Plumbing License Requirements by State (2026): The Complete Guide

Almost every state requires a license because plumbing protects public health and safety, and mistakes can cause serious water damage. A license proves your competence to regulators and homeowners, and it is usually required to pull permits, carry proper insurance, and legally run a business. Working unlicensed can void your insurance and bring heavy fines, so licensing is the foundation on which everything else is built.

Most states use a tiered system. You move up the ladder by stacking documented work experience and passing exams at each level.

• Apprentice. Your entry point. You work under a licensed plumber while you learn, often earning a wage, and complete classroom hours. Apprenticeships typically run two to five years, depending on the state.

• Journeyman. After your apprenticeship hours (commonly around four years or roughly 8,000 hours) and a passing exam, you can work independently.

• Master plumber. Another one to two years as a journeyman, plus a tougher exam. Master plumbers can pull permits and supervise others, and many states require a master to own or qualify a plumbing company.

• Plumbing contractor. To run your own business, you usually need a contractor license, which requires you to hold or employ a master plumber, carry liability insurance, and provide workers' compensation.

This is where plumbers get tripped up. There are three broad models:

1. State-level licensing. Most states license plumbers directly through a state board, and that license is valid statewide.

2. Local licensing. A handful of states leave licensing to cities and counties, including Kansas, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. Requirements can change from one town to the next.

3. Contractor-only or threshold states. Some states license only at the contractor level or require a license only for jobs above a set value. Arizona requires a contractor license for work over $1,000, while Louisiana and Mississippi set the bar at $10,000.

Beyond the core apprentice-to-master ladder, many states issue specialty endorsements for higher-risk or niche work. Common ones include natural gas and gas piping, medical gas, backflow prevention, solar thermal, water treatment, and water-heater installation. Gas work, in particular, usually requires a separate exam and, in some states, a separate license because it entails additional safety and liability requirements. The upside is real: adding the right endorsements lets you bid on more types of jobs and charge more for them, so it is worth checking which specialties your state offers as you map out your career.

Time. Reaching journeyman level usually takes about four to five years of combined apprenticeship and classroom training, then another one to two years as a journeyman before you can sit for the master exam. In California, for example, the journeyman path commonly runs four and a half to five and a half years.

Cost. The fees are modest compared with the time investment. Expect exam fees in the range of $75 to $150, plus application and license fees that vary by state. Trade school, if you choose that route, runs anywhere from about $1,250 for a certificate to well over $20,000 for an associate degree. A plumbing contractor license typically costs a few hundred dollars all in, often around $300, with some states charging up to $600. If you are transferring a license to another state through reciprocity, budget roughly $50 to $400 depending on the license type.

Here is how licensing works in each state: who issues the license, the experience you need to move up, and the ballpark fees and renewal schedule. Fees and rules change often and vary by license level, so treat these as a starting point and confirm the current details with the board before you apply.

Alabama

The Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board oversees licensing for apprentices, journeymen, and master plumbers in the state. Most plumbers start as apprentices and can progress to a journeyman license after about two years of experience, followed by eligibility for the master exam after holding a journeyman license for at least one year.

Typical costs include a $160 state exam fee, a $50 application fee, and a $175 certificate fee, while business owners are also required to maintain minimum insurance coverage as part of licensing requirements. Licenses must be renewed annually through the board’s online portal for about $175, and replacements for lost licenses require a $25 fee and a written request submitted to the board with forms and applications.

Alaska

Alaska runs licensing through the Department of Labor's Mechanical Inspection Section, which issues Certificates of Fitness. 

A journeyman certificate requires 8,000 hours of documented work, up to 1,000 of which may be classroom training, while restricted gas and utility certificates require 1,000 to 2,000 hours. Expect about $50 in application fees and a $200 license fee once you pass, with renewal every two years costing about $200. For applications, you’ll need to submit the form along with the required documents, and if you want to make any changes, you simply send in the updated form with the necessary fees. 

Arizona

Arizona does not issue a state journeyman license; instead, the Registrar of Contractors (ROC) handles commercial (C-37), residential (R-37), and dual (CR-37) plumbing contractor licenses, which are required for jobs valued over $1,000. These licenses typically require about 4 years of experience, passing both the Statutes and Rules exam and a trade exam, with application costs of about $25, exam fees of $106, and renewals every 2 years at roughly $480.

Applications are submitted through the ROC Online Customer Portal, and renewals are required every 2 years at a cost of $480 via the same system. Any changes, such as address or name updates, are handled through separate forms, while license replacements and account access are managed online through the ROC portal.

