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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

State Electrical Exams
National Exams
State Electrical Exams National Exams

Construction Work Regulated?

All plumbing and electrical work requires licensing at the state level. All other construction work in Montana requires the business to ensure all employees are covered by Montana Workers' Compensation am must be registered. The workers' compensation insurance declaration page must have MT listed in 3A not 3C.

Who Regulates Construction?

Information on bidding for highway contractors may be obtained from:

Montana Department of Transportation
Attn: Construction Contracting Bureau
Post Office Box 201001
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-6215/Fax (406) 444-7236
https://www.mdt.mt.gov

Applications am information for contractor registration may be obtained from:

Montana Department of Labor and Industry Employment Relations Division Contractor Registration Unit
Post Office Box 8011
Helena, MT 59604-8011
(406) 444-6543/Fax (406) 444-4140
https://www.mtcontractor.com

Applications am information for building inspector registration may be obtained from:

Montana Department of Labor and Industry Employment Relations Division Home Inspector Registration Unit
Post Office Box 8011
Helena, MT 59604-8011
(406) 444-n34
https://www.mtcontractor.com


Applications for electrical contractor licensing may be obtained from:

Montana State Electrical Board
301 South Park Avenue, 4th Floor Delivery
Post Office Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(406) 841-2300/Fax (406) 841-2305
https://www.electrician.mt.gov

Applications for plumbing contractor licensing may be obtained from:

Montana Board of Plumbers
301 South Park Avenue, 4th Floor Delivery
Post Office Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(406) 841-2300/Fax (406) 841-2305
https://www.plumber.mt.gov

Requirements?

Highway Prequalification:
Joint ventures must file a declaration of joint venture and power of attorney with the Department of Transportation before bidding on highway contracts. The Montana Department of Transportation does not do pre-qualifications for general highway projects. MDT does require prequalification for the following specialty type work: blasting contractors, rock-scape stabilization contractors and stream restoration contractors.

Contractors:
Construction contractor applicants must submit a fee of $70 for a 2 Year registration. Proof of "Montana" workers' compensation coverage is also required. There is no bonding requirement. An Independent contractor with no employees is exempt from the registration requirements unless the business is incorporated or a manager-managed "Limited Liability Company". An Independent contractor working in the construction industry, must have proof of Montana Workers' compensation coverage on themselves or have applied for and received the Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate ($70 for a 2 Year registration) for the construction industry code under which they are working.

Home Inspectors:
As of January 01, 2020, Home Inspectors in Montana are required to register with the Department of Labor and Industry (SB 269). A Home Inspector, whether as an individual, partnership, corporation, or manager-managed or member-managed limited liability company, shall register with the Department by completing an application, paying the $80 application fee (for a 2 Year registration), and shall document that each person working under the registration as a home inspector:

• Has successfully completed 40 hours of comprehensive home inspection instruction or has passed a Department approved national examination.
• Is a member of a national home inspector association.
• Is covered by a minimum of $100,000 general commercial liability insurance, and a minimum of $100,000 errors and omissions insurance.
• Is covered under a workers' compensation policy or has an independent contractor exemption certificate (ICEC) for the occupation of home inspection.

Electricians:
An applicant must provide proof of compliance with workers' compensation and unemployment laws, and must identify a full-time Montana licensed journeyman or master electrician responsible for all work done in Montana.
Journeyman, residential and master applicants are required to pass an examination with a minimum score of 75%. An applicant who fails any examination may, upon payment of the appropriate fees, take the next scheduled exam. If the applicant fails a second time, the applicant may not take the exam until a 6 month waiting period and must provide proof of attending an 8 hour electrical code seminar approved by the board.

8 hours of continuing education must be obtained for each year in the renewal cycle. A minimum of 4 of the 8 annual hours must be certified as covering NEC updates. Continuing education courses approved by another state having reciprocity with the board will be honored.

Journeyman Electricians:
An applicant for a Journeyman Electrician license must provide written evidence of at least 1 of the following:

Education Requirements:
Completion of an approved apprenticeship program in the electrical trade or completion of an appropriate training program conducted by a bona fide union or trade association.

