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If you want to become an electrician in Minnesota, you will first need to train and get a license.
The electrician licenses in these states are handled by The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry – Board of Electricity
Article Table of Contents
Become an Apprentice
To earn a journeyman license, you need to meet the criteria below:
- 7,000 hours of experience and an associate’s diploma over 2 years
Or
- 8,000 hours of job experience as an electrician
There are a few different ways to meet the requirements.
Trade Schools
Attending a trade school program is a good idea if you have no experience as an electrician.
The programs are focused on both theory and practice, and you will get an associate’s degree upon completion.
Your school can also offer job placement, which will make it easier to get employed in an entry-level position.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Dunwoody College of Technology | 818 Dunwoody Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55403 |
| Leech Lake Tribal College | 6945 Littlewolf Road NW, Cass Lake, MN 56633 |
| Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | 2101 14th St, Cloquet, MN 55720 |
| Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | 1355 Highway 10 West, Anoka, MN 55303 |
| Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | 1300 145th Street East, Rosemount, MN 55068 |
| Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | 1515 E 25th St, Hibbing, MN 55746 |
Apprenticeship Programs
To become an apprentice, you need to:
- Be 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma
- Take a drug test
- Have a car
- Take a skills test
You will also need 144 hours of theory for each year of practical experience.
The classes you will take include:
- Cable splicing
- Code calculations
- Electrical grounding
- Instrumentation
- National Electrical Code
- Electrical safety work practices
- OSHA/construction safety
- Basic welding
Candidates have to register their apprenticeship with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Apprenticeship Unit.
Pass the Journeyman Exam
The state offers several electrician specializations, as such:
- Journeyman Class A Electrician – 48 Months/8,000 hours
- Maintenance Electrician – 48 Months/8,000 hours
- Outside Lineman – 48 Months/8,000 hours
- Power Limited Technician – 36 Months/6,000 hours
- Journeyman Elevator Constructor – 36 Months/6,000 hours
- Installer B – 12 Months/2,000 hours
However, the journeyman license is the most common and requires passing an exam.
The test lasts for 5.1/2 hours, has 80 questions, and requires a score of 70% to pass.
You can get a reciprocity license if you are certified in the states below:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North and South Dakota
- Wyoming
Become a Master Electrician
To work as a master electrician, you need to submit an application and a $50 exam fee.
The exam has 80 questions, is open-book and requires a 70% passing score.
If you hold this license in any of the states below, you don’t need to take an exam:
- Iowa
- North and South Dakota
- Nebraska
Becoming an electrical contractor
If you want to have your own business, you can get an electrical contractor license.
To get this certification, you need to:
- Register your company with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.
- Get a State Tax ID number and Federal Employer Identification Number
- Submit a $168 fee and an application
- Have a $25,000 surety bond
- General Liability and Property Damage of $100,000 and $50,000, respectively
- Get Workers Compensation
- Have one master electrician employed
You can be the employed master electrician as well.
Salary
Your salary depends on the type of license you have and the time spent on your current position.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $51,730 |
| St. Paul | $51,730 |
| Rochester | $47,109 |
| Duluth | $46,137 |
| St. Cloud | $45,883 |
| Eden Prairie | $51,643 |
| Lakeville | $51,409 |
| Burnsville | $51,584 |
| Moorhead | $45,636 |
| Mankato | $51,293 |
Regional Salary in Minnesota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | 530 | $76,230 | $36.65 | $99,380 | $47,760 |
| Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 200 | $75,310 | $36.21 | $96,980 | $47,450 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 6,820 | $83,120 | $39.96 | $110,700 | $48,470 |
| Rochester, MN | 370 | $76,050 | $36.56 | $101,850 | $47,320 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 630 | $75,690 | $36.39 | $103,670 | $46,930 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
License Renewal
The journeyman license needs to be renewed once in 2 years, and you will need to finish 16 extra hours of education.
The master electrician certification also needs a once at 2 years renewal and 16 extra schooling hours.
Read the full guide: How to Become an Electrician
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Electrician Schools by State