
| Class | Experience Required | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Class B | 3,000 hours (18 months min.) | Farmstead or residential wiring only, restricted to cities with populations of 2,500 or fewer |
| Journeyman | 8,000 hours (min. 3 years) | General electrical work under a licensed contracting master |
| Master | 10,000 hours (or 1 year/2,000 hours if already a ND Journeyman) | Plan, design, contract, and supervise journeymen/apprentices |
| Power Limited Electrician (PLE) | 6,000 hours | Low-voltage/limited-energy systems (separate application, SFN 61903) |
Credit reductions exist for education: per NDSEB, a graduate of a two-year (or longer) electrical school approved by the board can receive 2,000 hours of credit toward the Journeyman requirement (1,000 hours toward Class B). If most of your practical experience was earned in North Dakota, you must also separately complete one of: two years of board-approved electrical school, 576 hours of board-approved training classes, or a recognized apprentice program.
The Exam: Closed Hour, Then Open Block — With a State-Supplied Book
Per NDSEB's own exam information page, every license-level exam is split into two timed segments:
| License | Closed-Book Portion | Open-Book Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Master | 1 hour | 3.5 hours |
| Journeyman | 1 hour | 3.5 hours |
| Class B | 1 hour | 3.5 hours |
| Power Limited Electrician | — | 4.5 hours (open only) |
Here's the part that surprises people used to the "bring your own tabbed code book" model most states use: NDSEB's website lists "Items Provided by NDSEB for Exam" as Code Books, Calculators, and Pencils. The board supplies the reference material for the open-book portion — you don't bring, tab, highlight, or index your own copy. Passing grade is 70% across the board, and exam reviews have not been offered since July 11, 2012, per the board's own notice.
NEC Edition: "Current Edition," Not a Fixed Year
NDSEB's official exam-information language states that exams are based on "fundamental electricity, Laws, Rules, and Wiring Standards of North Dakota and the current edition of the National Electrical Code." Deliberately, the board doesn't pin a specific year in that language — it always means whatever edition is currently adopted and in the exam room that day, which is also consistent with the board supplying the book itself rather than relying on candidates to buy a specific printed edition. North Dakota's own newsletter archive shows the board discussing the 2023 NEC as newly available in late 2022, and 2026 NEC-focused continuing-education classes appearing on its 2025 schedule — so the edition in the exam room has almost certainly moved since 2023. Don't buy a specific-year code book expecting it to match exam day; since NDSEB provides the book, your own copy's edition doesn't matter for the test itself.
Fees
Per the official Application for Electrician's License by Exam (SFN 11858):
| License Type | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Master | $50.00 |
| Class B | $40.00 |
| Journeyman | $25.00 |
| Provisional-Military Spouse | $0.00 |
Per the form itself: "After passing the exam, a separate and additional fee will be required to issue the license" — NDSEB doesn't publish that issuance amount on the application form itself, so confirm it directly with the board. A re-exam requires resubmitting the same application and fee.
Retesting: A Graduated Waiting Period
North Dakota scales your mandatory wait to how badly you missed passing, rather than using a flat retest cooldown:
- Score 60–69: no waiting period — reapply right away.
- Score 50–59: 3-month waiting period.
- Score 0–49: 6-month waiting period.
You must test within 6 months of receiving your exam invitation, or you'll need to file a new application and fee. Any cancellation or no-show also requires filing a new application and fee.
Reciprocity Through NERA
North Dakota participates in the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA), a multi-state reciprocal licensing group. Per NDSEB's own reciprocity page, North Dakota has direct reciprocal agreements for:
- Master licenses: Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota
- Journeyman licenses: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
To reciprocate, you must have passed the written exam in the reciprocating state, hold a valid license in good standing that you've held continuously for at least one year, and document experience equivalent to 8,000 hours (Journeyman) or 10,000 hours (Master) under a contracting master in a jurisdiction with licensing and inspection rules similar to North Dakota's. Note the carve-out: if your apprenticeship lacked related classroom training and most of your practical hours were earned in North Dakota with a North Dakota contractor, you are not eligible for reciprocity — you'd need to apply for licensure by exam instead.
Continuing Education
North Dakota requires 8 hours of continuing education prior to each license renewal, per NDSEB's continuing education program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my own NEC code book to a North Dakota electrician exam?
No. NDSEB's own website lists code books, calculators, and pencils as items the board provides for the exam. You test with the board's copy, not your own tabbed or highlighted book.
Is the North Dakota electrician exam open book or closed book?
Both, in sequence. Master, Journeyman, and Class B exams each have a 1-hour closed-book portion followed by a 3.5-hour open-book portion (using NDSEB's supplied code book). The Power Limited Electrician exam is open-book only, at 4.5 hours.
What NEC edition does North Dakota test?
The board's own language simply says "the current edition of the National Electrical Code," without naming a specific year in its public exam-information page — and since NDSEB supplies the book itself, the exact edition in the room is whatever the board has adopted at the time, not something you need to source yourself.
Does North Dakota have a limited or residential-only electrician license?
Yes — the Class B license, limited to farmstead and residential wiring in cities with 2,500 or fewer residents, requiring 3,000 hours of experience.
Can I transfer an out-of-state electrician license to North Dakota?
Possibly, through NERA reciprocity, if your state is on North Dakota's Master or Journeyman reciprocal list, your license is active and in good standing, and you meet the hour and jurisdiction-similarity requirements. Otherwise, you'll need to apply for licensure by exam.
Study Materials
Because North Dakota supplies the code book at the exam itself, a tabbed-and-highlighted personal copy won't help you on test day the way it would in most other states — you can't bring it in. That doesn't mean studying from a current NEC is a waste; it just means the value is in the studying, not in what you carry into the room. Our electrical code book collection is a solid choice for building genuine familiarity with code structure and content before test day, but don't expect to use your own copy during the exam itself.
Official Sources
- NDSEB — Qualifications for Licensure
- NDSEB — Exam Dates & Information
- NDSEB — Applying for an Electrical License
- NDSEB — Reciprocal License Agreements & Requirements
- Application for Electrician's License by Exam (SFN 11858)
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Licensing rules, fees, and exam content change — always confirm current requirements directly with the North Dakota State Electrical Board before applying, testing, or purchasing study materials.
