Plumber License Requirements in Montana
- Training hours
- 7500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $270
- Exam
- Journeyman Written Examination, Journeyman Practical Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- Montana Board of Plumbers (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No explicit minimum age for Journeyman Plumber applicants was found in the statute (37-69-304, MCA), administrative rules, or application checklist reviewed, so minAge is left null rather than assumed. Montana does not require a fingerprint-based criminal background check for this license; instead, the application includes a personal-history questionnaire (e.g. criminal convictions, pending prosecution, license discipline, substance use/impairment) where 'yes' answers require detailed written explanation, and the Board states a criminal conviction does not automatically bar licensure. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 7500 hours of training. Per Mont. Code Ann. 37-69-304 and ARM 24.180.504, a Journeyman Plumber applicant must document 7,500 aggregate hours of legally obtained plumbing experience over not less than 5 years. This may be satisfied by (1) written affirmation from a licensed master plumber/plumbing contractor employer, (2) an apprenticeship completion certificate from a recognized state or U.S. DOL apprenticeship program, or (3) up to 2 years' credit toward the 5-year requirement from an approved engineering/engineering-technology degree, documented steam fitting/hydronics/industrial piping practice, or an accredited trade school (the Board names Wahpeton (ND), Northern (Havre), and Flathead Community College as currently approved). No single mandatory classroom program is required, so approvedProgramRequired is false. [1]
- 3
Journeyman Written Examination
Pass the Journeyman Written Examination. 100 multiple-choice questions based on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as amended and Board statutes/rules; open book (candidate must bring own code book); 3-hour time limit. 70% required to pass. The Board's own Exam Information sheet states 'Examination fees are paid directly to IAPMO' but does not publish the dollar amount on Montana's own site; IAPMO's own exam-registration pages likewise did not surface a fee figure during this research, so fee is left null rather than citing third-party aggregator estimates. [2]
- 4
Journeyman Practical Examination
Pass the Journeyman Practical Examination. 3 virtual/isometric diagrams; open book (candidate must bring own code book); 2.5-hour time limit. 70% required to pass, graded separately from the written exam. Same fee caveat as the written exam - the fee is paid directly to IAPMO but no official dollar figure was found published by the Board or IAPMO during this research. [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Montana Board of Plumbers (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division) with the $270 application fee. [1]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Montana Board of Plumbers (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division) issues your Journeyman Plumber License for Montana.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $270 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $160 |
| Journeyman Written Examination [2] | None specified |
| Journeyman Practical Examination [2] | None specified |
| Temporary work permit for exam candidates (in addition to application fee) [1] | $100 |
| Reciprocity / out-of-state application fee (alternate pathway) [1] | $400 |
| Late renewal (postmarked after Sept 1) [1] | $320 |
Application fee is $270 (by examination); this covers application and license issuance together, so a separate 'license' fee is left null. The $160 renewal / $320 late-renewal figures come from the Board's 2017 Journeyman Renewal form (journeyman_renewal_new_CE-Aff_2017.pdf), the most specific dollar figures found; however, the Board's current live renewal page states the renewal fee is entirely WAIVED for fiscal year 2026 (late fees still apply if the Sept 1 deadline is missed) - this is presented as a temporary fiscal-year waiver rather than a permanent fee change, so the $160 base figure is retained here as the standard fee with the FY2026 waiver noted.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year. 4 continuing education hours required per cycle.
All Board of Plumbers licenses expire annually on September 1; the renewal window opens roughly 60 days prior. 4 hours of Board-approved, code-related continuing education are required prior to each renewal cycle, except new licensees are exempt from this requirement during their first renewal cycle (ARM 24.180.2102). For fiscal year 2026, the Board's live renewal page states the renewal fee itself is waived (see fees.notes).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers plumbing licensure. Per ARM 24.180.603 and 37-1-304, MCA, Montana has reciprocal agreements for Journeyman licensure ONLY with Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota: the applicant's out-of-state license must be active and free of complaints, and a license-verification letter from the issuing state is required. If the originating state did not require a practical exam with a 70% passing score, the reciprocity applicant must still pass Montana's practical exam. Reciprocity applicants pay a $400 application fee (vs. $270 by examination). Out-of-state applicants who don't qualify for formal reciprocity, or who are from states with no journeyman/master licensing, may still receive experience credit via notarized statements, but generally must sit for Montana's exams.
Cost calculator
- $270
Frequently asked questions
How much experience does Montana require for a Journeyman Plumber license?
7,500 aggregate hours over at least 5 years, which can come from documented work under a licensed master plumber/contractor, a completed apprenticeship program, or (for up to 2 of the 5 years) approved engineering education or trade-school credit.
What exams does Montana require for a Journeyman Plumber license?
A written exam (100 questions, open book, 3 hours, based on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code) and a practical exam (3 virtual/isometric diagrams, 2.5 hours), each requiring a 70% passing score and administered by IAPMO via its FLEX online-proctored platform.
What does it cost to apply for a Journeyman Plumber license in Montana?
A $270 application fee to the Board (plus a $100 temporary work permit fee if requested), plus separate IAPMO exam fees paid directly to IAPMO. Renewal is normally $160 annually, though the Board has waived the renewal fee for fiscal year 2026.
How often does a Montana Journeyman Plumber license need to be renewed, and is continuing education required?
Annually, expiring every September 1. 4 hours of Board-approved, code-related continuing education are required before each renewal, except new licensees are exempt in their first renewal cycle.
Does Montana offer reciprocity for plumbers licensed in other states?
Yes, but only for Journeyman licensure and only with Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The applicant's license must be active, complaint-free, and verified by the issuing state; Montana's practical exam may still be required if the home state didn't test one.
Sources
- [1] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/plu/jrnymn-app.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/plu/ExamInfoSheetrev07_2022---Updated-2021-UPC.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/plumbers/license-information/ — accessed 2026-07-12