Montana

Montana Licensing Overview

Montana licenses 32 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are about average when compared to other states. The state's licensing laws rank 21st in the nation.

On average, Montana requires $316 in licensing fees, 295 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Travel Guide.

Which occupation in a Montana is the most regulated?

Out of the 32 occupations that require an occupational license in Montana, a license for School Bus Driver has the highest burden. A School Bus Driver license requires $27 in fees, 6 exams, 5 years experience, and no of education.

Which occupation in a Montana is the least regulated?

Out of the 32 occupations that require an occupational license in Montana, a license for Taxidermist has the lowest burden. A Taxidermist license requires $50 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Montana is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Montana costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $2400 in fees, 1 exams, 10 births experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Montana is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Montana costs the least for Child Care Home, Family, Coach, Head (High School Sports) where the license costs $0.

Which occupational license in Montana takes the most time to obtain?

In Montana, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for School Bus Driver. It takes 1825 days (5 years) total. A School Bus Driver license requires $27 in fees, 6 exams, 5 years experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Montana takes the least time to obtain?

In Montana, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Fisher, Commercial, Milk Sampler, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Gaming Dealer, Taxidermist.

In Montana, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Montana, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: School Bus Driver, Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Security Alarm Installer, Fire Alarm Installer, Cosmetologist, Shampooer, Barber, Earth Driller, Water Well, Travel Guide, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Crane Operator, Massage Therapist, Pharmacy Technician, Manicurist, Emergency Medical Technician, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Montana is one of the least broadly and onerously licensed states in the nation, ranking 49th out of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Montana licenses 32 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, well below the national average. However, Montana’s laws for the occupations it does license rank as the 23rd most burdensome because they are slightly more arduous than average, requiring $261 in fees, 312 days of education and experience, and an estimated two exams.

Montana imposes more onerous requirements than many other states for some occupations. For example, school bus drivers in Montana must demonstrate roughly 1,825 days (five years) of experience. This is six times higher than the national average of just 300 days.

Montana also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For instance, in Montana, manicurists and massage therapists face more stringent requirements than EMTs. To provide their services, these workers must complete between 93 and 117 days of education. EMTs, on the other hand, can become licensed after completing only around 26 days (110 hours) of education. Montana should reduce or repeal its illogical licensing requirements for manicurists, massage therapists and other lower-income occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	School Bus Driver	51	27	1825	None	5 years	6	0	18
2	Athletic Trainer	49	565	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
3	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	66	1460	4 years & 2 clock hours	None	0	0	0
4	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	2400	930	2 years	10 births	1	12	21
5	Security Alarm Installer	37	475	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
6	Fire Alarm Installer	39	655	730	None	2 years	2	0	0
7	Cosmetologist	51	269	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	12	18
8	Shampooer	33	269	257	1100 clock hours	None	2	12	18
9	Barber	51	129	257	1100 clock hours	None	2	12	18
10	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	375	365	None	1 year	1	0	0
11	Travel Guide	37	1950	182	None	100 days & 6 weeks	1	0	18
12	Makeup Artist	37	284	152	650 clock hours	None	2	12	18
13	Skin Care Specialist	51	230	152	650 clock hours	None	2	12	18
14	Crane Operator	16	100	233	None	1000 clock hours	1	0	18
15	Massage Therapist	45	335	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
16	Pharmacy Technician	44	164	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
17	Manicurist	51	284	93	400 clock hours	None	2	12	18
18	Emergency Medical Technician	51	148	35	150 clock hours	None	2	12	18
19	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	27	0	None	None	5	0	18
19	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	27	0	None	None	5	0	18
21	Truck Driver, Other	51	27	0	None	None	4	0	18
22	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	130	3	16 clock hours	None	0	0	18
23	Child Care Home, Family	44	0	4	25 clock hours	None	0	0	18
24	Pest Control Applicator	51	85	0	None	None	2	0	0
24	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	85	0	None	None	2	0	0
26	Fisher, Commercial	43	500	0	None	None	0	0	0
27	Milk Sampler	43	5	0	None	None	1	0	0
28	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	175	0	None	None	0	0	0
28	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	175	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Gaming Dealer	29	105	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	2	14 clock hours	None	0	0	0
32	Taxidermist	28	50	0	None	None	0	0	0

Montana Occupational Licensing

32 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

21st most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$316