LicensebyState

Tennessee to South Dakota: master electrician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 12 sources

Tennessee does not issue a statewide master electrician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is South Dakota's standard path for out-of-state applicants.

Your origin state does not issue a statewide license at this level, so there is no license to transfer. The destination's standard out-of-state path is shown; expect to meet it in full.

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

Out-of-state master or contractor without a reciprocal agreement

Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.

SDCL 36-16-23 lets the Commission grant a license of the same grade or class to an electrician licensed by another state, on payment of the fee and proof that the applicant's qualifications equal South Dakota's, to the extent that state provides similar action. The Commission's reciprocity page lists 'states with similar licensing requirements' whose master or contractor license it treats as the EC equivalent (for example Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington) and NERA states without agreements (Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin), but does not say whether the exam is waived for them, and says to call the Commission for unverified states. Absent a confirmed waiver, the applicant files the general Electrician License Application marked Electrical Contractor with the $60 fee, documents two years (4,000 hours) as a journeyman under an electrical contractor including one year of commercial wiring (the form accepts out-of-state employers and records other-state licenses), passes the Commission's EC exam with 70% within 90 days of approval, and before issuance files the $10,000 undertaking, liability insurance certificate and $50 deposit and pays the $200 biennial license fee.

No exam fee amount is published; SDCL 36-16-13 caps any exam fee at $150. The exam includes South Dakota statutes and rules, so there is no separate law exam. Whether an out-of-state journeyman license satisfies the 'licensed journeyman' experience requirement, and whether the Commission waives the exam for 'similar licensing requirements' states under SDCL 36-16-23, could not be confirmed from an official page.

At a glance

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Out-of-state hours
Count toward eligibility
Typical processing
About 30 days

What you must already have

  • At least two years (4,000 hours) of licensed journeyman experience under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor, of which at least one year (2,000 hours) is commercial wiring (SDCL 36-16-19; ARSD 20:44:16:08)

What you'll do to get licensed in South Dakota

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($60). Electrical contractor application fee, nonrefundable (ARSD 20:44:16:04).
  2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. South Dakota Electrical Commission electrical contractor examination (NEC 2023 plus state statutes and rules; 70% to pass; must test within 90 days of written approval).
  3. 3License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($200). Biennial electrical contractor license fee (ARSD 20:44:16:15); licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years.
  4. 4Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($10,000). $10,000 undertaking (notarized form in lieu of a surety bond) or approved security, SDCL 36-16-20.
  5. 5Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Public liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate with certificate on file with the Commission (waived if the employer partnership or corporation carries it).
  6. 6Other. $50 deposit to the Commission's special fund at issuance and each biennial renewal (waived when the fund exceeds $50,000) ($50).

Published fees on this path total $260, 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

Surety bond

A license or contractor bond is bought from a surety, not the state. Price is a small percentage of the bond amount and depends on your credit.

  • Surety bond · $10,000

Liability insurance

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

  • Insurance

How South Dakota licenses master electricians

South Dakota master electrician · “Electrical Contractor”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 8 sources

Issued by South Dakota Electrical Commission (Department of Labor & Regulation)

South Dakota has no license titled 'master electrician'; its highest person-held electrician credential is the Electrical Contractor (EC) license, which the Commission's own reciprocity table equates with other states' Master Electrician licenses. The EC license is issued to an individual who has at least two years (4,000 hours) of experience as a licensed journeyman under an electrical contractor, including one year (2,000 hours) of commercial wiring, and who passes the Commission's electrical contractor exam (NEC 2023 plus state statutes and rules, 70%); a Class B electrician can also advance with one additional year of commercial experience. Before the license is issued the applicant must file a $10,000 undertaking (or approved security), proof of public liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate, and a $50 deposit to the Commission's special fund, unless employed by a partnership or corporation that carries them. The application fee is $60 and the biennial license fee is $200; licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years and renewal requires 16 hours of continuing education. The Commission has EC-level reciprocity agreements with 11 states; Alaska, Colorado and New Mexico agreements cover the journeyman level only.

