North Dakota Low Voltage License Requirements (2026) | ND SEB & Secretary of State Guide

North Dakota licenses low-voltage work through the North Dakota State Electrical Board (SEB) under N.D.C.C. Chapter 43-09. The SEB issues a Class L Low Energy Electrician credential for individuals installing fire alarm, burglar alarm, sound, intercom, CCTV, access control, and structured cabling systems operating at 50 volts or less, plus a Class B Electrical Contractor license required to qualify any contracting business. Any contractor bidding a project valued at $4,000 or more must additionally hold a North Dakota Secretary of State Contractor License under N.D.C.C. §43-07. Fire alarm acceptance testing and plan review fall under the State Fire Marshal per N.D.C.C. Chapter 18-01. Burglar alarm and central-station monitoring is not separately licensed at the state level but Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks maintain local permit requirements.

The Licensing Authority

North Dakota Secretary of State — Contractor Licensing Division (ND SOS) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-07 (Contractors). The North Dakota Secretary of State licenses general contractors statewide under NDCC 43-07. A contractor license is required for any project valued at $4,000 or more. The state issues four monetary classes (A, B, C, D) based on maximum project value. Electrical and plumbing trades are licensed separately by their respective state boards.

Official portal: https://sos.nd.gov/business/contractor-licensing
Address: 600 E Boulevard Avenue, Department 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500
Phone: (701) 328-2900

Baseline Eligibility

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No North Dakota residency requirement.

Good moral character

The SEB conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions are reviewed individually under N.D.C.C. §43-09-11 and may result in denial.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application. Fire alarm acceptance testing work additionally requires State Fire Marshal clearance.

Experience and Education Requirements

A minimum of two years (4,000 hours) of supervised low-voltage installation experience under a licensed North Dakota Class B Electrical Contractor or Class L Low Energy Electrician for the Class L credential, plus one additional year for the Class B Electrical Contractor (Limited Energy) license must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

SEB Experience Affidavit signed by each supervising licensee
W-2 statements or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II certificate
Approved low-voltage apprenticeship program completion certificate

Education substitution

An accredited two-year electronics or electrical engineering technology associate degree substitutes for one year of the experience requirement under NDAC 24.5-03-01.

The Licensing Examination

Testing is handled by Block and Associates under contract to the North Dakota State Electrical Board. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

ND Class L Low Energy Electrician Examination — NEC Articles 725/760/770/800, NFPA 72, ND rules — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 examination fee paid to Block and Associates on registration.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken after 30 days by paying a new $75 fee. Each application remains valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

The applicant must secure and file a $7,500 surety bond before the ND SOS will release the license.

General liability

The Secretary of State Contractor License requires $7,500 surety bond and proof of $500,000 commercial general liability under N.D.C.C. §43-07-06. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation through ND Workforce Safety and Insurance is mandatory for any North Dakota employer under N.D.C.C. Title 65.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required for Class L or Class B low energy classifications.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$75
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

License Renewal

The North Dakota State Electrical Board Class B Electrical Contractor / Class L Low Energy Technician must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $200. ND SEB licenses renew annually by March 1. Lapsed licenses carry a $100 late fee within 30 days; beyond 30 days, the license is voided and requires full reapplication.

Continuing education: Eight hours of SEB-approved continuing education each annual cycle, including a code-update course covering the current NEC adoption.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

North Dakota grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Minnesota	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ND-MN reciprocity for active Class L / Power Limited Technician credentials in good standing.
South Dakota	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ND-SD reciprocity for active electrical contractor licenses.
Montana	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ND-MT reciprocity for Limited Energy Technician credentials.
Wyoming	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ND-WY reciprocity for electrical contractor licenses.

North Dakota State Electrical Board maintains regional reciprocity with Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. Reciprocal applicants must hold the equivalent classification active for at least one year and pass the ND statute portion.

