Journeyman Plumber Exam Prep
There's no national journeyman plumber exam. Your state or local board picks the code, the edition, the book rules and the format. Run the five checks below, then work the free practice set. The answers and explanations are under each question.
Before you study, confirm these five things from your board or exam bulletin:
- Who licenses you. That's your state plumbing board or agency, or a local authority in some areas.
- Your exam bulletin. It's the current candidate handbook from the testing company (Pearson VUE, PSI and others), or from the board itself if it runs the exam.
- Your code and edition. IPC or UPC, the year, plus any state amendments and a fuel gas code if one is tested.
- Your book rules. Closed book, book provided at the test center, or bring your own. And whether tabs, highlighting or notes are allowed.
- Your format. Number of questions, time, passing score, and whether there's a practical or isometric drawing part.
Free journeyman plumber practice questions
Original, unofficial practice questions written by Castleport Test Prep, not real exam questions. 29 questions, each labeled with the code edition it follows: the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) or the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Not sure which code you'll be tested on? Start with Part 1. Those answers are the same under both codes. Then take only the track that matches your exam.
Part 1: Same answer under the IPC and UPC (7 questions)
JP-01 · Traps · 2021 IPC and 2021 UPC
How deep must a fixture trap's liquid seal be?
- A. At least 1 in and not more than 3 in
- B. At least 2 in and not more than 4 in
- C. At least 2 in, with no maximum
- D. At least 3 in and not more than 6 in
Show answer and explanation — JP-01
Answer: B. At least 2 in and not more than 4 in
Both codes set the same range: at least 2 inches and no more than 4 inches (IPC 1002.4, UPC 1005.1). A seal shallower than 2 inches evaporates or gets siphoned too easily. A seal deeper than 4 inches holds solids and fouls. Option C drops the maximum, which is half the rule. A and D use the wrong limits.
Source: 2021 IPC §1002.4 · 2021 UPC §1005.1 · ICC: plumbing trap requirements
JP-02 · Drainage fixture units · 2021 IPC and 2021 UPC
A 1.6-gallon-per-flush water closet is installed in a private home. How many drainage fixture units (DFU) does it carry?
- A. 2
- B. 4
- C. 3
- D. 6
Show answer and explanation — JP-02
Answer: C. 3
Both IPC Table 709.1 and UPC Table 702.1 rate it at 3 DFU for private use and 4 DFU for public use. A drainage fixture unit measures how much load a fixture puts on the drain. Public toilets get used more often, so they carry more. Option B is the public value, which is the classic mix-up.
Source: 2021 IPC Table 709.1 · 2021 UPC Table 702.1
JP-03 · Venting · 2021 IPC and 2021 UPC
A vent terminal ends 6 ft horizontally from an openable window. What fixes it?
- A. Nothing. 6 ft is far enough.
- B. Add a screen to the vent terminal.
- C. Turn the vent terminal downward.
- D. Extend the vent so it ends at least 3 ft above the top of the window.
Show answer and explanation — JP-03
Answer: D. Extend the vent so it ends at least 3 ft above the top of the window.
A vent can't end within 10 ft of an openable window, door or air intake unless it is at least 3 ft above that opening (IPC 903.5, UPC 906.2). 6 ft is inside the 10-ft zone, so you either move the vent or raise it. A screen or a downturned fitting does nothing to stop sewer gas drifting into the building.
Source: 2021 IPC §903.5 · 2021 UPC §906.2
JP-04 · Plumbing math · No code needed
A horizontal drain runs 36 ft at a slope of ¼ in per foot. How much total fall do you need?
- A. 9 in
- B. 4½ in
- C. 12 in
- D. 18 in
Show answer and explanation — JP-04
Answer: A. 9 in
Total fall = length × slope, so 36 ft × ¼ in/ft = 9 in. B is what you'd get at ⅛ in per foot, and D is what you'd get at ½ in per foot. Which slope you need comes from your code. This question only checks the arithmetic.
