Quick Reference Table
Label | Value |
|---|---|
License type | Apprentice Plumber, Journey Plumber, Master Plumber, Plumbing Contractor |
Agency | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) |
Experience (Journey) | 6,000 hours over 3 years as a registered apprentice |
Experience (Master) | 4,000 hours as a journey plumber in past 2 years |
Experience (Contractor) | Must hold or employ a master plumber |
Exam | Required for Journey, Master, and Contractor; PSI Services LLC |
Renewal (Apprentice) | Annual, by April 30 |
Renewal (Journey) | Annual, by April 30 |
Continuing Education | Journey Plumber – code update course after each new code adoption |
Fees | Apprentice: $15/yr renewal; Journey: $40/yr renewal; Master: $300; Contractor: $300; late fees apply (see Fees section) |
Official URL |
Who Needs a Plumbing License Michigan?
You need a plumbing license Michigan for any job where you contract to perform plumbing work, regardless of the project’s dollar value or whether it is residential or commercial. The state sets no minimum threshold for project size or scope: if the work falls under the legal definition of plumbing, you must hold or work under an appropriate plumbing license.
Michigan law defines plumbing as the installation, maintenance, extension, or alteration of piping, fixtures, appliances, or appurtenances connected with sanitary or storm drainage, venting, and water supply systems inside or near any structure. Performing any of these tasks for compensation, including as a subcontractor or business, requires you to obtain a plumbing license in Michigan.
Plumbing contractor licenses are required for business entities or sole proprietors engaged in plumbing contracting. An employee working under a licensed contractor does not need a separate contractor license but does need the appropriate individual license (apprentice, journey, or master). General contractors may not perform regulated plumbing work themselves unless they also hold the necessary plumbing license.
There are a few limited exemptions. Homeowners may obtain a plumbing permit and perform their own plumbing on their primary property without holding a contractor license. Minor repairs such as replacement of working parts of faucets or unclogging fixtures do not require a plumbing license or permit. All other work requires a plumbing license Michigan. For more on definitions or exemptions, review the LARA permit information.
Plumbing License Michigan Types
There are four main plumbing license Michigan classes: Apprentice Plumber (registration), Journey Plumber (license), Master Plumber (license), and Plumbing Contractor (business license). Your choice depends on your work scope and responsibilities.
Apprentice Plumber: Registered trainees working under direct supervision of a journey plumber or master plumber. You may not perform unsupervised plumbing work. Apprentices must register with LARA annually. This license is for those gaining experience for later advancement.
Journey Plumber: This license allows holders to perform all plumbing work in Michigan, provided they comply with code and are employed by a licensed contractor or business. Journey plumbers may supervise apprentices. A minimum of 6,000 hours (3 years) as a registered apprentice is required to apply for this plumbing license Michigan.
Master Plumber: The highest individual license tier. Master plumbers may supervise both apprentices and journey plumbers. They can represent a plumbing contractor and are responsible for code compliance and supervision of work. To become a master plumber, you need 4,000 hours of experience as a journey plumber within the last 2 years and must also pass the master-level exam.
Plumbing Contractor: This is a business-level license for individuals or entities wishing to offer or contract plumbing work in Michigan. Your company must designate a licensed master plumber as its representative. The plumbing contractor license Michigan is needed to legally bid or contract plumbing work, and it requires a $300 license fee. If you are an individual who is both the master and the contractor, you only pay the contractor fee.
Each level has distinct experience, application, and renewal requirements. In addition, a journey or master license is always tied to an individual, while the plumbing contractor license is tied to a business or sole proprietor entity. See LARA’s plumbing licensing section for official documentation.
How to Get Licensed in Michigan
Step 1: Register as an Apprentice Plumber
Complete apprentice registration with LARA. Renew your apprentice registration each year and keep it current for your entire experience accumulation period. The registration may be submitted online or by mail. Reference the LARA renewals page for specific instructions.
Step 2: Accumulate Required Experience
Gain at least 6,000 hours of supervised plumbing experience as a registered apprentice over no fewer than three years. Maintain detailed records of all employment and request notarized letters from each employer documenting your hours, work dates, and supervisor credentials.
Step 3: Apply for the Journey Plumber License
Prepare and submit the BCC‑329 application, including notarized documentation of your apprentice experience. Attach employer letters confirming your supervised work. Pay the required journey exam and license fees. You may submit your application electronically via Accela or through the mail.
Step 4: Pass the Journey Plumber Exam
Register for and take the journey licensing exam with PSI Services. Access exam scheduling through the LARA PSI Examinations page. Passing this exam is required to receive your journey plumber license Michigan.
Step 5: Obtain Additional Experience for Master Plumber (Optional)
If you wish to advance, work an additional 4,000 hours as a licensed journey plumber in the two years before applying for the master license. Keep updated documentation of this experience for your next application.
Step 6: Apply for Master Plumber License
Apply for your master plumber license using form BCC‑329. Submit proof of your journey license and your 4,000 hours of experience. Pay the $300 licensing fee. Schedule and pass the master plumber exam with PSI Services.
Step 7: Apply for Plumbing Contractor License
Once you or your company’s representative holds a master plumber license, use the same BCC‑329 form to apply for a plumbing contractor license Michigan. Indicate who the master plumber is and pay the $300 fee. Only the contractor fee applies if you are both master and contractor.