Arkansas

The Arkansas Department of Health's Plumbing and Natural Gas Division oversees the trade, and you start by registering as an apprentice. 

Four years of documented work qualify you for the journeyman exam, and a year beyond that opens the master exam. Plan on about $125 for the application and exam plus a $200 annual license fee, with renewal each year by December 31.

California

In California, a plumber's license is the C-36 specialty classification under the Contractors State License Board. You need four years of journeyman-level experience (up to three of which can come from approved schooling, with at least one in the field) and must pass the law-and-business and trade exams. The license also requires a $25,000 contractor bond and proof of workers' compensation. Costs run about $450 to apply, plus $200 to $350 for the license, which is renewed every two years for $450 to $700.

Applications are submitted through the Application for Original Contractor License, CSLB Application. Changes like business name updates use the name change form ($100 fee), while address changes are free, and license or certificate replacements cost $25 through CSLB Forms.

Colorado

The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) State Plumbing Board licenses the trade. You register as an apprentice and earn a residential license after two years, a journeyman license after four, and a master's license after five years total. 

Contractors register with the board and must have at least 6 months of experience as a licensed plumber. General contractor licensing is handled locally since the state does not regulate it, and renewal occurs in odd years. You can complete your application online and handle changes, such as a name update or other account updates, by logging into the same portal, Colorado DORA Online Services. 

Connecticut

Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection runs licensing through its Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board, which offers eight license types tied to the scope of work. Journeyperson licenses require a registered apprenticeship or equivalent (2,000 to 8,000 hours, depending on scope), and contractor licenses require two years as a licensed journeyperson. The apprenticeship exam runs about $65, and contractor licenses renew annually for about $150.

You can complete your application online through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection licensing portal Connecticut eLicense Portal, and handle changes such as updates to your license details or other account information by using the same system, while replacement requests can be made by contacting the Occupational and Professional Licensing board at [email protected] 

Delaware

The Division of Professional Regulation, through its Board of Plumbing, HVAC, and Refrigeration Examiners license apprentices through contractors. A journeyman license requires at least 4 years of experience, while a master status requires holding a journeyman license and passing an exam. Applications cost about $173 and are handled through the DELPROS portal, where renewals are also processed.

You can complete your application online through the DELPROS system and the Delaware DELPROS Portal, renew your license through the same system when prompted, and handle any updates or changes by logging into your account. Replacement requests and additional account actions are also managed directly through DELPROS. 

Florida

Florida issues two licenses through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation: a Certified Plumbing Contractor, valid statewide, and a Registered Plumbing Contractor, valid only where you passed a local exam. 

Certification requires four years of experience, fingerprinting, liability insurance, and passing the state exam. Fees run $145 to $245, depending on the cycle, with renewal every two years costing around $105. If you need to make any changes to your application, you can simply log in here to update your details.

Georgia

Georgia's Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers licenses journeymen and two master classes. No license is needed to apprentice; three years of supervised experience qualify you for the journeyman exam and two more for master. The application fee is about $40, and renewal fees are due in even years at $35 for journeymen and $75 for masters.

Hawaii

The Board of Electricians and Plumbers, under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, licenses apprentices through contractor levels. 

A journeyman license takes five years of experience, and master requires two years as a journeyman. A plumbing contractor must hold both a master license and a C-37 specialty contractor license. Fees range from about $102 to $306, depending on timing, with renewal every three years near $276.

You can follow the instructions here for name or address changes, log in here for a replacement license, and submit the Plumber License Application along with the Experience Verification form. 

Idaho

Idaho's Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses handles plumbing. A board-approved four-year apprenticeship (8,000 hours plus 576 classroom hours) qualifies you for the journeyman exam, and 30 months as a journeyman opens contractor licensing, which requires a $2,000 surety bond. 

Expect about $50 to apply, $75 for the exam, and $147 for the license, with a three-year renewal near $108 (and a $147 revival fee if you let it lapse).

Illinois

Either the Illinois Department of Public Health or the City of Chicago licenses plumbers. Apprentices work four years and complete 144 classroom hours before licensure. To own a business, you register as a plumbing contractor, which requires liability, bodily injury, and property damage coverage plus a $20,000 bond or letter of credit. The contractor license runs about $175 and renews annually by September 30 at $150.

You can use the contractor renewal/change application form to update details like your name, address, or insurance; submit this form with a $50 fee for a replacement; and file the Plumbing Contractor Application for Registration through the Illinois Department of Public Health Plumbing Program.

