South Dakota renewal guide
Apprentice Electrician License
If this license is up for renewal, this page gives you the fee, the timeline, and the items that usually hold the filing up.
See this alongside the other 21 South Dakota license pages we track.
Start here
What matters before you file.
Check the fee, the renewal window, and the documents or insurance records that can slow approval down.
Issuing authority
Renewal period
Every 24 months
Renewal fee
$20.00
Bond requirement
No
Insurance requirement
No
Before you renew
Get the filing straight.
- 1
File with the board
File through South Dakota Electrical Commission and pay the $20.00 renewal fee once the supporting proof is ready.
Renew online - 2
Leave room for processing
Typical processing time is 14 days, so do not wait until the last minute.
Detailed notes
The fine print is here.
South Dakota Apprentice Electrician License
Register with the South Dakota Electrical Commission before performing any electrical work as an apprentice — $20 biennial registration fee, employer verification only, no examination required.
Every SD Electrical Apprentice Must Register Before Starting Work
SDCL 36-16 requires registration for every person performing electrical work in South Dakota, including apprentices. Submit the apprentice application at dlr.sd.gov/electrical/forms.aspx with a letter from your employing licensed electrical contractor confirming your employment. No examination is required — employer verification is the only document needed.
Costs $20 to Register, $20 to Renew Every Two Years
- Registration fee: $20
- Biennial renewal fee: $20
Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years (2026, 2028, etc.).
Commercial Sites Require On-Site Supervision; Non-Commercial Sites Require Daily Check-In
Supervision requirements vary by project type per ARSD 20:44:16:05:
- Commercial and industrial sites: Your supervisor must be personally present on-site at all times. Qualifying supervisors: licensed electrical contractor, journeyman electrician, or licensed 501(d) electrician.
- Non-commercial sites (residential, farmstead): Daily personal supervision is required from a licensed electrical contractor, Class B electrician, journeyman electrician, or licensed 501(d) electrician.
Four Years (8,000 Hours) Qualifies You for the Journeyman Exam
ARSD 20:44:16:08 requires four years of licensed electrical experience — 2,000 hours per year, 8,000 hours total — under the employment and supervision of a licensed electrical contractor or Class B electrician. When you reach the threshold, submit the journeyman examination application to the Electrical Commission.
Working Without Registration Is a Class 2 Misdemeanor
Performing electrical work without a valid Electrical Commission registration violates SDCL 36-16 and is a Class 2 misdemeanor. The Commission may issue cease-and-desist orders and refer violations for criminal prosecution.
*Contact the South Dakota Electrical Commission: electrical@state.sd.us or 605.773.3573.*
Official links
Check the board or agency directly.
Required documents
- employer_verification
Source notes
South Dakota Electrical Commission, Department of Labor and Regulation . Verified March 2026. https://dlr.sd.gov/electrical/forms.aspx
Rules move. Check South Dakota Electrical Commission again before you pay, renew, or schedule work around this requirement.
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Printable checklist
South Dakota checklist
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