Quick Reference Table: Plumbing license requirements in Arkansas
Item | Details |
|---|---|
License Types | Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, Restricted (various specialties) |
Regulating Agency | Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing & Natural Gas Section (official portal) |
Required Experience | Journeyman: 4 years; Master: Journeyman license for 1 year plus 5 years total experience |
Exam Required | Journeyman (yes); Master (yes); Restricted (most types require) |
Exam Details | Open-book, 100 questions, 3 hours, 70% passing, administered by PSI |
Renewal Cycle | Annual; Journeyman/Master: expires Dec 31/renew by Feb 1; Restricted: expires June 30/renew by Aug 1 |
Continuing Education (CE) | Inspectors: 8 hours required; Plumbers: 6 hours state-approved CE (not codified, see Renewal section) |
Fees (as of Jun 2026) | Apprentice: $25 license; Journeyman: $75 exam, $75 license; Master: $125 exam, $200 license; Restricted: $125 app/exam, $37.50–$200 license; late: $5/month (verify fee schedule at fee instructions PDF) |
Official Board Links | Licensing portal, Licensing Board |
Who Needs a License in Arkansas?
Any individual or business performing plumbing work, installing, altering, or repairing plumbing systems in Arkansas, must hold a valid state plumbing license. The law does not set a monetary threshold for plumbing jobs; this means all plumbing work, whether in a single bathroom or a commercial high-rise, falls under plumbing license requirements in Arkansas.
The state distinguishes plumbing license requirements in Arkansas from general contractor licensing, which does have a monetary threshold ($2,000 for residential, $50,000 for commercial). However, this threshold does not relieve you from the separate obligation to be a licensed plumber. If you or your employees perform any plumbing work (including work as a general contractor), you must carry the correct Arkansas plumbing license. This also applies if subcontracting plumbing work. There is no owner-builder or handyman exemption in Arkansas law when it comes to plumbing systems. Everyone who physically installs, alters, or repairs such systems must be properly licensed.
Therefore, before you bid or begin work on any plumbing project in Arkansas, you must have the appropriate license issued and current. Unlicensed activity may result in fines or license denial, so always check with the Plumbing & Natural Gas Section to confirm your licensing status.
Plumbing License Types
Plumbing license requirements in Arkansas divide credentials into multiple classes, each with its own scope, prerequisites, and exam. Understanding each type below is vital before applying or hiring:
Apprentice Plumber: Registration only, no exam or experience needed. Apprentices must work under the direct supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber. This is strictly a training classification; no independent work allowed.
Journeyman Plumber: Can independently install, alter, or repair plumbing systems per Arkansas code but must be employed by or under general supervision of a Master Plumber. Requires four years of plumbing experience (by employment or apprenticeship) and passing the state Journeyman exam.
Master Plumber: Holds the broadest authority, may operate a plumbing business, supervise journeymen/apprentices, and contract for plumbing work statewide. Requires a Journeyman license for at least one year plus five years of plumbing experience, plus passing the Master Plumber exam.
Restricted Plumbing License Types: Cover limited or specialized work such as Gas Fitter, Hospital Maintenance, Solar Mechanic, Water and Sewer Service Line Installer, and related supervisors. Each has restricted scope and a specific exam; experience cannot be used to qualify for journeyman or master licenses.
Each license level in Arkansas builds on the previous: you start as an apprentice, then after sufficient experience, move up to journeyman, with the possibility to reach master. Restricted licenses require proof of competence but are not equivalent to full plumber credentials.
How to Get Licensed in Arkansas
The steps to fulfilling plumbing license requirements in Arkansas are clear and sequenced. Below, you will find each major action explained to help you prepare and apply correctly.
Steps to Get Licensed
Register as an Apprentice: Submit the apprentice application to the Plumbing & Natural Gas Section. There is no experience or exam, only a $25 license fee (as of Jun 2026; see fee schedule).
Complete Required Experience: Acquire four years (for journeyman) of documented plumbing experience, which can be in the form of a formal apprenticeship, supervised employment, or a combination. Keep affidavits or employer letters as proof.
Apply for the Journeyman Exam: Obtain the application form from the state portal, complete it, attach proof of experience, and pay the $75 exam fee (as of Jun 2026; verify at fee instructions PDF).
Sit for the Journeyman Exam: Schedule through PSI (the official exam vendor). The exam is open-book, consists of 100 questions, takes up to 3 hours, and requires at least 70% to pass.
Obtain the Journeyman License: Upon passing, pay the $75 annual license fee to be issued your Journeyman license (as of Jun 2026).
Gain Master Qualification: Hold your Journeyman license for at least one year, while accumulating a total of five years of plumbing experience.
Apply for the Master Exam: Use the official form, supply experience verification and evidence you have held a Journeyman license for one year, and pay the $125 application/exam fee (as of Jun 2026).
Pass the Master Exam: Like the Journeyman test, this is open-book, contains 100 questions, has a 3-hour time limit, and 70% is the passing mark.
Obtain Your Master License: After a passing grade, pay the $200 annual license fee to receive your Master Plumber credential (as of Jun 2026).
For Restricted Licenses: Apply directly with the appropriate application and experience proof, pay all required fees, and pass the respective specialty exam. Each restricted classification has its own process and license fee (often $125 application/exam, $37.50–$200 license; see fee schedule).
Application Tips
Include well-organized proof of experience (letters, wage records, affidavits).
Disclose any prior criminal convictions as required on the application.