Indiana

The Indiana Plumbing Commission, under the Professional Licensing Agency, licenses apprentices, journeymen, and contractors. Four years in an approved apprenticeship qualifies you for the journeyman exam, and contractor licensing requires the same experience plus state residency and being at least 18. The initial application is about $50, with renewal every two years (by December 31 of odd years) near $100.

You can update your name, address, or other license details through the IPLA online portal and request a replacement license or pocket card by logging into your MyLicense account.

Iowa

Iowa's Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board, under the Department of Public Health, licenses every level. A journeyman license takes four years of work, and master requires a journeyman license plus an exam. Contractor costs include a $250 license and a $150 registration (plus $25 for paper filings), and licenses run on a three-year cycle expiring June 30.

You can update your name, address, or other license details through the IPLA online portal or by using this form, request a replacement license or pocket card by logging into your MyLicense account, and follow these instructions to complete your application.

Kansas

Kansas has no state plumbing license; cities run it. In Wichita, the Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department licenses journeymen, masters, and contractors, while Topeka's Development Services Division licenses apprentices through masters. Check the specific city where you plan to work for fees and requirements.

Kentucky

The Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction licenses at the state level through its Division of Plumbing, though you can apprentice without a license under proper supervision. A journeyman license requires four years of experience plus an exam. 

You can submit the Master Plumber License Application or Journeyman Plumber License Application, renew your license annually by submitting this form, pay $60 for Journeyman and $250 for Master renewal, and log in here for any changes.

Louisiana

The State Plumbing Board of Louisiana licenses journeymen and masters and registers apprentices. A five-year apprenticeship qualifies you for the journeyman exam. Master plumbers can take jobs under $10,000; larger work requires a separate commercial contractor license from the state licensing board. Journeyman exam applications run about $135 and master $110, with annual renewal that requires continuing-education hours. 

You can submit the Journeyman Plumber Exam Application or Master Plumber Exam Application through the SPBLA Exam Applications and Registrations section, contact the board here for any changes, and submit this form with a $20 fee to request a replacement.

Maine

Maine's Plumbers' Examining Board, under the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, issues four licenses from trainee to master. An initial journeyman or master license costs about $221, renewed every two years at the same fee.

Maryland

The Maryland Board of Plumbing, under the Department of Labor, licenses apprentices through masters. A journeyman license takes four years (7,500 supervised hours) plus 32 training hours and an exam, while a master requires two years as a journeyman and 3,750 supervised hours. Journeyman license and certificate fees are about $43.50 and master $87.50, with low renewal costs (roughly $35 to $70) and no fee for most changes.

Massachusetts

The Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters regulates the trade, with licenses issued through the Division of Professional Licensure. Journeymen need about 6,800 hours as apprentices, and masters need a year as journeymen. 

A journeyman application runs about $31, plus a $52 license fee, while registering an LLC or a corporate plumbing business costs around $225. Licenses renew annually at $52 (journeyman) and $78 (master).

Michigan

The Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) licenses every level through its Bureau of Construction Codes. You apprentice, earn a journey license after three years (6,000 hours), and a master license after two more (4,000 hours). A contractor license requires holding or employing a master plumber and costs about $300. Journey licenses renew annually and master licenses every three years.

Minnesota

Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry licenses the trade, using "journeyworker" in place of journeyman. Four years under a licensed journeyworker or master qualifies you for the journeyworker exam, and a year beyond that for master. 

A contractor license (about $180) requires liability and workers' comp coverage plus a $25,000 bond, with renewal every two years at $53 (journeyworker) to $93 (master). Minneapolis and St. Paul also issue local competency cards, with reciprocity between the two cities.

Mississippi

Mississippi does not license plumbing on projects under $10,000, leaving those to local jurisdictions, while larger work needs a commercial license from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Residential contractor licenses run about $50 and commercial about $400, with proof of liability coverage required and annual renewal at $100 (residential) and $400 (commercial).

Missouri

There is no state plumbing license in Missouri; cities and counties set the rules. Kansas City and St. Louis both require apprentices to work under a licensed journeyman or master and issue certificates of qualification at the journey and master levels, along with contractor licensing. Confirm the requirements with the local jurisdiction where you will work.

Montana

The Montana Board of Plumbers, under the Department of Labor and Industry, licenses journeymen and masters; there is no contractor license, but contractors and apprentices register with the state. A journeyman license takes five years via apprenticeship and master four more years as a journeyman. Journeyman licenses run about $270 and master's licenses run about $380, renewed annually by September 1 with four hours of continuing education each year.