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 Licensing Roadmap

Register as Class L Apprentice. File the SEB apprentice registration with the $25 fee to legally perform supervised low-voltage work. Unregistered hours do not count toward the experience requirement.
Document two years of supervised experience. Compile SEB Experience Affidavits covering 4,000 hours of supervised low-voltage installation under a licensed Class B or Class L electrician.
Submit the Class L Low Energy Electrician application. File the SEB application with the $50 fee, experience affidavits, and proof of apprentice registration.
Pass the Block and Associates Class L examination at 75%. Score 75% or better on the 80-question Class L exam covering NEC low-voltage articles and NFPA 72.
Apply for the Class B Electrical Contractor (Limited Energy) license. File the Class B application with the $200 fee and designate the Class L holder as the master electrician on file.
File the Secretary of State Contractor License. File the ND Secretary of State Contractor application with the $100 fee, $7,500 surety bond, and $500,000 liability certificate for any project exceeding $4,000.
Submit to State Fire Marshal for fire alarm acceptance testing. Contact the ND State Fire Marshal to schedule fire alarm acceptance testing on commercial projects. NICET Level II is the practical prerequisite.
Renew on the annual SEB cycle. North Dakota SEB licenses renew annually by March 1. Renewal requires eight hours of continuing education including a code-update course.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to ND SOS, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Two years (4,000 hours) of supervised low-voltage experience
☐ SEB Apprentice registration on file
☐ SEB Class L application with $50 fee
☐ Block and Associates Class L exam pass at 75%+
☐ Class B Electrical Contractor license application
☐ Secretary of State Contractor License with $7,500 bond
☐ $500,000 commercial general liability certificate
☐ ND Workforce Safety and Insurance coverage

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost North Dakota Low Voltage applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Forgetting the Secretary of State Contractor License

The SEB Class L credential does not authorize bidding. Any project valued at $4,000 or more additionally requires a Secretary of State Contractor License with a $7,500 surety bond under N.D.C.C. §43-07.

Unregistered apprentice hours

Hours worked before registering as a SEB apprentice do not count toward the Class L experience requirement. Register first, work second.

Missing the annual renewal deadline

ND SEB licenses expire March 1 every year. Lapsed licenses beyond 30 days are voided and require full reapplication including retesting if more than one year lapsed.

Confusing Class B Electrical with Class B Limited Energy

The Class B Electrical Contractor classification includes a Limited Energy subclass for low-voltage-only businesses. Applying for the full Class B requires a Master Electrician, not just a Class L holder.

Ignoring fire alarm acceptance testing

The ND State Fire Marshal must schedule acceptance testing on every commercial fire alarm project. Missing the test blocks occupancy and exposes the contractor to reinstallation costs.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

NEC Articles 725, 760, 770, 800 (ND-adopted edition) — NFPA. Low-voltage circuits, fire alarm, fiber, and communications wiring.
NFPA 72 - National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required reference for fire alarm acceptance testing.
N.D.C.C. Chapter 43-09 — State of North Dakota. SEB licensing statute.
NDAC Title 24.5 — ND State Electrical Board. SEB administrative rules.

Other North Dakota Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional North Dakota trades; the published ones are listed here:

Answers to Common Questions

What does the North Dakota Class L Low Energy Electrician credential cover?

Installation of fire alarm, burglar alarm, sound, intercom, CCTV, access control, and structured cabling systems operating at 50 volts or less under N.D.C.C. Chapter 43-09.

Do I need a Secretary of State Contractor License in addition to the SEB license?

Yes, for any project valued at $4,000 or more. N.D.C.C. §43-07 requires a separate Secretary of State Contractor License with a $7,500 surety bond, regardless of the SEB trade license.

Who licenses burglar alarm installation in North Dakota?

Burglar alarm installation falls under the SEB Class L Low Energy credential at the state level. Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks maintain separate local alarm permit requirements for monitored systems.

Does North Dakota reciprocate with Minnesota?

Yes. The SEB maintains bilateral reciprocity with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Power Limited Technician credential. Reciprocal applicants must be active for at least one year.

How often does the ND SEB Class L license renew?

Annually by March 1. Renewal requires eight hours of approved continuing education including a code-update course.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-21 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-20