Minnesota Low Voltage License Requirements (2026)

Minnesota regulates low-voltage work through the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Construction Codes and Licensing Division under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326B. Individual installers must hold a Power Limited Technician (PLT) license to install systems operating at 100 volts or less — fire alarm, burglar alarm, security, audio/video, structured cabling, sound, and nurse call. Businesses must hold a Technology Systems Contractor (TSC) license, which requires designating a Responsible Licensed Power Limited Technician as the qualifying individual. Minnesota is one of the strictest low-voltage licensing states in the country: even pure data cabling under the National Electrical Code Article 800 falls under the PLT scope.

Regulatory Body Profile

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (DLI) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326B (Construction Codes and Licensing). DLI licenses residential building contractors, remodelers, electricians, plumbers, and mechanical (HVAC) contractors statewide; administers the Contractor Recovery Fund; and enforces the Minnesota State Building Code, Electrical Code, and Plumbing Code.

Official portal: https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/licensing-and-registration/
Address: 443 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: (651) 284-5005

The Eligibility Audit

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Minnesota residency requirement.

Good moral character

DLI conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions are reviewed individually under Minn. Stat. §326B.082.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application. No fingerprint requirement for the PLT itself.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is 4 years of 36 months (approximately 6,000 hours) of supervised power-limited installation experience under a licensed Minnesota Power Limited Technician or Master Electrician, OR completion of an approved PLT apprenticeship, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DLI Power Limited Technician Experience Affidavit signed by each supervising licensee
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying months
Approved PLT apprenticeship completion certificate
Accredited two-year electronics or telecommunications transcripts (where applicable)

Education substitution

A two-year accredited electronics or telecommunications degree may substitute for up to 12 months of the experience requirement under DLI rule.

The Exam Syllabus

PSI Services LLC under contract to DLI. administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

PSI Minnesota Power Limited Technician Examination — NEC Articles 725 / 760 / 770 / 800, NFPA 72, Minnesota Statutes 326B — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $35 examination fee paid to PSI on registration.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $35 fee. Each application remains valid for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

A $25,000 surety bond, in the form prescribed by the DLI, must be posted as a condition of licensure.

General liability

DLI requires Technology Systems Contractors to carry $300,000 commercial general liability minimum and a $25,000 license bond under Minn. Stat. §326B.197.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any Minnesota employer under Minn. Stat. §176.181.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required for the PLT or TSC license.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$35
Examination	$35
Initial license	$110
Renewal (every 2 years)	$110

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Minnesota Power Limited Technician (PLT) and Technology Systems Contractor License runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $110. Both PLT and TSC licenses renew on the same two-year cycle. Lapsed licenses may be reinstated within two years by paying back fees and the late penalty.

Continuing education: Sixteen hours of DLI-approved continuing education each two-year cycle, including a four-hour code-update course.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Minnesota Low Voltage License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Minnesota does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
North Dakota	PLT exam waiver	DLI bilateral agreement with the North Dakota State Electrical Board for active PLT-equivalent licensees.
South Dakota	PLT exam waiver	DLI bilateral agreement with the South Dakota Electrical Commission.

Minnesota recognizes a limited set of reciprocity partners for the PLT. Reciprocal applicants must still file the application and pay the standard fee.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Low Voltage license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Application Roadmap

Document 36 months of qualifying experience. Compile DLI Experience Affidavits signed by each supervising PLT or Master Electrician covering 36 months (approximately 6,000 hours).
Submit the DLI Power Limited Technician application. File the application with the $35 fee and experience documentation.
Pass the PSI Power Limited Technician examination at 70%. Score 70% or better on the 80-question, 240-minute open-book exam covering NEC, NFPA 72, and Minnesota Statutes 326B.
Receive the individual PLT license. DLI issues the PLT credential within 30 days of passing the exam. The PLT license renews every two years.
Apply for the Technology Systems Contractor (business) license. File the TSC application with the designated Responsible Licensed PLT, $25,000 bond, and $300,000 liability certificate.
File workers compensation coverage. Submit certificate of workers compensation insurance for any business with employees.
Receive the TSC license and begin work. DLI issues the TSC license within 30 – 60 days. TSC and PLT both renew on the two-year cycle.

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Minnesota-adopted edition — NFPA. Articles 725, 760, 770, and 800. Open-book at the PSI test center.
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required reference for fire alarm portion of the exam.
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326B and Minn. Rules 1315 — State of Minnesota. Licensing law and rules.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to DLI:

☐ 36 months of supervised power-limited experience
☐ DLI PLT application with $35 fee
☐ PSI PLT exam pass at 70%+
☐ Technology Systems Contractor business application
☐ $25,000 DLI license bond
☐ $300,000 commercial general liability certificate
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Minnesota Low Voltage application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Assuming data cabling is exempt

Minnesota is unusual: NEC Article 800 communications cabling falls under the PLT license. Installing structured cabling without a PLT is a violation of Minn. Stat. §326B.33.

Operating without a Technology Systems Contractor license

An individual PLT may work as an employee but cannot bid or contract as a business. The TSC business license is required for any contracting entity.

Missing the four-hour code-update course

DLI requires a four-hour code-update course inside the sixteen-hour CE cycle. Generic CE will not satisfy renewal.

Letting the bond lapse

A lapsed $25,000 license bond automatically suspends the TSC license. Renew the bond before its anniversary date.

Wrong supervising licensee on the experience affidavit

Experience must be supervised by a Minnesota-licensed PLT or Master Electrician. Out-of-state supervisor signatures are not accepted.

Other Minnesota Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Minnesota licensing guides:

Common Questions

What does the Minnesota Power Limited Technician license cover?

All systems operating at 100 volts or less, including fire alarm, burglar alarm, security, CCTV, access control, audio/video, sound, nurse call, and structured data cabling. Minnesota is one of very few states that licenses pure data cabling under the PLT scope.

Do I need both the PLT and the Technology Systems Contractor license?

Yes if you operate a business. The PLT is the individual credential; the TSC is the business credential. The TSC must designate a licensed PLT as the Responsible Licensed Power Limited Technician.

How much experience does Minnesota require for the PLT?

Thirty-six months (approximately 6,000 hours) of supervised power-limited installation experience under a licensed PLT or Master Electrician. A two-year accredited electronics degree substitutes for up to 12 months.

Does NICET certification waive the Minnesota PLT exam?

No. NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II is recognized as study credit but does not waive the DLI PSI examination.

How often does the Minnesota PLT renew?

Every two years. Renewal requires sixteen hours of DLI-approved continuing education including a four-hour code-update course.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-06-01 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-30