70% Passing Score

80-Question ICC 531 Exam

4-Hour Open-Book Exam

8,000 Licensed Apprentice Hours

Important South Dakota licensing fact: a Journeyman Electrician license is not the same as an Electrical Contractor license. South Dakota law reserves electrical contracting agreements for licensed Electrical Contractors, with a limited farm and residential contracting exception for Class B electricians. The journeyman license is an important step toward the full Electrical Contractor credential.

What Is the South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam?

The South Dakota Journeyman Electrician exam is the statewide licensing examination used for experienced apprentice electricians who are ready to move into the journeyman classification.

South Dakota law defines a journeyman electrician as a person with the necessary qualifications, training, technical knowledge, and at least four years of experience in wiring, installing, and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment under the Commission's rules.

The exam is commonly identified as ICC 531 South Dakota Journeyman Electrician. ICC administers the contractor and trades examination program, with computer-based testing delivered through Pearson VUE.

The examination combines code knowledge with practical electrical understanding. It is not enough to know that the answer is somewhere in the NEC. With 80 questions and four hours, candidates average about three minutes per question. The code book is helpful. Random page flipping is less helpful.

Exam: ICC 531 South Dakota Journeyman Electrician.

Questions: 80 multiple-choice questions.

Time: 4 hours.

Passing score: 70 percent.

Format: open book.

Current code: 2023 National Electrical Code.

Eligibility: four years / 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice under qualifying supervision.

The South Dakota 2023 Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep and Study Guide is built around practice questions and timed exam preparation for this kind of NEC-based testing.

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Licensing Path

South Dakota uses a statewide progression from licensed apprentice experience to Journeyman Electrician and, for candidates who continue, Electrical Contractor licensing.

Step Authority / Requirement What to Verify
Apprentice Licensing South Dakota Electrical Commission Maintain the required apprentice license while accumulating qualifying electrical experience
Journeyman Experience 8,000 hours / four years Experience must meet the Commission's licensed employment and supervision requirements
Application South Dakota Electrical Commission Submit the General Electrical License Application, required documentation, photo identification, and current application fee
Testing Approval South Dakota Electrical Commission You may not test until the Commission approves your application in writing
Scheduling Window ICC / Pearson VUE After approval, candidates have 90 days to test
Journeyman Exam ICC 531 80 questions, 4 hours, open book, 70% passing score, 2023 NEC
License Issuance South Dakota Electrical Commission Complete the license issuance process within 90 days after notification that you passed

Research Authority and Verification

The South Dakota Electrical Commission, South Dakota administrative rules, South Dakota statutes, the ICC South Dakota Contractor/Trades bulletin, and current 1 Exam Prep materials were used to align this page with the current licensing and examination structure.

Verified Point Authority Current Result
Licensing authority South Dakota Electrical Commission Statewide electrician licensing and electrical regulation
Journeyman experience South Dakota Electrical Commission Four years / 8,000 licensed apprentice hours
Exam code edition South Dakota Electrical Commission 2023 NEC for all Electrical Commission tests beginning December 2, 2024
Exam format ICC South Dakota Contractor/Trades Bulletin 80 multiple-choice questions, open book, four-hour time limit
Passing score South Dakota Administrative Rule 20:44:16:03 70 percent for Journeyman Electrician
Testing provider ICC / Pearson VUE ICC contractor/trades exam delivered through Pearson VUE
Continuing education South Dakota Electrical Commission 16 hours per renewal cycle, including at least 8 code hours, with current in-person requirements
Contractor advancement South Dakota Electrical Commission Two additional journeyman years / 4,000 hours, including at least 2,000 commercial hours

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam Breakdown

The current ICC 531 outline divides the 80-question Journeyman Electrician exam into nine major knowledge areas.

Wiring Methods and Materials is the biggest category with 21 questions. Branch Circuit Conductors follows with 15 questions, while Equipment and Devices contains 10.

Services and Service Equipment and Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions each contain 9 questions. General Knowledge and Motors and Generators each contain 5, while Feeders and Control Devices contain 3 each.

