Browse South Dakota Contractor Classifications
Exam prep for the South Dakota Electrical Commission & Plumbing Commission.
Getting your South Dakota contractor license? Contractor Pathway offers an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for every South Dakota classification that requires a state board exam — currently 4 courses across Electrical and Plumbing. Choose your classification below and study with 30-, 60-, or 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169.
Who licenses contractors in South Dakota
These are the South Dakota classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | South Dakota Electrical Commission | National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| Plumbing | South Dakota Plumbing Commission | Adopted plumbing & fuel-gas codes |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with any South Dakota board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in South Dakota
- Meet the experience requirement. Each classification requires documented on-the-job hours (and, for senior licenses, time as a licensed journeyman). A registered apprenticeship is a common path.
- Apply to the board for your trade, submit fees and proof of experience, and get approved to test.
- Pass the exam. South Dakota trade exams are typically open book against the adopted code, with a passing score commonly around 70%. Speed at finding and applying the right code section is what separates passers from re-testers.
- Hold and renew the license on its cycle, including any continuing-education and code-update hours.
Choose your South Dakota classification
Each course includes a comprehensive 5,000-plus-word study guide — worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan — plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the South Dakota test.
South Dakota contractor licensing — FAQ
Does South Dakota license general contractors?
No state general contractor license exists. The Department of Revenue issues every contractor a contractor excise tax license, while only electricians and plumbers are licensed by examination.
Which South Dakota trades require an exam?
Electrical, through the State Electrical Commission, and plumbing, through the State Plumbing Commission.
What are the South Dakota electrician exams?
All open book with a 70% passing score and a $110 fee: Journeyman (80 questions, 4 hours), Electrical Contractor (100 questions, 5 hours), and Class B (60 questions, 3 hours).
Which South Dakota licenses do you build courses for?
The exam-based trades – electrical and plumbing. General contractors need only the excise tax license, not an exam.
How long should I study for the South Dakota exam?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on experience, which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan.