South Dakota Solar License Requirements

South Dakota does not issue a separate solar-PV contractor license. Electrical wiring work is regulated statewide through the South Dakota Electrical Commission, and a person engaging in electrical contracting must hold the appropriate Electrical Contractor license. For a solar-PV contractor, that means meeting the Electrical Contractor’s experience and examination requirements, maintaining the statutory undertaking and insurance, and using the State electrical-permit and inspection process. A State electrical credential does not replace local building, zoning, utility-interconnection, or project-specific approvals.

Regulatory Body

South Dakota Electrical Commission (SDEC) administers the credential or scope-specific rules discussed here under SDCL ch. 36-16. Whether that pathway applies depends on the work scope and conditions explained below. The Commission licenses electrical contractors and electricians, issues or oversees electrical permits and inspections, and administers South Dakota electrical-wiring law.

Official portal: https://dlr.sd.gov/electrical/default.aspx

Eligibility Requirements

This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. SDCL ch. 36-16 does not state a South Dakota residency condition for this license. Apply through the Commission and meet the current application, experience, insurance, and undertaking requirements.

Good moral character

The Commission uses the current application and licensing statutes to determine whether an applicant may be licensed. Provide the required application disclosures accurately.

Background investigation

The current Electrical Contractor application requires the applicant’s Social Security number and asks about criminal convictions; it does not state a separate solar-PV fingerprint requirement.

Experience and Education

At least 2 years of Before applying for an Electrical Contractor license, an applicant must have at least two years of experience as a journeyman electrician or at least one year of commercial experience as a Class B electrician. This is the Electrical Contractor pathway—not a separate solar experience requirement. has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

South Dakota Electrical License Application
Documentation of qualifying journeyman or Class B experience requested by the Commission
Electrical Contractor undertaking/bond application and insurance certificate

Education substitution

SDCL 36-16-19 states the qualifying experience alternatives. Do not substitute a voluntary solar credential for the State electrical experience requirement unless the Commission confirms an applicable rule.

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: South Dakota Electrical Commission or its current designated examination process. The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

Electrical Contractor examination required by the current Commission application process — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin

Examination fee: $60 application fee plus a $200 Electrical Contractor license fee for a new license; the Commission’s current application materials control any separate examination charge.

Retake policy: Meet the Commission’s current examination and reapplication instructions. Do not rely on a fixed provider, question count, score, or wait period unless confirmed in the current Commission materials.

Insurance and Bonds

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $10,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the SDEC.

General liability

Before issuance and at biennial renewal, maintain the statutory $10,000 undertaking and liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate for bodily injury, plus $25,000 per occurrence property damage; a $300,000 combined single limit is an alternative. Certificates must remain on file with the Commission.

Workers' compensation

South Dakota does not require every employer to carry workers’ compensation insurance, although its coverage law applies broadly with limited exceptions and coverage is strongly recommended. Confirm coverage and any independent-contractor status with the Department of Labor and Regulation and the project owner or local authority.

Additional financial requirements

The Commission requires the $10,000 undertaking and a $50 deposit at undertaking execution and at biennial renewal, subject to the statutory fund-waiver condition. No separate financial-statement requirement is identified in the Commission materials reviewed.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application	$60
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$200

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for South Dakota solar.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The South Dakota Electrical Contractor License for Solar-PV Work runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $200. Renewal is due before June 30 of even-numbered years. Keep the undertaking and liability insurance in force and confirm whether the statutory $50 deposit is waived because the fund threshold has been met.

Continuing education: Obtain 16 hours of Commission-approved continuing education by renewal or June 30, whichever is sooner. At least eight hours must cover the National Electrical Code; no more than eight hours may be pre-approved correspondence or interactive online courses.

Reciprocity

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Minnesota	Electrical Contractor	Current reciprocal agreement; the out-of-state license must have been earned by examination and held active for at least one year.
Nebraska	Electrical Contractor	Current reciprocal agreement; the out-of-state license must have been earned by examination and held active for at least one year.
North Dakota	Electrical Contractor	Current reciprocal agreement; the out-of-state license must have been earned by examination and held active for at least one year.

These are reciprocal Electrical Contractor credentials, not solar-specific reciprocity. Confirm the current Commission agreement and conditions before applying; other state credentials can be assessed under the Commission’s current process.

