To get workers compensation in North Dakota, you open an account with the state fund, Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI); there are no private carriers and no application to be approved or denied on price. Because the state fund insures every covered employer, you cannot be turned down for being new, small, or high-risk, which is a real advantage of North Dakota's system. There is no self-insurance option and no private market, so the WSI account is the route for essentially every employer.
Who this is for: North Dakota owners setting up coverage for the first time, or worried they are too small or too risky to get a policy.
The short version
- You open a WSI account with the state fund; there is no carrier to shop and no one is turned down.
- Open the account before your first worker starts, so they are covered from day one.
- Have your business details, the kind of work, and expected payroll ready to set up the account.
- Owners are off by default and buy optional coverage to opt in for themselves.
- There is no self-insurance route in North Dakota, so the state fund account is the answer.
Your route to coverage
North Dakota keeps it simple, because there is one road for almost everyone. You open a state fund account with WSI and report payroll. There is no assigned-risk plan and no separate insurer of last resort, because none is needed: the state fund is the guaranteed market and takes all comers, no matter how risky the trade. Some state-fund states let large employers self-insure instead, but North Dakota does not offer that, so even the biggest employers use WSI. If you are an owner who wants your own injuries covered, you add optional coverage for yourself on top of the account.
The paths, and who fits
| Path | Who it fits | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| WSI state fund account | Every employer with covered workers | Open the account and report payroll each period |
| Optional owner coverage | Owners who want their own injuries covered | Add coverage for yourself, which can also cover a spouse and children under 22 |
| Stop-gap employers liability | Employers wanting a legal defense if sued over an injury | Buy it from a private insurer as an add-on to general liability |
The steps to get covered
Getting set up is quick when you have the details ready. First, gather your business information: your ownership type, the kind of work your people do, and the payroll you expect. Second, open the WSI account, online in most cases; coverage takes effect once WSI approves it, so do it before your first worker's start date. Third, if you are an owner who wants your own injuries covered, add optional coverage for yourself. Fourth, set up your reporting so you file payroll and pay on time, and remember you carry the whole premium with no deduction from workers. Finally, add stop-gap employers liability through a private insurer, since the state fund does not defend lawsuits.
A Grand Forks example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Grand Forks plumber is about to hire his first two apprentices and needs coverage before they start. He opens a WSI account online with the kind of work and expected payroll, and once it is approved the apprentices are covered from their first day. He cannot be turned down for being a new employer, because the state fund takes everyone. He also adds optional coverage for himself and stop-gap employers liability to his liability policy. See our workers comp for plumbers page.
Real questions North Dakota owners ask
How do I get workers comp in North Dakota?
You open an account with the state fund, Workforce Safety and Insurance, known as WSI, usually online. There are no private carriers to shop, and you report your workers' payroll to the state each period.
Can I be turned down for coverage in North Dakota?
No. The state fund insures every covered employer, so you cannot be denied for being new, small, or high-risk. That is why North Dakota has no assigned-risk plan; the state fund is the guaranteed market.
When does my coverage start?
Coverage takes effect once WSI approves your application, so open the account before your first worker's start date. That way your worker is covered from day one and you avoid an uninsured gap.
What information do I need to open an account?
Have your ownership type, the kind of work your people do, and the payroll you expect. Accurate details up front help put your workers in the right work category and avoid billing surprises.
Can I cover myself as the owner?
Yes, by choice. Owners are off by default in North Dakota, so you add optional coverage for yourself if you want the state fund to pay your injuries. It can also cover a spouse and children under 22.
Can I self-insure instead of using the state fund?
No. North Dakota does not offer a self-insurance option, and there are no private carriers, so every covered employer uses a WSI account, from the smallest shop to the largest company.
Do I still need anything the state fund does not sell?
Yes, consider stop-gap employers liability. The state fund pays a hurt worker's benefits but does not defend a lawsuit, so that coverage is bought from a private insurer as an add-on to general liability.
Why North Dakota owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In North Dakota, workers compensation is sold only through the state fund at Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI), with no private carriers to shop, so we help you open and run your WSI account correctly and place the stop-gap employers liability and other business coverages the state fund does not include.
- We catch pricing mistakes. Your price depends heavily on the category your work falls into for pricing (the class code). Put people in the wrong category and you overpay for years. We review your payroll and classifications before you buy.
- Proof of coverage, fast. Need a certificate (proof of coverage) for a general contractor or a landlord before Monday? We turn those around the same business day for most carriers.
- We help lower the score that drives your price. Insurers give you a score based on your past claims that raises or lowers your cost (the experience modification rate). We review it each year, flag errors, and connect you with return-to-work and safety resources that bring it down.
- Real people when a claim happens. When someone gets hurt, we stay involved through the life of the claim, not just at renewal.
Related North Dakota guides
Every North Dakota business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in North Dakota (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- What insurance do I need for a contractor license?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- Workers comp vs employers liability
- North Dakota plumber workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. North Dakota rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.