Planning to test for your Montana Journeyman, Master, or Residential Electrician license? Read the reference-material rule carefully before you buy anything: Montana's exam is open book, but your code book has to be completely unmarked — no highlighting, no underlining, no candidate-added tabs, at all. That's stricter than almost every other state we cover, and it changes which of our products actually belong in your exam bag. This guide covers eligibility, exam format, fees, and exactly what "unmarked" means, straight from the Montana State Electrical Board and its exam vendor, PSI.
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
| Licensing authority | Montana State Electrical Board, Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division |
| Testing provider | PSI Services LLC |
| NEC edition | 2020 (all license levels, as of the current bulletin) |
| Books allowed in the exam room | Open book, but the code book must be completely unmarked — no highlighting, underlining, writing, or candidate-added tabs of any kind |
| Exam format | Journeyman: 60 items/180 min. Master: 80 items/240 min. Residential: 50 items/150 min. All require 75%. |
| Exam fee | Master $85, Journeyman $75, Residential $75 |
| License application fee | $240 by exam (Journeyman or Master); $250 by reciprocity/endorsement (Journeyman); plus a $50 temporary work permit fee for exam candidates |
Who Regulates Electricians in Montana?
The Montana State Electrical Board, part of the Department of Labor & Industry's Business Standards Division, licenses five categories: Residential, Journeyman, and Master Electrician (individual licenses), plus Limited and Unlimited Electrical Contractor (business licenses). The Board sets eligibility; PSI Services LLC administers the written exams once the Board has approved your application.
The Big One: Your Code Book Must Be Unmarked
Most states we cover let you highlight, underline, and tab your NEC codebook before the exam, then bring it in that condition. Montana does the opposite. Per PSI's current candidate bulletin, for every license level:
"Candidates are responsible for bringing their own references to the examination center. Reference materials must be unmarked, meaning no highlighting, underlining, writing and/or indexing may exist in the reference. Any candidate caught writing, highlighting, underlining and/or indexing in the references during the examination will be reported to the BCC."
The bulletin does note the code book "may have factory markings or highlights with factory tabs only" — meaning whatever came printed or pre-tabbed from the publisher at the factory is fine, but anything you add yourself is not. Practically speaking: if you buy a codebook that's been pre-highlighted or tabbed by a third party (including index-tab kits, sticky tabs, or annotation services), it will not be accepted in a Montana exam room. Bring the plainest, most unmarked copy of the required edition you can find.
Journeyman Electrician Eligibility
You must meet one of the following:
- Education path: Completion of an approved inside wireman apprenticeship program, or an equivalent training program conducted by a bona fide union or trade association; OR
- Experience path (a): Third-party verification of 8,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience wiring, installing, and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment in residential construction of fewer than five living units per structure; OR
- Experience path (b): 20,000 hours in the electrical maintenance field, employer-certified, with at least 8,000 of those hours being practical experience.
A temporary practice permit is available to approved exam candidates, valid for 60 days or until exam results are received, allowing work under a licensed electrical contractor — but not to act as the contractor's responsible electrician. Candidates scoring 69% or below are not eligible for a temporary permit.
Master Electrician Eligibility
You must meet one of the following:
- Education path: A degree as an electrical engineer from an accredited college or university, plus a minimum of 2,000 hours of legally obtained practical experience; OR
- Experience path: Third-party verification of 8,000 hours of legally obtained journeyman-level experience, with no less than 20% and no more than 50% of that experience being residential.
Residential Electrician License
Montana's Residential Electrician exam is the narrowest of the three individual license levels: 50 questions, 150 minutes, covering the National Electrical Code, general trade knowledge and theory, and (per the earlier version of the outline) Ohm's Law and practical circuit layout.
Exam Format by License Level
| Exam | Questions | Time | Passing Score | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master Electrician | 80 | 240 min | 75% | $85 |
| Journeyman Electrician | 60 | 180 min | 75% | $75 |
| Residential Electrician | 50 | 150 min | 75% | $75 |
Master Electrician content covers the NEC, general trade knowledge and theory, and major load calculations. Journeyman and Residential exams cover the NEC and general trade knowledge and theory. All three are open book (subject to the unmarked-reference rule above), and allowed references are the NEC, 2020 Edition and the Montana Building Codes Amendments; the Master exam also permits a 2020-NEC-based print reading reference published by American Technical Publishers. A non-programmable, silent, battery-operated calculator (or the online calculator PSI provides) is allowed; no other personal items, notes, or additional loose papers may accompany your reference.
If You Don't Pass
- First failure: reschedule immediately, no waiting period.
- Second failure: 6-month wait, plus proof of attending at least one board-approved 8-hour electrical code seminar since your initial failure.
- Third or subsequent failure: 1-year wait, a new application to the Board, and proof of at least two board-approved 8-hour electrical code seminars.
Reciprocity and Endorsement
Montana offers two non-exam pathways for out-of-state Journeyman applicants, per the Board's own checklist:
- Reciprocity states (Board obtains your verification directly, no Experience Verification Affidavit needed): Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Your license must be active, in good standing, and held for at least 1 year.
- Endorsement states (you obtain your own verification): Alabama, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia. Requires an active license held at least 1 year, obtained by a state exam scored 75% or greater, with no active complaints.
Reciprocity/endorsement application fee: $250.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Master Electrician exam (PSI) | $85 |
| Journeyman Electrician exam (PSI) | $75 |
| Residential Electrician exam (PSI) | $75 |
| Journeyman/Master license application, by exam | $240 |
| Journeyman license application, by reciprocity/endorsement | $250 |
| Temporary work permit (exam candidates) | $50 (in addition to application fee) |
Exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, and valid for one year from the date of payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I highlight or tab my NEC codebook for the Montana exam?
No. Montana's exam is open book, but the reference must be completely unmarked — no candidate-added highlighting, underlining, writing, or indexing of any kind. Only factory markings or factory-applied tabs (as originally printed by the publisher) are permitted.
What NEC edition does Montana test?
The 2020 NEC, for all three individual license levels, per the current PSI bulletin.
How many times can I retake the exam?
As many times as needed, though the wait period and seminar requirements increase after your second and third failures (see above).
Does Your Book Spot USA guarantee I'll pass?
No. No book or study guide can guarantee an exam result, and we don't claim otherwise.
Study Materials
Here's the honest situation: our codebook bundles are tabbed and highlighted as a value-add for states that allow candidate markup — which makes them genuinely useful for studying for the Montana exam, but not something you can carry into the actual testing room. Montana also currently tests the 2020 NEC, while our in-stock bundles are built around the 2023 and 2026 editions. For exam day itself, you'll need a plain, unmarked 2020 NEC codebook sourced directly from NFPA or another retailer that doesn't apply tabs or highlighting.
Useful for learning the material beforehand — not for bringing into a Montana exam room.
Ordering for a crew, apprenticeship class, or training program? Request bulk pricing.
Official Sources
- PSI Services LLC — Montana State Electrical Board Electrician Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 6/21/2022), obtained via boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov (checked September 4, 2026)
- Montana State Electrical Board — Journeyman Electrician Checklist and Application (rev. 01/23/2024)
- Montana State Electrical Board — Master Electrician Checklist and Application (rev. 01/23/2024)
- Montana State Electrical Board — Exam Information (checked September 4, 2026)
Your Book Spot USA is not affiliated with the Montana State Electrical Board, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, PSI Services LLC, or NFPA. Candidate bulletins and licensing rules change — this page reflects our verification as of the date above. Spot something outdated? Let us know and we'll correct it.