JP-05 · Plumbing math · No code needed
You're making a 45° offset with an 18-in offset distance. About how long is the travel (the center-to-center length of the diagonal piece)?
- A. 12.7 in
- B. 18 in
- C. 25.5 in
- D. 31.2 in
Show answer and explanation — JP-05
Answer: C. 25.5 in
For a 45° offset, travel = offset × 1.414. So 18 × 1.414 = 25.45, which rounds to 25.5 in. A comes from dividing by 1.414 instead of multiplying. D uses 1.732, which gives the run of a 30° offset, not the travel of a 45° one.
JP-06 · Plumbing math · No code needed
A vertical column of water is 23 ft tall. About how much static pressure does it put on the bottom?
- A. 2.3 psi
- B. 4.3 psi
- C. 53 psi
- D. 10 psi
Show answer and explanation — JP-06
Answer: D. 10 psi
Each foot of water exerts about 0.433 psi, so 23 × 0.433 = 9.96, or about 10 psi. Going the other way, 1 psi lifts water about 2.31 ft. Mixing up those two numbers gives C (23 × 2.31 = 53). Memorize both and you'll catch which one a question needs.
JP-07 · Plumbing math · No code needed
About how many gallons does 50 ft of pipe with a 4-in inside diameter hold?
- A. 4.4 gal
- B. 16 gal
- C. 33 gal
- D. 131 gal
Show answer and explanation — JP-07
Answer: C. 33 gal
Work it in feet. The radius is 2 in, which is 0.1667 ft. The area is π × 0.1667², about 0.0873 sq ft. The volume is 0.0873 × 50, about 4.36 cu ft. At 7.48 gallons per cubic foot, that's about 32.6 gallons, or roughly 33. A stops at cubic feet and forgets to convert. D uses the 4-in diameter where the radius belongs, which makes the answer four times too big. Real pipe inside diameters differ from nominal sizes, so always use the inside diameter the question gives you.
Part 2: 2021 IPC track (18 questions)
JP-08 · Traps · 2021 IPC
Which of these traps does the IPC allow on a fixture?
- A. S-trap
- B. Drum trap
- C. P-trap
- D. Bell trap
Show answer and explanation — JP-08
Answer: C. P-trap
IPC Section 1002 prohibits S-traps, drum traps, bell traps, crown-vented traps, and traps that rely on moving parts to hold their seal. An S-trap's outlet drops straight down, so the water leaving it can siphon the seal out behind it. Drum traps and bell traps collect debris. A properly vented P-trap is the standard fixture trap.
Source: 2021 IPC §1002 · ICC: plumbing trap requirements
JP-09 · Traps · 2021 IPC
A lavatory drains through its own P-trap. The line then passes through a second P-trap before it reaches the branch. What's the code problem?
- A. None, if both traps are the same size
- B. The fixture is double trapped, which the IPC prohibits
- C. It's fine once an air admittance valve is added between the traps
- D. It's fine if the second trap is a drum trap
Show answer and explanation — JP-09
Answer: B. The fixture is double trapped, which the IPC prohibits
Each fixture gets one trap. The IPC prohibits double trapping because air gets caught between the two seals, which slows or stops drainage. Matching the trap sizes (A) doesn't fix that. A vent device (C) doesn't make a second trap legal either. D swaps in a trap the IPC prohibits outright.
Source: 2021 IPC §1002 · ICC: plumbing trap requirements
JP-10 · Traps · 2021 IPC
A floor drain's trap seal is likely to be lost to evaporation. Which of these is an IPC-recognized way to protect it?
- A. A trap seal primer valve that meets ASSE 1018
- B. An air admittance valve on the floor drain
- C. A check valve in the floor drain outlet
- D. Deepening the trap seal to 8 in
Show answer and explanation — JP-10
Answer: A. A trap seal primer valve that meets ASSE 1018
IPC 1002.4.1 lists the trap seal protection options. They include potable-water primer valves (ASSE 1018), drainage-type primers (ASSE 1044), and barrier-type floor drain trap seal protection devices (ASSE 1072). An air admittance valve lets air into the drain system, but it can't refill a seal that's drying out. A check valve isn't on the list. D breaks the 4-in maximum seal depth.
