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

Yes. North Dakota requires the trade exam on this path.

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

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

Do my Oklahoma work hours count in North Dakota?

Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward North Dakota's eligibility requirements.

Does it work the other way, from North Dakota to Oklahoma?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from North Dakota to Oklahoma, the mechanism is endorsement.

Oklahoma to North Dakota: master electrician license reciprocity

Experience credit· Hours transferVerified September 15, 2026· 7 sources

North Dakota has no reciprocity agreement with Oklahoma. Your Oklahoma experience counts toward eligibility, but you must pass the North Dakota exam.

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

Out-of-state master without a reciprocal agreement (licensure by examination)

Nothing is waived, but your documented out-of-state hours count toward eligibility to sit the exam.

A master electrician from a state other than Iowa, Minnesota or South Dakota must qualify for the North Dakota Master Electrician license by examination. Out-of-state experience counts: the board accepts electrical construction work done under the supervision of a master electrician in a jurisdiction with licensing and inspection rules similar to North Dakota's, and the exam application requires a minimum of 10,000 hours, including one year as a licensed journeyman (NDCC 43-09-11), documented on Employment Verification form SFN 11845. The applicant files the master exam application with the $50 fee, receives an exam invitation, must test within six months, and needs 70% on the board's master exam; the $50 annual license fee is paid after passing, and a contracting master must also file proof of liability insurance. NDCC 43-09-25 permits the board to license electricians from other states on proof of equal qualifications, but NDSEB's published practice limits no-exam licensure to its three master reciprocity partners.

Whether an out-of-state journeyman license satisfies the statutory 'one year's experience as a licensed journeyman electrician' is not addressed in the board's published guidance; the exam form's 10,000-hour minimum applies to all applicants. NDAC 24.1-03-01-01 says exam fees are paid separately to the testing center provider 'if required'; the exam application lists no separate exam fee. The exam covers North Dakota laws, rules and wiring standards as well as the NEC, so there is no separate law exam.

At a glance

Trade exam: Required
Law / code exam: Not required
Out-of-state hours: Count toward eligibility

What you must already have

You must document at least 10,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Minimum on the exam application; if self-employed, prior work experience must still meet the minimum.
One year of experience and at least 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman electrician under a contracting master or master of record (NDCC 43-09-11; NDAC 24.1-03-01-02)

What you'll do to get licensed in North Dakota

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($50). Master exam application fee (SFN 11858), NDAC 24.1-03-01-01.
2Other. Employment Verification form SFN 11845 documenting hours, submitted with the application.
3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. NDSEB master examination (one-hour closed-book and 3.5-hour open-book sections on the NEC and North Dakota laws, rules and wiring standards; 70% to pass).
4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($50). Annual master license fee, paid after passing the exam; license expires April 30.
5Insurance. Carry the required insurance (if applicable). Proof of liability insurance, required only to be licensed in 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

Exam preparation

Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.

Trade exam

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

Compare: getting a North Dakota license from scratch

Common questions

Do I have to take the North Dakota master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Oklahoma?: Yes. North Dakota requires the trade exam on this path.
What does it cost to get a North Dakota master electrician license from Oklahoma?: Published fees on this path total $100, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Oklahoma work hours count in North Dakota?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward North Dakota's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from North Dakota to Oklahoma?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from North Dakota to Oklahoma, the mechanism is endorsement.

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 23, 2026
North Dakota State Electrical Board - Applying for an Electrical License · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
NDSEB Form SFN 11858 - Application for Electrician's License by Exam (11-2020) · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
North Dakota State Electrical Board - Exam Dates & Information · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
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 23, 2026
North Dakota State Electrical Board - Qualifications for Licensure · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
North Dakota State Electrical Board - Reciprocal License Agreements & Requirements · North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026

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

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