Montana Master Electrician License: Requirements and the PSI Exam
How to get a Montana master electrician license: 8,000 hours of journeyman-level experience or an engineering degree plus 2,000 hours, the PSI exam (80 open-book questions, 75% to pass), the move to the 2023 NEC on January 1, 2027, fees, renewal and which states Montana accepts.
Contents
Montana Master Electrician License: Requirements and the Exam
Montana's State Electrical Board licenses master electricians statewide under Title 37, chapter 68 of the Montana Code. A master can plan, lay out and supervise electrical installations, and every licensed electrical contractor must have a master as its responsible electrician. You qualify with the Board, then pass a computer exam given by PSI.
Who can sit the exam
You need one of these (MCA 37-68-304):
- At least 8,000 hours of journeyman-level experience planning, laying out or supervising the installation and repair of electrical wiring and equipment; or
- A degree in electrical engineering from an accredited college or university plus 2,000 hours of practical electrical experience.
Under the Board's rules, hours worked as an apprentice do not count as journeyman-level experience.
The exam in brief
| Item | Montana Master Electrician |
|---|---|
| Given by | PSI, by computer |
| Questions | 80 |
| Time | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 75% (the journeyman and residential exams need 70%) |
| Format | Open book |
| Code | 2020 NEC through December 31, 2026; 2023 NEC from January 1, 2027 |
| Exam fee | $85 to PSI |
The edition is changing. Montana adopted the 2023 NEC, with its own amendments, on September 26, 2026, and the State Electrical Board has said the exams move to it on January 1, 2027. PSI's current bulletin still lists the 2020 NEC, so confirm the edition for your date when you schedule.
PSI lists three content areas: National Electrical Code, General Trade Knowledge & Theory and Major Load Calculations. See what is on the exam.
Fees and renewal
- Application for a license by exam: $190 to the Board, including the original license fee.
- Exam: $85 to PSI for each attempt.
- Renewal: every two years, $140. An electrical contractor license is $210 to start and $210 to renew.
- Continuing education: 16 hours for each year of the renewal cycle, at least 8 of them on NEC updates (ARM 24.141.2102).
Licensed in another state?
Montana licenses by substantial equivalency. For masters, its current list accepts licenses from Alabama, Idaho, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. The application is $190. Confirm with the Board before you apply.
If you fail twice
A candidate who fails the master exam two or more times may apply for and take a lower-level exam instead (ARM 24.141.503(4)).
Practice for the exam
Our Montana Master Electrician practice test is on the 2023 NEC as Montana amends it, with a load-calculation section. See what is on the exam and what to expect on exam day.
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