Source: 2021 IPC §1002.4.1
JP-11 · Venting · 2021 IPC
A 1½-in trap arm is installed at ¼ in per foot. Under IPC Table 909.1, what's the maximum distance from the trap to the vent?
- A. 5 ft
- B. 8 ft
- C. 12 ft
- D. 6 ft
Show answer and explanation — JP-11
Answer: D. 6 ft
Table 909.1 allows 6 ft for a 1½-in trap arm at ¼ in per foot. Every wrong option is a real number from a different row: 5 ft is the 1¼-in row, 8 ft is the 2-in row, and 12 ft is the 3-in row at ⅛ in per foot. Under the UPC the answer is different (see JP-26).
Source: 2021 IPC Table 909.1 · ICC 2021 venting guide
JP-12 · Venting · 2021 IPC
What's the maximum IPC trap-to-vent distance for a 3-in trap arm installed at ⅛ in per foot?
- A. 6 ft
- B. 12 ft
- C. 8 ft
- D. 16 ft
Show answer and explanation — JP-12
Answer: B. 12 ft
Table 909.1 gives 12 ft for a 3-in arm at ⅛ in per foot. 16 ft is the 4-in row, and 6 ft and 8 ft are the 1½-in and 2-in rows. The table pairs each pipe size with a slope, so check both columns before you read off a distance.
Source: 2021 IPC Table 909.1 · ICC 2021 venting guide
JP-13 · Venting · 2021 IPC
How high must an individual or branch-type air admittance valve sit relative to the fixture drain or horizontal branch it vents?
- A. At least 2 in above it
- B. Level with it
- C. At least 4 in above it
- D. At least 12 in above the flood rim of the highest fixture
Show answer and explanation — JP-13
Answer: C. At least 4 in above it
IPC Section 918 requires individual and branch-type air admittance valves to sit at least 4 in above the branch or fixture drain they vent. Don't confuse this with stack-type valves, which go at least 6 in above the flood rim of the highest fixture served. Every air admittance valve also has to be at least 6 in above any insulation.
Source: 2021 IPC §918 · ICC 2021 venting guide
JP-14 · Venting · 2021 IPC
A building's plumbing is vented with air admittance valves. What does the IPC still require?
- A. At least one vent that extends to the outdoors
- B. Nothing more. Air admittance valves can handle all venting.
- C. A trap primer on every fixture
- D. A check valve on the building drain
Show answer and explanation — JP-14
Answer: A. At least one vent that extends to the outdoors
IPC 918.7 requires at least one vent to the open air even when air admittance valves are used. An air admittance valve only lets air in. It can't relieve positive pressure in the drain system, and the open vent can.
Source: 2021 IPC §918.7 · ICC 2021 venting guide
JP-15 · Venting · 2021 IPC
A flat roof will be used as a rooftop deck. Under the IPC, how far above that roof must vent extensions rise?
- A. 6 in
- B. 7 ft
- C. 12 in
- D. 3 ft
Show answer and explanation — JP-15
Answer: B. 7 ft
IPC 903.1 requires vents to rise 7 ft above a roof used for anything besides weather protection, so the gases end up above people standing on it. For an ordinary roof, the IPC leaves the height blank and each adopting state or city fills it in. Check your local amendment for that number.
Source: 2021 IPC §903.1
JP-16 · Drainage fixture units · 2021 IPC
Under IPC Table 709.1, which fixture is rated at 1 DFU?
- A. Bathtub
- B. Shower
- C. Domestic kitchen sink
- D. Lavatory
Show answer and explanation — JP-16
Answer: D. Lavatory
A lavatory carries 1 drainage fixture unit. Bathtubs, showers and domestic kitchen sinks each carry 2. DFU measures how much drainage load a fixture creates, not how big its supply pipe is.
