Home/Plumbing careers/Montana

Plumbing careers

How to become a plumber in Montana

The license steps in Montana, from apprentice to master or contractor, taken from the official licensing pages – plus pay, apprenticeships and where to apply.

The short answer

In Montana you need 5 years of documented plumbing experience (through work or an approved apprenticeship) and a board exam for the journeyman plumber license, then 4 years as a licensed journeyman plus the master exam for the master plumber license.

The steps in Montana

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    Apprentices train under Montana's registered apprenticeship rules, which their sponsors must follow; the state's Registered Apprenticeship program handles questions.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    A journeyman plumber license requires 5 years of legally obtained plumbing experience (verified work records or an approved apprenticeship) and a written exam prescribed by the Board of Plumbers; journeymen may work only for a licensed master plumber.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    A master plumber license requires 4 years of experience as a licensed journeyman plumber (a year counts as at least 1,500 hours in 12 months) and passing the board's master plumber exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Plumbing licenses are renewed each renewal cycle (the 2026 renewal window ran July 2 to September 1, 2026), with 4 hours of continuing education required per cycle.

Who licenses plumbers in Montana

Montana Board of Plumbers (Department of Labor & Industry). License types we found: Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Medical Gas Endorsement.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on ebiz.mt.gov.

Finding an apprenticeship

Most plumbers learn the trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus classroom instruction, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeships are paid jobs with progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential; programs are approved by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Search programs at apprenticeship.gov, or ask local plumbing contractors and union locals.

Pay and job outlook

$63,800

Median yearly pay for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025 (BLS).

7%

Projected job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year (BLS).

4-5 years

Typical apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year (BLS).

National figures from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; pay varies by state and city.

Already a plumber in Montana?

19 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in Montana.

Sources

Requirements come from Montana’s official licensing pages and statutes, checked October 2026. Rules change – confirm with the licensing office before you apply.

  1. boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/plumbers
  2. mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0690/part_0030/section_0040/0
  3. mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0690/part_0030/section_0050/0
  4. mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0690/part_0030/sections_index
  5. mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0690/part_0030/section_0010/0
  6. erd.dli.mt.gov/work-comp-regulations/montana-contractor/construction-con
  7. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  8. U.S. Department of Labor – Apprenticeship.gov for career seekers

General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides

Find a plumberRequest