Plumber License Requirements by State

There's no national plumber license: 33 states and DC issue their own journeyman-level plumber license, 11 states license only plumbing contractors or master plumbers, and 6 leave plumber licensing to cities and counties. Find your state below; every row links to the official board or law it comes from.

Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team · Last verified October 2, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Hours and years are shown the way each board states them, so don't compare an "8,000 hours" row with a "4 years" row as if they were the same unit. Many boards also accept apprenticeship completion, military service or an out-of-state license as a route. Your state's entry below has those details.

Three ways states license plumbers

State license (33 states and DC). The state licenses you as a person. You usually start as a registered apprentice or trainee, log supervised hours, pass a code exam for a journeyman license, and later qualify for master. Texas is a typical example: 8,000 hours plus a 48-hour approved course before the journeyman exam. A few of these states stop at journeyman level and have no master license at all (Alaska, Oregon and Washington, for example).

Contractor or master only (11 states). The state license belongs to the business or its qualifier, not to every plumber on the crew. California is the clearest case. It has no state journeyman card, but a C-36 plumbing contractor's qualifier needs 4 years of journeyman-level experience within the last 10 years. Delaware and New Jersey license master plumbers only. In Florida, the state licenses contractors while counties and cities issue journeyman licenses.

Local licensing (6 states). Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania and Wyoming have no state plumber license. That doesn't mean you can work unlicensed. It means the city or county where you work is the licensing authority. Pennsylvania's labor department says this plainly: some municipalities license plumbers and plumbing contractors, and the state doesn't keep a list of which ones. New York City, Philadelphia and St. Louis all run their own plumber exams.

If you're in a local-licensing state, call the building or licensing office for the city where the job is. Ask whether you need a journeyman or master card, a contractor registration, an exam, a bond or insurance before you take paid work or pull a permit.

Moving to another state: where your license carries over

A plumbing license isn't a national passport. Some boards name specific states they reciprocate with. Others look at your license and hours case by case. A few say outright that they don't reciprocate at all.

These are the agreements the boards themselves name:

Georgia, Hawaii and Indiana say they have no reciprocity for plumbers. North Carolina has no reciprocity agreements, though it waives its technical exam for South Carolina licensees. Tennessee offers no out-of-state exam waivers.

Agreements aren't always two-way, so read the receiving state's page, not your home state's. Iowa lists South Dakota, for instance, but South Dakota's own page names no states and reviews each license case by case.

No named agreement doesn't always mean starting over. Texas lets journeymen and masters licensed in another state sit its journeyman exam without the 48-hour course. Oklahoma, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado and Vermont also have routes for out-of-state licenses or hours. The details are in each state entry.

Before you move, gather proof of your hours while your current employer can still sign for them. Boards often want experience signed off by the plumber who supervised you. Massachusetts, for example, asks for a Statement of Experience from your supervising master. That signature is much harder to get after you've left.

How plumbing experience is counted

The number you need depends on which license you're after. Journeyman hours, master hours and contractor experience aren't interchangeable, and boards count them differently:

• Hours or years. Some boards publish hours (Michigan: 6,000 hours over at least 3 years). Others publish years (Arkansas: at least 4 years). Some use both, and you must meet both (North Dakota: 4 years and 7,600 hours).
• Yearly caps. Several states limit how many hours count per year, so you can't rush the clock with overtime. Oregon credits no more than 2,000 hours a year, and South Dakota requires at least 1,900 hours in each apprentice year.
• Classroom time. Some states require classroom hours on top of field hours (Connecticut: 576 classroom hours; Massachusetts: 550 theory hours). Others let classroom time replace part of your field experience (Oklahoma, Alaska, Montana).
• Registered status. In many states your hours only count while you're a registered apprentice or trainee. Register before you start logging.

Your next steps

1. Find your state in the table and read its full entry.
2. Check whether the state license applies to you as a worker or only to the contracting business.
3. If you're in a local-licensing state, contact the city or county where you'll work.
4. Register as an apprentice or trainee if your state requires it, before you count hours.
5. Keep signed records of your hours, employers and classroom training.
6. Open the official board page and confirm the current experience and exam rules before you apply.
7. If you're moving, check the new state's reciprocity rules before you assume your license counts.

Requirements by state

Alabama

Statewide licenses from the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board.

• License types: Apprentice (registration, no exam), Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber. Gas fitter and medical gas certificates are separate.
• Journeyman: Two years of current work experience as an apprentice (or a board-approved apprenticeship program with equivalent registered time), then the journeyman exam.
• Master or contractor: At least one year as a certified journeyman, then the master exam. Effective January 1, 2026, master applicants must also pass a Business Law exam.
• Exam: Exams are given through Prov, Inc.
• Moving here: Reciprocity with Mississippi for master plumbers.
• Official sources: How do I become licensed? · Exams · Reciprocation

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Alaska

Statewide Certificate of Fitness for plumbers; no master plumber tier.

