How to Become an Electrician in Minnesota
Minnesota licenses electricians statewide through the DLI's Board of Electricity — a clean, well-run system. The Class A Journeyworker license comes from a registered apprenticeship: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 classroom hours, then the state journeyman exam.
Licensing in Minnesota at a glance
- How it's licensed
- Statewide license through the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI)
- Licensing authority
- Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI), Board of Electricity →
Registered apprentice / unlicensed installer — Register with the DLI and work under a licensed electrician while you build hours.
Class A Journeyworker — Complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of classroom instruction (both are required — hours alone won't do it), then pass the DLI Journeyworker exam (open-book, NEC-based, 75% to pass).
Renewal — Continuing education of 16 hours per cycle, at least 12 on the National Electrical Code.
A clean statewide system
Minnesota runs one of the more straightforward systems in the country. The Department of Labor and Industry's Board of Electricity licenses everyone statewide, so your Class A Journeyworker card works anywhere in Minnesota — no city patchwork.
Both halves required
Minnesota is strict about one thing: you need both the 8,000 field hours and the 576 classroom hours. On-the-job time alone won't qualify you. A registered apprenticeship lines both up for you over four to five years while you earn.
The exam and staying current
The Journeyworker exam is open-book and NEC-based, with a 75% passing score. After you're licensed, Minnesota keeps you sharp with continuing education each renewal — most of it tied directly to code updates.
Your next step
Get hired, register with the DLI, and log your hours through a registered apprenticeship so your classroom time counts alongside your field time. When you're ready, sit the Journeyworker exam. The national How to Become an Electrician guide covers the trade overall.
⚠️ Always verify current requirements
Licensing rules change and often vary by city or county. Before you count on anything here, confirm the current requirements directly with Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI), Board of Electricity.