Contractor License from Montana to Michigan: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-01 · source: Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders; Electrical Administrative Board ↗
A contractor license transfers from Montana to Michigan by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders; Electrical Administrative Board, verify your Montana license, and meet Michigan's endorsement requirements. The Michigan Residential Builder and Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license offers NO reciprocity — applicants complete 60 hours of prelicensure education and pass the Michigan exam. Michigan electrical licensure (Electrical Administrative Board, Skilled Trades Regulation Act) provides a licensure-by-equivalency/endorsement path for out-of-state electricians, evaluated for substantial equivalence rather than via a fixed reciprocal-states list..
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Michigan does not have a trade agreement covering Montana for the selected trade, so this move runs on Michigan's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether Michigan accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check Michigan's NERA status.
What changes, Montana → Michigan
| Montana (current) | Michigan (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $190–$210 (The range covers the electrical reciprocity/endorsement pathway this row models. Montana State Electrical Board application fees, identical whether the applicant qualifies by substantial equivalency (reciprocity/endorsement) or by examination: Journeyman Electrician $190, Master Electrician $190, Electrical Contractor $210. A $50 temporary work permit for exam candidates is charged in addition to the application fee. Outside this range and not part of the electrical pathway: the DLI Construction Contractor Registration ($70, non-refundable, valid two years) is a workers'-comp registration for general contractors - not a trade licence and not a reciprocity route - as is the $125 Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate; testing-vendor exam fees and workers' compensation coverage are also separate. The Electrical Board's licence pages state that its fees are non-refundable; the DLI registration application states the same for the $70 fee.) | Not verified — board site inaccessible. |
| Processing time | Not published. | Not verified — board site inaccessible. |
| Licensing authority | Montana State Electrical Board (DLI Business Standards Division); Construction Contractor Registration (DLI Employment Relations Division) | Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders; Electrical Administrative Board |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Michigan sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Michigan's current requirements on the Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders; Electrical Administrative Board website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders; Electrical Administrative Board.
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Residential builder: complete 60 hours of prelicensure education and pass the Michigan builder exam (no reciprocity path).
- Electrical: hold an equivalent out-of-state license and show substantially equal licensing requirements.
- Pay the fees (Not verified — board site inaccessible.) and allow Not verified — board site inaccessible..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Michigan accept a Montana contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Montana to Michigan by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders; Electrical Administrative Board, verify your Montana license, and meet Michigan's endorsement requirements. The Michigan Residential Builder and Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license offers NO reciprocity — applicants complete 60 hours of prelicensure education and pass the Michigan exam. Michigan electrical licensure (Electrical Administrative Board, Skilled Trades Regulation Act) provides a licensure-by-equivalency/endorsement path for out-of-state electricians, evaluated for substantial equivalence rather than via a fixed reciprocal-states list..
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Michigan's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Montana-to-Michigan move cost and how long does it take?
Not verified — board site inaccessible.; processing Not verified — board site inaccessible..
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Michigan is one on the Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders; Electrical Administrative Board site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-01.
- Michigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Codes ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana State Electrical Board - License Information ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana DLI ERD - Construction/Independent Contractor Registration ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana State Electrical Board - Electrical Contractor licensing requirements and application checklist ($210 application fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Montana State Electrical Board - Master Electrician checklist ($190 application fee, substantial equivalency or examination) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Montana DLI ERD - Application for Construction Contractor Registration ($70 non-refundable, valid two years) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Montana DLI ERD - Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate application ($125 non-refundable) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Montana State Electrical Board - Journeyman Electrician application checklist ($190 application fee, substantial equivalency or examination; $50 temporary work permit) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Montana State Electrical Board - Journeyman Electrician licence page ("ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE") ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Montana State Electrical Board - Electrical Contractor licence page ("Fees:(Non-refundable)") ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-01
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]