Source: 2021 IPC Table 709.1
JP-17 · Drainage fixture units · 2021 IPC
Under IPC Table 709.1, what's the minimum trap size for a domestic clothes washer standpipe?
- A. 1 ¼ in
- B. 2 in
- C. 1 ½ in
- D. 3 in
Show answer and explanation — JP-17
Answer: B. 2 in
Table 709.1 lists a 2-in trap for a domestic clothes washer, rated at 2 DFU. A washer's pump dumps a lot of water fast, and a smaller trap is how standpipes end up overflowing.
Source: 2021 IPC Table 709.1
JP-18 · Water supply · 2021 IPC
Static water pressure in a building is 95 psi with no water flowing. What does the IPC require?
- A. A pressure-reducing valve that limits static pressure to 80 psi or less
- B. Nothing. The IPC has no upper limit.
- C. A thermal expansion tank only
- D. A backflow preventer rated for 95 psi
Show answer and explanation — JP-18
Answer: A. A pressure-reducing valve that limits static pressure to 80 psi or less
IPC 604.8 requires a pressure-reducing valve when static pressure is above 80 psi. High pressure wears out fixtures and valves and causes water hammer. An expansion tank handles thermal expansion in a closed system. It doesn't replace a pressure-reducing valve.
Source: 2021 IPC §604.8
JP-19 · Water supply · 2021 IPC
Under IPC Table 604.4, what's the maximum flow rate for a showerhead?
- A. 1.5 gpm at 60 psi
- B. 2.2 gpm at 60 psi
- C. 2.5 gpm at 80 psi
- D. 3.0 gpm at 80 psi
Show answer and explanation — JP-19
Answer: C. 2.5 gpm at 80 psi
The IPC table caps showerheads at 2.5 gpm at 80 psi. B is the row for a private lavatory faucet. Some states and cities set stricter fixture limits, and your exam follows the code your state adopted.
Source: 2021 IPC Table 604.4
JP-20 · Testing · 2021 IPC
A new PEX water distribution system needs a pressure test. Which test does the IPC not allow on it?
- A. A water test at no less than the working pressure
- B. Neither. Plastic piping doesn't need a test.
- C. Both are allowed
- D. An air test of at least 50 psi
Show answer and explanation — JP-20
Answer: D. An air test of at least 50 psi
IPC 312.5 allows a water test at no less than working pressure on any water supply system. The 50-psi air test is allowed only on systems that aren't plastic. Compressed air stores a lot of energy, so a plastic joint that lets go under air fails far more violently than one tested with water. (The 2024 IPC renumbers this section to 312.6.)
Source: 2021 IPC §312.5
JP-21 · Water heaters · 2021 IPC
Where may a water heater's temperature-and-pressure relief discharge pipe end?
- A. At least 12 in above the floor, where it's easy to see
- B. No more than 6 in above the floor, or at a waste receptor or floor drain
- C. Into a trapped branch drain
- D. Anywhere, as long as there's a valve to shut it off
Show answer and explanation — JP-21
Answer: B. No more than 6 in above the floor, or at a waste receptor or floor drain
IPC 504.6 requires the discharge to end no more than 6 in above the floor, or at a waste receptor or floor drain, with an air gap in the same room. Ending it low keeps scalding water away from people. The pipe can't be trapped (C), and no valve is allowed on it (D).
Source: 2021 IPC §504.6 · ICC: water heater safety in the I-Codes
JP-22 · Water heaters · 2021 IPC
Which description fits a code-compliant temperature-and-pressure relief discharge pipe?
- A. Reduced one size to fit the space
- B. Tee'd so it can also take the condensate line
- C. The full size of the valve outlet, draining by gravity, with no valves
- D. Threaded at the end so a hose can be attached
Show answer and explanation — JP-22
Answer: C. The full size of the valve outlet, draining by gravity, with no valves
IPC 504.6 requires the pipe to be no smaller than the valve outlet, to drain by gravity, and to have no valves, no tees and no threaded end. Each wrong option breaks one of those rules. Reducing the size or adding a tee can restrict the relief flow. A threaded end invites someone to cap it, and then the relief valve can't do its job.
