There are many ways to become a certified plumber. The first step is to attend a trade school and learn the basics of plumbing. You can then work as an apprentice for several years until you have gained enough experience to take the certification exam. If you have already passed the certification exam, you may then be able to start working on your own.
There are also some other options available for those who do not want to go through the traditional route or who are unable or unwilling to attend trade school. For example, if you already have a degree in another field but want to become a plumber, you can enroll in an online course that will teach you everything you need to know about plumbing. These courses can be taken at any time, so they make it easy for people who already have jobs or other responsibilities but still want to learn how they can become certified plumbers.
How To Become Certified Plumber
Getting your plumbing certification is the most important step of becoming a plumber. Most states won’t let you work in the trade without one, and with good reason too—plumbing is a highly skilled trade
If you’re wondering how to get a plumbing license, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled the answers to your biggest plumbing certification questions.
IN THIS PLUMBING CERTIFICATION ARTICLE, WE’LL ANSWER:
01 WHAT IS A LICENSED PLUMBER?
02 WHAT ARE THE PLUMBING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BY STATE?
03 HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET A PLUMBING LICENSE?
04 HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A LICENSED PLUMBER?
05 HOW CAN YOU GET A PLUMBING LICENSE IN CANADA?
What is a licensed plumber?
A licensed plumber is a plumbing professional who’s met the qualifications and testing required to work legally in their city or county.
However, not all regions require licensing to work as a plumber. Check with your local and state-level government to see what requirements you’ll need to meet.
READ MORE: 30 of the best plumbing tools to get the job done
What are the plumbing certification requirements by state?
Each state has its own requirements for getting your plumbing license as well as different licensing levels. If your state doesn’t have any state-wide license requirements, remember that requirements can be made at a local level. Make sure to double-check with your local governing body for any regulations.
Jump to your state:
Alabama
To perform any type of plumbing work within the state of Alabama, plumbers are required to obtain a license from the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board.
To start, aspiring plumbers will need to get their plumbing apprentice certification.
To qualify for your journeyperson plumber license, you’ll need to complete at least two years as an apprentice working under a licensed master plumber or complete a “board-approved” apprenticeship training program.
Once complete, you’ll need to pass the journeyman licensing exam to become a licensed plumber.
To qualify for the Alabama master plumber license, you’ll need to work for at least one year as a journeyperson plumber and pass your master plumbers exam.
Alaska
Without a state license, you’re unable to perform any professional plumbing work in Alaska.
You can get your plumbing license from the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
To qualify for your Alaska journeyperson plumber license plumbers must earn a minimum of 8,000 hours of experience with installing commercial or residential plumbing. Or have completed 1,000 hours of related in-class experience. Plumbers will then need to pass their licensing exam.
To install fuel and gas piping, or install plumbing for public utilities, plumbers in Alaska are required to get a restricted plumbing license.
To be eligible for their restricted plumber gas license (PG), plumbers will need to complete at least 4,000 hours of work. A minimum of 2,000 hours in fuel gas piping installation is required, or 2,000 hours of commercial or industrial plumbing installation.
To get your restricted plumber utilities license (PU), plumbers need to complete 1,000 hours of work installing water, sewer, or storm lines.
Arizona
To work as a plumber within the state of Arizona, you’re required to get a plumbing license.
Arizona requires all plumbers to pass two exams to get their plumber’s license. The first is a business management exam and the second is their plumbing trade exam.
To qualify for the license, you’ll need a minimum of four years of experience in plumbing. You can substitute a portion of this experience with any training or education you may have received.
Plumbers can get their Arizona plumbing license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
Arkansas
To perform any plumbing maintenance or installation work in the state of Arkansas, you’ll need to attain a plumbing license.
To qualify for your journeyperson plumber license you’ll need to have a minimum of four years of experience as a plumber and to complete a plumbing apprenticeship program.
To get your master plumber license you’ll need to have at least 5 years of experience as a plumber, including at least 1 year of experience with your journeyperson license.
California
To work as a plumber within the state of California on projects worth more than $500, you’ll need to get a contractor’s license from the California Contractors State License Board.
To become a licensed contractor, you’ll need to pass the California plumbers exam and the business and law exam.
To qualify for these exams, plumbers need at least four years of experience as a journeyman, foreman or supervisor, or contractor.
