Do I have to take the New Hampshire journeyman electrician exam if I'm licensed in South Dakota?

No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with South Dakota.

How long do I need to have held my South Dakota license?

At least 1 year before applying.

What does it cost to get a New Hampshire journeyman electrician license from South Dakota?

Published fees on this path total $110, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

How long does the application take?

The board's published or typical processing time is about 14 days.

South Dakota to New Hampshire: journeyman electrician license reciprocity

Reciprocity· Exam waivedVerified September 15, 2026· 10 sources

New Hampshire has a reciprocity agreement with South Dakota: a South Dakota journeyman electrician can get a New Hampshire license without retaking the trade exam.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Reciprocal agreement with South Dakota (journeyman, application-form list)

A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.

The Electricians' Board's current Application for Journeyman, Master or High/Medium Voltage Electrician (rev. 2024-09, linked from OPLC's Applications page) has a 'Reciprocity only' section that lists South Dakota among the states whose journeyman licenses New Hampshire accepts by reciprocity (journeyman only), and South Dakota's own board lists New Hampshire as a journeyman reciprocity partner. A South Dakota journeyman ticks 'Reciprocal' and 'Journeyman' on the form, names the reciprocating state and license number, supplies verification of licensure, three references and a photograph, and pays the $110 two-year fee without taking the New Hampshire exam. South Dakota is not in the Plc 313.24 endorsement table that OPLC publishes for HB 594 licensure, so this path rests on the pre-2024 reciprocal agreement that the form still carries; Plc 313.24's one year of professional experience in the licensure category is applied to all reciprocity applicants.

Listed only on the application form's reciprocity section, not on the New Changes for Reciprocity page; confirm with OPLC (603-271-2152) that the South Dakota agreement is still honoured before relying on it. South Dakota's file in this dataset records the reverse direction.

At a glance

Trade exam: Waived
Law / code exam: Not required
Typical processing: About 14 days
Agreement: Active

What you must already have

Your South Dakota license must be active and in good standing.
You must have held your South Dakota license for at least 1 year.One year of professional experience as a licensed journeyman (Plc 313.24; repeated on the Applications page for all reciprocity applicants).

What you'll do to get licensed in New Hampshire

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($110). Journeyman electrician application processing and licensing fee, two-year license (Plc 1002.13).
2Other. Verification of licensure from every jurisdiction where the applicant is currently licensed (electronic verification sent to OPLC, a hard copy, or a screenshot from a primary-source state website).
3Other. Disclose on the application any unannulled felony conviction and any suspension, revocation or sanction of an electrician's license in any jurisdiction, with three references and a recent photograph (Elec 302.04). No fingerprint criminal records check is listed for electricians; OPLC's endorsement checklist requires it for health-related professions only..

Published fees on this path total $110, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

How New Hampshire licenses journeyman electricians

New Hampshire journeyman electrician · “Journeyman Electrician”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 8 sources

Issued by New Hampshire Electricians' Board, Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)

New Hampshire issues a statewide Journeyman Electrician license through the Electricians' Board within the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). A new applicant needs 8,000 hours of service as an apprentice electrician, at least 600 hours of related education, and a passing score on the Prov-administered journeyman exam ($90); the license costs $110 for a two-year term and requires 15 hours of NEC code-change instruction each code cycle. Since May 3, 2024 New Hampshire licenses out-of-state journeymen by endorsement under RSA 310:17 and Plc 313.24 without examination when the origin jurisdiction has substantially similar requirements; OPLC currently lists Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington as qualifying jurisdictions, and requires one year of experience as a licensed journeyman. The Board's application form also still carries an older reciprocity list (Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont at both levels; Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming at journeyman only) whose partner states continue to list New Hampshire; those are recorded here as reciprocity agreements pending confirmation from OPLC. Licensees from other states apply through the traditional application and exam.

Moving to New Hampshire Leaving New Hampshire

Common questions

Do I have to take the New Hampshire journeyman electrician exam if I'm licensed in South Dakota?: No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with South Dakota.
How long do I need to have held my South Dakota license?: At least 1 year before applying.
What does it cost to get a New Hampshire journeyman electrician license from South Dakota?: Published fees on this path total $110, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
How long does the application take?: The board's published or typical processing time is about 14 days.

