Healthcare Recruiting
Montana CRNA License 2026: APRN Requirements, Full Practice Authority, Salary
Montana is a full practice authority state for all APRNs including CRNAs. No physician supervision or collaborative agreement is required, and Montana has opted out of the federal Medicare CRNA supervision requirement. Montana has no state sales tax, which reduces the cost of living for everyday expenditures. Billings Clinic and SCL Health St. Vincent anchor the Billings market; Missoula (Providence), Great Falls (Benefis), and Kalispell (Logan Health) each serve as regional hubs. Montana has extensive Indian Health Service and tribal health facilities, particularly on the Flathead, Blackfeet, Fort Belknap, Crow, and Northern Cheyenne reservations.
Practice Model
- Full Practice Authority — no supervision or collaboration agreement required
- Montana has opted out of federal Medicare CRNA supervision requirement
- ACT model: Billings Clinic (select service lines), Benefis Health System (Great Falls)
- CRNA-independent model: Providence St. Patrick (Missoula), Logan Health (Kalispell), rural CAH facilities, IHS tribal hospitals
- IHS facilities on Montana reservations (Blackfeet IHS, Crow/Northern Cheyenne Service Unit, Fort Belknap) rely on CRNA-only anesthesia
Application Requirements
- Active Montana RN license (compact or MT-issued)
- Current NBCRNA certification
- Official nurse anesthesia program documentation
- Completed nurse.mt.gov application + $100 fee
- Criminal background check via Montana DPS
Processing Timeline
Montana Board of Nursing processes APRN applications in 6–8 weeks from complete submission. Montana's compact membership and online portal facilitate efficient processing; complete applications rarely encounter extended delays.
CRNA Salary in Montana (2026)
| Market | Avg CRNA Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | $198,000–$228,000 | Billings Clinic, St. Vincent; largest MT market; regional referral hub |
| Missoula | $193,000–$222,000 | Providence St. Patrick, Community Medical; university town; outdoor lifestyle |
| Great Falls | $192,000–$218,000 | Benefis Health System; military-adjacent (Malmstrom AFB); CRNA-independent |
| Kalispell / Flathead Valley | $195,000–$225,000 | Logan Health; Glacier-adjacent resort market; growing elective surgical demand |
| IHS / Tribal (Blackfeet, Crow, etc.) | $195,000–$225,000 | Federal GS scale + hardship; loan repayment eligible; housing at remote sites |
Top Employers in Montana
- Billings Clinic — Billings; Montana's largest integrated health system; CRNA-independent model; primary regional referral center
- Providence Health & Services Montana — Missoula (St. Patrick) + Polson; Catholic system; CRNA-independent throughout
- Benefis Health System — Great Falls; regional system for North Central Montana; CRNA-independent
- Logan Health — Kalispell; Northwestern Montana's dominant health system; growing CRNA demand from Glacier tourism-driven growth
- Indian Health Service Montana — Blackfeet IHS (Browning), Crow Agency, Fort Belknap; federal employment with CRNA-only anesthesia
What We See at Ava Health
Montana is a lifestyle CRNA market — candidates accept lower nominal compensation (relative to coastal peers) in exchange for outdoor recreation access (Glacier, Yellowstone, ski resorts), cost-of-living advantages (no sales tax, moderate housing outside Bozeman), and the independence of full practice authority. Kalispell has seen the fastest CRNA salary growth in Montana, driven by Flathead Valley's tourism and retiree migration. IHS positions on Montana reservations are consistently underrecruited — Blackfeet IHS in Browning and Crow Service Unit in Crow Agency offer loan repayment, federal benefits, and the CRNA independence that reservations' physician-shortage contexts require.
Related: CRNA Salary by State 2026, NP License Montana 2026, CRNA License Wyoming 2026.
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