That means the test rewards electricians who are comfortable with everyday installation work, but it still reaches into theory, calculations, services, motor rules, controls, special locations, emergency systems, and signaling or fire alarm concepts.

There are 80 questions and the listed category counts add up to 80. No category is decorative. Even the small three-question sections can be the difference between a passing score and a long drive back from Pearson VUE.

Primary SEO Target South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Contractor Exam Prep
Licensing Authority South Dakota Electrical Commission
Exam ICC 531 South Dakota Journeyman Electrician
Testing Delivery ICC Contractor/Trades through Pearson VUE
Questions 80 multiple-choice questions
Exam Time 4 hours / 240 minutes
Passing Score 70%
Exam Format Open book
Current NEC 2023 National Electrical Code
Primary References 2023 NEC and Ugly's Electrical References
Journeyman Experience 4 years / 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice electrician
Application Fee $60 under the current South Dakota application
Journeyman License Fee $80 biennial fee under the current fee schedule
ICC Exam Fee $115 under the current ICC South Dakota bulletin

How to Study for the South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam

Study by the official ICC 531 outline and practice with NEC 2023. The exam is open book, but there is not enough time to research every answer from scratch.

Wiring Methods and Materials: focus on raceways, underground wiring, boxes, enclosures, cabinets, panelboards, switchboards, clearances, flexible cords, and cables.

Branch Circuit Conductors: review branch-circuit calculations, conductors, overcurrent protection, required outlets, GFCI, AFCI, and equipment grounding.

Services: practice service-load calculations, conductors, service equipment, fault current, transformers, grounding, bonding, and temporary wiring.

Equipment: study luminaires, receptacles, switches, appliances, utilization equipment, and heating and cooling equipment.

Special Rules: review special occupancies, pools, mobile homes, RV parks, emergency systems, signaling systems, and fire alarm systems.

The South Dakota Journeyman Electrician + Calculations Study Guides + 2023 NEC Combo adds dedicated calculation practice for candidates who want more than code lookup drills.

Electrical Calculations, NEC Navigation, and Exam Strategy

Electrical calculations are easier when you use a repeatable method. Identify the load or equipment, write down the information given, choose the correct NEC article or table, apply adjustment or correction factors when required, perform the math, and then verify the final conductor, overcurrent device, raceway, or equipment requirement.

LOAD NEC WIRE MOTOR loads • conductors • grounding • motors • services • code navigation

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician exam-prep illustration for NEC navigation, electrical loads, conductor sizing, motors, services, and calculations.

  • Load Calculations: practice dwelling, service, feeder, branch-circuit, and equipment load problems
  • Conductors: review ampacity, temperature limitations, adjustment factors, correction factors, and terminal rules
  • Grounding and Bonding: practice grounding-electrode conductor and equipment-grounding conductor sizing
  • Boxes and Raceways: review box fill, conduit fill, conductor counts, and raceway Chapter 9 tables
  • Motors: practice conductor sizing, overload protection, short-circuit protection, disconnects, and controllers
  • Services and Feeders: practice load, conductor, OCPD, transformer, grounding, and service-equipment questions
  • NEC Search Strategy: identify the subject before opening the book, then use the index, article structure, tables, exceptions, notes, and cross-references

Your South Dakota Electrician Licensing Roadmap

Build licensed apprentice experience, qualify for the Journeyman exam, earn the Journeyman license, and continue toward Electrical Contractor licensing if contracting is your long-term goal.

1

Become a licensed apprentice electrician

Make sure your work is performed under the employment and supervision required by the South Dakota Electrical Commission so your experience can count toward advancement.

2

Complete four years / 8,000 hours

South Dakota's normal journeyman pathway requires four years, totaling 8,000 hours, of licensed apprentice electrical experience.

3

Submit the South Dakota license application

Apply through the Electrical Commission with the required experience information, identification, documentation, and application fee.

4

Receive approval before scheduling

You may not take the exam without prior written approval. After approval, you have 90 days to arrange and complete testing.

