Montana Electrical License Renewal: Deadlines, Fees and CE

The Electrical Contractor (limited/unlimited) (Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division)) renews every 2 years, has a renewal fee of about $210 and requires 16 hours of continuing education. The Master Electrician (responsible electrician for unlimited contractor) (Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division)) renews every 2 years, has a renewal fee of about $140 and requires 16 hours of continuing education. Fees change, so check the official site for the exact amount.

Full rule details

Verified dataLast checked Oct 17, 2026, next review due July 2027

Informational: verify with the issuing board.

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Electrical Contractor (limited/unlimited)

EC · State license · Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division)

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Renew on the official site (406) 444-6880

Renewal cycle: Every 2 years
Continuing education: 16 hours
Show CE rules
16 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period, at least 8 of them on NEC updates (ARM 24.141.2102). Courses must be approved by the Department (approval number on the certificate); courses approved by reciprocal states are accepted. Licensees keep completion certificates and may be randomly audited; basic electric and apprentice-level courses do not count. New graduates of approved apprenticeship programs are exempt for their first renewal; licensees moving up from journeyman or residential are not exempt.
Deadline rule: July 15 of even-numbered years (next: July 15, 2028; last cycle July 15, 2026). Renewal opens 60 days before expiration; online system available 24/7 but staff help ends 5 pm.

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: No grace period on the renewal date itself; 45-day lapsed window and 2-year expired window apply (see reinstatement_rule).

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $210
Late fee: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
Late penalty fee = 100% of the renewal fee, in addition to the renewal fee, for each renewal period missed (ARM 24.101.403(2)); applies even when the renewal fee has been abated (100% of the un-abated fee). Online renewals must be submitted before 11:59 pm Mountain time on the renewal date (ARM 24.101.413).
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
ARM 24.101.408: license not renewed by the renewal date is lapsed - may be reactivated within 45 days by renewing and paying fees (practicing while lapsed is not unlicensed practice); after 45 days it expires - may still be reactivated within 2 years of the renewal date (practicing while expired is unlicensed practice); after 2 years it terminates and a new original license (incl. exam if applicable) is required.

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: No general liability amount set by the Board. Must show compliance with Montana Workers' Compensation (out-of-state contractors must have coverage valid in Montana) AND Montana Unemployment Insurance, or hold an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate (ARM 24.141.505); proof submitted within 10 days of renewal. Must also designate a Montana-licensed responsible electrician (Master for unlimited, Journeyman for limited) employed full-time via the Acknowledgement of Responsibility form; a master may be responsible electrician for only one unlimited contractor.
Reciprocity: Not applicable to the contractor license, which is issued on proof of workers' compensation and unemployment insurance compliance (or an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate) and a designated Montana-licensed responsible electrician. Reciprocity agreements under ARM 24.141.504 cover residential and journeyman electrician licenses.

Notes

Fee: ARM 24.141.405 (amended effective May 25, 2024) sets the two-year contractor renewal fee at $210 and the original contractor license fee at $210. An older Board renewal form still shows $300; the rule amount applies and the portal shows the amount due. Renewal fees for the 2026 cycle were abated 50%, so the amount charged in a given cycle can be lower than the rule amount; the late penalty is based on the full fee. An unlimited contractor designates a master electrician and a limited contractor a journeyman (ARM 24.141.505). Montana also requires a Construction Contractor License from DLI for contractors with employees (see general_contractor). Local building departments issue permits.

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (9)

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Master Electrician (responsible electrician for unlimited contractor)

MASTER · State license · Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division)

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Renew on the official site (406) 444-6880

Renewal cycle: Every 2 years
Continuing education: 16 hours
Show CE rules
16 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period, at least 8 of them on NEC updates (ARM 24.141.2102). Courses must be approved by the Department (approval number on the certificate); courses approved by reciprocal states are accepted. Licensees keep completion certificates and may be randomly audited; basic electric and apprentice-level courses do not count. New graduates of approved apprenticeship programs are exempt for their first renewal; licensees moving up from journeyman or residential are not exempt.
Deadline rule: July 15 of even-numbered years (next: July 15, 2028; last cycle July 15, 2026). Renewal opens 60 days before expiration; online system available 24/7 but staff help ends 5 pm.

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: No grace period on the renewal date itself; 45-day lapsed window and 2-year expired window apply (see reinstatement_rule).

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $140
Late fee: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
Late penalty fee = 100% of the renewal fee, in addition to the renewal fee, for each renewal period missed (ARM 24.101.403(2)); applies even when the renewal fee has been abated (100% of the un-abated fee). Online renewals must be submitted before 11:59 pm Mountain time on the renewal date (ARM 24.101.413).
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
ARM 24.101.408: license not renewed by the renewal date is lapsed - may be reactivated within 45 days by renewing and paying fees (practicing while lapsed is not unlicensed practice); after 45 days it expires - may still be reactivated within 2 years of the renewal date (practicing while expired is unlicensed practice); after 2 years it terminates and a new original license (incl. exam if applicable) is required.

