Bill > HB336

This bill establishes a new pathway for obtaining professional licenses in Montana by requiring boards and programs to grant licenses to individuals who complete a nationally recognized apprenticeship program in specific occupations. The bill covers a wide range of professions across various sectors, including healthcare (such as nurses, emergency medical technicians, and pharmacy technicians), trades (like plumbers and electricians), personal services (including barbers and cosmetologists), and technical roles (such as radiologic technologists and veterinary technicians). Applicants who complete an apprenticeship must still meet the same examination and fee requirements as those who complete traditional educational programs. The bill lists 42 specific license types across multiple boards and departments, ranging from addiction counseling and massage therapy to engineering and crane operation. Each board or program is required to adopt rules to implement this new apprenticeship licensing pathway, which aims to provide alternative routes to professional certification and potentially increase workforce development opportunities. The legislation is part of the 69th Legislature's efforts in 2025 to create more flexible professional licensing options.

Business and Industry

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0420