- Journeyman exam: 5 years of plumbing experience or an approved apprenticeship. Master: 4 years (at least 6,000 hours) as a licensed journeyman, with 3 of those years working with a master plumber or as a supervisor. Applicants from states without journeyman or master licensing show 9 years of experience for master.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. You need 4 hours of board approved code related continuing education each year.
Do you need a state license in Montana?
Montana licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Board of Plumbers. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Montana license types for plumbing work
Montana splits the work into 3 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 |
|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | Does plumbing work. Cannot get permits or run or advertise a plumbing business. |
| Master Plumber | Can get plumbing permits and run a plumbing business |
| Medical Gas Endorsement | Added endorsement for medical gas work |
Steps to get licensed in Montana
- Get 5 years of plumbing experience or finish an approved apprenticeship, then pass the journeyman exam.
- Work 4 years as a licensed journeyman, with 3 years alongside a master plumber or as a supervisor.
- Apply online for the master license with an experience verification form and the $380 fee.
- After board approval, schedule and pass the IAPMO master exam with 70 percent or better.
- Renew every year with 4 hours of approved code continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Journeyman exam: 5 years of plumbing experience or an approved apprenticeship. Master: 4 years (at least 6,000 hours) as a licensed journeyman, with 3 of those years working with a master plumber or as a supervisor. Applicants from states without journeyman or master licensing show 9 years of experience for master.
The license to apply for. Master Plumber.
Montana plumbing exams
Trade exam. Montana master plumber written exam, given through IAPMO after the board approves you. Passing score is 70 percent.
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 2 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 |
|---|---|
| Master plumber application fee | $380 |
| Temporary journeyman work permit for exam candidates | $100 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. You need 4 hours of board approved code related continuing education each year.
Reciprocity. Montana has journeyman reciprocity with Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota. It does not reciprocate a master license.
Good to know in Montana
- Only master plumbers can get plumbing permits. Permits come from the state Building Codes Bureau.
- A non-plumber can own a plumbing business, but a master plumber license is needed to pull permits.
- Montana uses the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code.
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 a plumber 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, Board of Plumbers 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 plumbing companies run on Koira.