Quick Reference Table
Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
License Types | Apprentice (registration), Journeyman, Plumbing Contractor |
Regulating Agency | Construction Industries Board (CIB) |
Experience | Journeyman: 3 years (some education can substitute); Contractor: Journeyman + 1 more year |
Exams | Journeyman: Trade exam (PSI); Contractor: Trade + Business & Law (PSI); 75% passing |
Renewal | Annual, expires last day of birth month |
Continuing Education | 6 hours every 36 months (Journeyman & Contractor) |
Fees (as of 2026) | Apprentice: $5 application + $20 registration; |
Bond/Insurance | $5,000 surety bond (or equivalent cash/CD); $50,000 general liability insurance (Contractor) |
Links | CIB Plumbing Industry; Testing info; Application PDF; Online Portal |
Who Needs a Plumbing License in Oklahoma?
Anyone performing or offering to perform plumbing work for others must have a plumbing license in Oklahoma. This applies regardless of the project's size or dollar value. There is no exemption for owner-builders, handymen, or general contractors without a specific plumbing license.
According to state law, "plumbing contracting" means offering, contracting, or performing plumbing installation, repair, or maintenance, no matter if payment is received. All persons doing plumbing must be registered apprentices, licensed journeymen, or licensed plumbing contractors under direct CIB authority.
Employees can perform plumbing only as supervised apprentices, or as licensed journeymen or contractors. Subcontractors must hold an appropriate current license. A general contractor cannot perform, subcontract, or oversee plumbing unless also licensed in plumbing.
Plumbing License Types
The Plumbing license requirements in Oklahoma recognize three main license or registration types: Apprentice Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, and Plumbing Contractor. Each has a different scope, and upgrading between them requires meeting separate standards.
Apprentice Plumber (Registration Only)
This position is entry-level. An apprentice is a person learning plumbing under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or contractor. Apprentices must register with the CIB, and a single contractor may supervise at most three apprentices at any one time. Apprentices do not take exams but must work under continuous supervision and may not contract for work independently.
Journeyman Plumber (License)
Journeymen may perform most plumbing work independently, as long as they are employed by or under contract with a licensed plumbing contractor. They can supervise up to three apprentices and act as a foreman or lead on job sites. Journeymen must meet age and experience requirements, submit an application, and pass a trade exam.
Plumbing Contractor (License)
A Plumbing Contractor may contract directly with customers, supervise journeymen and apprentices, plan or bid jobs, and operate a plumbing business under Oklahoma law. To become a contractor, you must first be licensed as a journeyman and then complete one additional year of experience, as well as pass the contractor-level trade and business law exams. Contractors are responsible for carrying a $5,000 surety bond and $50,000 in general liability insurance.
Plumbing License Requirements in Oklahoma: How to Get Licensed
To meet Plumbing license requirements in Oklahoma, you must complete several steps, depending on your desired license level. The process is cumulative, and each stage builds on the previous one.
1. Apprentice Registration Requirements
Register as an Apprentice: Secure employment under a licensed plumbing contractor or journeyman. Complete the CIB Apprentice Application form, pay the $5 application and $20 registration fees, and submit it with proper signatures. Your contractor cannot supervise more than three apprentices at once.
2. Journeyman License Path
Gain Experience: Work in the plumbing trade for at least three years under supervision. Alternatively, you can use certain approved educational substitutes (see below) as partial credit toward your experience requirement.
Apply for Journeyman License: When you have completed the experience requirement, fill out the journeyman license application, pay the $25 application fee and $50 license fee, and provide documentation of your experience or education.
Pass the Journeyman Exam: Schedule and pass the PSI trade exam with a minimum score of 75%. You will receive information on registering for this exam from the CIB after your application is approved.
Maintain Your Journeyman License: Renew annually, complete 6 hours of continuing education every 36 months, and always keep your record updated with the CIB.
3. Contractor License Path
Obtain Additional Contractor Experience: After passing as a journeyman, work for at least one more year under the supervision of a plumbing contractor.
Apply for Contractor License: Fill out the application, submit a $30 application fee and $300 initial license fee ($330 total), and provide evidence of your additional year of experience beyond journeyman level. Submit all required bond and insurance documentation.
Pass the Contractor Exams: Register and pass both the trade and Business & Law exams, each with at least a 75% score. These are administered by PSI.
Submit Bond and Insurance: Provide a $5,000 surety bond (completed on the CIB bond form with all original signatures and power of attorney) and proof of at least $50,000 general liability insurance naming the CIB as certificate holder.
Receive Your Plumbing Contractor License: Once all documents are approved and fees are paid, the CIB will issue your contractor license. You must renew annually, maintain all required insurance and bond, and complete continuing education as required.
