North Dakota Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

North Dakota does not issue a standalone solar contractor license. Solar PV installation is regulated as electrical work under N.D. Cent. Code §43-09 and is administered by the North Dakota State Electrical Board. Any solar business must hold an Electrical Contractor license and employ a North Dakota Master Electrician as the qualifying party. Additionally, the North Dakota Secretary of State requires a state Contractor License for any project over $4,000. Solar thermal water heating requires a North Dakota Plumbing Contractor license. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the industry standard but is voluntary in North Dakota.

The Licensing Authority

Licensing for this trade is governed by North Dakota Secretary of State — Contractor Licensing Division (ND SOS), the agency that issues and regulates the credential 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

Board reviews criminal history.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Requirements

A minimum of one year as a North Dakota Journeyman Electrician, which itself requires four years and 8,000 hours of apprenticeship 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

Board experience affidavits signed by North Dakota Master Electricians
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
ND-registered apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

ND-registered apprenticeship satisfies the journeyman experience requirement.

The Licensing Examination

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

North Dakota Master Electrician Examination — NEC, ND amendments, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $85 examination fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days.

Financial Security and Insurance

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

Board requires $500,000 commercial general liability minimum; Secretary of State Contractor License requires additional coverage.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under N.D. Cent. Code §65 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$175
Examination	$85
Initial license	$175
Renewal (every year)	$175

License Renewal

The North Dakota State Electrical Board Electrical Contractor License must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $175. North Dakota Electrical Contractor licenses renew annually.

Continuing education: Sixteen hours of Board-approved CE every three years.

Downloadable Asset

2026 North Dakota Solar 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	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
South Dakota	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Montana	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

North Dakota State Electrical Board maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with several neighboring states.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Complete a ND electrical apprenticeship. 8,000 hours under a ND Master Electrician.
Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam. Prerequisite to the Master credential.
Document one year as a Journeyman. Required for the Master Electrician exam.
Pass the Master Electrician exam at 75%. PSI administers the exam.
Apply for the Electrical Contractor license. Designate the Master Electrician as the qualifying party.
Apply for the Secretary of State Contractor License. Required for projects over $4,000.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each ND jurisdiction requires local permits.

Before Filing: A Checklist

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

☐ 8,000 hours of electrical apprenticeship
☐ North Dakota Journeyman Electrician credential
☐ One year as a Journeyman
☐ Master Electrician examination pass
☐ Board Electrical Contractor license
☐ Secretary of State Contractor License (for projects over $4K)
☐ Workers' compensation coverage

Common Application Pitfalls

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

Skipping the Secretary of State Contractor License

Projects over $4,000 require it in addition to the Electrical Contractor license.

Missing the 16-hour CE

Mandatory every three years and audited.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory for any business with employees.

Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing

Solar hot water requires the Plumbing Contractor license.

Skipping local permits

State licensure does not exempt you from city/county permits.

Preparation Resources

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.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
N.D. Cent. Code §43-09 — State of North Dakota. Statutory framework.
PSI North Dakota Master Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Other North Dakota Trade Licenses

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

Answers to Common Questions

Does North Dakota have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the State Electrical Board Electrical Contractor license.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in North Dakota.

When do I need the Secretary of State Contractor License?

For any construction project over $4,000.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a North Dakota Plumbing Contractor license.

Does North Dakota reciprocate?

Yes. The Board maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-14 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-12