5

Pass ICC 531

Prepare for 80 multiple-choice questions, four hours, open-book testing, NEC 2023, and a required score of 70 percent.

6

Complete Journeyman license issuance

After passing, complete the license issuance process within the required 90-day period and pay the applicable licensing fee.

7

Maintain the Journeyman license

Complete the required continuing education and renew on South Dakota's biennial electrical licensing cycle.

8

Advance toward Electrical Contractor

The normal path requires two additional years as a licensed journeyman, totaling 4,000 hours, including at least 2,000 hours of commercial work, before the Electrical Contractor examination.

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam Topic Weighting

The current ICC 531 outline assigns the following number of questions across the 80-question exam.

Wiring Methods and Materials 21 questions
Branch Circuit Conductors 15 questions
Equipment and Devices 10 questions
Services and Service Equipment 9 questions
Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions 9 questions
General Knowledge 5 questions
Motors and Generators 5 questions
Feeders 3 questions
Control Devices 3 questions

Study priority: Wiring Methods and Materials, Branch Circuit Conductors, and Equipment and Devices combine for 46 of the 80 questions. That is more than half of the exam before you even reach services, special occupancies, motors, or general knowledge.

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam References

The current ICC South Dakota bulletin identifies NEC 2023 and Ugly's Electrical References for the Journeyman exam and also lists several additional electrical navigation references that may be used under current exam-provider rules.

Reference Primary Study Use Current Exam Note
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, 2023 Services, feeders, branch circuits, conductors, wiring methods, grounding, equipment, motors, special occupancies, and electrical installation rules Primary code reference for ICC 531
Ugly's Electrical References Electrical theory, formulas, quick calculations, definitions, motors, transformers, and trade reference Any edition is listed by the current ICC bulletin
Ferm's Fast Finder Index Fast NEC topic and keyword navigation Listed by ICC as an additional permitted electrical reference
National Electrical Code Handbook NEC text plus explanatory material ICC notes that the hardcover NEC Handbook may serve as the candidate's NEC copy
Tom Henry's Key Word Index Keyword-based NEC lookup and navigation practice Listed by ICC as an additional permitted electrical reference
South Dakota Electrical Laws and Rules State licensing, experience, examination, and electrical requirements South Dakota administrative rules state exam questions may be derived from NEC and state statutes and rules

How to Prepare for the Open-Book South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam

Build these exam-prep habits

  • Practice with the 2023 NEC used by the current exam
  • Learn the NEC chapter and article structure
  • Practice locating definitions and tables quickly
  • Use the index before randomly flipping pages
  • Practice conductor, load, motor, and grounding calculations
  • Know where GFCI and AFCI requirements live
  • Study exceptions and table notes
  • Complete full 80-question four-hour simulations

Avoid these exam-prep mistakes

  • Trying to look up every answer
  • Studying only from a newer NEC without checking the state exam edition
  • Ignoring wiring methods because they feel familiar
  • Skipping special occupancies
  • Ignoring calculations because the exam is open book
  • Using field habit instead of checking exact code language
  • Spending ten minutes searching for one question
  • Bringing reference materials without checking current ICC rules

Current exam strategy: ICC specifically warns candidates that the time limit does not allow them to look up every answer. Familiarity with the approved references is essential. Check current ICC and Pearson VUE policies for book markings, tabs, calculators, and other test-center materials before exam day.

South Dakota Journeyman vs Electrical Contractor Licensing

South Dakota makes an important distinction between a Journeyman Electrician and an Electrical Contractor.

A journeyman is an experienced licensed electrician with the qualifications, technical knowledge, training, and experience to wire, install, and repair electrical apparatus and equipment under South Dakota electrical rules.

An Electrical Contractor has the qualifications and authority to plan, lay out, supervise, undertake, and offer to undertake electrical installation and repair work for electric light, heat, and power.