• License types: Plumber Trainee, Plumber Journeyman, restricted gas (PG) and water/sewer (PU) certificates. Contracting is licensed separately by the Dept. of Commerce.
• Journeyman: 8,000 hours of legally obtained work experience. Up to 1,000 hours of classroom training can substitute (8 AAC 90.130). Trainees must be in a USDOL-registered apprenticeship.
• Master or contractor: Alaska has no master plumber certificate. A plumbing business needs a Mechanical Contractor license plus a Mechanical Administrator license from the Dept. of Commerce.
• Exam: Pass mark 70% (8 AAC 90.115).
• Moving here: Reciprocal or provisional certificates can be issued for substantially similar licenses (8 AAC 90.111–.112). No states are named.
• Official sources: Mechanical Inspection FAQ · Certificate of Fitness regulations, 8 AAC 90 · Construction contractor licensing (Commerce)

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Arizona

No state journeyman or master license. The ROC licenses plumbing contractors.

• License types: Contractor classifications C-37, CR-37, R-37, R-37R, CR-77 and CR-78 (solar plumbing liquid only).
• Journeyman: Arizona does not issue a state journeyman plumber license.
• Master or contractor: The contractor's qualifying party needs 4 years of hands-on and/or managerial experience (C-37, CR-37, R-37, R-37R, CR-77) and must pass the Statutes & Rules exam and the trade exam.
• Exam: ROC exams are administered by PSI.
• Moving here: The classification document names no reciprocity agreements.
• Watch out: The ROC classification document is dated 2020; check the ROC site for the current version.
• Official sources: ROC license classification requirements (PDF) · PSI candidate bulletin for ROC exams

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Arkansas

Statewide licenses from the Arkansas Department of Health.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, restricted licenses (e.g., gas fitter, service line installer).
• Journeyman: At least 4 years of experience or its equivalent (Rules Sec. II(a)(i)).
• Master or contractor: At least 5 years of experience, and a journeyman license held for one full year (Sec. II(a)(vi)).
• Exam: Given by the Department; 70% to pass. It covers the Arkansas State Plumbing & Natural Gas Code.
• Moving here: Reciprocity agreements with Ohio, Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma (Sec. II(j)).
• Official sources: Plumbing licensing rules (eff. Sep 5, 2024) · Plumbing & Natural Gas program page

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California

No state journeyman or master license. California licenses plumbing contractors (C-36).

• License types: C-36 Plumbing Contractor.
• Journeyman: California does not issue a state journeyman plumber license.
• Master or contractor: The C-36 qualifying individual must document at least 4 years of journeyman-level or higher experience in the classification, gained within the last 10 years. The license needs a $25,000 contractor bond (since Jan 1, 2023).
• Exam: Law & Business exam plus the C-36 trade exam, administered by PSI.
• Moving here: No reciprocity agreement is listed on the pages checked.
• Official sources: C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification · Certification of Work Experience · Bond requirements · Examination FAQ

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Colorado

Statewide licenses from the Colorado State Plumbing Board.

• License types: Apprentice (registration), Residential Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber, Master Plumber; plumbing contractors register separately.
• Journeyman: Journeyworker: 4 years (6,800 hours) of practical experience. Residential Plumber: 2 years (3,400 hours).
• Master or contractor: Five full-time years (8,500 hours) of practical experience.
• Exam: PSI. 70% to pass for Residential and Journeyworker, 75% for Master. Based on the International Plumbing and Fuel Gas Codes.
• Moving here: License by endorsement for substantially equivalent licenses; no states are named.
• Official sources: Plumbing applications and requirements

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Connecticut

Statewide journeyperson and contractor licenses from the Department of Consumer Protection.

• License types: P-2 Unlimited Journeyperson, P-1 Unlimited Contractor, limited licenses (P-6/P-7 sewer/storm/water; P-8/P-9 gasoline tank/piping), registered apprentice.
• Journeyman: P-2: a registered apprenticeship of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training over at least 4 calendar years plus 576 classroom hours, or an equivalency route with the same hours.
• Master or contractor: P-1: 2 years as a licensed P-2 journeyperson, or the equivalent.
• Exam: PSI.
• Moving here: An equivalent out-of-state license route exists, but it requires the same hours and curriculum. No states are named.
• Watch out: A P-2 may work only while employed by a licensed contractor.
• Official sources: Plumbing licenses and scope of work · Journeyperson by equivalent experience and training · Journeyperson by equivalent out-of-state license

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Delaware

Delaware licenses master plumbers only.

• License types: Master Plumber (plus HVACR and restricted classes). The journeyman certificate comes from a federally approved apprenticeship program, not the Board.
• Journeyman: No state journeyman license. Journeyman status is shown by an apprenticeship completion certificate.
• Master or contractor: Two years under a licensed master after earning a journeyman certificate, or 7 years of supervised experience plus a state-approved technical school (24 DE Admin Code 1800, Reg. 2.1).
• Exam: The master exam is offered quarterly (Reg. 2.2.1).
• Moving here: Licenses from Connecticut, Iowa and Maryland are treated as substantially similar.
• Official sources: New master license · Board regulations, 24 DE Admin Code 1800

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District of Columbia

District-wide licenses from the Board of Industrial Trades.

