South Dakota Electrician License Guide: Exam Requirements, Fees & NEC Edition (2026)
South Dakota's Electrical Commission licenses electricians statewide, but the exams themselves are written and delivered by the International Code Council (ICC) through Pearson VUE — not PSI, despite what some third-party sites claim. All three South Dakota electrical exams are open book and reference the 2023 NEC. Here's exactly how the system works, straight from ICC's own current candidate bulletin and the SD Electrical Commission.
Quick Answer
| Licensing authority | South Dakota Electrical Commission (Dept. of Labor and Regulation) |
| Exam administrator | International Code Council (ICC) via Pearson VUE — not PSI |
| License classes | Apprentice, Class B Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Electrical Contractor |
| Journeyman eligibility | 4 years (8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice under a contractor |
| Contractor eligibility | 2 more years (4,000 hours, incl. 2,000 hours commercial) as a journeyman |
| Exam format | Open book, multiple-choice, all three exams $115 via Pearson VUE |
| NEC edition tested | 2023 NEC (effective as of the current ICC bulletin) |
| Application fee | $60, paid to the SD Electrical Commission before testing |
Who Regulates Electrical Work in South Dakota
The South Dakota Electrical Commission, part of the Department of Labor and Regulation, issues all electrical licenses in the state. But the Commission doesn't write or deliver the exams itself — that's contracted out to the International Code Council (ICC), which is explicit in its own bulletin that it "is not a licensing agency." ICC's role is purely to test competency; passing an ICC exam doesn't automatically grant you a South Dakota license — you apply to the Commission first, get approved to test, then take the ICC exam through Pearson VUE.
License Classes and Eligibility
South Dakota runs a four-tier system. A Class B Electrician is defined by the Commission as someone with "at least thirty-six months' experience in wiring, installing and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment" — a more limited scope license below full Journeyman status. To reach Journeyman, you need four years (8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice working under an electrical contractor's employment and supervision. From there, becoming a licensed Electrical Contractor requires two more years as a journeyman — 4,000 additional hours, including at least 2,000 hours of commercial work.
The Three Exams
Per ICC's current bulletin, South Dakota runs three distinct trade exams, all open book:
| Exam | Questions | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 530 — Electrical Contractor | 100 | 5 hours | $115 |
| 531 — Journeyman Electrician | 80 | 4 hours | $115 |
| 533 — Class B Electrician | 60 | 3 hours | $115 |
All three cover the same broad content areas — general knowledge, services and service equipment, feeders, branch circuits, wiring methods, equipment and devices, control devices, motors, and special occupancies — scaled by depth to the license level. Wiring Methods and Materials carries the heaviest weight on both the Contractor (19%) and Journeyman (21%) exams.
What we could not confirm: the exact passing score. ICC's own bulletin directs candidates to its online Exam Catalog for the current passing score rather than publishing the number in the bulletin itself, and we couldn't independently verify it there. Third-party test-prep sources cite 70%, consistent with ICC's typical national policy for most contractor/trades exams — but confirm the exact score with ICC's Exam Catalog or the SD Electrical Commission before test day.
NEC Edition and Reference Rules
All three exams are referenced to the 2023 NEC. Per ICC's bulletin, in addition to the NEC itself, candidates may bring:
- Ferm's Fast Finder Index (IAEI)
- Ugly's Electrical References, George V. Hart — any edition
- National Electrical Code Handbook (NFPA) — the hardcover NEC Handbook is explicitly allowed as a substitute for a standalone NEC copy
- Tom Henry's Key Word Index
ICC's bulletin doesn't spell out specific tabbing or markup rules for South Dakota the way some other ICC-administered jurisdictions do — it only confirms the exam is open book and lists approved references. If you plan to tab or highlight your code book, follow ICC's general national policy (permanent tabs, no loose inserts) and confirm with the test center on exam day.
Fees, Retesting and Application Window
Before you can schedule any ICC exam, you must submit a license application, a valid photo ID copy, and a $60 application processing fee to the SD Electrical Commission. Once approved, you have 90 days to test — miss that window and you'll need to reapply and pay the $60 fee again. ICC recommends waiting 24–48 hours after approval before scheduling, to let the eligibility record sync with Pearson VUE.
If you fail, you must wait 30 days before your first retake, and 90 days before each subsequent attempt after a second failure. There's no penalty for guessing, so ICC recommends answering every question rather than leaving any blank.
Renewal and Continuing Education
South Dakota licenses renew in even-numbered years by June 30. Renewal requires 16 hours of continuing education, at least 8 of which must be code-specific hours; up to 8 hours may come from pre-approved online courses. Per the Commission's fee schedule, a Class B Electrician's license/reciprocal fee is $40 — other classification fees vary, so confirm the exact renewal cost for your license level directly with the Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who administers the South Dakota electrician exam?
The International Code Council (ICC), through Pearson VUE testing centers — not PSI. The SD Electrical Commission handles licensing and approves you to test, but ICC writes and delivers the exam itself.
What NEC edition does South Dakota's electrician exam test?
The 2023 NEC, per ICC's current candidate bulletin, for all three trade exams (Contractor, Journeyman, and Class B).
Is the South Dakota electrician exam open book?
Yes. All three exams allow the NEC (or NEC Handbook), Ugly's Electrical References (any edition), Ferm's Fast Finder Index, and Tom Henry's Key Word Index.
How many times can I retake the exam if I fail?
There's no stated limit, but you must wait 30 days after a first failure and 90 days after each subsequent failure before retesting.
Study Materials
South Dakota's exams are confirmed to reference the 2023 NEC plus Ugly's Electrical References. Our 2023 NEC Handbook Bundle with Tabs + free Ugly's Electrical Reference Guide matches both of ICC's named references directly, making it a solid pick for exam-day prep — pair it with Ferm's Fast Finder Index or Tom Henry's Key Word Index if you want the full set of approved references.
Official Sources
- ICC — South Dakota Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin
- SD Electrical Commission
- SD Electrical Commission — Licensing
- SD Electrical Commission — Exams
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 South Dakota Electrical Commission before applying, testing, or purchasing study materials.