Moving to South DakotaLeaving South Dakota

Why Tennessee has nothing to transfer

Tennessee master electrician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 13 sources

Issued by Local code enforcement offices (Nashville, Memphis/Shelby County, Knoxville, Chattanooga and other exempt jurisdictions); state issues only the CE contractor license

Tennessee does not issue a master electrician license. The state-level credential for electrical contracting is a contractor license with the CE (electrical) classification from the Board for Licensing Contractors, which is issued to a business (sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or corporation) that names a qualifying agent, and which is required for any electrical project of $25,000 or more. To obtain it the qualifying agent passes the Tennessee Business & Law exam and the CE trade exam (Prov), and the business files a reviewed or audited CPA financial statement (or, from July 1, 2026, a surety bond) that sets its monetary limit, proves general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and pays a $250 application fee ($200 biennial renewal). The Board has trade-exam-waiver agreements under which a contractor licensed in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina or West Virginia, or one who passed the NASCLA electrical exam, skips the CE trade exam but still takes the Business & Law exam and meets every other requirement; the Board stresses that these 'do NOT allow using another state's license in Tennessee'. Master electrician licenses proper exist only at the local level in the jurisdictions that run their own inspection programs: Nashville (Metro Master Electrician, six years of experience), Memphis/Shelby County (Master Electrician, four years as a journeyman), Chattanooga (Class I electrical contractor, three years as a journeyman) and other exempt jurisdictions, each with its own exam and fees and none publishing reciprocity for out-of-state masters. An out-of-state master electrician who only wants to work for an employer needs no state license; to pull permits for small jobs they need the local master license or an LLE where accepted, and to contract for work of $25,000 or more they need the state CE contractor license.

How local licensing works in Tennessee

State CE contractor license (business level). Required statewide for electrical projects of $25,000 and up and accepted by every local jurisdiction for permits, but it is a business license, not a personal master credential. Requirements: qualifying agent (owner, officer or full-time employee) passes the Tennessee Business & Law exam and the Electrical (CE) trade exam administered by Prov; reviewed or audited financial statement less than 12 months old (or a contractors' surety bond at 50% of the requested limit from July 1, 2026) setting a monetary limit of 10 times the lesser of working capital or net worth ($300,000 of each for an unlimited limit); general liability insurance scaled to the limit; workers' compensation or exemption; $250 initial fee, $200 renewal every two years; exam scores valid about two years. Trade exam waiver (the only state reciprocity): a contractor licensed in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina or West Virginia whose board verifies a comparable electrical exam on the Request for Contractor License Verification form, or who passed the NASCLA Electrical exam, files that verification in place of the CE trade exam score. The Business & Law exam is never waived, applicants with discipline, open complaints or felonies are ineligible, and the waiver cannot be used for the LLE. Arkansas's agreement covers only building classifications, not electrical.

Nashville (Metro Codes and Building Safety). The Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical Examiners and Appeals Board issues the Metropolitan Master Electrician certificate. Applicants need six years of experience (an electrical engineering degree may substitute), employer verification letters, a character letter and approval by the Chief Electrical Inspector, then pass the Prov-administered Metro master exam with 70%. The application asks whether the applicant holds a master license in another city or state and how long, but no exam waiver is described. Nashville registers state CE contractors separately.

Memphis / Shelby County (Office of Construction Code Enforcement). The Master Electrician license (Sec. 1305 of the joint electrical code) requires age 24 and either an electrical engineering degree plus two years of installation experience or four certified years as a journeyman; application in person with three industry recommendations, 30-day investigation, exam before the Electrical Code Advisory Board on theory, installation, the NEC and local codes. Fees: exam $150, initial license $100, active renewal $150. A separate Electrical Contractor license ($150 exam, $150 license, $150 registration) must be held by or employ a master; state-certified CE contractors register for $150 instead of testing. No reciprocity provision appears in the code.

Chattanooga (Land Development Office). The Class I electrical license is the contractor/master credential: three or more years as a journeyman or plant electrician (or three years as a Class II residential contractor, a prior Class I license, a Tennessee PE license, or equivalent), city examination, $415 per two-year term. A Board of Electrical Examiners oversees testing; no reciprocity is mentioned.

Knoxville (Plans Review & Inspections). Knoxville is on the state's exempt list and requires a city registration to pull permits; a state CE contractor registers directly. Details of Knoxville's own electrical contractor/master exam and fees are not published on the pages found (865-215-4311).

Out-of-state holders. No Tennessee city or the state endorses another state's master license as such. The realistic paths are: (1) obtain the state CE contractor license, using the trade-exam waiver if licensed in AL, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC or WV or NASCLA-tested, which every jurisdiction accepts; or (2) apply for the local master license in each exempt jurisdiction where you will work, documenting the experience required there and passing the local exam.