• License types: Apprentice (registration), Journeyman Plumber/Gasfitter, Master Plumber/Gasfitter.
• Journeyman: At least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice, or a mechanical engineering degree plus 2 years, or a Board-deemed equivalent (D.C. Code §47-2853.122(b)).
• Master or contractor: A journeyman license (or meeting the journeyman requirements) plus at least 4 years working as a journeyman (§47-2853.122(c)).
• Exam: PSI.
• Moving here: Maryland journeyman and master plumbers licensed by examination.
• Official sources: DLCP plumbing licenses · D.C. Code §47-2853.122

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Florida

The state licenses plumbing contractors; counties and cities issue journeyman licenses.

• License types: State: Certified Plumbing Contractor (CF, statewide) and Registered Plumbing Contractor (RF, local competency). Local: journeyman.
• Journeyman: Counties and cities may issue journeyman licenses to people who completed a registered state-approved apprenticeship or at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training, passed the Block & Associates journeyman exam (75%), and completed Florida Building Commission code coursework (F.S. 489.1455).
• Master or contractor: Certified contractor: 4 years of experience including at least 1 year as a foreman, or degree and college-credit combinations (F.S. 489.111).
• Exam: State contractor exams are given by Professional Testing, Inc.
• Moving here: Florida localities must recognize a journeyman license issued by another Florida county or city. No interstate reciprocity was found.
• Official sources: Construction Industry Licensing Board · CILB examination information · F.S. 489.1455 (journeyman) · F.S. 489.111 (contractor experience)

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Georgia

Statewide licenses from the State Construction Industry Licensing Board's plumbing division.

• License types: Journeyman Plumber; Master Plumber Class I (restricted); Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted).
• Journeyman: At least 1 year of experience in plumbing work (Rule 121-3-.02).
• Master or contractor: Class I: 5 years of plumbing experience, at least 2 of them as a licensed journeyman. Class II: the same plus commercial or industrial experience.
• Exam: PSI.
• Moving here: Georgia has no reciprocity with any state for master or journeyman plumbers.
• Watch out: The Board's current exam application form lists 3 years for journeyman, while the Board rule says 1 year. Ask the Division which figure it applies before you file.
• Official sources: Plumbers FAQ · Board rules, Chapter 121-3

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Hawaii

Statewide licenses from the Board of Electricians & Plumbers.

• License types: Journey Worker Plumber, Master Plumber.
• Journeyman: At least 5 years full time, and not less than 10,000 hours, as a helper to a journey worker or master plumber (HRS 448E-5).
• Master or contractor: At least 2 years licensed as a journey worker plumber, or equivalent experience.
• Exam: Prometric; based on the Uniform Plumbing Code.
• Moving here: Hawaii does not reciprocate with any jurisdiction.
• Official sources: Board of Electricians & Plumbers · License application (June 2026)

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Idaho

Statewide licenses from the Idaho State Plumbing Board.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Contractor, and specialty classes.
• Journeyman: 8,000 hours of supervised work plus 576 hours of board-approved instruction, or 16,000 hours of supervised work (IDAPA 24.39.20.100.02).
• Master or contractor: Idaho has no master tier. A plumbing contractor needs a journeyman certificate, a passing contractor exam and a $2,000 compliance bond.
• Exam: IAPMO exam taken through PSI; pass it before applying.
• Moving here: Montana, Oregon and Washington journeyman licenses earned by exam. You must live in the state that issued the license.
• Official sources: Idaho State Plumbing Board · Journeyman application · IDAPA 24.39.20 rules

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Illinois

Statewide plumber licenses from IDPH.

• License types: Apprentice Plumber, Plumber, Plumbing Contractor registration.
• Journeyman: Four years as an Illinois-licensed apprentice with at least 1,400 hours each year, or 2 years as an apprentice plus 2 years of approved plumbing courses (77 Ill. Adm. Code 750.300).
• Master or contractor: Illinois has no master plumber license. A plumbing contractor registers with IDPH, names a licensed plumber of record, and carries insurance and a $20,000 bond.
• Exam: Given by IDPH.
• Moving here: City of Chicago licensees can apply for an Illinois license through reciprocity. Out-of-state experience can be credited hour for hour.
• Official sources: IDPH Plumbing Program · 77 Ill. Adm. Code 750.300

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Indiana

Statewide licenses from the Indiana Plumbing Commission.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Contractor.
• Journeyman: At least 4 years in an approved apprenticeship program, or a plumbing license from another state (IC 25-28.5-1-12).
• Master or contractor: Indiana has no master tier. A plumbing contractor qualifies through the same 4-year apprenticeship or experience paths and passes the contractor exam.
• Exam: PROV.
• Moving here: Reciprocity is not available. Out-of-state applicants apply, go before the board, and take the exam.
• Official sources: Plumbing licensing information · IC 25-28.5-1-12

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Iowa

Statewide licenses from the Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyperson, Master, Contractor, specialty licenses.
• Journeyman: At least 4 years of practical experience as an apprentice in a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship (required since Jan 1, 2010).
• Master or contractor: A journeyperson license plus 2 years of work experience, or a master license from another jurisdiction. Contractors must hold or employ an active master and carry $500,000 liability insurance and a $5,000 bond.
• Exam: Kirkwood Community College, 15 Iowa sites.
• Moving here: South Dakota licensees who passed a written exam can get an Iowa reciprocal license without retesting.
• Official sources: Journeyperson licensure · Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board licensure

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Kansas

No state plumber license. Cities and counties that license plumbers issue the certificates.