Source: 2021 IPC §504.6 · ICC: water heater safety in the I-Codes
JP-23 · Fixtures and valves · 2021 IPC
What does IPC 412.3 require of a shower valve?
- A. Pressure-balance, thermostatic or combination control that limits the outlet to 120°F
- B. A maximum outlet temperature of 140°F
- C. Separate hot and cold handles
- D. A check valve on the cold side only
Show answer and explanation — JP-23
Answer: A. Pressure-balance, thermostatic or combination control that limits the outlet to 120°F
IPC 412.3 requires shower valves to be pressure-balance, thermostatic-mixing or combination types (ASSE 1016 / ASME A112.18.1 / CSA B125.1). They have to cap the outlet at 120°F so nobody gets scalded when someone else draws water. Starting with the 2021 edition, the valve also has to be rated for the flow of the showerhead it serves.
Source: 2021 IPC §412.3 · ICC 2021 significant change: 412.3
JP-24 · Pipe support · 2021 IPC
Under IPC Table 308.5, what's the maximum horizontal hanger spacing for PVC pipe?
- A. 6 ft
- B. 10 ft
- C. 4 ft
- D. 12 ft
Show answer and explanation — JP-24
Answer: C. 4 ft
PVC sags between supports, so the table limits horizontal spacing to 4 ft. 10 ft is the vertical spacing for PVC, which is why people mix the two up.
Source: 2021 IPC Table 308.5
JP-25 · Pipe support · 2021 IPC
What's the maximum horizontal hanger spacing for copper tubing 1¼ in and smaller?
- A. 6 ft
- B. 4 ft
- C. 10 ft
- D. 12 ft
Show answer and explanation — JP-25
Answer: A. 6 ft
Table 308.5 lists 6 ft horizontal and 10 ft vertical for copper 1¼ in and smaller. Larger copper sizes have their own row with a different spacing.
Source: 2021 IPC Table 308.5
Part 3: 2021 UPC track (4 questions)
JP-26 · Traps and venting · 2021 UPC
Under UPC Table 1002.2, what's the maximum distance from a 1½-in fixture trap to its vent?
- A. 30 in
- B. 60 in
- C. 6 ft
- D. 42 in
Show answer and explanation — JP-26
Answer: D. 42 in
The UPC limits a 1½-in trap arm to 42 in. 30 in is the 1¼-in row and 60 in is the 2-in row. C is the IPC number (see JP-11). In a UPC state, the IPC value is simply a wrong answer, which is why you confirm your code family before you drill.
Source: 2021 UPC Table 1002.2
JP-27 · Venting · 2021 UPC
Under UPC 906.1, how far above the roof must a vent pipe extend?
- A. 6 in
- B. 12 in
- C. 2 ft
- D. 7 ft
Show answer and explanation — JP-27
Answer: A. 6 in
UPC 906.1 requires vent pipes to extend at least 6 in above the roof and to sit at least 1 ft from any vertical surface. D is the IPC rule for a roof used for other purposes, such as a deck.
Source: 2021 UPC §906.1
JP-28 · Drainage · 2021 UPC
Under UPC 708.1, what's the minimum slope for a 3-in horizontal drain?
- A. 1/16 in per foot
- B. ⅛ in per foot
- C. ¼ in per foot
- D. ½ in per foot
Show answer and explanation — JP-28
Answer: C. ¼ in per foot
The UPC's standard minimum is ¼ in per foot. ⅛ in per foot is allowed only for pipes 4 in and larger, and only when the Authority Having Jurisdiction approves it. A 3-in drain doesn't qualify.
Source: 2021 UPC §708.1
JP-29 · Cleanouts · 2021 UPC
Under the UPC, when does a change of direction in a horizontal drain require an extra cleanout?
