Montana Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Montana licenses low-voltage work through the State Electrical Board within the Department of Labor and Industry under Mont. Code Ann. Title 37 Chapter 68. Montana issues a Limited Energy Technician license for installation of fire alarm, burglar alarm, structured cabling, audio/video, intercom, and similar systems operating at 50 volts or less. The State Electrical Board also issues an Electrical Contractor license required to qualify any electrical contracting business including low-voltage. Montana additionally requires every contractor working without an employer to register as an Independent Contractor with the Department of Labor and Industry under Mont. Code Ann. §39-71-417. Burglar alarm businesses are not separately licensed at the state level but must register with local jurisdictions in Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman.

Regulatory Body Profile

Authority over this credential rests with Montana Department of Labor and Industry — Business Standards Division (MT DLI), which issues and polices it under Montana Code Annotated Title 37 (Professions and Occupations) and Title 39 Chapter 9 (Independent Contractor Central Unit). The Montana Department of Labor and Industry administers the Construction Contractor Registration program, the Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate, and houses the State Electrical Board and Board of Plumbers that license individual electricians and plumbers statewide.

Official portal: https://dli.mt.gov/business-standards
Address: 301 South Park Avenue, 4th Floor, PO Box 200513, Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (406) 444-3555

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Montana residency requirement.

Good moral character

State Electrical Board conducts a fitness review under Mont. Code Ann. §37-1-307.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required.

Experience and Education Standards

A minimum of 2 years of 4,000 hours of supervised low-voltage installation experience under a licensed Montana Limited Energy Technician or Master Electrician for the journeyman-level credential must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

State Electrical Board Experience Affidavit signed by each supervising licensee
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II / III certificate
Approved Montana electrical apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

Approved electrical apprenticeships and accredited two-year electronics programs substitute for portions of the experience requirement.

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to the Montana State Electrical Board., breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

PSI Montana Limited Energy Technician Examination — NEC, NFPA 72, Montana electrical rules — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 examination fee paid to PSI on registration.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $80 fee. Each application remains active for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

State Electrical Board does not impose a state minimum general liability for the Limited Energy Technician credential. Independent Contractor registration requires workers compensation coverage or exemption.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any Montana employer under Mont. Code Ann. §39-71. Independent Contractors may file an exemption.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required at the state level.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$80
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$200

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Montana Limited Energy Technician License (State Electrical Board) and Independent Contractor Registration runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $200. Limited Energy Technician licenses renew every two years on the licensee's anniversary date.

Continuing education: Sixteen hours of State Electrical Board–approved continuing education each two-year cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Montana Low Voltage License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Montana does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
North Dakota	Trade exam waiver	State Electrical Board bilateral with the North Dakota State Electrical Board.
Wyoming	Trade exam waiver	State Electrical Board bilateral with the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety.
Idaho	Trade exam waiver	State Electrical Board bilateral with the Idaho Division of Building Safety.

Montana maintains regional reciprocity with neighboring Northern Plains states. Reciprocal applicants must hold the equivalent classification active and in good standing.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Low Voltage license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Application Roadmap

Document 4,000 hours of qualifying experience. Compile State Electrical Board Experience Affidavits covering 4,000 hours of supervised limited-energy installation work.
Submit the Limited Energy Technician application. File the application with the $50 fee and experience documentation.
Pass the PSI Limited Energy Technician examination at 70%. Score 70% or better on the 80-question PSI exam covering NEC and NFPA 72.
Receive the Limited Energy Technician credential. State Electrical Board issues the credential within 30 – 60 days of passing the exam.
Apply for the Electrical Contractor business license. File the contractor application with the $200 fee and qualifier designation.
Register as an Independent Contractor with the Department of Labor and Industry. File the Independent Contractor registration with workers compensation coverage or exemption.
Renew on the State Electrical Board cycle. Limited Energy Technician licenses renew every two years on the licensee's anniversary date.

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

Mont. Code Ann. Title 37 Chapter 68 — State of Montana. Electrical licensing statute.
NEC Articles 725, 760, 770, 800 — NFPA. Technical reference for the trade exam.
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required reference for fire alarm work.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to MT DLI:

☐ 4,000 hours of supervised limited-energy experience
☐ State Electrical Board Limited Energy Technician application
☐ PSI Limited Energy Technician exam pass at 70%+
☐ Montana Electrical Contractor business license
☐ Independent Contractor registration with DOLI
☐ Workers compensation coverage or exemption
☐ NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II (recommended)

Where Applications Stall

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Montana Low Voltage applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Skipping Independent Contractor registration

Montana requires every contractor working without a traditional employer to register as an Independent Contractor with DOLI. Operating without it triggers payroll-tax and workers-compensation enforcement.

Working with only the Limited Energy Technician credential

The individual technician credential does not authorize a contracting business. The Montana Electrical Contractor license is also required.

Missing fire alarm acceptance testing

Montana adopts NFPA 72 by reference. Failing to schedule the AHJ acceptance test stops occupancy on commercial projects.

Wrong supervisor on the experience affidavit

Experience must be supervised by a Montana-licensed Limited Energy Technician or Master Electrician. Out-of-state supervisor signatures are not accepted unless covered by reciprocity.

Letting CE lapse

Montana requires sixteen hours of approved CE every two years. Missing CE blocks renewal.

Other Montana Trade Licenses

For a different Montana credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Common Questions

What does the Montana Limited Energy Technician license cover?

Fire alarm, burglar alarm, structured cabling, audio/video, intercom, sound, nurse call, and similar systems operating at 50 volts or less.

Do I need both the Limited Energy Technician and the Electrical Contractor license?

Yes if you operate as a business. The Limited Energy Technician is the individual credential; the Electrical Contractor license is the business credential.

What is the Independent Contractor registration?

Montana requires every contractor working without a traditional employer to register as an Independent Contractor with the Department of Labor and Industry. Registration includes workers compensation coverage or exemption.

Does Montana reciprocate with neighboring states?

Yes. The State Electrical Board maintains bilateral reciprocity with North Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho for active Limited Energy / Low Energy credentials.

How often does the Montana Limited Energy Technician renew?

Every two years on the licensee's anniversary date. Renewal requires sixteen hours of approved continuing education.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-18 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-17