Montana Electrical License: How To Become Licensed In 2025

August 4, 2025
9 Min Read

Key takeaways

Montana electricians earn wages up to $77,700 per year through the IBEW.
You have to complete 8,000 hours of experience via an apprenticeship or supervised work to become licensed in Montana.
Montana offers reciprocity with 13 states, including CO, WY, UT & TX.
Electrical contractor licenses are categorised into limited & unlimited.
Homeowners can pull special permits for their own homes.

To become an electrician in Montana, you need dedication and proper training. Montana’s electrical industry is growing rapidly with expanding infrastructure and new construction projects. In fact, the employment of electricians in Montana is projected to grow 27% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the national average. This surge in demand means there is going to be plenty of jobs for you once you become qualified and obtain your Montana Electrical License.

Even the mean hourly pay of the state is about $36.85 for electricians. If you are a union electrician, you can earn even better. For example, the IBEW union pay scale in Montana averages around $77,720 per year.

However, to legally perform electrical work, you have to go through Montana’s licensing system. Whether you are repairing electrical wiring in a home or working on large commercial projects, you must hold the appropriate license. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry enforces these rules to protect safety and ensure high standards. You must complete a formal apprentice training program and pass the required exam to earn your Montana electrical license. The process typically starts as an electrical apprentice and culminates in becoming a licensed journeyman electrician or master electrician.

In this guide, we are going to outline every step you need to take to get your Montana electrician license. We will cover the apprenticeship programs, the different types of licenses, experience and education requirements, electrical trade apprenticeship programs, examination details, and permit rules that are applied to legally perform electrical work.

What Are The Different Types Of Electrician Licenses In Montana?

The Montana State Electrical Board issues different categories of electrical licenses, and each of them has a different scope of work. Here is a more detailed description of them:

Residential Electrician License

A residential electrician license is an entry-level license for someone who wants to work on small residential structures. It allows you to install electrical systems in one- to five-unit dwellings like single-family homes, duplexes, small townhomes, etc. You will be required to have 4,000 hours of residential wiring experience to qualify for this license and also pass the Montana residential electrician license exam. The residential electrician exam has 50 questions, and you need to score a 70% passing score.

Journeyman Electrician License

The journeyman electrical license is the standard license for electricians performing new installations, repairs, or maintenance. It covers residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional electrical work. Montana law requires you to complete an approved apprenticeship or have 8,000 hours of documented electrical wiring experience or 20,000 hours in the electrical maintenance field with at least 8,000 practice hours to become a licensed journeyman electrician. You must also pass the journeyman exam with at least a 70% score.

Master Electrician License

A master electrician license lets you design, plan, and supervise electrical work. However, you need to be journeyman-level qualified before you step forward towards a master license. According to the Montana law, you must either have graduated as an electrical engineer with 2,000 hours of electrical experience or 8,000 hours of journeyman experience in planning, layout, supervising installations, etc. Once you have met these requirements, you have to pass the master electrician test, consisting of 80 questions on the basic electrical theory, to program electrical circuits, wiring systems, the National Electrical Code, and law, with 75%. A master electrician often serves as the “responsible electrician” for contractors and can supervise apprentices or journeymen.

Electrical Contractor License

An electrical contractor license allows you to operate an electrical contracting business, pull permits, and sign off on projects in Montana. There are two classes of electrical contractor licenses: a limited electrical contractor license and an unlimited electrical contractor license. Here is a more detailed description of these two classes:

Limited Electrical Contractor License: The limited contractor license allows you to work only on residential construction consisting of five or fewer living units in one structure. Its work scope is similar to the residential electrician’s scope. A limited license must have a licensed journeyman electrician designated as the full-time responsible electrician on the business.
Unlimited Electrical Contractor License: The work scope of the unlimited contractor license covers all types of electrical installation, be it residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional. An unlimited electrical contractor must have a licensed master electrician as the responsible electrician.

Knowing the different license categories helps you get the right license for your intended work and the right contractor license if you run a business.