Moving to TennesseeLeaving Tennessee

Common questions

Do I have to take the South Dakota master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Tennessee?
Yes. South Dakota requires the trade exam on this path.
What does it cost to get a South Dakota master electrician license from Tennessee?
Published fees on this path total $260, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Tennessee work hours count in South Dakota?
Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward South Dakota's eligibility requirements.
How long does the application take?
The board's published or typical processing time is about 30 days.
Does it work the other way, from South Dakota to Tennessee?
Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from South Dakota to Tennessee, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

  1. SDCL 36-16-13 - License required, examination, application, fees · SDCL 36-16-13 · South Dakota Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Licenses issued in the class applied for after successful completion of the Commission's examination; exam fee capped at $150 per exam and application fee at $100. Text read from sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-16-13.html.
  2. SDCL 36-16-19 - Experience required for contractor's license · SDCL 36-16-19 · South Dakota Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026At least two years of experience as a journeyman electrician, or one year of commercial experience as a Class B electrician, before applying for an electrical contractor's license. Text read from sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-16-19.html.
  3. SDCL 36-16-2 - Definition of terms · SDCL 36-16-2 · South Dakota Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Defines journeyman electrician (at least four years of experience in wiring, installing and repairing), electrical contractor (qualifications to plan, lay out and supervise, and who undertakes work for others), Class B electrician (36 months, farm and residential) and apprentice. Text read from the Legislature's statute rendering at sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-16-2.html.
  4. SDCL 36-16-20 - Undertaking and insurance required of contractor or Class B electrician · SDCL 36-16-20 · South Dakota Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026$10,000 undertaking and $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance before an electrical contractor or Class B license is issued; $50 deposit. Text read from sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-16-20.html.
  5. SDCL 36-16-23 - Reciprocal licenses to electricians from other states · SDCL 36-16-23 · South Dakota Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026To the extent other states provide similar action, the Commission may grant a license of the same grade or class to electricians licensed by other states, on payment of the fee and proof that the applicant's qualifications equal those of South Dakota licensees. Text read from sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-16-23.html.
  6. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Undertaking form for Electrical Contractors or Class B Electricians · South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, Electrical Commission · Form · verified September 15, 2026Notarized $10,000 undertaking in lieu of a surety bond under SDCL 36-16-20, with the $50 deposit.
  7. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Exams for Licensure · South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, Electrical Commission · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Exams are on the 2023 NEC since December 2, 2024; an applicant must submit the application and fee, be approved, and then has 90 days to arrange testing; no exam without prior written approval. No exam fee amount is shown.
  8. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Electrician License Application (REV 10/2025) · South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, Electrical Commission · Form · verified September 15, 2026Fee table: application fee $60 for every class; license or reciprocal fee $80 Journeyman / Reciprocal JM, $200 Electrical Contractor / Reciprocal EC, $100 Class B. Applicant checks Exam or Reciprocal; Part II records other-state licenses and how obtained; experience table accepts out-of-state employers; requires CE certificates from 7/1/20 forward; licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years; processing about 30 days.
  9. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Licensing · South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, Electrical Commission · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Describes the license classes and progression: apprentice to journeyman after four years (8,000 hours) under an electrical contractor; journeyman to electrical contractor after two more years (4,000 hours, at least 2,000 commercial); 16 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle (minimum 8 code hours).
  10. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Reciprocal Agreements for Licensure · South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, Electrical Commission · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026States the conditions (license earned by examination, held at least one year, active status for one year) and tabulates existing agreements by state and class: journeyman (JM) with 14 states and Electrical Contractor (EC) with 11 of them (Alaska, Colorado and New Mexico are journeyman-only). Separately lists NERA states without agreements (Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin), 'states with similar licensing requirements' and states with no or unverified state licenses, with no stated treatment other than to call the Commission.
  11. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Undertaking and Insurance Requirement · SDCL 36-16-20 · South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, Electrical Commission · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Electrical contractor and Class B applicants must deposit a $10,000 undertaking (or approved security), carry public liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence / $300,000 aggregate, and pay a $50 deposit to the special fund at issuance and each biennial renewal; a licensed person employed by a partnership or corporation that satisfies the requirements is exempt.
  12. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Wiring Bulletin (SDCL 36-16 and ARSD Article 20:44) · ARSD 20:44:16:03, 20:44:16:04, 20:44:16:06, 20:44:16:08, 20:44:16:11, 20:44:16:15 · South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, Electrical Commission · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 202620:44:16:03: Commission-written exam from the NEC and state statutes and rules, 70% to pass for EC, Class B, journeyman; license must be issued within 90 days of passing; retake after 30 days. 20:44:16:04: application fees $60. 20:44:16:06: one year of experience is 2,000 hours. 20:44:16:08: apprentice to journeyman four years under a licensed EC or Class B; journeyman to EC two years under an EC with one year commercial. 20:44:16:11: biennial reciprocity fee EC $200, journeyman $80, nonrefundable. 20:44:16:15: biennial license fees EC $200, journeyman $80, Class B $100.

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

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