South Dakota law generally requires the Electrical Contractor license to enter into contracts for electrical installation work. A Class B electrician has a limited contracting exception for qualifying farm and residential work. A journeyman license by itself should not be treated as an unrestricted Electrical Contractor license.

The normal advancement path from Journeyman to Electrical Contractor requires another two years of licensed journeyman experience under an Electrical Contractor, totaling about 4,000 additional hours, with at least 2,000 hours of commercial work.

South Dakota Journeyman vs Electrical Contractor Exam Comparison

Journeyman is the main worker-level statewide credential. Electrical Contractor is the higher license for planning, supervising, and contracting electrical work.

Feature Journeyman Electrician Electrical Contractor
ICC Exam 531 530
Questions 80 100
Time 4 hours 5 hours
Format Open book Open book
Passing Score 70% 70%
Current NEC 2023 NEC 2023 NEC
Experience Path 4 years / 8,000 licensed apprentice hours 2 additional journeyman years / 4,000 hours, including 2,000 commercial hours
Contracting Authority Journeyman-level electrical credential May plan, lay out, supervise, and contract qualifying electrical work

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam and Licensing Requirements

Licensed Apprentice

Build Qualifying Experience
  • Maintain South Dakota apprentice licensing
  • Work under qualifying licensed supervision
  • Complete four years of electrical training
  • Accumulate 8,000 qualifying hours
  • Gain NEC familiarity
  • Work with residential, farmstead, and commercial wiring as applicable
  • Develop motor, control, and blueprint-reading experience

Future Electrical Contractor

Advanced License Path
  • Hold and work as a licensed journeyman
  • Complete two additional years of experience
  • Accumulate about 4,000 additional hours
  • Include at least 2,000 hours of commercial work
  • Qualify for ICC 530
  • 100 questions and five hours
  • Meet contractor bond and insurance requirements before licensure

Renewal: South Dakota electrical licenses follow a biennial cycle and expire June 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: current Commission guidance requires 16 hours per renewal period, including at least 8 code hours. Current rules also limit the amount that may be completed through approved online-only training.

Six-Week South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Plan

Build NEC 2023 navigation, calculation speed, wiring-method knowledge, and timed exam confidence without attempting to memorize an entire code book.

Week 1

NEC Map + General Knowledge

  • Confirm ICC 531 requirements
  • Review NEC structure
  • Electrical theory
  • Definitions and terms
  • Plan reading
Week 2

Branch Circuits

  • Branch-circuit calculations
  • Conductors
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Required outlets
  • GFCI and AFCI
Week 3

Wiring Methods

  • Raceways
  • Underground wiring
  • Boxes and enclosures
  • Panelboards and switchboards
  • Flexible cords and cables
Week 4

Services + Feeders

  • Service-load calculations
  • Service conductors
  • Grounding and bonding
  • Feeders
  • Transformers and temporary wiring
Week 5

Equipment + Motors + Special Rules

  • Luminaires and receptacles
  • Appliances
  • Motors and generators
  • Controls and disconnects
  • Special occupancies and systems
Week 6

Full ICC 531 Simulation

  • 80-question practice exams
  • 4-hour timer
  • Code-navigation drills
  • Calculation review
  • Repeat weak categories

How Hard Is the South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam?

The South Dakota Journeyman exam is challenging because it tests a wide range of electrical work while giving candidates a limited amount of time to use the NEC.

Wiring Methods and Materials alone contains 21 questions. Branch Circuit Conductors add another 15. Those two areas combine for 36 of the 80 questions.

The exam also moves into services, grounding, feeders, motors, generators, controls, special occupancies, equipment, electrical theory, calculations, and plan reading.

The open-book format can be an advantage if you have practiced with the same edition used by the exam. It becomes a disadvantage when every question turns into a scavenger hunt through 2023 NEC pages.

Good preparation means recognizing the topic before you open the book. That one habit can save a surprising amount of time.

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam Day Checklist

Do this

  • Confirm your Pearson VUE appointment
  • Confirm your ICC 531 exam title
  • Bring the required identification
  • Bring only references permitted by current ICC rules
  • Use the 2023 NEC required by the current South Dakota exam
  • Organize your approved references before testing
  • Know your basic electrical formulas
  • Answer every question because ICC has no guessing penalty
  • Protect review time near the end of the four-hour period

Do not do this

  • Schedule before receiving Commission approval
  • Bring the wrong NEC edition
  • Assume open book means unlimited lookup time
  • Spend ten minutes searching for one code section
  • Ignore the small exam categories
  • Use field habits when code language says something different
  • Leave questions unanswered
  • Forget to verify current ICC reference and calculator policies

Pacing tip: 80 questions in 240 minutes gives you an average of three minutes per question. Bank the fast answers first. Use your extra time for calculations and deeper NEC searches.

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Options

South Dakota Journeyman Super Combo

Study Guide + Calculations + Flash Cards + NEC
  • 2023 South Dakota Journeyman study guide
  • Electrician Calculations study guide
  • 2023 NEC with tabs
  • Journeyman flash cards
  • Electrical formulas and calculations
  • NEC navigation practice
  • Timed exam preparation
View 2023 Super Combo

Instructor-Led NEC Study Package

Guided 2026 NEC Education
  • Journeyman study guide
  • Calculations study guide
  • NEC and tabs
  • Flash cards
  • Online course
  • Simulated practice exams
  • Live and recorded NEC instruction
View Instructor-Led Package

Important NEC edition note: South Dakota's actual Electrical Commission tests currently use the 2023 NEC. Some newer 1 Exam Prep products teach from the 2026 NEC for current-code education. When preparing specifically for ICC 531, make sure your final exam-reference practice matches the South Dakota-required code edition.

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician 2023 NEC exam prep and study guide by 1 Exam Prep

South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep

This South Dakota-specific 1 Exam Prep credential image is directly related to the Journeyman Electrician exam and the 2023 NEC currently used for South Dakota electrical testing.

• ICC 531 South Dakota Journeyman Electrician

• 80 multiple-choice questions

• 4-hour testing period

• 70% passing score

• Open-book examination

• 2023 National Electrical Code

• 8,000 licensed apprentice hours before journeyman eligibility

• Wiring methods, branch circuits, services, equipment, motors, controls, and special occupancies

• Journeyman licensure can become the next step toward the South Dakota Electrical Contractor credential

Build electrical knowledge and code-navigation speed together. The goal is not to memorize the entire NEC. The goal is to know enough to recognize the rule and find the exact section before the clock starts acting like your least patient foreman.

Frequently Asked Questions

South Dakota Journeyman Licensing

Electricians are licensed statewide by the South Dakota Electrical Commission within the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation.
Yes. South Dakota licenses Journeyman Electricians statewide through the Electrical Commission.
The normal South Dakota pathway requires four years, totaling 8,000 hours, as a licensed apprentice electrician working under the employment and supervision required by the Electrical Commission.
No. The Electrical Commission states that experience hours must be licensed for the working time to count toward the experience needed for advancement.
South Dakota's rules identify experience and training that includes familiarity with the National Electrical Code, commercial wiring, residential or farmstead wiring, motor installation, motor controls, and blueprint reading.

ICC 531 Journeyman Exam

The current ICC contractor/trades bulletin identifies the exam as 531 South Dakota Journeyman Electrician.
The current ICC 531 exam contains 80 multiple-choice questions.
Candidates currently receive four hours.
South Dakota Administrative Rule 20:44:16:03 sets the Journeyman Electrician passing score at 70 percent.
Yes. ICC currently lists exam 531 as open book. Candidates should follow the latest ICC and Pearson VUE policies for permitted books, markings, tabs, calculators, and other materials.
The exam is part of the ICC Contractor/Trades program and is delivered through Pearson VUE after South Dakota Electrical Commission approval.
No. You must first apply to the South Dakota Electrical Commission and receive approval. The Commission states that you may not take the examination without prior written approval.
The current South Dakota and ICC instructions give approved candidates 90 days to arrange and complete the examination.
South Dakota's rules require a 30-day wait before the first reexamination. After a failed reexamination, the applicant must wait 90 days before each later attempt.
ICC states that there is no guessing penalty, so candidates should answer every question.