- A. At every 45° fitting
- B. For each aggregate change of direction greater than 135°
- C. At every 90° fitting
- D. Only at the base of stacks
Show answer and explanation — JP-29
Answer: B. For each aggregate change of direction greater than 135°
UPC 707.4 requires a cleanout at the upper end of each horizontal drain and at least every 100 ft. It also requires an extra cleanout for each aggregate (added-up) change of direction over 135°. Add the bends together instead of counting fittings.
Source: 2021 UPC §707.4
What your score means
Count your correct answers out of 29. Your score tells you how you did on these 29 questions. It isn't a scaled score, and it doesn't predict your exam result. It's most useful for showing you which topics to look up next.
When you miss one, find the answer in your own code book, not just in our explanation. On an open-book exam, that lookup is one of the skills being tested. Log each miss so it doesn't happen twice:
| Question ID | My answer | Correct answer | Why I missed it (didn't know / couldn't find it / misread / math) | Where it is in my code | Retest date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss-log entry 1 | |||||
| Miss-log entry 2 | |||||
| Miss-log entry 3 |
Retest yourself on each miss two or three days later. If you keep getting a question wrong because you couldn't find it, work on navigating the book. If you keep getting it wrong because you didn't know it, that topic needs more study.
Journeyman plumber exam format: five state examples
The format changes a lot from state to state. Here's what five official sources said when we checked them on October 2, 2026:
| State | Who runs the exam | Written exam | Book rules | Code tested | Practical part | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | TSBPE; Pearson VUE | 100 questions, 120 minutes | Closed book. No books or papers in the room | Texas plumbing law and board rules, plus the 2018 IPC with 2018 IFGC, or the 2018 UPC | Yes. 6 items, 240 minutes, in Waco or Austin | 70% |
| Washington | Dept. of Labor & Industries; PSI | 100 code questions, plus two code-application parts (waste and vent, water piping) | Closed book | 2015 UPC with Washington amendments | Not listed | Not stated on the L&I exam page |
| Colorado | State Plumbing Board; PSI | 100 scored questions in 240 minutes, plus up to 10 unscored in 30 minutes | Book provided at the test center. No writing, highlighting or indexing in it | 2021 IPC and 2021 IRC | None | 70% (70 correct) |
| Georgia | Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers; PSI | 100 scored and 20 pretest questions, in two 2.5-hour parts | Open book for journeyman. Bring your own references | 2024 Georgia Plumbing and Gas Codes, only, since May 1, 2026 | None | Scaled 70 |
| Louisiana | State Plumbing Board, which runs its own exam days | 80 questions, 3 hours | Open book in the board's candidate bulletin. The live board page now names the 2021 IPC and IRC; confirm current annotation rules in your admission materials | 2021 IPC and 2021 IRC | Yes. 1 hour: Floor Plan Project, Screw Pipe Project and Copper Project | 70% on each part |
Three of these are changing or about to change:
- Texas: The board has proposed adopting the 2021 codes (published in the Texas Register in August 2026). The current Pearson VUE handbook (revised 08/2025) still lists the 2018 editions.
- Louisiana: A 2026 law (Act 908) moves plumbing licensing to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Existing licenses convert on January 1, 2027.
- Georgia: The exam covers the 2024 Georgia codes only, from May 1, 2026, even though the PSI bulletin itself is dated November 2024. It also gives the exact topic split:
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Installation | 21 |
| Regulations | 15 |
| Maintenance and repair | 15 |
| Safety | 15 |
| Pipe cutting and joining | 10 |
| Planning | 7 |
| Testing | 7 |
| General laws | 5 |
| Calculations | 5 |
That's the kind of breakdown to look for in your own bulletin.
If your state isn't listed, the five checks at the top of this page still work. Your board's current bulletin always beats any prep site, including this one.
Which plumbing code is on your exam?
Most states build their plumbing rules on one of two model codes:
- The IPC, published by the International Code Council (ICC)
- The UPC, published by IAPMO
A state adopts one of them, often adds its own amendments, and then tests on that version. Some exams also cover fuel gas (the IFGC) or parts of the residential code (the IRC).