• License types: Set locally (typically journeyman, master, contractor).
• Journeyman: State law sets the minimum for a local journeyman certificate: 2 years under a certificate holder; trade school can count for no more than 1 of those years (K.S.A. 12-1509).
• Master or contractor: State minimum for a local master certificate: a journeyman certificate held 2 years, or 4 years of field experience.
• Exam: Kansas law designates ICC, IAPMO or Prometric exams; localities may use alternatives (K.S.A. 12-1508, 12-1510).
• Moving here: A certificate earned on a designated exam is valid in any Kansas city or county that licenses plumbers, without retesting.
• Official sources: K.S.A. 12-1508 to 12-1510

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Kentucky

Statewide licenses from the Division of Plumbing.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master.
• Journeyman: Two consecutive years as an apprentice, or an approved plumbing/Kentucky code course plus 1 year as an apprentice (815 KAR 20:030 §3).
• Master or contractor: A journeyman license held at least 2 years while employed under a master; other routes for Kentucky PEs, out-of-state licensees, and 4 years of practice in a state without licensing (§2).
• Exam: State-administered written exam with pipe-sizing drawing (and a practical portion for journeyman). At least 75% on each part for journeyman, 80% for master.
• Moving here: Reciprocity is discretionary (KRS 318.040); no states are named.
• Official sources: 815 KAR 20:030 · KRS 318.040 · Journeyman application, form PLB-2

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Louisiana

Statewide licenses — and the licensing board changes on January 1, 2027.

• License types: Apprentice, Residential Plumber (limited), Journeyman, Master, plus endorsements (medical gas, water supply protection, gas fitter).
• Journeyman: Through Dec 31, 2026: 8,000 hours as an unindentured apprentice, or 7,000 hours as an indentured apprentice, under licensed supervision, then a written and manual exam (LAC 46:LV §305). From Jan 1, 2027: 2,500 hours of verified apprentice work plus a written and a practical exam (Act 908 of 2026, R.S. 37:2156.1.1).
• Master or contractor: Through Dec 31, 2026: a current journeyman license (or a PE with 5 years of plumbing experience) and a nationally recognized exam (§306). From Jan 1, 2027: 1,000 hours of verified work as a licensed journeyman plus a written exam.
• Exam: Given by the Board; the rule allows private testing services.
• Moving here: Temporary journeyman working permits for holders from states with like exams that recognize Louisiana licenses. No states are named.
• Watch out: Act 908 of 2026 abolishes the State Plumbing Board. From Jan 1, 2027, plumbers are licensed by a Plumbing Contractors Subcommittee of the State Licensing Board for Contractors. Apprentice, journeyman and master licenses held on Dec 31, 2026 carry over as equivalent licenses.
• Official sources: LAC 46:LV, State Plumbing Board rules · Act 908 of 2026 (HB 953), enrolled · Act 908 digest

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Maine

Statewide licenses from the Plumbers' Examining Board.

• License types: Trainee, Journeyman-in-Training, Journeyman, Master.
• Journeyman: Two years (4,000 hours) as a licensed trainee under a master, or 2,000 hours as a journeyman-in-training. A journeyman-in-training first completes an approved college course, registered apprenticeship or 2-year CTE plumbing program and passes the journeyman exam.
• Master or contractor: One year (2,000 hours) as a journeyman, or 4 years (8,000 hours) as a trainee.
• Exam: PROV. Journeyman: 80 questions, closed book, 70% to pass. Master: 100 questions, 75%. Maine uses the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code.
• Moving here: Licenses from states with at least equivalent standards that grant similar privileges to Maine licensees (32 MRSA §3504-A). No states are named.
• Official sources: Individual licenses · 32 MRSA §3501 · PROV trades bulletin

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Maryland

Statewide licenses (plumbing and gas fitting combined) from the State Board of Plumbing.

• License types: Apprentice, Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter, Master Plumber/Gas Fitter.
• Journeyman: An apprentice license held at least 4 years, 7,500 hours of training under a licensed master plumber, and 32 hours of backflow prevention device testing training.
• Master or contractor: A journey license held at least 2 years plus 3,750 hours of training under a licensed master plumber.
• Exam: Comprehensive written exam given by PSI.
• Moving here: Reciprocal licenses for plumbers licensed by exam in Baltimore County, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) area, and DC; master plumber/gas fitter only for Delaware.
• Official sources: Licensing requirements · Examination information · Reciprocity

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Massachusetts

Statewide licenses from the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers & Gas Fitters.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, plumbing business license.
• Journeyman: 6,800 clock hours as a licensed apprentice under a Massachusetts master (or a journeyman employed by one), a high school diploma or equivalent, and 550 clock hours of theory over at least 4 years (248 CMR 11.02, dated Oct 24, 2025).
• Master or contractor: At least 1 year (1,700 clock hours) as a Massachusetts journeyman plus 110 hours of Tier 5 education.
• Exam: PSI; written and practical parts.
• Moving here: Out-of-state applicants can petition for a substantial-equivalency review (248 CMR 11.02(7)).
• Watch out: An older Board application form still lists 8,500 hours for journeyman; the current regulation says 6,800.
• Official sources: Apply for a plumber license · Apply for a journeyman plumber license · 248 CMR 11.00 education and experience

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Michigan

Statewide licenses from LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes.

• License types: Apprentice (registered), Journey Plumber, Master Plumber, Plumbing Contractor.
• Journeyman: At least 6,000 hours over at least 3 years as an actively registered plumbing apprentice; age 18+.
• Master or contractor: 4,000 hours as a journey plumber over at least 2 years immediately before applying. A plumbing contractor must hold a master license or employ a master.
• Exam: Written exam through PSI; practical exam scheduled by LARA.
• Moving here: No reciprocity agreement is listed.
• Official sources: Plumbing examination and licensing information

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Minnesota

Statewide licenses from the Department of Labor and Industry.

• License types: Registered unlicensed plumber, Journeyworker, Master, restricted licenses, Plumbing Contractor.
• Journeyman: A registered unlicensed plumber needs at least 4 years and 7,000 hours of practical experience, including at least 2,000 hours of water distribution, 2,000 hours of drain-waste-vent and 1,000 hours of fixture installation, before applying for the journeyworker exam. A DLI-registered apprenticeship is another qualifying route. No more than 2 years of experience from another state counts unless you were licensed there.
• Master or contractor: At least 1 year as a licensed journeyworker, or an equivalent license from another state.
• Exam: Applied for through DLI.
• Moving here: Another state's license can qualify if DLI finds its requirements equivalent. No states are named.
• Watch out: In cities over 5,000 people, a journeyworker must work under a master (Minn. Stat. 326B.46).
• Official sources: Experience requirements · Registered unlicensed plumbers · Minn. Stat. 326B.46

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Mississippi

The state licenses plumbing contractors; journeyman and master cards are local.

• License types: Commercial Plumbing and Residential Plumbing contractor classifications.
• Journeyman: Mississippi does not issue a state journeyman or master plumber license. Check the city where you will work.
• Master or contractor: A commercial certificate of responsibility is required for commercial contracts of $50,000 or more. MSBOC also requires residential plumbing subcontractors working on residential construction or residential improvement projects to hold the appropriate residential license; its Residential Plumbing classification requires a test.
• Exam: Trade exam plus Mississippi business & law exam.
• Moving here: Tennessee waives the plumbing trade exam; Ohio plumbing is waived; Alabama commercial plumbing through the Alabama board. Mississippi's business & law exam is still required.
• Official sources: License classifications · MSBOC FAQ · Reciprocity · Commercial laws & rules

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Missouri

No state plumber license. State law requires master and journeyman certificates in cities of 15,000 or more, issued locally.

• License types: Set locally (e.g., City of St. Louis: master plumber, journeyman plumber, master drainlayer).
• Journeyman: Requirements are set by the city. RSMo §341.010 requires master or journeyman plumbers in cities or towns of 15,000+ to hold a certificate.
• Master or contractor: Set by the city.
• Exam: Set by the city.
• Moving here: Not applicable at state level.
• Official sources: RSMo §341.010 · City of St. Louis plumbers & drainlayers board

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Montana

Statewide licenses from the Montana Board of Plumbers.

• License types: Journeyman, Master; medical gas endorsement.
• Journeyman: 7,500 aggregate hours over at least 5 years, or a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship completion certificate. Accredited trade school can count for up to 2 years.
• Master or contractor: 4 years as a licensed journeyman, 3 of them working for a master or in a supervisory role.
• Exam: IAPMO. Journeyman: 100-question open-book written exam (70%) plus a practical exam, on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as amended.
• Moving here: Journeyman reciprocity with Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota. Montana does not reciprocate master licenses.
• Watch out: A Montana journeyman may work only for a licensed master.
• Official sources: Board of Plumbers FAQ · Journeyman application checklist · MCA 37-69-304

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Nebraska

No state plumber license. Cities set up plumbing boards and license plumbers.

• License types: Set locally (Lincoln: apprentice, journeyman, master, master contractor).
• Journeyman: Set by the city. Example: Lincoln requires 4 years of practical experience, with limited credit for education, and an exam.
• Master or contractor: Set by the city. Example: Lincoln's master contractor license requires a journeyman license held at least 1 year.
• Exam: Set by the city.
• Moving here: Not applicable at state level.
• Official sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. 18-1901 · City of Lincoln trade licensing

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Nevada

No state journeyman or master license. The Contractors Board licenses plumbing contractors (C-1d).

• License types: C-1 Plumbing & Heating, subclass C-1d Plumbing.
• Journeyman: Nevada does not issue a state journeyman plumber license.
• Master or contractor: The qualifier needs at least 4 full years of experience as a journeyman, supervising employee or contractor in the classification within the past 15 years; up to 3 years can come from accredited training. A financial statement is required.
• Exam: Business & Law and trade exams through PSI.
• Moving here: Licensure by endorsement lists equivalents: Arizona CR-77, California C-36 + C-4, Tennessee CMC (trade exam waived) and Florida CF (not waived). Requires 4 years of active out-of-state licensure.
• Official sources: License requirements · Licensure by endorsement · NAC 624

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New Hampshire

Statewide licenses from the Mechanical Licensing Board.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master (RSA 153:29).
• Journeyman: An apprenticeship completion certificate, or a journeyman license from another state, plus a passing exam score of 70% (Saf-Mec 305.01(b)).
• Master or contractor: A New Hampshire journeyman license held at least 6 months, a 75% exam score, and no discipline in the past year (Saf-Mec 305.01(a)).
• Exam: Written exam; 70% journeyman, 75% master.
• Moving here: State law allows reciprocity agreements, but none are named. Out-of-state licensees can sit the exam.
• Official sources: Saf-Mec 300 rules · RSA 153:27–38

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New Jersey

New Jersey licenses master plumbers only.

• License types: Master Plumber. Journeyman and apprentice are defined roles, not licenses.
• Journeyman: No state journeyman license. A journeyman is someone who completed a 4-year USDOL apprenticeship or an engineering bachelor's and works under a master (N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3).
• Master or contractor: A 4-year USDOL apprenticeship or a bachelor's in mechanical, plumbing or sanitary engineering, plus at least 1 year (1,200 hours) of New Jersey journeyman experience after that (N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.2), plus a propane education requirement.
• Exam: PSI: trade, business & law, and practical exams, 70% each.
• Moving here: No reciprocity agreement was found.
• Official sources: N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.2 · N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3 · PSI candidate bulletin

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New Mexico

Statewide journeyman certificates and contractor licenses from the Construction Industries Division.

• License types: Journeyman Plumber (JP) certificate; MM-1 Plumbing and MM-98 Mechanical contractor licenses with a qualifying party.
• Journeyman: Two years (4,000 hours) of experience within the 10 years before applying; accredited training can cover up to half (14.6.4.8 NMAC).
• Master or contractor: New Mexico has no master tier. A contractor's qualifying party needs 4 years of experience within the past 10 years (14.6.3.8 NMAC).
• Exam: 75% to pass; applications and scheduling through PSI.
• Moving here: Journeyman reciprocity covers electrical only, not plumbing.
• Official sources: 14.6.4 NMAC (journeyman) · 14.6.3 NMAC (qualifying party)

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New York

No state plumber license. Cities license plumbers.

• License types: Set locally. NYC: Licensed Master Plumber; journeymen are registered.
• Journeyman: Set by the city.
• Master or contractor: Example, New York City: 7 years within the 10 years before applying under a licensed master plumber, with at least 2 years as a registered journeyman; degree and RA/PE alternatives exist.
• Exam: NYC: written and practical exams run by the Department of Buildings.
• Moving here: Not applicable at state level.
• Official sources: NYC: obtain a master plumber license · General City Law §40-a

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North Carolina

No state journeyman license. The Board licenses plumbing contractors.

• License types: Plumbing contractor P-I (all buildings), P-II (single-family detached), Restricted Limited Plumbing.
• Journeyman: North Carolina does not issue a journeyman plumber license.
• Master or contractor: To sit the plumbing contractor exam: 2 years (4,000 hours) of full-time on-site experience; up to half can come from academic or technical training. Restricted Limited Plumbing: 9 months (1,500 hours).
• Exam: Given by the Board; a business & law exam is also required.
• Moving here: The Board has no reciprocity agreements. South Carolina licensees can get the technical exam waived but still take North Carolina's business & law exam.
• Official sources: Applicant information · G.S. 87-21

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North Dakota

Statewide licenses from the State Plumbing Board.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master.
• Journeyman: Four years and 7,600 hours as an apprentice under a licensed master plumber.
• Master or contractor: Two years and 3,400 hours as a licensed journeyman; age 21+.
• Exam: Four-part exam using the North Dakota Plumbing Code.
• Moving here: Reciprocity with Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota. A Montana master converts to a North Dakota journeyman license only.
• Official sources: Plumber licensure · FAQ

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Ohio

No state journeyman license. OCILB licenses plumbing contractors.

• License types: Plumbing Contractor.
• Journeyman: Ohio does not issue a state journeyman plumber license.
• Master or contractor: At least 5 years as a tradesperson in plumbing immediately before applying, or a registered Ohio engineer with 3 years of construction business experience (ORC 4740.06). $500,000 contractor liability insurance.
• Exam: PSI, computer-based.
• Moving here: Ohio's posted reciprocity agreements with Kentucky and West Virginia don't cover plumbing.
• Official sources: OCILB · ORC 4740.06

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Oklahoma

Statewide licenses from the Construction Industries Board.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Contractor.
• Journeyman: Three years of experience while employed by a licensed plumbing contractor, equivalent military service, or a current out-of-state license. An associate degree or Career Tech program of 1,000+ classroom hours substitutes for 2 years; 500+ hours for 1 year.
• Master or contractor: Oklahoma has no master tier. A contractor meets the journeyman requirement plus 1 more year, with a $5,000 bond and $50,000 general liability insurance.
• Exam: Third-party testing vendor assigned after approval.
• Moving here: A current, in-good-standing out-of-state license qualifies you to apply. No states are named.
• Official sources: Plumbing journeyman

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Oregon

Statewide journeyman plumber licenses from the Building Codes Division.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman Plumber, limited specialty plumbers, Plumbing Business license.
• Journeyman: A registered 4-year apprenticeship; or 576 classroom hours plus 3,850 hours commercial and 3,850 hours residential experience; or an out-of-state route of 7,700 commercial and 7,700 residential hours. No more than 2,000 hours count per year.
• Master or contractor: Oregon has no master plumber license. A plumbing business needs a BCD Plumbing Business license, an active Construction Contractors Board license and a signing supervisor.
• Exam: 64 questions, 4 hours, open book.
• Moving here: Not stated on the pages checked.
• Official sources: Journeyman plumber requirements, form 440-2571 · ORS 693

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Pennsylvania

No state plumber license. Municipalities set their own plumber licensing.

• License types: Set locally. Philadelphia and Allegheny County: apprentice, journeyman, master.
• Journeyman: Set locally. Philadelphia: at least 4 years as a registered Philadelphia apprentice (or approved equivalent) and the ICC exam. Allegheny County: 4 full years as a registered apprentice plus 576 hours of related technical training and a county exam.
• Master or contractor: Philadelphia: at least 1 year as a Philadelphia journeyman plus the ICC exam and insurance. Allegheny County: 2 full years as a licensed journeyman.
• Exam: Set locally (Philadelphia uses ICC).
• Moving here: Not applicable at state level. Philadelphia may accept similar authorization from another jurisdiction case by case.
• Watch out: Pennsylvania's Department of Labor & Industry notes that local plumbing licensing exists but that the state doesn't track which municipalities have it.
• Official sources: PA DLI contractor licensing · Philadelphia journeyman plumber license · Allegheny County plumber exam application

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Rhode Island

Statewide licenses from the Department of Labor & Training.

• License types: Apprentice (registered), Journeyperson, Master.
• Journeyman: At least 4 years as a registered apprentice with 8,000 hours of on-the-job training in Rhode Island within 5 years, including 576 hours of related instruction; degree alternatives exist (R.I. Gen. Laws §5-20-17).
• Master or contractor: A journeyperson license held at least 1 year, with proof of employment under a master (§5-20-16).
• Exam: 50 multiple-choice questions.
• Moving here: Out-of-state licensees from states with equivalent requirements can apply; none are named.
• Watch out: The DLT application form describes 5 years of experience for master; the statute says 1 year as a licensed journeyperson. Ask DLT which it applies.
• Official sources: R.I. Gen. Laws §5-20-17 · R.I. Gen. Laws §5-20-16

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South Carolina

No state journeyman license. The state licenses plumbing contractors and residential plumbers.

• License types: Mechanical Contractor with plumbing classification (Groups 1–5); Residential Plumber.
• Journeyman: South Carolina does not issue a journeyman plumber license.
• Master or contractor: Mechanical Contractor–Plumbing: at least 2 years of experience within the past 5 years, for jobs over $10,000. Residential Plumber: at least 1 year of residential plumbing experience within the past 5 years.
• Exam: PSI: plumbing technical exam plus business management & law (contractor).
• Moving here: The Residential Plumber exam is waived for Mississippi and North Carolina licensees licensed by exam for at least 1 year.
• Official sources: Contractor's Licensing Board licensure · Residential Plumber · S.C. Code Title 40 Ch. 11

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South Dakota

Statewide licenses from the State Plumbing Commission.

• License types: Apprentice, Third-year Apprentice, Plumber (journeyman), Plumbing Contractor.
• Journeyman: Four years as an apprentice at 1,900 or more hours a year. Graduates of a qualifying trade school or 3-year apprenticeship can test after 3 years (5,700 hours) (ARSD 20:53:03).
• Master or contractor: South Dakota's top tier is Plumbing Contractor: 6 years as contractor, plumber or apprentice, including at least 2 as plumber or contractor.
• Exam: State-administered; 70% for plumber, 80% for contractor.
• Moving here: The Commission considers substantially equivalent licenses case by case.
• Official sources: Plumbing licensing · Exams

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Tennessee

No state journeyman license. The state licenses limited plumbers and plumbing contractors; some cities license journeymen.

• License types: Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP), CMC-A plumbing contractor.
• Journeyman: Tennessee does not issue a state journeyman license. Some cities and counties run their own plumber licensing.
• Master or contractor: LLP (projects under $25,000): 1 year of plumbing experience or a local license, plus a 40-question plumbing exam. Contractor license (projects of $25,000+): business & law plus trade exam and a financial statement.
• Exam: Trade exams through Prov (changed from PSI July 1, 2026).
• Moving here: No out-of-state exam waivers.
• Watch out: The LLP isn't accepted in localities that run their own plumbing licensing and inspections.
• Official sources: Limited Licensed Plumber · Board for Licensing Contractors

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Texas

Statewide licenses from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

• License types: Apprentice (registration), Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, Master, Responsible Master Plumber, Plumbing Inspector, plus endorsements.
• Journeyman: At least 8,000 hours of plumbing experience plus a 48-hour TSBPE-approved course (waived if you hold a journeyman or master license from another state). Tradesman Plumber-Limited: 4,000 hours plus a 24-hour course.
• Master or contractor: A journeyman license (Texas or another state) held at least 2 years, or 1 year if you completed a USDOL-approved apprenticeship. A Responsible Master Plumber also needs $300,000 commercial general liability insurance.
• Exam: Master exam through Pearson VUE.
• Moving here: Out-of-state journeyman or master licensees can sit the Texas journeyman exam without the 48-hour course.
• Official sources: Journeyman plumber · Master plumber · Tradesman Plumber-Limited

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Utah

Statewide licenses from the Division of Professional Licensing.

