Electrician license
Montana electrician license
The Montana State Electrical Board, part of the Department of Labor & Industry, licenses residential, journeyman and master electricians and electrical contractors statewide. Licensed electricians must work for a licensed electrical contractor. The licenses are Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Residential Electrician and Electrical Contractor. Each is below with its hours, exam, fees and official source, followed by how to apply, renewal, reciprocity and the official license lookup.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours | 60 questions, 2020 NEC | $190 application fee, which includes the original license; renewal is $140 every two years |
| Master Electrician | Not set in hours | 80 questions, 2020 NEC | $190 application fee, which includes the original license; renewal is $140 every two years |
| Residential Electrician | 4,000 hours | 50 questions, 2020 NEC | $190 application fee, which includes the original license; renewal is $140 every two years |
| Electrical Contractor | Not set in hours | No exam | $210 original license; renewal is $210 every two years |
How to get each Montana license
Journeyman Electrician
Requirements. Complete a journeyman electrical apprenticeship: 8,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience and 576 hours of related instruction. Hours worked outside an apprenticeship do not count. Out-of-state applicants are judged under their own state's rules.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 60 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2020 NEC (tabs and indexes allowed) and the other references PSI lists. |
| Exam fee | $75 |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Montana State Electrical Board (1/23/2026) |
Fees. $190 application fee, which includes the original license; renewal is $140 every two years.
The exam covers the National Electrical Code and general trade knowledge and theory.
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test with 2026 and 2023 NEC versions has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the Montana exam outline.
Sources: Montana State Electrical Board: Journeyman Electrician; Montana State Electrical Board Statute/Rules booklet (as of June 7, 2024), incl. ARM 24.141.405 and 24.141.504; Montana State Electrical Board: Exam Information; PSI candidate information bulletin, Montana State Electrical Board (1/23/2026).
Master Electrician
Requirements. Four years of licensed journeyman experience, of which no more than 4,000 hours may be residential; the rest must be commercial work signed off by a master responsible for an unlimited electrical contractor. A bachelor's in electrical engineering plus 2,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience is an alternative.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book: 2020 NEC with tabs and indexes allowed. |
| Exam fee | $85 |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Montana State Electrical Board (1/23/2026) |
Fees. $190 application fee, which includes the original license; renewal is $140 every two years.
The master exam adds major load calculations to the NEC and trade theory sections.
Sources: Montana State Electrical Board: Master Electrician; Montana State Electrical Board Statute/Rules booklet (as of June 7, 2024), incl. ARM 24.141.405 and 24.141.504; Montana State Electrical Board: Exam Information; PSI candidate information bulletin, Montana State Electrical Board (1/23/2026).
Residential Electrician
Requirements. Complete a residential electrical apprenticeship: 4,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience and 288 hours of related instruction.
Experience. 4,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 50 questions |
| Time | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: 2020 NEC. |
| Exam fee | $75 |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Montana State Electrical Board (1/23/2026) |
Fees. $190 application fee, which includes the original license; renewal is $140 every two years.
Sources: Montana State Electrical Board: Residential Electrician; Montana State Electrical Board Statute/Rules booklet (as of June 7, 2024), incl. ARM 24.141.405 and 24.141.504; Montana State Electrical Board: Exam Information; PSI candidate information bulletin, Montana State Electrical Board (1/23/2026).
Electrical Contractor
Requirements. A business license. A Montana-licensed master electrician must be the responsible electrician, and the business must show Montana workers' compensation and unemployment insurance coverage or an independent contractor exemption. A journeyman can be the responsible electrician only for a limited residential electrical contractor.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $210 original license; renewal is $210 every two years.
Sources: Montana State Electrical Board: Electrical Contractor; Montana State Electrical Board: Journeyman Electrician; Montana State Electrical Board Statute/Rules booklet (as of June 7, 2024), incl. ARM 24.141.405 and 24.141.504.
How to apply
Apply online through the Department of Labor & Industry licensing portal. Once the Board approves you, you get a letter of eligibility and register directly with PSI for the exam. Apply on the official site.
Source: Montana State Electrical Board: Journeyman Electrician.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every two years. All electrician and contractor licenses expire July 15 of even-numbered years; renewal opens 60 days before. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | 16 hours of NEC code education on the currently adopted code each two-year cycle, done by July 15 of the renewal year. New apprenticeship graduates skip CE for their first renewal. |
Sources: Montana State Electrical Board: Renewal Process; Montana State Electrical Board: Journeyman Electrician.
Reciprocity with other states
The Board may make case-by-case reciprocity agreements for residential and journeyman licenses with states whose standards are at least equal, and may license by endorsement someone holding a current license in good standing in the same category in another state. City or county licenses do not qualify. The application is $190.
Look up a Montana electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official Montana DLI Licensee Lookup System.
Good to know
Montana's exams are still based on the 2020 NEC. Renewal fees for the 2026 cycle were cut in half.
Sources: Montana State Electrical Board: Renewal Process; Montana State Electrical Board: Exam Information.
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Montana?
The Montana State Electrical Board, part of the Department of Labor & Industry, licenses residential, journeyman and master electricians and electrical contractors statewide. Licensed electricians must work for a licensed electrical contractor.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Montana?
Journeyman Electrician: Complete a journeyman electrical apprenticeship: 8,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience and 576 hours of related instruction. Hours worked outside an apprenticeship do not count. Out-of-state applicants are judged under their own state's rules. Apply online through the Department of Labor & Industry licensing portal. Once the Board approves you, you get a letter of eligibility and register directly with PSI for the exam.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Montana?
8,000 hours for the Journeyman Electrician.
How many questions are on the Montana journeyman electrician exam?
60 questions in 180 minutes (3 hours), and the passing score is 70%.
Does Montana accept electrician licenses from other states?
The Board may make case-by-case reciprocity agreements for residential and journeyman licenses with states whose standards are at least equal, and may license by endorsement someone holding a current license in good standing in the same category in another state. City or county licenses do not qualify. The application is $190.
How often does a Montana electrician license renew?
Every two years. All electrician and contractor licenses expire July 15 of even-numbered years; renewal opens 60 days before. Continuing education: 16 hours of NEC code education on the currently adopted code each two-year cycle, done by July 15 of the renewal year. New apprenticeship graduates skip CE for their first renewal.
How do I look up an electrician license in Montana?
Use the official Montana DLI Licensee Lookup System at https://ebizws.mt.gov/PUBLICPORTAL/searchform?mylist=licenses
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Montana's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- Montana State Electrical Board: Journeyman Electrician, opened November 11, 2026
- Montana State Electrical Board: Master Electrician, opened November 11, 2026
- Montana State Electrical Board: Residential Electrician, opened November 11, 2026
- Montana State Electrical Board: Exam Information, opened November 11, 2026
- PSI candidate information bulletin, Montana State Electrical Board (1/23/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- Montana State Electrical Board Statute/Rules booklet (as of June 7, 2024), incl. ARM 24.141.405 and 24.141.504, opened November 11, 2026
- Montana State Electrical Board: Electrical Contractor, opened November 11, 2026
- Montana State Electrical Board: Renewal Process, opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.