The edition matters as much as the code. Among the five states above, the tested editions run from the 2015 UPC (Washington) to the 2024 codes (Georgia). Numbers and even section numbers can change between editions. The 2024 IPC, for example, added a vacuum test option for drain, waste and vent piping, which shifted the test sections.
The two codes really do disagree on some exam-style questions:
| Rule | 2021 IPC | 2021 UPC |
|---|---|---|
| Max trap-to-vent distance, 1½-in trap arm | 6 ft (Table 909.1) | 42 in (Table 1002.2) |
| Vent height above an ordinary roof | Set by each adopting state or city (903.1) | At least 6 in (906.1) |
| Trap seal depth | 2 to 4 in (1002.4) | 2 to 4 in (1005.1) |
| 1.6-gpf water closet, private/public | 3 / 4 DFU (Table 709.1) | 3 / 4 DFU (Table 702.1) |
If your exam uses a different edition or a state code, the practice questions above still help with how to reason and where to look. But don't memorize a number or a section that conflicts with your book. Check every answer against the exact code your board names.
You can read both model codes free online: the 2021 IPC on ICC Digital Codes and the 2021 UPC on IAPMO's site.
Code-lookup speed drill
On an open-book exam, the fastest way to lose points is to know the answer but run out of time finding it. This drill trains the finding.
How to run it: Set a timer. For each row, find the section in your code book without looking at the answer columns. Write down your time, then check your locations against the table. Repeat every few days and try to beat your time.
| # | Find… | 2021 IPC | 2021 UPC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trap seal depth | 1002.4 | 1005.1 |
| 2 | Maximum trap-to-vent distance | Table 909.1 | Table 1002.2 |
| 3 | Drainage fixture unit values | Table 709.1 | Table 702.1 |
| 4 | Vent terminal near windows and doors | 903.5 | 906.2 |
| 5 | Vent height above the roof | 903.1 | 906.1 |
| 6 | Minimum slope of horizontal drains | Table 704.1 | 708.1 |
| 7 | Cleanout locations | Section 708 | 707.4 |
| 8 | Air admittance valves | Section 918 | Find it in your book |
| 9 | Pressure-reducing valve threshold | 604.8 | Find it in your book |
| 10 | Fixture flow rates | Table 604.4 | Find it in your book |
| 11 | Relief valve discharge pipe | 504.6 | Find it in your book |
| 12 | Shower valve temperature limit | 412.3 | Find it in your book |
| 13 | Hanger spacing | Table 308.5 | Find it in your book |
A few habits make lookups faster:
- Use the index first, not page-flipping.
- Learn the chapter order so you know roughly where things sit.
- Read the whole section, exceptions included. Exceptions are where exam questions like to hide.
Before you tab or highlight anything, check your current bulletin or admission materials. Colorado provides the book and bans writing, highlighting and indexing. Louisiana's live board page now names the 2021 IPC and IRC, while an older board candidate bulletin contains the annotation rules; use the instructions issued for your own appointment. A book that breaks your test center's rules can cost you the exam.
Your four-week study schedule
Assumes: 60 to 90 minutes on weekdays, one longer weekend session, and that you've already done the five checks. If you're new to working from a code book, or your exam includes a practical part, plan more time.
