Construction / Low Voltage License / Minnesota
- Minnesota
- Power Limited Technician
- Technology Circuits
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your Minnesota Power Limited Technician License
Minnesota’s low voltage license is the Power Limited Technician license. Here’s what experience you need, how the exam works and how to keep the license active.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry requirements
Application fee
$50
Application and exam fee; $48 license fee after you pass
Exam time
5.5 hrs
One open-book exam, 80 questions
Time to get license
~3 yrs
36 months of qualifying experience
Continuing ed
16 hrs
Before each 2-year renewal
Overview
Do you need a Minnesota low voltage license?
Yes, if you install or supervise technology circuit work in Minnesota. The Power Limited Technician license is issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and covers the wiring, apparatus and equipment for technology circuits and systems.
License required when
- You install, alter or repair wiring, apparatus or equipment for technology circuits or systems
- You plan or lay out that work
- You supervise others doing that work
Common exceptions
- Our source doesn’t list exemptions, so check with DLI before you take on technology circuit work without a license
- Work outside technology circuits, such as power wiring, falls under other Minnesota electrical licenses
Penalties for unlicensed work
Our source doesn’t list specific penalty amounts. DLI enforces Minnesota’s electrical licensing laws and can take action against people who do licensed work without the right credential.
Your fast-track Minnesota low voltage license checklist
The Minnesota application, one page
- 36 months of documented technology circuit experience
- At least 12 months of hands-on wiring and installing
- Signed and notarized application with fees
- DLI approval letter before you book the exam
- Passing score of 70% on the open-book exam
- License application from DLI’s post-exam letter
Types
Minnesota low voltage license types and classifications
This page covers one credential: the Power Limited Technician license for technology circuits and systems.
PLT
Low voltage
Power Limited Technician
Install, alter, repair, plan, lay out or supervise electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment for technology circuits or systems.
Exam
PLT exam, 80 questions
Limit
Technology circuits only
Requirements
Minnesota low voltage license requirements, class by class
You need 36 months of experience, but not every kind of work counts the same. Hands-on wiring is the core of it.
| Requirement | Power Limited Technician |
|---|---|
| Total experience | 36 months |
| Wiring and installing technology circuits | 12 months minimum, up to 36 months credit |
| Planning installations | Up to 6 months credit |
| Maintaining and repairing | Up to 24 months credit |
| Line work | No credit |
| School credit | Up to 12 months (2,000 hours) for an approved 2-year post-high school electrical course |
| Exam | 80 questions, 70% to pass |
| Application | Signed and notarized, with fees |
Steps
How to get your Minnesota low voltage license, step by step
- Build your experienceBefore you apply
Log 36 months of technology circuit experience, with at least 12 months of hands-on wiring and installing. An approved 2-year electrical program can count for up to 12 months. - Apply to DLINotarized application
Submit a completed, signed and notarized application with the required fees to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. - Get your approval letterBefore you book
DLI notifies you once you’re approved to take the exam. You can’t schedule until then. - Schedule and pass the examExam day
Book through the state board website. The exam is open book, 80 questions in 5.5 hours, and you need 70% to pass. The testing agency provides the code book. - Apply for your licenseAfter you pass
DLI mails you a letter with instructions on how to apply for the license itself. - Renew every 2 years16 CE hours
Your license expires 2 years from its issue date. Finish 16 hours of continuing education before each renewal.
Exam
What to expect on the Minnesota low voltage exam
There’s one exam, and it’s open book. The testing agency hands you the code book on exam day, so get comfortable finding things in the NEC fast.
Format
Open book
Questions
80
Passing score
70%
Exam vendor
Not stated
Scoring & content
- 80 questions, 5.5 hours, 70% to pass
- Covers NEC Chapters 1–9, including Chapter 8 communication systems
- Also covers applied electrical theory, electrical systems and equipment
- Based on the 2026 NEC since July 1, 2026 (2023 NEC before that)
- The testing agency provides the code book; outside course materials aren’t allowed
Retake policy
- Retake rules aren’t stated in our source
- You need state pre-approval before you schedule
- Testing centers are in larger cities around the state
- Ask DLI about current retake rules before you book
Exam references · Open book
The Minnesota Power Limited Technician exam is open book and based on the National Electrical Code. The testing agency provides a copy of the code book for use during the exam, so your own copy is for studying and getting familiar with where things are.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2026 | Allowed in exam |
| Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B (Electrical Laws and Rules) | Not stated | Not stated |
Exams were based on the 2023 NEC until July 1, 2026, when they moved to the 2026 NEC.
Prep
Best Minnesota low voltage exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a Minnesota low voltage license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Application and exam fee | Fixed | $50 |
| Exam fee | Fixed | Included in the $50 application fee |
| Initial license fee (includes board fee) | Fixed | $48 |
| 2026 NEC for studying | Variable | Varies |
| Continuing education (16 hrs per renewal) | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | Excludes code books and CE | $98 |
Fees from the Minnesota DLI CCLD licensing fee schedule (updated July 1, 2025) and electrical exam application, checked October 2026.
Reciprocity
Does Minnesota accept out-of-state low voltage licenses?
Our source doesn’t list any reciprocity agreements for this license.
No reciprocity agreements
Our source lists none. Plan to apply as a new applicant, document your 36 months of experience and pass the Minnesota exam, and confirm with DLI first.
Local
Do Minnesota cities and counties have their own low voltage licensing rules?
Your Power Limited Technician license comes from the state, but the jobs themselves still go through permits and inspections.
State handles
- Power Limited Technician licenses
- Exam approval
- Renewals and continuing education
- Enforcement of the electrical licensing laws
City & county handle
- Local permits
- Local business licenses
Governance
Who regulates power limited technicians in Minnesota
Licensing authority
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
651-284-5012
Oversight responsibilities
- Reviews applications and approves candidates for the exam
- Issues and renews Power Limited Technician licenses
- Sets continuing education requirements
- Administers Minnesota’s electrical licensing laws
Maintenance
How to renew your Minnesota low voltage license and keep it active
Your license expires 2 years from the date it was issued. Complete 16 hours of continuing education and pay the $53 renewal fee before each renewal ($20 extra if late).
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
CE hours
16
Renewal fee
$53
Late penalty
$20
Minnesota construction codes and licensing
Renewal and CE details from the Department of Labor and Industry
FAQ
Minnesota low voltage license FAQs
What is a power limited technician in Minnesota?
It’s Minnesota’s low voltage license. A power limited technician can install, alter, repair, plan, lay out or supervise wiring and equipment for technology circuits or systems.
How much experience do I need?
36 months. At least 12 months must be hands-on wiring and installing technology circuits, and an approved 2-year electrical program can count for up to 12 months.
Is the Minnesota power limited exam open book?
Yes. The testing agency provides the code book. You get 5.5 hours for 80 questions and need 70% to pass.
Which NEC is the exam based on?
Since July 1, 2026, the exam is based on the 2026 NEC. Before that it used the 2023 NEC.
How often do I renew?
Every 2 years from the date your license was issued, with 16 hours of continuing education before each renewal.
Does line work count toward my experience?
No. Line work gets zero months of credit toward the 36 months.
Sources
Official sources for the Minnesota low voltage license
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Construction codes and licensing
- Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B, electrical laws (PDF)
- Minnesota DLI, CCLD licensing fee schedule (PDF)
- Minnesota DLI, Personal Electrical License Examination Application (PDF)
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.