NEC and Exam Topics

The South Dakota Electrical Commission states that all tests moved to the 2023 National Electrical Code beginning December 2, 2024.
Wiring Methods and Materials is the largest ICC 531 category with 21 questions.
The current ICC outline assigns 15 questions to Branch Circuit Conductors.
Yes. Grounding and bonding appears within several areas, including service equipment, feeder and branch-circuit grounding, and practical NEC installation rules.
Yes. Motors and Generators currently account for 5 questions.
Yes. Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions contains 9 questions and includes topics such as pools, mobile homes, RV parks, special equipment, emergency systems, signaling, and fire alarm systems.

References and Open-Book Preparation

NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, 2023 is the primary code reference listed for ICC 531.
Yes. The current ICC South Dakota bulletin lists Ugly's Electrical References, any edition.
ICC currently lists Ferm's Fast Finder Index and Tom Henry's Key Word Index among additional electrical references that may be used under the program's current rules.
ICC states that some electricians use the hardcover NEC Handbook as their copy of the National Electrical Code and that the hardcover Handbook is allowed during the exam under the current bulletin.
No. ICC specifically warns that the examination time limit does not allow candidates to look up every answer. Strong reference familiarity is part of successful open-book preparation.

Renewal, Reciprocity and Contractor Advancement

South Dakota electrical licenses are on a biennial cycle and expire June 30 of even-numbered years.
Current Commission guidance requires 16 hours of continuing education, with at least 8 code hours. Candidates should review the current approved-course and in-person requirements for each renewal cycle.
Yes. The Electrical Commission publishes reciprocal agreements for qualifying licenses from several states. The license generally must have been earned by examination and held in active status for the required period. Check the current reciprocal-agreement page for the exact state and license equivalency.
Do not treat the Journeyman license as an unrestricted Electrical Contractor license. South Dakota law generally requires an Electrical Contractor license to enter into contracts for electrical installation work, subject to the separate limited Class B authority for qualifying farm and residential work.
The normal South Dakota path requires at least two years of licensed journeyman electrical experience under an Electrical Contractor, totaling about 4,000 additional hours, including at least 2,000 hours of commercial work, before qualifying for the contractor exam.
The current ICC 530 South Dakota Electrical Contractor exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions with a five-hour open-book time limit. The South Dakota passing score for Electrical Contractor is 70 percent.

1 Exam Prep

Yes. 1 Exam Prep offers South Dakota Journeyman Electrician study guides, NEC combos, calculation guides, flash-card packages, practice exams, online study options, and instructor-led packages.
South Dakota currently tests on NEC 2023, so the 2023 South Dakota Journeyman Electrician study packages align directly with the code edition identified by the current state and ICC examination information.
The 2026 packages provide newer-code education, updated NEC study, calculation practice, flash cards, and guided instruction. For the actual South Dakota ICC 531 exam, final preparation should still match the code edition required by the Electrical Commission, which is currently NEC 2023.

Watch: South Dakota Electrician 2026 Licensing Guide

Watch this related 1 Exam Prep South Dakota Electrician licensing video for an overview of the state electrical pathway, Journeyman exam preparation, NEC study, code navigation, licensing requirements, and electrical career advancement.

South Dakota exam-prep tip: watch the video with your NEC nearby. When a subject such as grounding, services, branch circuits, motors, or wiring methods appears, practice locating the related NEC article. That turns the video into active code-navigation practice instead of background noise.

Ready for South Dakota Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep?

Build faster NEC 2023 navigation, stronger electrical calculations, better wiring-method knowledge, confidence with services, feeders, branch circuits, grounding and bonding, equipment, controls, motors, generators, special occupancies, and the South Dakota journeyman licensing process.

Questions? Call 877-775-9400
or email sales@1examprep.com

South Dakota Journeyman Exam Prep