Electrician License in Minnesota: Fees, Requirements & Startup Costs

By Muhammet Çay

Who holds which license

Minnesota splits electrical licensing between the business and the individual. The Class A Electrical Contractor license belongs to the business and authorizes it to contract for ordinary electrical work. The Class A Master Electrician license belongs to a person and serves as the responsible licensed individual for the contractor. A company cannot hold contracting authority on its own; it must name an active Class A master who carries the responsibility for the work performed under the contractor license.

This structure matters at formation. If the owner is not a master electrician, the business must employ or contract with one before the contractor license can be issued. The DLI contractor licensing basics page describes the responsible-individual requirement.

Class A contractor and master paths

The Class A Electrical Contractor license is the business credential for ordinary electrical work. The initial application fee is $188 for a two-year term, effective July 1, 2025, according to the DLI new-license application. The same $188 applies to an on-time renewal.

The Class A Master Electrician license is the individual qualifier. The exam fee is $50, and the new license costs $88 including the board fee, per the DLI fee schedule. The first master license term can be prorated. The exam is administered by Minnesota DLI, as noted on the DLI electrical licensing basics page.

Experience for the master license

The Class A master applicant must meet one of several experience alternatives: an electrical engineering degree, one year as a journeyworker electrician, or five years planning, laying out, supervising, and installing electrical equipment. DLI’s detailed Class A master experience schedule totals 60 months. The engineering degree is one alternative to experience, not a universal requirement.

Plan the qualifier route before signing a lease or advertising. If the owner is not yet a master, the timeline to reach that credential determines when the contractor license can be issued.

Bond and insurance

Minnesota requires a $25,000 surety bond for the electrical contractor. Public liability coverage must be at least $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate, and $50,000 property damage, plus proof of workers’ compensation compliance. The DLI licensing basics page lists these requirements. Obtain the bond and insurance certificate before expecting the contractor license to be issued.

Renewal and continuing education

The Class A contractor license renews every two years at $188 for an on-time renewal. The Class A master license renews every two years at $93 and requires 16 hours of continuing education, per the DLI continuing education page. Put renewal, bond, and insurance dates on the operating calendar so an accepted job does not outlast the authority to perform it. Renewal fees are not part of the starting cost.

Local permits and inspections

The contractor license is statewide, but electrical permits and inspections may involve local authorities. Ask the city or jurisdiction for each job address which work needs a permit, who must apply, and how inspections are scheduled. A state license does not establish a citywide permit policy. Add permit time and inspection returns to the estimate when bidding work.

Budget the launch

A Minnesota electrical startup should budget the $188 contractor application, the $50 master exam, the $88 new master license, the $25,000 bond, and the required liability insurance, plus tools, a vehicle, and working capital. The startup costs page explains how those choices move the opening budget. Edit the preset for the actual qualifier route, coverage quote, and services.

For a broader comparison of credentials, read the electrician license requirements by state and the electrician business guide. Sibling pages for Michigan and Georgia show how other states structure contractor and individual licenses.

Last updated: September 25, 2026