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Montana offers many opportunities when it comes to plumber jobs.
If you want to work in the industry in this state, you will first need to get a license.
Read on in order to know what the process entails.
Article Table of Contents
Plumber Job Description and Requirements
As a plumber in Montana, you will have several job duties which include:
- Reading or drafting blueprints
- Installing the piping system
- Maintaining the water system
- Repairing the system whenever needed
- Ensuring the safety standards
- Meeting building regulations
- Using the appropriate devices to measure or solder
In Montana, the plumber licenses are issued by the Montana Board of Plumbers.
The licenses you can get in Montana include:
- Apprentice license,
- Journeyman license,
- Master license
How to become an Apprentice in Minnesota
In this state, you are not required to be an apprentice before you can take plumbing jobs.
However, getting into a program will allow you to develop the skills you need to be successful.
The training programs in Montana should be approved by the Montana Board of Plumbers.
The plumbing training programs typically last about 4 to 5 years.
During that time, you will attend both theory and practice classes.
Some of the subjects taught in class include:
- Drafting,
- Mathematics,
- Science,
- Sprinkler installation,
- Pipefitting
- Reading blueprints
In order to be received into a training program, you have to fulfill some requirements, which are:
- Be 16 years old
- High-school diploma or a GED
- Driver’s license or ID copy
- Copy of the birth certificate
- Proof of US citizenship
- A processing fee
- Pass a background check
- Pass a drug test
You will also have to register your apprenticeship with the Montana Board of Plumbers.
If you want to find a suitable training program, you should know these are offered through:
- The Montana Registered Apprenticeship program
- Job Service Montana
- Montana Works
How to Get a Journeyman License in Montana
As a journeyman, you will be able to install water fixtures without being overseen by another plumber.
You can work alone or find work with a plumbing firm.
To get a journeyman license, you have to take and pass an exam.
The exam covers topics such as:
- Plumbing fundamentals and safety;
- Materials used, and specifications;
- Traps, interceptors, and backwater valves;
- Plumbing fixtures, fixture fittings, and plumbing appliances;
- Water supply systems;
- Backflow preventions;
- Gas appliances and piping;
- Plumbing mathematics.
You will need to meet some requirements before you can apply for the exam.
These requirements are:
- Be 18 years olf at the minimum
- Send in an application form and a $170 licensing fee to the board
- Be a registered apprentice
- 7500 hours of hands-on experience over a period of 5 years
- Pass the journeyman test
To be allowed to take for the exam, you have to pay a $100 fee.
You will need an exam score of at least 70% in order to get licensed.
However, if you get a score between 65% and 69%, you will be rescheduled for the exam.
The journeyman plumber exam can be taken online or in person.
If you fail the exam and need to retake it, you could be issued a temporary working permit.
The journeyman license expires every year, so you will need to renew it.
In order to renew it, you have to take 4 extra education credits.
How to Get a Master License in Montana
If you want to receive the master plumber license, you need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Job experience of 4 years a journeyman
- Submit an application form
- Submit a $100 application fee
- Pass the master plumber exam with a score of at least 70%
You will also need to pay $280 for your master plumber license to be issued.
The topics in the exam include:
- Plumbing fundamentals and safety;
- Materials, their uses, and specifications;
- Traps, interceptors, and backwater valves;
- Plumbing fixtures, fixture fittings, and plumbing appliances;
- Water supply systems;
- Backflow prevention;
- Drain, waste, and vent systems;
- Special topics;
- Gas appliances and piping;
- Plumbing mathematics.
Plumber Employment and Salary Information
In Montana, plumber jobs will grow by 13% over the following 5 years.
On average, a licensed plumber has a salary of about $25.27 an hour.
You will earn more if you have enough experience, have your own plumbing business, or are part of a union.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Billings | $55,128 |
| Missoula | $47,576 |
| Great Falls | $49,908 |
| Bozeman | $47,576 |
| Butte | $47,576 |
| Helena | $48,440 |
| Kalispell | $50,551 |
| Havre | $49,044 |
| Anaconda | $47,576 |
| Miles City | $54,264 |
Regional Salary in Montana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 440 | $79,100 | $38.03 | $105,680 | $51,880 |
| Great Falls, MT | 260 | $72,150 | $34.69 | $83,650 | $46,650 |
| Missoula, MT | 160 | $66,350 | $31.9 | $88,230 | $45,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information
Montana has reciprocity agreements with Idaho, Oregon, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
The reciprocity agreement is only in place for plumbers with a journeyman license.
For the master license, you will have to go through the entire licensing process again if you come from another state.
Some other fees include an application fee of $100 and a reciprocity fee of $300.
If you plan on performing plumbing work in Montana before your license arrives, you will need a special permit.
This work permit costs $100.
Schools Offering Plumbing Programs in Montana
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Montana State University’s College of Technical Sciences | Havre, Montana 300 13th Street West |
| Plumbers Training Institute | |
| Plumbersceu | 221 Blue Heron Lane Missoula Montana 59804 |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Plumber
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Plumbing License by State