Application Requirements
Experience and Age
The Plumbing license requirements in Oklahoma require that journeyman applicants be at least 18 years old and show a minimum of three years' plumbing work experience under proper supervision. Contractor applicants must already hold a journeyman license and have at least one additional year, for a total of four years' experience. Proof includes employer affidavits, verified pay stubs, payroll records, and completion certificates from CIB-approved programs.
Education Substitution
You can substitute certain formal education for up to two of the three years needed for the journeyman license. Completion of a CIB-approved CareerTech program with 1,000 classroom hours may substitute for two years; a diploma with 500 hours may substitute for one year. All substitutions require official transcripts and must be from schools recognized by the CIB.
Bond and Insurance
For contractors, the Plumbing license requirements in Oklahoma include a mandatory $5,000 surety bond (or $5,000 cash or certificate of deposit). This bond must be continuous, written on the CIB bond form with original signatures, company seal, and the surety's power of attorney. Contractors must also obtain and maintain minimum $50,000 commercial general liability insurance, with the CIB named as certificate holder. Failure to keep bond and insurance in force immediately renders your license inactive.
Background Check and Fingerprinting
There is no fingerprinting or criminal background check required by statute or by the CIB plumbing application as of 2026. However, you must truthfully answer all character and conviction questions on the application, and the board reserves the right to investigate history if warranted.
Exams
Satisfying the Plumbing license requirements in Oklahoma for journeyman or contractor status means passing state-mandated exams administered by PSI Services LLC. Both the trade exam and, for contractors, the Business & Law exam must be passed with at least a 75% score each.
Journeyman Trade Exam
This exam tests your knowledge of plumbing techniques, state codes, safety practices, and related regulations. It is open-book and consists of approximately 80 questions to be completed in 240 minutes. Exam scheduling and detailed info are available through PSI and the CIB testing information portal.
Contractor Exam (Trade + Business & Law)
Plumbing contractor applicants must take both the trade exam (similar to the journeyman test) and a separate Business & Law exam. The Business & Law test typically covers topics like contracts, bidding requirements, employment law, and business operations. It is open-book, about 50 questions, and allotted 120 minutes. You must register for each exam part separately.
Exam fees are $87 per exam part (as of 2026, corroborated through third-party and CIB sources). You may retake exam sections as needed within one year of your application window, with each retake requiring a new $87 fee. For official details on test content and scheduling, visit the CIB exam information page.
Fees
Plumbing license requirements in Oklahoma include multiple fees, each set by statute and board rule. All fees below are confirmed from Title 158, Chapter 30, with 2026 as the most recent source date. For the most current details, always review the CIB rules and fee schedule.
Apprentice: Application fee $5, registration fee $20 (as of 2026, verify at CIB fee schedule)
Journeyman: Application fee $25, initial license $50, renewal $75/year, late fee $25 (as of 2026, verify at CIB fee schedule)
Contractor: Application fee $30, initial license $300, renewal $200/year, late fee $100 (as of 2026, verify at CIB fee schedule)
Bond: $5,000 surety or $5,000 cash/CD (contractor only, as of 2026, verify at CIB fee schedule)
Insurance: Proof of at least $50,000 general liability (as of 2026, verify at CIB bond/insurance page)
Exam: $87 per exam part (as of 2026, corroborated from third-party and exam info page)
Renewal and Continuing Education
Your license must be renewed each year by the last day of your birth month. This applies to both journeymen and contractors. Renewal fees are $75 for journeymen and $200 for contractors (as of 2026). If you renew after your expiration date, a late fee applies: $25 for journeymen, $100 for contractors.
Continuing Education (CE)
Journeymen and contractors must complete 6 hours of approved continuing education every 36 months to maintain active status. CE courses must be pre-approved by the CIB. Failing to complete CE credits will render your license ineligible for renewal, potentially resulting in loss of license and the need for re-examination or additional process to reinstate. For a list of authorized CE providers, refer to the CIB Plumbing Industry page.
Lapse and Revocation
If your license lapses, you cannot legally perform or contract any plumbing work until it is renewed. Letting bond or insurance lapse will cause your license to immediately become inactive. Revoked, lapsed, or surrendered licenses during disciplinary review may be subject to additional investigation or may not be eligible for renewal. Detailed procedures are set out in OAC 158:30-9-3.
Reciprocity
Oklahoma has no formal reciprocity agreements with other states for plumbing licensing as of 2026. However, if you hold a license in another state in good standing, you may use out-of-state experience toward the journeyman experience requirement if properly documented. Contractors licensed elsewhere must still pass Oklahoma’s required exams, submit the surety bond, and provide the required liability insurance to the CIB. All applicants should review the CIB application PDF for instructions on submitting out-of-state credentials.
Official Links
Online license renewal and payment portal
