Montana Journeyman Electrician License: Requirements and the PSI Exam
How to get a Montana journeyman electrician license: the apprenticeship and 8,000-hour routes, the PSI exam (60 open-book questions, 70% to pass), the move from the 2020 to the 2023 NEC on January 1, 2027, fees, renewal and which states Montana accepts.
Contents
Montana Journeyman Electrician License: Requirements and the Exam
Montana licenses electricians statewide through the State Electrical Board, part of the Department of Labor & Industry, under Title 37, chapter 68 of the Montana Code and the Board's rules (ARM 24.141). To earn a Journeyman Electrician license you qualify with the Board, then pass a computer exam given by PSI.
Who can sit the exam
You need one of these (MCA 37-68-305):
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Apprenticeship | An approved apprenticeship program in the electrical trade |
| Union or trade association | An appropriate training program run by a bona fide union or trade association |
| Work experience | 8,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience wiring, installing and repairing electrical equipment for light, heat and power |
| Maintenance | 20,000 hours in electrical maintenance, certified by your employer, with at least 8,000 hours of practical experience |
The 2025 Legislature changed Montana's apprenticeship rules (HB 336 and HB 497), so check your route with the Board before you apply.
The exam in brief
| Item | Montana Journeyman Electrician |
|---|---|
| Given by | PSI, by computer |
| Questions | 60 |
| Time | 3 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Format | Open book |
| Code | 2020 NEC through December 31, 2026; 2023 NEC from January 1, 2027 |
| Exam fee | $75 to PSI |
The edition is changing. Montana adopted the 2023 NEC, with its own amendments, effective September 26, 2026. The State Electrical Board has said its exams roll to the 2023 NEC on January 1, 2027. PSI's current bulletin still lists the 2020 NEC, so if you test before 2027, bring the 2020 book and confirm the edition in PSI's bulletin when you schedule.
PSI lists two content areas, National Electrical Code and General Trade Knowledge & Theory, without question counts. See what is on the exam.
Fees and renewal
- Application for a license by exam: $190 to the Board, which includes the original license fee.
- Exam: $75 to PSI for each attempt, non-refundable and good for a year.
- Renewal: every two years, $140.
- Continuing education: 16 hours for each year of the renewal cycle, at least 8 of them on NEC updates (ARM 24.141.2102). New apprenticeship graduates are exempt for their first renewal.
Licensed in another state?
Montana uses substantial equivalency instead of reciprocity agreements: it reviews each state's license and lists the ones it accepts. For journeymen, the current list includes Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The application is $190. Confirm with the Board before you apply.
Working as a journeyman
A journeyman who is not the responsible electrician for a contractor works only for a licensed electrical contractor (ARM 24.141.2301). A business that contracts electrical work needs a separate electrical contractor license, with a master electrician as its responsible party; there is no separate contractor exam.
Practice for the exam
Our Montana Journeyman Electrician practice test is on the 2023 NEC as Montana amends it, and every question cites its source. See what is on the exam and what to expect on exam day.
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