Do I have to take the North Dakota master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Iowa?

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

How long do I need to have held my Iowa license?

At least 1 year before applying.

What does it cost to get a North Dakota master electrician license from Iowa?

Published fees on this path total $100, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Iowa to North Dakota: master electrician license reciprocity

Reciprocity· Exam waivedVerified September 15, 2026· 7 sources

North Dakota has a reciprocity agreement with Iowa: a Iowa master electrician can get a North Dakota 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 Iowa (master)

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

NDSEB lists Iowa as one of three states with which it has a master-level reciprocal license agreement (Iowa's own list pairs its Class A Master license with North Dakota's master). An Iowa master who passed Iowa's written exam, holds a license that is current, active and in good standing, has held it continuously for the year before applying, and documents at least 10,000 hours under a contracting master in a jurisdiction with licensing and inspection rules similar to North Dakota's receives a North Dakota Master Electrician license without a written exam. Applicants who failed the North Dakota exam are not eligible, and an applicant whose apprenticeship lacked related training and whose experience was mostly earned in North Dakota is excluded. File form SFN 61913 with the $50 application fee; the $50 license fee is paid after approval, and a contracting master must show liability insurance.

At a glance

Trade exam: Waived
Law / code exam: Not required
Agreement: Active

What you must already have

Your Iowa license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
Your Iowa license must be active and in good standing.
You must have held your Iowa license for at least 1 year.Held continuously during the one year prior to requesting reciprocity
You must document at least 10,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Under the supervision of a contracting master where electrical construction work is done under licensing and inspection rules similar to North Dakota's; if self-employed, prior work experience must meet the minimum
Not eligible if the applicant has failed the North Dakota written examination
Not eligible if the apprenticeship did not include related training and the majority of practical experience was obtained in North Dakota with a North Dakota-based contractor

What you'll do to get licensed in North Dakota

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($50). Reciprocal master application fee (SFN 61913).
2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($50). Master license fee, due after the reciprocal application is approved.
3Insurance. Carry the required insurance (if applicable). Proof of liability insurance, required only for the contracting master or master of record category.

Published fees on this path total $100, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

What you'll need to buy or arrange

Liability insurance

Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.

Insurance · if applicable

How North Dakota licenses master electricians

North Dakota master electrician · “Master Electrician”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 6 sources

Issued by North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB)

North Dakota issues a statewide Master Electrician license through the North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB). The license is held by the individual and is issued in one of three categories: contracting master (self-employed, must show liability insurance), master of record (responsible for a company's compliance, covered by the company's insurance) and non-contracting master (works under a contracting master or master of record). A new applicant must have one year of experience and at least 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman under a contracting master or master of record; the exam application requires a minimum of 10,000 total hours (one year and 2,000 hours if the applicant is a North Dakota journeyman). The board-administered master exam has a one-hour closed-book and a 3.5-hour open-book section and requires 70%. The application fee is $50 and the license fee is $50 per year; master licenses expire April 30. Master-level reciprocity exists only with Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.

Moving to North Dakota Leaving North Dakota

Common questions

Do I have to take the North Dakota master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Iowa?: No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Iowa.
How long do I need to have held my Iowa license?: At least 1 year before applying.
What does it cost to get a North Dakota master electrician license from Iowa?: Published fees on this path total $100, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Sources

North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-09 - Electricians · NDCC §§43-09-10, 43-09-11, 43-09-13, 43-09-15, 43-09-25 · North Dakota Legislative Branch · Statute · verified September 15, 2026§43-09-10 license classes (master, journeyman, class B, power limited). §43-09-11: master requires one year as a licensed journeyman; journeyman requires 8,000 hours over not less than three years plus approved apprenticeship training or a two-year course of study. §43-09-13: fees set by the board. §43-09-15: licenses issued for one year. §43-09-25: board may grant licenses of the same grade to electricians licensed by other states that provide similar action, on proof of equal qualifications.
NDSEB Form SFN 11858 - Application for Electrician's License by Exam (11-2020) · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Form · verified September 15, 2026Work experience minimums: 10,000 hours for master (one year and 2,000 hours if an ND journeyman), 8,000 hours for journeyman, 3,000 for Class B. Related training (two-year school, 576 hours of classes, or recognized apprenticeship) is required only if the majority of practical experience was obtained in North Dakota. Application fees: Master $50, Class B $40, Journeyman $25; a separate license fee is charged after passing.
North Dakota State Electrical Board - Exam Dates & Information · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Board-administered exams offered roughly every two weeks; master, journeyman and Class B exams have a one-hour closed-book and a 3.5-hour open-book section based on the current NEC and North Dakota laws, rules and wiring standards; passing grade 70%; candidates must test within six months of the invitation; retake waits of 0/3/6 months by score.
NDSEB 2026 Laws, Rules, Wiring and Conveyance Standards of North Dakota (effective 07/01/2026) · NDAC 24.1-03-01-01, 24.1-03-01-02, 24.1-03-01-03, 24.1-03-01-07 · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 202624.1-03-01-01: application fees master $50, journeyman $25; annual license fees master $50 (expires April 30), journeyman $25 (expires March 31); exam fees paid separately to the testing provider if required. 24.1-03-01-02: master needs 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman; contracting masters and masters of record must show liability insurance. 24.1-03-01-03: journeyman needs 8,000 hours over at least three years in a jurisdiction with similar licensing and inspection rules. 24.1-03-01-07: an apprentice without related training whose majority of experience was in North Dakota is ineligible for exam or reciprocal license.
North Dakota State Electrical Board - Qualifications for Licensure · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Master: one year and 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman under a contracting master or master of record; three master categories (contracting master, master of record, non-contracting master). Journeyman: 8,000 hours over not less than three years registered as an apprentice; credits for two-year school (2,000 hours) and other categories.
North Dakota State Electrical Board - Reciprocal License Agreements & Requirements · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Lists the master reciprocity states (Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota) and the 13 journeyman reciprocity states; states the requirements (origin exam passed, license current and in good standing, held continuously one year, 8,000 hours journeyman / 10,000 hours master under a contracting master in a jurisdiction with similar licensing and inspection rules, related-training restriction, 8-hour CE proof if the origin state has no CE, no exam, not eligible if the ND exam was failed) and the fees: application $25 journeyman / $50 master, license fee $25 / $50.
NDSEB Form SFN 61913 - Application for Electrician's License by Reciprocity (12-2020) · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Form · verified September 15, 2026Repeats the reciprocity requirements (master minimum 10,000 hours, journeyman minimum 8,000 hours), the application fee ($50 master / $25 journeyman, separate license fee on approval), the checkbox lists of qualifying origin states, and asks for the origin license number and initial issue date.

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

Report an error on this page