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Skilled trades are gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional, four-year degree programs. With benefits like job stability and opportunities for on-the-job training, career advancement, and potential business ownership, plumbing can be a great way to earn a living without taking on the burden of massive student loan debt. 

Every state has laws concerning licensing for skilled trades. To legally operate as a plumber in Montana, you must first obtain a license from the Montana Board of Plumbers under the state Department of Labor & Industry. What licenses are available, and what are the requirements to obtain them? 

Requirements to Become a Journeyman Plumber 

As a journeyman plumber, you are permitted to participate in the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of plumbing systems and equipment under the oversight of a master plumber. First, however, you must meet experience thresholds and other requirements. 

There are two ways to obtain the required experience. You could complete a minimum of 7,500 hours of work experience within a period of no less than five years and submit a written affirmation of experience from a licensed master plumber or plumbing contractor.  

A transcript proving the completion of an approved engineering degree may be substituted for two years of the five-year experience requirement. 

Alternatively, you could complete an apprenticeship program and submit a completion certificate from a recognized entity such as the Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program or the Office of Apprenticeship within the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. 

You must also pass the state trade exam. The Journeyman Plumber exam features two sections: a written and a practical exam. The open-book, written portion of the exam features 100 multiple-choice questions based on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code. You will have three hours to complete this portion. 

The practical exam includes three virtual diagrams. You will have 2.5 hours to complete this section. In both cases, you must receive a minimum score of 70% to pass. 

Requirements to Become a Master Plumber 

Master plumbers can perform all the same activities as a journeyman plumber, as well as supervise other plumbers, manage plumbing projects, and plan, estimate, bid, and contract for jobs.  

Before you qualify to obtain a master plumbing license, you must provide proof of four years of experience working as a journeyman plumber AND three years of experience working under the supervision of a licensed master plumber (may run concurrently with the four-year experience requirement). 

You must also pass the Master Plumber Exam, consisting of 125 multiple-choice questions based on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code and the Statutes and Rules Relating to the Board of Plumbers and Building Codes. You will have three hours to complete this open-book exam, and you must receive a score of no less than 70% to pass. 

Exam Prep Courses That Set You Up for Success 

As a working professional, you need an exam prep program designed to help you succeed. The right program will offer convenient online access that allows for self-paced learning, as well as courses developed by industry experts and educators. 

Are you ready to take the next step in your career by obtaining a journeyman or master plumber license in Montana? Contact RocketCert today to learn more.