How Do I Become An Electrician in Montana?

The typical path to becoming an electrician in Montana is to register as an apprentice, accumulate hands-on experience and classroom hours, and pass the journeyman exam. Here is a breakdown of the steps you can follow to become a licensed electrician in Montana:

Step 1: Register As An Apprentice And Begin Working

To start your electrical career, find an employer or union that will sponsor your apprenticeship. Apply to Montana’s Registered Apprenticeship program through the Apprenticeship Council for electrician training. You can also enroll in an electrical technology course at a Montana community college affiliated with the Montana Registered Apprenticeship program, or you can even approach a non-union electrical contractor independently.

Step 2: Complete Required Training and Experience

To qualify for the journeyman exam, you have to accumulate at least 8,000 hours of practical on-the-job experience plus 576 hours of classroom instruction. For a residential license, you have to accumulate 4,000 hours of residential wiring.

Step 3: Apply To The Montana Board

Once you have the requisite hours, submit an application through the State Electrical Board’s portal and pay the application fee for the journeyman electrician exam. The application fee is around $190. You will also need to provide verified documentation of your experience or an apprenticeship completion certificate.

Step 4: Obtain A Temporary Journeyman Electrical Permit

After you apply for the exam, you can request a 90-day Temporary Practice Permit. This permit lets you work under a licensed contractor while you await exam results. If you have a residential work scope, you can even apply for a temporary residential electrician permit.

Step 5: Pass the Journeyman Electrician Exam

After your application is approved, you can sit for the exam. The journeyman electrician exam is focused on the National Electrical Code and Montana electrical laws. The Board offers exam schedules at least once a year. If you pass the exam, the state will issue your license, and if you fail, you can pay the re-exam fee and take the test again. However, if you fail the exam twice, you have to attend an 8-hour code review before trying again.

Step 6: Work as a Licensed Electrician And Apply For The Master Electrician Exam

Once you become a journeyman, you have to accumulate another 8,000 hours of work in planning, layout, installations, etc., to qualify for the master electrician exam. You can also qualify if you have an electrical engineering degree from an accredited college or university with 2,000 hours of work experience.

The Master Electrician exam and license application follow a similar path to the journeyman’s. So, once you have met the requirements, you can directly apply for the exam. The application fee is the same as the journeyman’s, which is $190.

Step 7: Obtain an Electrical Contractor License

If you plan to run an electrical contracting business, you must apply for a contractor license from the Board of Electrical Contractors.

You also have to provide proof of professional liability insurance and financial compliance per state rules. If you are hiring employees, you also need to provide proof of Montana workers’ compensation insurance. Once your application is approved, you may advertise and perform electrical contracting.

How Long Does It Take To Become An Electrician in Montana?

It takes a minimum of 4-5 years of apprenticeship-level experience to become a licensed electrician in Montana. A standard apprenticeship program is 4 years in duration and combines 8,000 work hours with 576 classroom hours. Even if you pursue a degree along with an apprenticeship, the timeline will be similar. If you skip a formal school, Montana law still requires you to have 8,000 hours of qualifying experience for journeyman licensure.

How Much Does It Cost To Get Licensed?

If you are starting your career with an apprenticeship, then it will be a paid position. So you earn wages during training. The classroom tuition is also often covered or minimal. The main cost factor is the licensing fee. Both the journeyman and the master application fees are currently $190. However, if you already hold an out-of-state license and pursue endorsement, then the reciprocity application is about $250. If you are pursuing a contractor license, then the fee can vary depending on the category you are applying for. It will be around $210 for unlimited and $120 for a limited license. Typically, continuing education is not required in Montana, so you don’t have to pay for the continuing coursework.

Can I Do My Own Electrical Work in Montana?

You can do your own electrical work in Montana only if you have a contractor license. State law requires an electrical permit for essentially all new wiring, remodeling, or repair. This is enforced either by the State Building Codes Bureau or by local governments certified to enforce the electrical code. And in order to pull a permit, you need to be properly licensed as an electrical contractor.