Step 8: Processing and Issuance
LARA processes complete license applications in about 3 to 5 weeks. If you applied online, monitor your application status through the Accela portal. Incomplete applications may be delayed or rejected.
All official forms are accessible from the LARA plumbing licensing forms page. Exam details are available through the PSI examinations section. No fingerprinting or background check is required under current state rules.
Application Requirements
To qualify for a plumbing license Michigan, you must meet age, experience, and documentation standards. Understanding these prerequisites helps avoid costly delays or rejections.
Experience and Age Requirements
Applicants must be at least 18 years old for all license types. For journey plumber, you need at least 6,000 hours (three years) as a registered apprentice. Master plumber applicants must provide evidence of 4,000 hours as a licensed journey plumber within the two years before application.
Documentation
All experience must be verified via notarized letters from your employer. Each letter should include specific start and end dates, total hours worked, description of plumbing experience, and confirmation of direct supervision by a licensed master plumber. Both the supervising master plumber and your employer must sign each letter.
Applications require form BCC‑329 for journey, master, and contractor licenses. No financial statements or personal background checks are mentioned on official sources. Citizenship or residency requirements are not specified.
Bond and Insurance
No bond or insurance requirements have been found in the official Michigan LARA plumbing licensing materials. If requirements are adopted in the future, verify directly at the LARA BCC Licensing Section.
Background Check and Federal Certificates
You are not required to provide fingerprints, go through a state or federal background check, or hold any federal environmental certifications (such as EPA 608) to obtain a plumbing license Michigan, based on current official documentation.
Exams
Exams are mandatory for journey, master, and plumbing contractor licenses in Michigan. All exams are administered by PSI Services LLC, which handles testing for LARA trade credentials.
Exam Structure and Process
Each license level has its own exam. There is no separate business law test; the exam covers both code requirements and the practical aspects appropriate for the license class. You may take the plumbing contractor or master plumber exam at a local PSI test center or online from home. All details, including candidate bulletins or study resources, are hosted on the LARA PSI Examinations section.
Official sources do not specify whether exams are open or closed book, the number of questions, time limits, passing scores, or the retake policy. You should verify these details directly with PSI and LARA before scheduling.
Fees
Below is a direct summary of plumbing license Michigan fees as confirmed by official state publications:
Apprentice Plumber renewal: $15 per year (as of renewal schedule, verify at LARA renewal page)
Apprentice Plumber late renewal: $20
Journey Plumber renewal: $40 per year (as of renewal schedule)
Journey Plumber late renewal: $100
Master Plumber license fee: $300 (as of March 2017 form revision, verify at application form)
Plumbing Contractor license fee: $300 (same source as above; if you are both Master and Contractor, you pay only the contractor fee)
Exam fees (for Journey, Master, Contractor): Amounts set by PSI, but the specific amounts are not found in official sources, verify with PSI Exams
Bond and insurance: No requirements or fees found in official LARA materials, verify at LARA BCC Licensing
Several licensing forms and the renewal page include the latest confirmed fees. Application fees separate from the above licensure and renewal fees are not all specified. Always check the official forms licensing page for the most current plumbing license Michigan fee schedules.
Renewal and Continuing Education
You must renew your plumbing license Michigan on time each year for all active credentials. Renewal procedures, costs, and continuing education requirements differ by license level.
Renewal Deadlines, Fees, and Penalties
Apprentice Plumber: Renewal deadline is April 30 each year. Late renewals incur a $20 penalty. If your registration lapses, any missing time does not count toward the experience needed for journey plumber.
Journey Plumber: Renewal deadline is also April 30 each year. The renewal fee is $40, and there is a $100 penalty for late renewal. If your license is lapsed for more than 60 days, your experience time toward the master qualification resets; you start the clock over.
Master Plumber and Plumbing Contractor: No explicit renewal timelines, processes, or penalties are listed in the cited sources; verify renewal cycles directly at LARA’s renewal information page.
Continuing Education (CE) Requirements
Apprentice plumbers in Michigan do not have any continuing education requirements. Journey plumbers must take one code update course within a year of adoption of a new plumbing code. Proof of completion must be retained for your records but does not need to be submitted unless you are audited. CE requirements for master plumbers and contractors are not explained in official documentation; verify at LARA if needed before renewal.
Lapsed License Consequences
If your apprentice or journey plumber license lapses, your accumulated experience time may not count toward advancement to the next license level. Time gaps break accumulated hours for journey and master application eligibility. Timely renewal is critical to stay on track with plumbing license Michigan requirements.
Reciprocity
No plumbing license Michigan reciprocity or endorsement agreements are listed in the official LARA resources. The state does not formally recognize plumbing credentials from any other state for replacement or fast-tracked licensure. All applicants must follow the standard Michigan licensing pathway, regardless of previous licensure in another jurisdiction. Always confirm the latest reciprocity policies at the LARA licensing section.
Official Links
LARA BCC Licensing Section (board homepage, all licensing steps)
LARA Forms Licensing Page (all application forms, including BCC-329)
PSI Examinations for Plumbing (exam scheduling, candidate bulletins)
Plumbing Permit Information (scope, homeowner exemption)
