Contractor License from Montana to South Dakota: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: South Dakota Electrical Commission and State Plumbing Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation) ↗
A contractor license transfers from Montana to South Dakota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Dakota Electrical Commission and State Plumbing Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation), verify your Montana license, and meet South Dakota's endorsement requirements. South Dakota licenses no general contractor and no HVAC/mechanical trade at the state level. The State Electrical Commission issues licenses WITHOUT examination to electricians from 14 agreement states who earned the license by examination and held it active for at least one year. The State Plumbing Commission may register a nonresident plumber without examination case by case where the origin state's law and plumbing code are substantially equivalent (SDCL 36-25-21; ARSD 20:53:02:21) — there is no fixed plumbing partner list..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
South Dakota does not have a trade agreement covering Montana for the selected trade, so this move runs on South Dakota's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether South Dakota accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check South Dakota's NERA status.
What changes, Montana → South Dakota
| Montana (current) | South Dakota (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Electrical license fees are set by the Montana State Electrical Board; construction contractor registration fee is set by DLI. Not captured here to avoid an unverified figure. | $140–$260 (Electrical: $60 application fee plus a separate license/reciprocal fee — Reciprocal Journeyman $80 (=$140) up to Reciprocal Electrical Contractor $200 (=$260). Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years and fees are non-refundable and not pro-rated. The Plumbing Commission does not publish a reciprocal fee amount.) |
| Processing time | Not published. | ~4 weeks (The official electrical license application states 'The application process takes approximately 30 days.') |
| Licensing authority | Montana State Electrical Board (DLI Business Standards Division); Construction Contractor Registration (DLI Employment Relations Division) | South Dakota Electrical Commission and State Plumbing Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Dakota sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm South Dakota's current requirements on the South Dakota Electrical Commission and State Plumbing Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Dakota Electrical Commission and State Plumbing Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Have earned the out-of-state electrical license by examination and held it in active status for at least one year.
- Submit the $60 application fee with the application plus the license/reciprocal fee as a separate check.
- Expect the reciprocating state's own education, supervision and passing-score standards to be applied.
- Plumbing applicants must have been licensed by examination in a state whose licensure laws are similar and whose plumbing code equals or exceeds South Dakota's.
- Pay the fees ($140–$260 (Electrical: $60 application fee plus a separate license/reciprocal fee — Reciprocal Journeyman $80 (=$140) up to Reciprocal Electrical Contractor $200 (=$260). Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years and fees are non-refundable and not pro-rated. The Plumbing Commission does not publish a reciprocal fee amount.)) and allow ~4 weeks (The official electrical license application states 'The application process takes approximately 30 days.').
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does South Dakota accept a Montana contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Montana to South Dakota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Dakota Electrical Commission and State Plumbing Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation), verify your Montana license, and meet South Dakota's endorsement requirements. South Dakota licenses no general contractor and no HVAC/mechanical trade at the state level. The State Electrical Commission issues licenses WITHOUT examination to electricians from 14 agreement states who earned the license by examination and held it active for at least one year. The State Plumbing Commission may register a nonresident plumber without examination case by case where the origin state's law and plumbing code are substantially equivalent (SDCL 36-25-21; ARSD 20:53:02:21) — there is no fixed plumbing partner list..
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
South Dakota's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Montana-to-South Dakota move cost and how long does it take?
$140–$260 (Electrical: $60 application fee plus a separate license/reciprocal fee — Reciprocal Journeyman $80 (=$140) up to Reciprocal Electrical Contractor $200 (=$260). Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years and fees are non-refundable and not pro-rated. The Plumbing Commission does not publish a reciprocal fee amount.); processing ~4 weeks (The official electrical license application states 'The application process takes approximately 30 days.').
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether South Dakota is one on the South Dakota Electrical Commission and State Plumbing Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation) site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- SD Electrical Commission — Reciprocal Licensing Agreements (14 agreement states by license class; NERA states without agreements) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- SD Electrical Commission — Electrical License Application (fee table; 'approximately 30 days') ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- SD State Plumbing Commission — Reciprocity (SDCL 36-25-21 and ARSD 20:53:02:21, case-by-case) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Montana State Electrical Board - License Information ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana DLI ERD - Construction/Independent Contractor Registration ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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