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: Not required
Reciprocity: ARM 24.141.504 allows reciprocity agreements only for residential and journeyman licenses. A master electrician may be licensed by endorsement when holding a current license in good standing for the same category in another state; licenses issued by a city or county are not accepted. Endorsement or reciprocity application fee $190.

Notes

Individual licenses (Master, Journeyman, Residential) each renew at $140 for two years per ARM 24.141.405(4); same July 15 even-year date and CE as the contractor license. 2026 cycle was abated 50%. Journeyman and Residential electrician entries omitted (same fee/dates).

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (9)

The hours, required topics, approved providers and reporting rules for each license are on the Montana Electrical continuing education page.

How to renew

1Check your Electrical Contractor (limited/unlimited) deadline: July 15 of even-numbered years (next: July 15, 2028; last cycle July 15, 2026). Renewal opens 60 days before expiration; online system available 24/7 but staff help ends 5 pm.
2Complete 16 continuing education hours before renewing. 16 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period, at least 8 of them on NEC updates (ARM 24.141.2102). Courses must be approved by the Department (approval number on the certificate); courses approved by reciprocal states are accepted. Licensees keep completion certificates and may be randomly audited; basic electric and apprentice-level courses do not count. New graduates of approved apprenticeship programs are exempt for their first renewal; licensees moving up from journeyman or residential are not exempt.
3Confirm your insurance meet the board requirements and are not expiring.
4Renew online at https://ebiz.mt.gov/POL/Default.aspx
5Pay the renewal fee on the official site. Expect about $210, but fees change.
6If you miss the deadline: Late penalty fee = 100% of the renewal fee, in addition to the renewal fee, for each renewal period missed (ARM 24.101.403(2)); applies even when the renewal fee has been abated (100% of the un-abated fee). Online renewals must be submitted before 11:59 pm Mountain time on the renewal date (ARM 24.101.413).
7Check your Master Electrician (responsible electrician for unlimited contractor) deadline: July 15 of even-numbered years (next: July 15, 2028; last cycle July 15, 2026). Renewal opens 60 days before expiration; online system available 24/7 but staff help ends 5 pm.
8Pay the renewal fee on the official site. Expect about $140, but fees change.

Montana Electrical renewal questions

Answers come from the records above. Informational: verify with the issuing board.

When does a Montana electrical license expire?

Electrical Contractor (limited/unlimited): renews every 2 years. July 15 of even-numbered years (next: July 15, 2028; last cycle July 15, 2026). Renewal opens 60 days before expiration; online system available 24/7 but staff help ends 5 pm. Master Electrician (responsible electrician for unlimited contractor): renews every 2 years. July 15 of even-numbered years (next: July 15, 2028; last cycle July 15, 2026). Renewal opens 60 days before expiration; online system available 24/7 but staff help ends 5 pm. Check with Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) before you rely on it.

How many CE hours does a Montana electrical license need?

Electrical Contractor (limited/unlimited): 16 hours per renewal. Master Electrician (responsible electrician for unlimited contractor): 16 hours per renewal. Check with Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) before you rely on it.

Is there a grace period for a Montana electrical license?

No grace period on the renewal date itself; 45-day lapsed window and 2-year expired window apply (see reinstatement_rule). Check with Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) before you rely on it.

How much does it cost to renew a Montana electrical license?

Electrical Contractor (limited/unlimited): About $210. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

What happens if a Montana electrical license expires?

Late penalty fee = 100% of the renewal fee, in addition to the renewal fee, for each renewal period missed (ARM 24.101.403(2)); applies even when the renewal fee has been abated (100% of the un-abated fee). Online renewals must be submitted before 11:59 pm Mountain time on the renewal date (ARM 24.101.413). Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Does Montana accept electrical licenses from other states?

Not applicable to the contractor license, which is issued on proof of workers' compensation and unemployment insurance compliance (or an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate) and a designated Montana-licensed responsible electrician. Reciprocity agreements under ARM 24.141.504 cover residential and journeyman electrician licenses. Check with Montana State Electrical Board (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) before you rely on it.

Sources

Spot something out of date?

Informational only. Check it with the issuing board. Licensing rules, deadlines and CE requirements change, fee amounts are approximate, and this page can be out of date. It is not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with any state board. Read the disclaimer.

This information is here to help you plan, not to replace the board. Fee amounts are approximate and may be out of date. Deadlines and continuing education rules change too, sometimes without much notice. Always confirm with your licensing board and its official site before you rely on a date or an amount. This is not legal advice.

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