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

Solar Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare South Dakota's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

Iowa Solar License Requirements — Iowa Electrical Contractor License for Solar PV Work
Minnesota Solar License Requirements — Minnesota Residential Building Contractor or Residential Remodeler License (Residential Solar PV Contracting)
Montana Solar License Requirements — Montana Solar Contractor Requirements — Electrical, Construction and Permit Guide
Nebraska Solar License Requirements — Nebraska Solar PV — Electrical Licensing, Contractor Registration, and Interconnection
North Dakota Solar License Requirements — North Dakota Solar PV — Contracting Master Electrician and Contractor Requirements
Wyoming Solar License Requirements — Wyoming Electrical Contractor License for Solar-PV Installation

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Confirm the work is electrical contracting. Solar-PV electrical wiring is within the statewide electrical framework; a separate solar contractor license is not issued.
Meet the Electrical Contractor experience route. Document two years as a journeyman electrician or one year of commercial Class B experience before applying.
Apply for and complete the current licensing process. Submit the Commission’s Electrical License Application and follow its current examination instructions, unless applying under an approved reciprocal pathway.
File undertaking and insurance. Provide the $10,000 undertaking and the required liability-insurance certificate; keep both in force with the Commission.
Pay the State fees. The current new-license materials list a $60 application fee and $200 Electrical Contractor license fee, plus the statutory undertaking-fund deposit.
Use permits and State inspections. All electrical wiring installations must be inspected by a State Electrical Inspector. Obtain the appropriate permit and coordinate inspections.
Complete utility and local approvals. Utility interconnection and local building, zoning, structural, and fire-code approvals are separate from Commission licensure.
Renew biennially. Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years. Renew with the required fee, undertaking/insurance compliance, and continuing education.

Application Checklist

Before submitting to SDEC, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

Two years as a journeyman electrician or one year of commercial Class B experience
Current Electrical Commission application and examination process
$60 application fee and $200 initial license fee
$10,000 undertaking and required $50 fund deposit
Required liability-insurance certificate on file with the Commission
Commission-approved continuing education for renewal
State electrical permit and inspection
Utility interconnection and local project approvals

Common Filing Mistakes

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a South Dakota Solar application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Calling it a solar license

South Dakota’s relevant statewide credential is Electrical Contractor; solar-PV does not create a separate State solar license.

Using the wrong experience threshold

The Electrical Contractor statute uses two years as a journeyman or one year of commercial Class B experience—not a generic four-year solar experience requirement.

Forgetting the undertaking

The State requirement is both the $10,000 undertaking and compliant liability insurance, not insurance alone.

Renewing annually or using the wrong CE total

The cycle is biennial, ending June 30 of even-numbered years, with 16 hours of CE and specific code/online limits.

Skipping Commission inspection

State licensure does not replace the electrical permit and State Electrical Inspector review, or utility and local approvals.

Study and Reference 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.

SDCL ch. 36-16 — South Dakota Legislature. Electrical Contractor experience, fees, undertaking, insurance, and licensing requirements.
South Dakota Electrical Commission application and forms — South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Current fees, application, undertaking, insurance, and examination process.
South Dakota Electrical Commission continuing education page — South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Current 16-hour biennial CE requirements.
State electrical inspections and permits — South Dakota Electrical Commission. Plan permits and inspections before beginning the installation.

Other South Dakota Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does South Dakota have a solar contractor license?

No separate solar-PV contractor license is issued. Electrical contracting is licensed statewide by the Electrical Commission, so the Electrical Contractor credential is the relevant State license for solar-PV electrical work.

What experience is required for an Electrical Contractor license?

The statute requires two years as a journeyman electrician or one year of commercial experience as a Class B electrician before applying.

What undertaking and insurance are required?

The Commission requires a $10,000 undertaking and liability insurance meeting the statutory bodily-injury and property-damage limits, or the stated combined single-limit alternative. Keep the documents in force with the Commission.

When does the license renew?

Electrical licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years. The Electrical Contractor renewal fee is $200, and Commission CE requirements apply.

Do I still need a solar permit and inspection?

Yes. The Commission states that electrical wiring installations must be inspected by a State Electrical Inspector. Utility and local building approvals are separate.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-09-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-03

Report a correction to this guide

Corrections and presentation updates

2026-09-30: Corrected examination detection when format details are unpublished and updated the summary layout and requirements score. Source-check dates are unchanged.
2026-09-08: Shared template updated to distinguish unspecified eligibility requirements, retain cost qualifications, and use consistent headings. Source-check dates are unchanged by presentation updates.
2026-09-21: Local-only guides now use a compliance-focused structure and terminology instead of implying a statewide license application. Source-check dates are unchanged by this presentation update.