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Montana

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

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.

Montana State Licensing Requirements for Lower-Income Occupations

Select a chart to view:
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

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report