⚡ Kevin's Electrical Prep Course All 50 states ← Back to the course
HomeElectrician license by state › Montana

Montana Journeyman & Master Electrician License & Exam Guide

Journeyman and master electrician license and test requirements in Montana — what the state requires, who gives the exam, which NEC edition it is written on, the fees, and how to sign up. Free — no account needed.

Montana

Statewide license
Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division)
📕 Exam code book: 2020 NEC (Montana State Electrical Board exam-information page: "exams are based off the 2020 NEC as of June 10, 2022"). Reference books must be unmarked.
💵 Exam: Journeyman (and residential) exam fee about $70; master exam fee about $80 (paid to PSI).  ·  License/app: State application fee about $240 for journeyman/residential; license renewal fee about $135 for residential, journeyman, and master. Optional $50 fee to work as a temporary journeyman while awaiting the exam.
📋 Exam format: Journeyman: 60 Q, 3 hours (180 min), open book, 75% to pass. Master: 80 Q, 4 hours (240 min), open book, 75% to pass. Board approval required before scheduling with PSI.

Journeyman

Journeyman requires either completing an approved electrical apprenticeship or ~8,000 hours of practical experience (alternatively ~20,000 hours in electrical maintenance with at least 8,000 practical). Pay the exam fee (~$70) and pass the open-book PSI journeyman exam (60 questions, 3 hours, 75% to pass) after board approval.

Master

Master requires an electrical engineering degree plus 2,000 hours, or ~8,000 hours of journeyman-level experience (with residential-work distribution requirements). Pay the exam fee (~$80) and pass the open-book PSI master exam (80 questions, 4 hours, 75% to pass) after board approval.

🔄 Reciprocity: Journeyman reciprocity (via licensure by endorsement / substantial equivalency) with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; license must be active, held 1+ year, obtained by exam with 75%+ and in good standing. Master is NOT reciprocated — exam only. Reciprocity URL: link
Note: Statewide licensing via the Montana State Electrical Board under DLI's Business Standards Division. PSI is the vendor; only board-approved applicants may register for the exam. Confirm current fees and hour requirements on the board exam-information page.

Studying for the Montana exam?

Kevin's Electrical Prep Course is built by a licensed master electrician, instructor and electrical inspector: 630+ practice questions with every math problem worked out step by step, timed practice exams, video lessons and drive-along audio. Both code books included — NEC 2023 and NEC 2026. Note: Montana currently tests on the NEC 2020. This course teaches the 2023 and 2026 editions, so use it for the code that does not change between editions — theory, math, and how to read the book — and check Montana's own amendments for the rest. $200 for 6 months, and a pass guarantee.

See the course & take 15 free sample questions → Get 6-month access — $200

Montana Electrician License & Exam — Common Questions

Who gives the Montana electrician license exam?

Montana uses PSI as its testing provider. Licensing is handled by Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division).

Which NEC code book is the Montana electrician exam written on?

2020 NEC (Montana State Electrical Board exam-information page: "exams are based off the 2020 NEC as of June 10, 2022"). Reference books must be unmarked.

How many questions are on the Montana electrician exam, and what score do you need to pass?

Journeyman: 60 Q, 3 hours (180 min), open book, 75% to pass. Master: 80 Q, 4 hours (240 min), open book, 75% to pass. Board approval required before scheduling with PSI.

How much does the Montana electrician license and exam cost?

Journeyman (and residential) exam fee about $70; master exam fee about $80 (paid to PSI). · License/app: State application fee about $240 for journeyman/residential; license renewal fee about $135 for residential, journeyman, and master. Optional $50 fee to work as a temporary journeyman while awaiting the exam.

How many hours of experience do you need for a Montana journeyman electrician license?

Journeyman requires either completing an approved electrical apprenticeship or ~8,000 hours of practical experience (alternatively ~20,000 hours in electrical maintenance with at least 8,000 practical). Pay the exam fee (~$70) and pass the open-book PSI journeyman exam (60 questions, 3 hours, 75% to pass) after board approval.

What are the requirements for a Montana master electrician license?

Master requires an electrical engineering degree plus 2,000 hours, or ~8,000 hours of journeyman-level experience (with residential-work distribution requirements). Pay the exam fee (~$80) and pass the open-book PSI master exam (80 questions, 4 hours, 75% to pass) after board approval.

What is the difference between a journeyman and a master electrician license in Montana?

Journeyman: Journeyman requires either completing an approved electrical apprenticeship or ~8,000 hours of practical experience (alternatively ~20,000 hours in electrical maintenance with at least 8,000 practical). Pay the exam fee (~$70) and pass the open-book PSI journeyman exam (60 questions, 3 hours, 75% to pass) after board approval. Master: Master requires an electrical engineering degree plus 2,000 hours, or ~8,000 hours of journeyman-level experience (with residential-work distribution requirements). Pay the exam fee (~$80) and pass the open-book PSI master exam (80 questions, 4 hours, 75% to pass) after board approval.

Does Montana have electrician license reciprocity with other states?

Journeyman reciprocity (via licensure by endorsement / substantial equivalency) with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; license must be active, held 1+ year, obtained by exam with 75%+ and in good standing. Master is NOT reciprocated — exam only.

Anything else worth knowing about the Montana electrician license?

Statewide licensing via the Montana State Electrical Board under DLI's Business Standards Division. PSI is the vendor; only board-approved applicants may register for the exam. Confirm current fees and hour requirements on the board exam-information page.

Check it straight from Montana

Everything above is kept current, but Montana can change a fee, a form or an exam provider at any time — and the state's own site is always the live answer. Before you register, click through and confirm:

These open Montana's official pages in a new tab. Nothing on this site replaces what your state board publishes.

← Back to Kevin's Electrical Prep Course or pick a different state