| Week | Weekdays | Weekend |
|---|---|---|
| 1: Set up | Get your current bulletin and the exact code edition it names. Learn the table of contents and chapter order. Do the lookup drill once, untimed. | Take all the practice questions that match your code, cold. Log every miss by topic and by cause. |
| 2: Drainage and venting | Traps and trap seals, fixture units, drain and vent sizing, trap arms, vent terminals, cleanouts. Look each one up in your code; don't just read about it. | Rework your misses. Do the lookup drill timed. |
| 3: Water supply, heaters, testing | Pressure and pressure-reducing valves, flow rates, backflow prevention, water heater relief, test methods, pipe supports. Add fuel gas if your bulletin lists it. | Plumbing math: fall, offsets, head pressure, volume. If you have a practical, sketch one drain-and-vent layout from a floor plan and size it from your fixture-unit table. |
| 4: Exam conditions | Mixed, timed question sets at your exam's pace. Work out the pace from your bulletin by dividing the minutes by the number of questions. Re-study only the topics in your miss log. | Retake the practice set. Do one last timed lookup drill. Rest the day before. |
Open book vs. closed book changes the emphasis:
| If your exam is… | Spend extra time on… |
|---|---|
| Open book (you bring the code) | Index use, chapter map, reading exceptions, timed lookups, marking your book only as your rules allow |
| Book provided at the test center | Navigating an unmarked copy. Practice lookups in a clean book |
| Closed book | Recalling the rules and tables your bulletin lists, plumbing math, and plan reading without the book |
Only have two weeks? Fold weeks 1 and 2 into week one, and weeks 3 and 4 into week two. Keep the timed lookup drill and the miss log. Cut extra reading first.
In the final week: re-open your current bulletin and confirm three things:
- your appointment and ID rules;
- which references and calculator you're allowed;
- where and when to check in.
Don't switch study materials in the last few days.
Practical exams and isometric drawings
Some states add a hands-on or drawing part to the written exam:
- Texas: a 6-item practical in Waco or Austin. Its review course describes pipe work (measuring, cutting and assembling) and designing a two-story drainage and vent system.
- Louisiana: a one-hour practical with a Floor Plan Project, Screw Pipe Project and Copper Project.
- Colorado and Georgia: no practical, according to their bulletins.
An isometric drawing shows piping in three dimensions using lines drawn at 30° from horizontal. To practice:
- Sketch the drain, waste and vent layout for a small bathroom group from a floor plan.
- Label each fixture's fixture units.
- Size the piping from your code's tables.
- Check the result against your book.
Sources
Last verified: October 2, 2026. That date covers the state exam details and the code citations on this page. We checked:
- each state fact against that board's web page or the testing company's candidate bulletin;
- each code answer against published 2021 code text or an official/adopted reproduction of that text, including ICC material and California's adoption of the 2021 UPC.
Rules and editions change, so confirm yours with your board.
State boards and exam bulletins
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, Journeyman Plumber; Pearson VUE, Texas Plumbing Examiners Candidate Handbook (rev. 08/2025): exams and times p. 9, passing score and retakes p. 10, exam-room rules p. 11, references p. 12; Pearson VUE, Journeyman Review Course (rev. 09/2025), p. 1: practical exam description
- Washington L&I, Plumber Examination: "About the exam" and "Exam content and structure"
- Colorado State Plumbing Board, Applications; PSI, Colorado Plumbing candidate bulletin (updated 9/3/2026): fees p. 1, references p. 6, exam and passing score p. 7
- Georgia Secretary of State, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers FAQ; PSI, Georgia Plumbing candidate bulletin (rev. 11/1/2024): content outline pp. 5–8, exam parts pp. 8–9, scoring p. 10, references pp. 13–14
- State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, Licenses and Journeyman application; Louisiana Legislature, Act 908 of 2026 (HB 953)
Code sources
- International Code Council, 2021 International Plumbing Code
- IAPMO, 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code
- ICC, 2021 IPC venting guide: trap arm distances, air admittance valves
- ICC Building Safety Journal, Plumbing trap requirements under the IPC
- ICC Building Safety Journal, Water heater safety in the I-Codes
- ICC, 2021 significant change to IPC 412.3, shower valves
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the International Code Council, IAPMO, Pearson VUE, PSI, or any state plumbing board or licensing authority named on this page. Code and exam names are used only to identify their subjects, and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Our practice questions are original and unofficial. They are not actual or recalled exam questions. Your licensing authority and its current exam bulletin control eligibility, the code edition tested, allowed references and exam rules.
By the Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team