Nebraska

Cities issue plumbing licenses in Nebraska, while contractors also register with the state Department of Labor. Omaha's Planning Department and Lincoln's Building and Safety Department each license apprentice through master, and Lincoln adds gas-fitter and water-conditioning credentials. Check the city where you plan to operate.

Nevada

The Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses journeymen and masters, while anyone who pulls permits or runs a business also needs a contractor license from the Nevada State Contractors Board. A journeyman license takes four years (8,000 hours), and master requires a year (2,000 hours) beyond that. The initial exam runs about $140, with two-year renewal near $40.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire's Office of Professional Licensure & Certification handles mechanical licensing through its Division of Fire Safety. A journeyman license takes four years as an apprentice, and master requires holding a journeyman license for at least six months. Journeyman fees are about $190 and master $310, with two-year renewal of $180 to $300.

New Jersey

The State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, under the Division of Consumer Affairs, licenses the trade; you work as a registered apprentice or journeyman under a master until you qualify. A master license requires five years in the trade, including one as a journeyman and four in a federally approved apprenticeship, or an engineering degree plus a journeyman year. Fees include about $100 to apply, $83 for the trade exam, and $43 for the business-and-law exam, with two-year renewal near $160.

New Mexico

New Mexico's Regulation and Licensing Department licenses apprentices and journeymen, but not master-level workers. Two years as an apprentice plus an exam earn a journeyman license. Business owners need a contractor license through the Construction Industries Division, which requires a qualifying party with 4 years of experience who passes the trade, business, and law exams, plus a bond. Costs include a $150 contractor fee and about $69 per exam, with a two-year renewal near $150.

New York

New York has no state license; cities and counties handle it. In New York City, unsupervised work requires a master plumber license from the NYC Department of Buildings, which requires 7 years of experience in the prior decade or a mechanical engineering degree. Requirements vary widely by locality, so always check the rules where you will work.

North Carolina

The State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, & Fire Sprinkler Contractors licenses contractors (P-I, P-II, and restricted) and a plumbing technician sublicense; there are no journeyman or master levels. Technicians need 18 months (3,000 hours) of experience and contractors two years (4,000 hours), with up to 2,000 hours allowed from training. The exam runs about $25 to apply plus $100 to test, with annual renewal by January 1 near $150.

North Dakota

The North Dakota State Plumbing Board licenses apprentices, journeymen, masters, and contractors; contractors also need a general contractor license from the Secretary of State. A journeyman license takes four years (about 7,600 hours), and master requires two years or 3,400 hours as a journeyman. Exam and license fees are about $50 each, with annual renewal of $100 (journeyman) to $200 (master).

Ohio

Ohio licenses commercial plumbing contractors through the Construction Industry Licensing Board; there is no state journeyman or master license, though cities often add their own. Contractor licensing requires five years of experience, a $138 exam, $500,000 in liability coverage, and a background check. The license itself costs only about $30 to file, with annual renewal near $60.

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Construction Industries Board issues journeyman and contractor licenses. Contractors pass both a trade exam and a business-and-law exam and must carry a $5,000 bond and at least $50,000 in liability coverage. Plan on about $30 to apply and $300 for the license, with annual renewal near $200. Some cities require separate registration on top of the state license.

Oregon

Non-contracting licenses are issued by the Building Codes Division, and contracting licenses are issued by the Construction Contractors Board. A journeyman license takes a four-year apprenticeship with 576 classroom hours or substantial documented experience without the classroom route. The license runs about $150, with renewal around $450.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has no state plumbing license; localities issue them. Philadelphia's Business Services Department and the Allegheny County Health Department, which covers Pittsburgh, each handle licensing, so confirm the rules where you plan to work.

Rhode Island

The Division of Professional Regulation, under the Department of Labor and Training, licenses apprentices through masters. A journeyman license takes five years of on-the-job training plus 576 classroom hours, and a master's requires a year as a journeyman. The application fee is about $75, with a two-year renewal of $72 (journeyman) to $240 (master).

South Carolina

The Contractor's Licensing Board and the Residential Builders Commission license commercial and residential plumbing contractors; you can start as an unlicensed helper. Residential licensing requires a year of experience, and commercial licensing requires two years. A residential application runs about $135, with a two-year renewal near $350.

South Dakota

The Department of Labor and Regulation's Plumbing Commission licenses apprentices, journeymen, and contractors. Contractor licensing requires six years of experience (at least two as a contractor or plumber) and 1,900 hours per year. Exam and license fees run $205 to $375, with annual renewal near $275.

