State license

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician License

Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician

Last updated: October 24, 2026

South Dakota licenses journeyman electricians at the state level. The Electrical Commission, part of the Department of Labor and Regulation, issues the license after an exam with a 70% passing score. You need four years (8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice electrician under an electrical contractor. The application fee is $60 and the license fee is $80.

The facts, from the source

Who licenses: South Dakota Electrical Commission, Department of Labor and Regulation (dlr.sd.gov)
Exam vendor: State-administered. The commission composes and approves the exam questions (ARSD 20:44:16:03). Approved applicants receive details of the exam site. (sdlegislature.gov)
Exam (questions/time): Written exam with questions derived from the National Electrical Code and from state statutes and rules. You must have prior written approval to test and must arrange the exam within 90 days of approval. After you pass, you must complete the license process within 90 days. (sdlegislature.gov)
Passing score: 70% for journeyman. If you fail, you may be reexamined after 30 days. After failing a reexamination, you wait 90 days. (sdlegislature.gov)
NEC edition: 2023. The exams page says: "Starting December 2, 2024, all tests will be on the 2023 NEC code." (dlr.sd.gov)
Experience required: Four years (total 8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice electrician working under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor. Only licensed hours count. (dlr.sd.gov)
Fees: Journeyman license $80 (also $80 for a reciprocal journeyman). Application fee $60 for journeyman exam applicants (application form REV 10/2025). (dlr.sd.gov)
Reciprocity: Journeyman reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. The license must have been earned by exam and held at least one year in active status. The board page also lists NERA states without agreements (Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin) and states with similar licensing requirements. (dlr.sd.gov)

What’s on the exam

Questions are derived from the National Electrical Code and from state statutes and rules (ARSD 20:44:16:03). No weightings are published.

Confirm these with the board

Number of questions: not published in the materials we checked
Time limit: not published in the materials we checked
Open book and allowed references: not published in the materials we checked
Exam fee: not published in the materials we checked

South Dakota Electrical Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation) ↗

Partly verified October 24, 2026: some items couldn’t be confirmed from official sources and are listed above

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Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.