South Dakota Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

South Dakota does not issue a standalone solar contractor license. Solar PV installation is regulated as electrical work under SDCL 36-16 and is administered by the South Dakota Electrical Commission. Any solar business must hold an Electrical Contractor license and employ a South Dakota Class A Electrical Contractor (the equivalent of a master) as the qualifying party. Solar thermal water heating requires a South Dakota Plumbing Commission Plumbing Contractor license. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the industry standard but is voluntary in South Dakota.

Regulatory Body Profile

Authority over this credential rests with South Dakota Department of Revenue — Business Tax Division (contractor's excise tax) and trade-specific commissions (SD DOR), which issues and polices it under SDCL Title 10 Chapter 10-46A (contractor's excise tax); SDCL Title 36 Chapters 36-16 (plumbers) and 36-26 (electricians). South Dakota does not issue a state general contractor license. The Department of Revenue issues every contractor a contractor's excise tax license under SDCL 10-46A, while the State Electrical Commission and State Plumbing Commission license the electrical and plumbing trades. HVAC and general building work are not licensed at the state level.

Official portal: https://dor.sd.gov/businesses/taxes/contractors-excise-tax/
Address: 445 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3311

The Eligibility Audit

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

Good moral character

Commission reviews criminal history.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least four years (7,000+ hours) of practical electrical experience under a licensed South Dakota Class B Journeyman or Class A Contractor 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

Commission experience affidavits signed by South Dakota Class A Contractors
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
SD-registered apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

SD-registered apprenticeship satisfies the experience requirement.

The Exam Syllabus

Block & Associates (under contract to the Commission) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

South Dakota Class A Electrical Contractor Examination — NEC, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $100 examination fee.

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

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

Commission requires $100,000 / $300,000 / $100,000 commercial general liability minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under SDCL 62-3 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$100
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every year)	$100

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The South Dakota Electrical Commission Electrical Contractor License runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $100. South Dakota Electrical Contractor licenses renew annually.

Continuing education: Eight hours of Commission-approved CE annually.

Downloadable Asset

2026 South Dakota Solar License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
North Dakota	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Minnesota	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Nebraska	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

South Dakota Electrical Commission 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 Application Roadmap

Document four years and 7,000+ hours of electrical experience. Compile Commission experience affidavits and payroll records.
Pass the Class A Electrical Contractor exam at 75%. Block & Associates administers the exam.
Apply for the Electrical Contractor license. Designate the Class A as the qualifying party.
File the certificate of insurance. $100K/$300K/$100K minimum.
Receive the Electrical Contractor license. Commission issues the credential after exam pass and insurance filing.
Earn NABCEP certification (optional). Voluntary but expected by most utilities.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each SD jurisdiction requires local permits and Commission inspections.

Where Applications Stall

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

Missing the 8-hour CE

Mandatory annually.

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.

Underestimating the hours requirement

Verify you have 7,000+ documented hours before applying.

Pre-Application Checklist

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

☐ Four years and 7,000+ hours of documented electrical experience
☐ Class A Electrical Contractor exam pass
☐ Commission Electrical Contractor license
☐ $100K/$300K/$100K commercial general liability insurance
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project
☐ NABCEP certification (recommended)

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.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
SDCL 36-16 — State of South Dakota. Statutory framework.
Block & Associates South Dakota Class A Candidate Information Bulletin — Block. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Other South Dakota Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does South Dakota have a solar license?

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

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in South Dakota.

How many hours does South Dakota require?

Four years and 7,000+ hours of practical electrical experience.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a South Dakota Plumbing Commission Plumbing Contractor license.

Does South Dakota reciprocate?

Yes. The Commission maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-16 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-15