Sources

OPLC - Electricians' Applications (new license, reciprocity, renewal) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Journeyman and master applicants file two paper forms: the OPLC Universal Application for Initial Licensure and the Application for Journeyman, Master or High/Medium Voltage Electrician; payment by personal check, money order or cashier's check mailed to 7 Eagle Square, Concord. 'Reciprocity Applicants: Per Plc 313.24, applicants for endorsement shall have one year of professional experience in the licensure category sought'; reciprocity information and the application are on the New Changes for Reciprocity page. Renewals are online. Opened live on 2026-09-15 through a text-extraction proxy (direct requests are refused with HTTP 403).
NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification - Electricians' Board · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Board home page: regulates apprentice, journeyman, master and high/medium voltage electricians; 'For Reciprocity applicants: Per Plc 313.24, applicants for endorsement shall have one year of professional experience in the licensure category sought.'; links to the Prov Candidate Bulletin and to Applications, License Fees and Laws & Rules. Opened live on 2026-09-15 through a text-extraction proxy (oplc.nh.gov refuses direct requests from automated clients with HTTP 403); the content matches the Internet Archive capture of January 6, 2026.
OPLC - Electricians' FAQs · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Faq · verified September 15, 2026'How do I reciprocate my license to New Hampshire?' points to the New Changes for Reciprocity page and repeats that Plc 313.24 endorsement applicants shall have one year of professional experience in the licensure category sought. Also covers code-update tracking in CE Broker, license verification requests and reinstatement of licenses expired 1-3 years. Opened live on 2026-09-15 through a text-extraction proxy.
OPLC Electricians' Board - Application for Journeyman, Master or High/Medium Voltage Electrician (exam or reciprocal), rev. 2024-09 · Elec 302.04 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Form · verified September 15, 2026Single form with check boxes for EXAM or RECIPROCAL and MASTER or JOURNEYMAN. The 'RECIPROCITY ONLY' section names the reciprocating state and license number and lists: 'Master and Journeyman - Maine: include a printout from the Board website. Massachusetts or Vermont: include a certified statement from that state. Journeyman ONLY - Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, or Wyoming, Iowa.' All applicants give three unrelated references (Elec 302.04), a colour photograph taken within six months, and disclose unannulled felony convictions and any license suspension, revocation or sanction in any jurisdiction. Exam applicants document experience: journeymen a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training; masters a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training as a licensed journeyman (or licensed master in another state), each certified by a licensed electrician. Fees are 'see website'. The form is linked from the Applications page as the current journeyman/master application on 2026-09-15, although its reciprocity list predates the Plc 313.24 endorsement table.
OPLC - New Changes for Reciprocity in New Hampshire (HB 594 qualifying jurisdictions and FAQs) · RSA 310:17; Plc 313.24 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Effective May 3, 2024 OPLC accepts HB 594 endorsement applications. Electricians' Board (Plc 313.24) qualifying jurisdictions: Journeyman Electrician - Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington; Master Electrician - Connecticut (Electrical Contractor), Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington; applicants shall have one year of professional experience in the licensure category sought. FAQs: an encumbered license disqualifies; applicants from non-qualifying jurisdictions use the traditional application process; reconsideration of a jurisdiction determination may be requested under Plc 210.03; fees are those in Plc 1002. Opened live on 2026-09-15 through a text-extraction proxy (oplc.nh.gov refuses direct requests from automated clients with HTTP 403); the content matches the Internet Archive capture of August 21, 2026.
OPLC - Checklist for Reciprocity/Endorsement licensing, all participating jurisdictions and professions (2025-07-31) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Form · verified September 15, 2026Endorsement applicants mail or drop off (no email) the completed Universal Application for Initial Licensure, the profession's application fee payable to Treasurer, State of New Hampshire, and verification of licensure from every jurisdiction where currently licensed (electronic verification to [email protected], a hard copy, or a screenshot of active licensure from a primary-source state website). The FBI/criminal history records check with fingerprinting ($47 to Criminal Records) is required of health-related professions only. Applications are processed in order of receipt and require 10-14 business days after receipt; no status updates before the 10th business day; all communication is by email.
OPLC - Reciprocity Licensing (HB 594 overview) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Explains that under HB 594 (signed June 28, 2023, effective August 27, 2023) the Office 'shall issue licenses to professionals who present evidence of an active license in good standing from another jurisdiction' whose requirements are substantially similar, and that endorsement applicants no longer submit transcripts, exam results, experience evidence or references. Opened live on 2026-09-15 through a text-extraction proxy (oplc.nh.gov refuses direct requests from automated clients with HTTP 403); the content matches the Internet Archive capture of May 24, 2025.
N.H. Code of Administrative Rules Plc 1000 - Fees (Table 1002.13 Electricians Board; Plc 1004.07 examination fees) · Plc 1002.13; Plc 1004.07 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification / General Court · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Table 1002.13: journeyman electrician application processing and licensing (initial, renewal or reinstatement) $110 for 2 years; master electrician $198 for 2 years; apprentice registration $33 for 12 months; high/medium voltage electrician $198. Plc 1004.07 (eff. 10-8-25): journeyman electrician examination $90; master electrician examination $90; re-licensing examination $70.
N.H. Code of Administrative Rules Plc 300 - Part Plc 313 Licensure by Endorsement (Plc 313.01, 313.11, 313.24) · Plc 313.01, Plc 313.11, Plc 313.24 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification / General Court · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Plc 313.01(b): the origin license must be from a jurisdiction with substantially similar requirements, not temporary, unencumbered, active and not suspended, revoked or surrendered. Plc 313.24 (eff. 5-3-24, #13954): the origin jurisdiction must use the same or a later edition of the electrical code as New Hampshire and require, for journeyman, 4 years full-time or 8,000 hours in not more than 6 years as an apprentice in a program with at least 560 hours of education plus a state-approved journeyman exam; for master, at least one year full-time or 2,000 hours in not more than 3 years as a licensed journeyman plus a state-approved master exam; plus one year of professional experience as a licensed journeyman or master respectively. Plc 313.11: an applicant from a jurisdiction that does not meet the criteria may request a waiver under Plc 211 based on education, training and experience.
RSA Chapter 319-C - Electricians · RSA 319-C:7, 319-C:8 · New Hampshire General Court · Statute · verified September 15, 2026RSA 319-C:7, II: the office issues a master or journeyman license to an applicant who completes 8,000 hours of service as an apprentice electrician (the board may credit approved schooling or military experience), not less than 600 hours of education, and passes a board-approved examination. RSA 319-C:8: proctored written or computerized exams including NEC provisions; an applicant who has not passed within one year of application must reapply and pay the fees again. The chapter contains no reciprocity provision of its own.

Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.

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