Download and read the official application instructions before submitting paperwork.
Contact the Plumbing & Natural Gas Section with questions about documentation or eligibility.
Applications for all Arkansas plumbing licenses must be submitted by mail. Carefully review instructions, supply all relevant documents, and allow adequate processing time. Incomplete applications or missing fees will delay the process.
Application Requirements
Plumbing license requirements in Arkansas include a mix of experience, documentation, and basic legal disclosures. Review each below before applying.
Experience and Age
Journeyman applicants must show four years of plumbing field experience, and Master applicants require five years plus one year as a licensed Journeyman. Acceptable documentation includes affidavits or letters from current or former employers, payroll records, or other credible evidence of hands-on plumbing work. Age and citizenship are not explicitly stated in Arkansas statute or forms, but you must be legally able to work in the United States.
Bond, Insurance, and Workers’ Compensation
Arkansas does not require a statewide surety bond for individual plumbers. However, plumbing contracting businesses with three or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. The state may require a bond for general contractors with a plumbing specialty, but not for a standard Journeyman or Master Plumber license. Always verify any additional local requirements before bidding commercial or municipal plumbing jobs.
Background Check and Legal History
You must truthfully disclose criminal convictions on your plumbing license application. While Arkansas does not mandate a fingerprint background check for the plumber license, failure to disclose history may cause denial or later revocation of your credential. There is no EPA Section 608 (refrigerant) requirement for plumbing licenses in Arkansas.
Exams
Examinations are a core part of plumbing license requirements in Arkansas for Journeyman, Master, and most restricted categories.
Journeyman Plumber Exam: 100-question open-book written test, 3 hours allowed, 70% required to pass. Topics include code, pipe sizing, fixtures, gas systems, and state law.
Master Plumber Exam: Same format: open-book, 100 questions, 3-hour time limit, 70% passing grade. Content emphasizes code interpretation and supervisory knowledge.
Restricted Licenses: Exams and formats vary depending on license type; most require a written test of similar length and structure.
All exams are administered by PSI Services LLC at Arkansas testing centers. If you fail, you must pay another exam fee ($75 for Journeyman, $125 for Master; verify amounts at the official fee PDF), and can retake after a 30-day waiting period. Review the state’s published instructions for up-to-date exam logistics and topics covered.
For further details on test content or to schedule your exam, visit the Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing page.
Fees
Plumbing license requirements in Arkansas come with fixed state-set fees for applications, exams, annual renewals, and some project-level reviews. Only amounts confirmed in the official instructions or referenced board pages are listed below.
Apprentice: License application: $0; License fee: $25 annually; Renewal: $25 (as of Jun 2026; see fee schedule).
Journeyman: Application/Exam: $75; License: $75/year; Renewal: $75; Late renewal fee: $5/month; Re-exam or no-show: +$50 (as of Jun 2026).
Master: Application/Exam: $125; License: $200/year; Renewal: $200; Late fee: $5/month (as of Jun 2026).
Restricted License: Application: $125; License: $37.50–$200 (check type); Late fee: $5/month (as of Jun 2026).
Inspection: $25 each; Re-inspection is $35 (as of Jun 2026).
Plan Review: 1% of plumbing/gas cost; minimum $50, maximum $500 (as of Jun 2026; plan review guidelines).
If you need a current fee table or wish to confirm a license type’s fee, always consult the current state fee instructions PDF.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Plumbing license requirements in Arkansas make renewal mandatory every year. Late renewals incur penalties, and licenses may be revoked for failure to pay or meet other renewal conditions.
Renewal Deadlines and Late Fees
Journeyman, Master, and Apprentice licenses expire annually on December 31. Renewal is due by February 1; after this, a $5 per month late fee applies.
Restricted license types lapse June 30, with renewal required by August 1. Late renewals for restricted types face the same $5/month penalty.
Unrenewed licenses past deadlines may be reinstated for hardship, but back fees will accrue and the state may deny reinstatement after extended lapses.
All renewal and late fee requirements are specified in the Arkansas Code of State Rules renewal section.
Continuing Education
Inspectors must complete 8 hours of refresher training for each renewal period.
Journeyman and Master Plumbers: Official Arkansas rules do not codify a CE requirement, but many sources and courses report that 6 hours of state-approved continuing education are required for renewal in practice. Always verify your CE obligations at renewal time using the state board's continuing education page.
Proof of renewal and CE should be retained in your own records and submitted if requested by regulators.
Reciprocity
Arkansas maintains formal reciprocity agreements for plumbing license requirements in Arkansas limited to Master Plumber credentials. If you are licensed as a Master Plumber in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Tennessee and your license is active and in good standing, you may be able to transfer (endorse) your credential to Arkansas without sitting for the Master exam again.
To apply through reciprocity, submit a completed Arkansas Master Plumber reciprocity application, furnish a letter of good standing from your home state, and pay the applicable fees. The exam will be waived only where a bilateral agreement is in place and you meet all requirements. Contact the Arkansas Department of Health for details on procedures and forms.
No reciprocity is available for Journeyman or Apprentice licenses. Out-of-state plumbers seeking lower-tier licenses or other specialty licenses must meet Arkansas’s requirements in full, including exams and experience verification.
Official Links
Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing & Natural Gas Section portal
Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board homepage
Plumbing Exam Application Instructions PDF
Plumbing Plan Review Guidelines PDF
Use these official Arkansas links for forms, applications, licensing instructions, board rules, and schedule confirmation for exams and renewals.