Montana enforces both licensing and permitting strictly. If you are a licensed journeyman, you must always work under the name of your licensed contractor and pass inspections. If you are a homeowner, you may obtain a special permit for your own home, but even then, inspections are required to ensure safety.

Who Can Pull An Electrical Permit In Montana?

A licensed electrical contractor must pull an electrical permit. The permit application itself must be signed by the contractor or the responsible electrician of record. Montana even has a specific Homeowner Electrical Permit for owners to wire their own homes or outbuildings. But this permit is only valid if it’s your own personal residence or farm. You cannot perform electrical work on other properties.

As a responsible electrical contractor, you have to ensure that all permits and inspections are obtained in a timely manner. If you fail to properly pull permits or designate a responsible electrician, it can result in disciplinary action. It can also result in the suspension of your contractor license. Sometimes, maintenance work is exempt. If you are an electrician and employed full-time by a manufacturing plant or similar facility, you may perform ordinary maintenance on the plant’s own electrical circuits and equipment without a state license.

Can A Homeowner Do Their Own Electrical Work?

Homeowners may do some work on their own property, but only with proper permitting. Montana offers a Homeowner Electrical Permit so a homeowner can legally wire their own house or farm buildings. All work done under a homeowner permit still must pass state inspection. However, you cannot pull a permit to work on someone else’s property. For any work requiring professional skill or outside one’s own residence, a licensed electrician must do the work and pull the permit.

Do You Need A Contractor License in Montana?

Yes, if you are performing contracting work (selling or holding out electrical services to the public). Montana law defines an “electrical contractor” as anyone in the business of installing electrical systems, and no one may do that work without a contractor license. For a small residential company, you need a Limited Electrical Contractor license (with a journeyman responsible electrician). For general commercial or larger work, you need an Unlimited Electrical Contractor license.

How Much Is An Electrical Permit in Montana?

Montana’s permit fees depend on the project scope you are working on. For residential work, fees range roughly from $45 for a single new circuit up to $800 for a large service connection.

How Long Is An Electrical Permit Good For in Montana?

An electrical permit in Montana is valid for 18 months. If you are not able to finish the work by then, you have to renew the permit with an additional fee ($60 for a renewal) to extend coverage for another 18 months. Inspectors require you to call for rough-in and final inspections (with a 48-hour notice) in order to ensure all wiring meets code.

Are Electricians In Demand In Montana?

Yes. Electricians are in demand in Montana. Montana projected a 27% growth in electrician jobs by 2032, which means that there will be roughly 380 new openings every year. This will be mostly due to retirement and expansion of energy infrastructure like wind, solar, mining, etc. Even if you are not working for an electrician union, there are many contractors who will offer sign-on bonuses or relocation perks to you if you are a qualified electrician.

How Much Do Electricians Make In Montana?

How much you make as an electrician in Montana depends on your skills, experience, and the location you work in. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage of a skilled electrician in Montana is about $61,170, with salaries ranging from $37,640 to $78,940.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the mean wages by the experience level:

Apprentice Electrician: The average base salary for an apprentice electrician is about $29.65 per hour, which is 33% above the national average.
Journeyman Electrician: The average base salary for a journeyman electrician is $36.85 per hour and $9.438 overtime per year.
Master Electrician: The average base salary of a master electrician is $42.59 per hour and is 12% higher than the national average.
Electrical Contractors: The wage of an electrical contractor depends on the profit one makes in their business. In Montana, the average base salary of an electrical contractor is reported as $34.78 per hour.

How Much Does The IBEW Pay In Montana?

The amount of pay depends on the location and the specific job role within the IBEW. In Montana, the average pay of an electrician is $68,516 per year. And if you are a journeyman at IBEW Local 532, then you may earn an average of $53,162 annually.

What States Reciprocate With the Montana Electrical License?

