Plumber License from South Dakota to Minnesota: Does It Transfer? (2026)

What's different between South Dakota and Minnesota

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Minnesota. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

South Dakota to Minnesota (this page): Reciprocity agreement.

Minnesota to South Dakota (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.

The two directions differ: South Dakota and Minnesota do not give each other's licensees the same route.

Does coming from South Dakota matter?

Coming from South Dakota matters here: only 2 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Minnesota.

The others get: licensure by endorsement (39) and no state license to transfer (9).

Reciprocity agreements

Minnesota's reciprocity agreement list names 2 states (North Dakota and South Dakota), including South Dakota.

South Dakota's row names no reciprocity agreement states.

Application fee

Minnesota lists $50–$103 for an out-of-state applicant and South Dakota lists $50 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Exam rules on record

Minnesota and South Dakota carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

• Minnesota (this move): Minnesota waives its journeyworker plumber exam only for applicants licensed by examination at the state level in North Dakota or South Dakota; every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Minnesota journeyworker exam.
• South Dakota (the reverse move): South Dakota waives its plumber examination for a nonresident who was licensed BY EXAMINATION in another state whose licensure laws are substantially equivalent to South Dakota's and whose plumbing code equals or exceeds the South Dakota plumbing code; the Commission names no fixed partner states and decides comparability case by case, so applicants from non-comparable states, or those licensed by waiver rather than examination, must pass the South Dakota journeyman plumber examination

What changes, South Dakota → Minnesota

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Minnesota sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

1. Confirm Minnesota's current requirements on the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the reciprocity application to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
4. Hold the same or higher class of license, obtained by state-level examination, in North Dakota or South Dakota.
5. Have held that qualifying license for at least one year, current and in good standing.
6. The qualifying license must not have been obtained through a reciprocal agreement with a city or other political subdivision.
7. Not have previously failed the same or higher class Minnesota plumber examination.
8. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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