- Master electrician: 8,000 hours of journeyman level experience with no more than 50 percent residential, or an electrical engineering degree plus 2,000 hours of practical experience.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- 16 hours of board approved continuing education each renewal cycle, with at least 8 hours on code updates.
Do you need a state license in Montana?
Montana licenses electrical work at the state level through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, State Electrical Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Montana license types for electrical work
Montana splits the work into 5 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Unlimited Electrical Contractor | Needs a master electrician as responsible electrician. Residential and commercial work. |
| Limited Electrical Contractor | Needs a journeyman electrician as responsible electrician. Limited to residential buildings with fewer than five living units. |
| Master Electrician | Individual license that can serve as responsible electrician for an unlimited contractor |
| Journeyman Electrician | Individual license |
| Residential Electrician | Individual license for residential work |
Steps to get licensed in Montana
- Get 8,000 hours of journeyman level experience (no more than half residential), or an electrical engineering degree plus 2,000 hours.
- Apply for the master electrician license with the $190 fee and your experience form.
- After board approval, pass the PSI exam.
- Set up workers comp and unemployment insurance, or an independent contractor exemption.
- Apply for the electrical contractor license with the $210 fee, naming yourself as responsible electrician.
- Complete 16 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master electrician: 8,000 hours of journeyman level experience with no more than 50 percent residential, or an electrical engineering degree plus 2,000 hours of practical experience.
The license to apply for. Electrical Contractor License (unlimited, with a Master Electrician as responsible electrician).
Montana electrical exams
Trade exam. Board approved exam given by PSI, based on the 2020 NEC.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Montana
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Electrical contractor application fee | $210 |
| Master electrician application fee | $190 |
| Temporary work permit for exam candidates | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Electrical contractors must comply with Montana workers comp and unemployment insurance laws, or hold an independent contractor exemption.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. 16 hours of board approved continuing education each renewal cycle, with at least 8 hours on code updates.
Reciprocity. If you hold an active, unrestricted license in another state that required an electrical exam plus 8,000 hours of journeyman level experience (or an engineering degree plus 2,000 hours), Montana can license you by substantial equivalency. Otherwise you take the Montana exam.
Good to know in Montana
- A permit is required for electrical work on a home or business project. Permits come from the state Building Codes Bureau.
- Montana uses the 2020 NEC.
- Workers comp policies must list Montana as a covered state. Not all out of state policies are valid in Montana.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, State Electrical Board and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.