• License types: Apprentice, Residential Journeyman, Journeyman, Residential Master, Master.
• Journeyman: A plumber apprenticeship education program (576 classroom hours) plus 8,000 hours of supervised experience, or 16,000 hours of supervised experience. Residential Journeyman: 432 classroom hours plus 6,000 hours, or 12,000 hours.
• Master or contractor: 4,000 hours as a licensed journeyman, or an accredited AAS degree plus 2,000 hours, plus the Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule exam.
• Exam: Utah Plumber Theory and Practical exams through Prov.
• Moving here: Endorsement is available when your state's license is equivalent to Utah's.
• Official sources: Apply for a journeyman plumber license · DOPL plumbing

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Vermont

Statewide licenses from the Plumbers' Examining Board.

• License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, specialist licenses.
• Journeyman: A Vermont State Apprenticeship Council completion certificate, or 12,000 hours of documented on-the-job training, or an out-of-state license with 8,000 hours plus a 2-hour Vermont code course.
• Master or contractor: A journeyman license held at least 12 months (26 V.S.A. §2191), or 14,000 hours, or an out-of-state master license with 12,000 hours plus the code course.
• Exam: Required (26 V.S.A. §2192).
• Moving here: Licenses from states or municipalities with equivalent standards; none are named.
• Official sources: Plumbing licensing · 26 V.S.A. §2191

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Virginia

Statewide tradesman licenses from the Board for Contractors.

• License types: Residential Plumber (since Apr 1, 2025), Journeyman, Master; contractor licenses are separate.
• Journeyman: A sliding scale (18VAC50-30-39(B)): 4 years plus 240 vocational hours, 5 plus 160, 6 plus 80, 7 plus 40, or 8 years with none. An associate degree plus 2 years or an engineering bachelor's plus 1 year also qualify.
• Master or contractor: 3 years with a residential tradesman license, or 1 year as a journeyman, or 9 years of experience (18VAC50-30-39(D)).
• Exam: PSI.
• Moving here: Virginia's only listed agreement is with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) for journeyman and master plumbers.
• Official sources: DPOR Tradesmen · 18VAC50-30-39

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Washington

Statewide plumber certificates from Labor & Industries; no master tier.

• License types: Trainee, Journey Level (PL01), Residential (PL02), and specialty certificates.
• Journeyman: Four years or more (at least 8,000 hours) as a trainee under a certified journey level plumber, including at least 4,000 hours in commercial or industrial work. Residential PL02: 3 years or more (at least 6,000 hours).
• Master or contractor: Washington has no master plumber certificate.
• Exam: PSI.
• Moving here: Reciprocal certification with Idaho for journey level plumbers. Others can present a comparable license or military experience for consideration.
• Official sources: Plumber certification · RCW 18.106

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West Virginia

Statewide plumber certification from the Division of Labor.

• License types: Plumber in Training, Journeyman, Master.
• Journeyman: Certify your experience to the Division and pass a written exam (70%). The Division's pages don't publish an hour figure, so ask it what documentation it accepts.
• Master or contractor: You can take the master exam no sooner than 12 months after passing the journeyman exam (W. Va. Code §21-14-2).
• Exam: ProV, Inc.
• Moving here: Discretionary reciprocity for states with equivalent requirements; none are named.
• Official sources: Plumber certification · Plumber certification FAQ

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Wisconsin

Statewide licenses from DSPS.

• License types: Learner, Journeyman, Master, plus restricted service and appliance licenses.
• Journeyman: A completed apprenticeship under Wisconsin's apprenticeship law (SPS 305.93).
• Master or contractor: At least 1,000 hours a year for at least 3 years as a licensed Wisconsin journeyman, or an accredited engineering degree.
• Exam: Open book; 70% to pass; Pearson VUE.
• Moving here: Comity routes for out-of-state apprenticeship and experience; no states are named.
• Official sources: Journeyman plumber

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Wyoming

No state plumber license. Cities and counties license plumbers.

• License types: Set locally. Cheyenne: apprentice, journeyman, master and contractor.
• Journeyman: Set by the city or county. Cheyenne asks for a detailed list of hands-on experience.
• Master or contractor: Set by the city or county.
• Exam: Cheyenne: ICC national exam where required.
• Moving here: Not applicable at state level.
• Official sources: Cheyenne contractor license applications

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Sources and how we checked them

We checked each jurisdiction's licensing model and the requirements shown here against the licensing board's own pages, its application forms, or the statute or regulation that sets the rule. Each state entry links to the sources used. We didn't rely on contractor-software blogs or other comparison sites for any requirement. The source set was reviewed on October 2, 2026.

Where a board's application form disagrees with its own rule or statute, we show the rule and flag the conflict in that state's entry. That happened in Georgia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Louisiana's rules change on January 1, 2027, and its entry shows both the current and the new requirements.

Licensing rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the board, or for local-licensing states the city or county, before you apply. You can see how we research pages in our methodology and editorial standards. If you spot an error, our corrections page explains how to report it.

Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any state or local licensing board, testing company, or code organization named on this page. License, exam and organization names are used only to identify them; trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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