Montana Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Montana does not issue a standalone solar contractor license. Solar PV installation is regulated as electrical work under Mont. Code §37-68 and is administered by the Montana State Electrical Board under the Department of Labor and Industry. Any solar business must hold an Electrical Contractor license and employ a Master Electrician as the qualifying party. Montana also requires an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate or Construction Contractor Registration. Solar thermal water heating requires a Montana Master Plumber license. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the industry standard but is voluntary in Montana.

Regulatory Body Profile

Montana Department of Labor and Industry — Business Standards Division (MT DLI) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license 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

Board reviews criminal history.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least two years as a Montana Journeyman Electrician on top of 8,000 hours of apprenticeship has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board experience affidavits signed by MT Master Electricians
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
MT-registered apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

MT-registered apprenticeship satisfies the apprenticeship hours.

The Exam Syllabus

PSI Services LLC (under contract to the Board) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Montana Master Electrician Examination — NEC, MT amendments, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 examination fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days.

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

Board requires $300,000 commercial general liability minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under Mont. Code §39-71 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$110
Examination	$80
Initial license	$110
Renewal (every 2 years)	$110

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Montana State Electrical Board Electrical Contractor License runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $110. Montana Electrical Contractor licenses renew every two years.

Continuing education: Sixteen hours of Board-approved CE every two years.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Montana Solar 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 waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Wyoming	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Idaho	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

Montana State Electrical Board maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with several neighboring states.

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

The Application Roadmap

Complete a MT electrical apprenticeship. 8,000 hours under a MT Master Electrician.
Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam. Prerequisite to the Master credential.
Document two years as a Journeyman. Required for the Master Electrician exam.
Pass the Master Electrician exam at 70%. PSI administers the exam.
Apply for the Electrical Contractor license. Designate the Master Electrician as the qualifying party.
Register as a Construction Contractor or file Independent Contractor Exemption. Required in addition to the Electrical Contractor license.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each MT jurisdiction requires local permits.

Where Applications Stall

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

Skipping Construction Contractor Registration

Required in addition to the Electrical Contractor license.

Missing the 16-hour CE

Mandatory every two years.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory for any business with employees.

Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing

Solar hot water requires the Master Plumber license.

Skipping local permits

State licensure does not exempt you from county permits.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to MT DLI, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ 8,000 hours of electrical apprenticeship
☐ Montana Journeyman Electrician credential
☐ Two years as a Journeyman
☐ Master Electrician examination pass
☐ Board Electrical Contractor license
☐ Construction Contractor Registration or ICEC
☐ Workers' compensation coverage

Recommended Study Materials

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
Mont. Code §37-68 — State of Montana. Statutory framework.
PSI Montana Master Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Other Montana Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Montana licensing guides:

Common Questions

Does Montana have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the Master Electrician license.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Montana.

Do I need Construction Contractor Registration?

Yes. Montana requires CCR or an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a Montana Master Plumber license.

Does Montana reciprocate?

Yes. The Board maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with North Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-09 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-07