Experience Requirements:
A third party verification of 8,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience in wiring for, in stalling and repairing of electrical apparatus and equipment for light, heat and power; or worked in the electrical maintenance field for at least 20,000 hours, accompanied by written certification by the applicant's employer that the applicant has attended at least 20,000 hours in the electrical maintenance field while working for the employer. A minimum of
8,000 of these hours must be practical experience.

Residential Electricians:
An applicant for a Journeyman Electrician license must provide written evidence of at least 1 of the following:
Education Requirements: Completion of an approved residential apprenticeship program in the electrical trade or completion of an appropriate training program conducted by a bona fide union or trade association.

Experience Requirements:
A third party verification of 4,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience in wiring for, installing, and repairing of electrical apparatus and equipment for light, he.at, and power in residential construction consisting of less than five living units in a single structure; or worked in the electrical maintenance field for at least 20,000 hours, accompanied by written certification by the applicant 's employer that the applicant has attained at least
20,000 hours in the electrical maintenance field while working for the employer. A minimum of 8,000 of these hours must be practical experience.

Master Electrician:
An applicant for a Master Electrician license must provide written evidence of at least 1 of the following:

Education Requirements:
Being a graduate electrical engineer of an accredited college or university and having a minimum of 2,000 hours of legally obtained practical electrical experience.

Experience Requirements:
A third party verification of at least 8,000 hours of legally obtained journeyman level experience in wiring for, installing, and repairing of electrical apparatus and equipment for light, heat, and power, with no less than
20%, but not more than 50% residential experience.

Limited Electrical Contractor:
Applicants are required to have a Montana licensed Journeyman as the responsible electrician. Licenses are issued for a 2 year period (May 15th through July 15th).

Unlimited Electrical Contractor:
Applicants are required to have a Montana licensed Master as the responsible electrician, Licenses a re issued for a 2 ye.ar period (May 15th through July 15th).

Electricians have a separate application fee for exam candidates vs. those coming in by reciprocity or endorsement.

Fees are as follows:

State Electrical Board Specific Fees

Application fee for an individual by exam / $240
Application fee for an individual by endorsement / $250
Application fee for a limited electrical contractor / $300
Application fee for an unlimited electrical contractor / $300
2 Year Renewal fee for an individual (Master, Journeyman, $200 Residential) / $200
2 Year Renewal fee for an electrical contractor / $300
Temporary work permit / $50

A late penalty fee for each renewal period a license has not been renewed shall be 100% of the renewal fee in addition to the renewal fee and must be paid for each renewal period that the license has not been renewed.

Plumbers:
Applicants must pass a written examination with a minimum score of 70%. If an applicant fails 3 written exams within 1 year, the applicant must submit proof of completion of 20 hours of continuing education. Licenses expire annually on September 1st. Journeyman and Master Plumbers are required to accumulate 4 hours of Board approved continuing education annually. Licenses are issued annually and are available for renewal July 1st - September 1st.

Journeyman Plumbers:
A specific record of 5 years of legally obtained experience in the field of plumbing. This experience my be fulfilled by working 5 years in a major phase of the plumbing business or by completing an apprenticeship program meeting the standards set by t he Montana Board of Plumbers or credit may be given for attending an accredited trade or other school specialized in the field of plumbing.

Master Plumbers:
Evidence of 4 years experience as a licensed journeyman plumber in the field of plumbing, evidence of 3 years of experience working with a licensed master plumber or in a supervisory capacity and 1,500 hours or more of work in a continuous 12 month period.

Plumber fees are as follows:

Type of License / Application Fee / License Fee / Renewal Fee / Late Renewal Fee

Journeyman / $100 / $170 / $160 / Additional $160/$320
Master / $100 / $280 / $265 / Additional $265/$530
Medical Gas Endorsement / $100 / N/A / $30 / Additional $30/$60

Retirement Status Certification fee (1 time fee) is $25
Out-of-state licensure fee is $300
Master Plumber of Record fee is $50

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
Montana has reciprocity agreements for journeyman and residential electrical licensure with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon (state-to-state only), South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Montana has reciprocity agreements for journeyman plumber licensure only with Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon and South Dakota.