Montana has reciprocity agreements with many neighboring and regional states. As of 2025, a valid journeyman license from states like Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming can be endorsed in Montana. Montana will accept these licenses as meeting Montana’s journeyman requirements, and you won’t have to retake the journeyman exam. However, reciprocity is only for journeyman and residential licenses. There are no states that reciprocate master electrician licenses. So, to become a Montana master electrician, you are required to meet Montana’s experience criteria and pass the state master exam.

You should always check the licensing board of the destination state. If you’re a military spouse or relocating, the Montana State Electrical Board provides guidance to expedite licensure for out-of-state electricians.

What Is The Journeyman Electrician Exam In Montana?

The Journeyman Electrician Exam in Montana is a state exam. It tests your knowledge of electrical theory, electrical circuit layouts, the National Electrical Code, and Montana Electrical Laws. It consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, and you must score at least 70% to pass the exam. If you are going for a residential journeyman electrician license, the exam for it is slightly shorter. The residential journeyman electrician exam consists of 50 questions and covers the same subjects as the journeyman electrician exam. You need to score 70% or higher to pass this exam.

All exams are open book. You can use a bound NEC codebook, Montana electrician statutes and administrative rules, and certain electrician reference materials. The Journeyman Electrician exam is typically administered through PSI or a similar testing agency. The Montana Electrical Board will notify you of the test dates and locations, and you will have one year from approval to pass the exam. If you fail, you may have to pay a re-exam fee and take the exam again. However, if you fail twice, you must complete a board-approved 8-hour electrical code seminar before trying a third time.

Electrical Training and Apprenticeship Programs in Montana

Montana offers both union and non-union apprenticeship programs to train you in the electrical field.

Registered apprenticeships combine paid work experience with classroom instruction. For example, the Montana Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) apprenticeship requires a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 hours of classroom instruction over four years. As an apprentice, you have to work full time for electrical contractors while attending night classes or online coursework during the week. These programs are “earn while you learn”, meaning you will receive a wage and often employer-paid training, so school costs are typically covered by work. The IEC program, offered in Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula, emphasizes practical NEC (National Electrical Code) knowledge and offers college credit hours as well.

On the union side, the Montana Electrical JATC (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) provides apprenticeship training through IBEW/NECA partnerships. The JATC serves all of Montana, coordinating with IBEW Locals 233 (Helena), 532 (Billings), and 768 (Kalispell). As a union apprentice, you must meet similar on-the-job hour requirements as non-union apprentices. You typically have to take aptitude tests and need a union membership to enroll. But these programs offer the benefits of higher union wages and industry-standard training. Both union and IEC apprenticeships are registered with the Montana Apprenticeship Training Council, ensuring they meet state and federal standards.

In addition to formal apprenticeships, Montana technical schools offer electrical education. Montana State University–Northern (Havre) has an Associate’s degree in Electrical Technology that ties into the state apprenticeship program. Students in that program complete classroom study while gaining work experience under a registered apprenticeship. Flathead Valley Community College (Kalispell) also offers certificate and associate programs in electrical technology. These academic programs provide additional knowledge and credentials, but you must also accumulate the required work hours or apprenticeship completion to qualify for licensing.

Whether through trade school or direct apprenticeship, you must gain extensive real-world experience of at least 4 years under a licensed electrician before earning licensure.

Conclusion

Montana’s electrical licensing system is thorough, but it exists to ensure that all electricians are well-trained and that electrical work is done safely. The typical path is apprenticeship, journeyman licensure, then master and contractor. It can take several years, but it leads to a rewarding career.

Electricians in Montana enjoy strong job prospects and competitive pay, reflecting the high skill and responsibility the profession demands. By enrolling in an approved training program, logging your required work hours, passing the state exams, and obtaining the proper contractor credentials, you can obtain your Montana electrical license and legally perform electrical work. With Montana’s growing economy and infrastructure projects, a licensed electrician’s services will continue to be in demand across the state. By investing four or more years in hands-on training and meeting the state’s requirements, you can achieve your goal of becoming a licensed electrician in Montana.

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How To Get Montana Electrical License In 2025