Tennessee

Licensing happens at both levels: the Board for Licensing Contractors issues a state contractor license with a plumbing classification plus a Limited Licensed Plumber credential, while cities issue local journeyman and master licenses. State contractor licensing, required for projects of $25,000 and up, calls for business-and-law and trade exams plus liability and workers' comp coverage. The contractor license is about $250 and the limited license $75, with two-year renewal of $50 to $200.

Texas

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners issues tradesman-limited, journeyman, master, and inspector licenses, each starting from apprentice registration. Experience requirements run roughly two to four years, with a year as a journeyman needed for master. Application and exam fees range from about $71 (tradesman) to $250 (master), and licenses renew annually at $35 to $75 depending on level.

Utah

Utah's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing issues apprentice through contractor licenses. A journeyman license takes four years and 8,000 hours plus theory and practical exams, while a residential master requires 4,000 journeyman hours and a law-and-rule exam. Contractors take a 30-hour pre-licensure course, carry liability insurance, and register the business. The general plumbing license runs about $175, with renewal in even years near $128.

Vermont

The Division of Fire Safety, under the Department of Public Safety, licenses journeymen and masters plus limited specialty licenses. A journeyman license requires documenting a completed apprenticeship (about 12,000 hours) and passing an exam, and master requires a year as a journeyman. Application fees are about $90 (journeyman) and $120 (master), with two-year renewal plus small specialty surcharges.

Virginia

The Board for Contractors licenses journeymen, masters, and three classes of contractors. A journeyman license takes four years of experience plus 240 training hours or a related degree, and master's requires ten years of experience or a journeyman license. Contractor classes are scaled by experience (Class A: five years, B: three, C: two). The exam runs about $150, with a three-year renewal near $160, and work valued over $1,000 also requires a contractor license.

Washington

The Department of Labor and Industries certifies trainees, journeymen, and contractors. A journeyman license takes four years as a trainee, with two years in commercial or industrial work. Contractors register the business, obtain a $6,000 continuous bond, and carry insurance. The contractor license costs about $139 and is renewed roughly every 25 months for about $228.

West Virginia

The Division of Labor licenses trainees through contractors. Unusually, there is no fixed experience requirement; you simply pass the exam for each level. Fees are about $75 for journeyman and masters alike, renewed at the same amount, and work over $2,500 also requires passing a business-and-law exam.

Wisconsin

The Department of Safety and Professional Services credentials apprentices through master's degree holders. You complete a registered apprenticeship with set classroom and work hours, then pass the exam for each level. Owning a business also requires a dwelling contractor certification. Journeyman licenses run about $180, and master's licenses run about $500, renewed every four years by March 31 with continuing education.

Wyoming

Cities license plumbers in Wyoming. Both Cheyenne, through its Contractor Licensing Board, and Casper, through its Board of License and Appeals, issue apprentice, journeyman, and master licenses plus contractor licensing for businesses. Check the local board where you plan to work.

If you move or expand into another state, reciprocity can save you months. Many states have agreements that let licensed plumbers skip the trade exam, though you usually still have to pass a law and business exam and meet the new state's insurance or bonding rules. Idaho, for instance, has agreements with Montana, Oregon, and Washington, and California has a plumbing reciprocity arrangement with Arizona. Not every state participates: Connecticut and Colorado, for example, do not offer formal reciprocity, though Colorado allows an endorsement application. With reciprocity in place, what is normally a months-long process can shrink to weeks, which matters when demand spikes after a storm or freeze.

Getting licensed is step one. Running a profitable plumbing company is a different skill set, and it starts the moment you decide to go out on your own.

• Once you are ready to hang your own shingle, our guide to how to start a plumbing business walks through registration, insurance, pricing, tools, and your first hires.

• Licenses do not bring in calls. To fill your schedule, see how to get more plumbing leads.

• And once the phone rings, winning the job comes down to how you handle the call. Our guide to plumbing customer service covers exactly that. (confirm this slug)

That last point is where new licensed plumbers lose the most money. You are on the tools all day, the phone rings, and the call you cannot answer goes to a competitor. Around 40 percent of home services calls come in after hours, and most callers will not leave a voicemail.

A license opens the door. Booked jobs keep the lights on. The fastest way new plumbing businesses lose work is missing the calls their reputation and marketing worked so hard to earn. CloseCrew's AI agent, Larry, answers every inbound call, books the job into your calendar, and follows up automatically, in English or Spanish, around the clock, so a missed call never becomes a lost customer.