Once you’ve passed the exam, plumbers are required to pass a criminal background check and file a $10,000 bond with the Contractors State License Board.
Colorado
You’ll need a plumbing license to work as a plumber within the state of Colorado.
There are three different types of plumbers licenses in Colorado: residential plumber license, journeyperson plumber license, and a master plumber license.
A residential plumber license allows plumbers to perform residential plumbing jobs like pipe fittings, repairs, and installations. To qualify for your residential license, you’ll need two years of plumbing experience working under a master plumber.
A journeyperson plumber license allows you to perform commercial plumbing jobs as well as residential. To be eligible for your journeyperson license, plumbers need a minimum of four years of experience, will need to pass an exam, and submit an affidavit of eligibility.
A master plumber license is required for plumbers to perform both commercial and residential jobs, as well as supervise and train plumber apprentices. To become a master plumber in Colorado you’ll need five years of experience, to pass a licensing exam, and to submit an affidavit of eligibility.
Connecticut
To perform plumbing jobs in Connecticut, you’ll need to become a licensed plumber.
There are two different plumbing licenses: unlimited journeyperson plumber and unlimited plumbing contractor.
An unlimited journeyperson plumber license allows plumbers to work under the supervision of a licensed plumbing contractor and perform basic plumbing tasks. To qualify for this license, you’ll need to apply to be an apprentice or complete a series of training courses and then pass a licensing exam.
An unlimited plumbing contractor license lets you perform plumbing work unsupervised. Before you take this license exam, plumbers are required to have two years of experience as an unlimited journeyperson plumber.
Delaware
A plumbing license is required to perform any plumbing installations or plumbing jobs in the state of Delaware.
To qualify for your journeyperson plumber license, applicants must complete at least two years of supervised work experience and show they’ve completed an apprenticeship program by providing their Journeyman Certificate.
To achieve your master plumber license, plumbers will need to complete seven years of work as a journeyperson.
Florida
All plumbers must be licensed to perform any plumbing work in the state of Florida.
To become a certified Florida plumbing contractor, you’ll need to pass two exams, a business and finance exam, and a plumbing trade exam.
Before you can apply for your exam, you’ll want to make sure you meet all of the additional requirements. This includes at least four years of plumbing experience, a recent credit report, and a net worth of at least $2,500.
You can get your plumbing license from the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Georgia
You’ll need to be a licensed plumber to perform any plumbing work within the State of Georgia.
To qualify for your journeyperson plumber license you’ll need to provide three years of relevant plumbing experience and get approval from the state to take the exam.
There are two different classifications of master plumbers in Georgia.
Master plumbers in class one can work on single-family homes, one-level dwellings (for up to two families), and commercial buildings under 10,000 square feet.
To qualify for your master plumber license class one, you need a minimum of five years of experience with a minimum of two years experience as a journeyperson plumber.
Master plumbers in class two are unrestricted and can take on any plumbing work they choose.
To qualify for your master plumber class two license, you’ll need the same amount of experience as class one as well as specific experience with commercial or industrial plumbing.
Hawaii
To work as a plumber in the state of Hawaii, you need to acquire a plumber’s license.
To qualify for a journey worker plumber license, applicants must complete five years of plumbing work that complies with the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and pass the licensing exam.
To get your master plumber license in Hawaii, you’ll need to complete two years of experience as a journey worker plumber and pass the master plumber licensing exam.
Idaho
To become a plumber in Idaho, you’ll need to get licensed through the Idaho Division of Building Safety.
To get your journeyperson plumber license, you need four years of schooling and 8000 hours of plumbing experience before passing a written and practical exam.
To qualify for your plumbing contractor license you need two and a half years of experience as a licensed journeyperson and take an exam. Once you’ve completed your exam you’ll be required to provide proof of bond.
Illinois
To work as a plumber in the state of Illinois you’ll need to acquire a plumbing license.
To qualify for your journeyperson license, you’ll need to complete an apprenticeship under a licensed plumber and pass a licensing exam. To renew your license, all plumbers must complete a minimum of four hours of continuing education.
Indiana
To work as a plumber in the state of Indiana, you’re required to get a plumbing license.
To qualify for a journeyperson plumber license in Indiana, you’ll need to complete a four-year apprenticeship program and pass the licensing exam.
To get your plumbing contractor license, you’ll need to complete a four-year apprenticeship program, have four years of experience working under a licensed plumber, or be a licensed plumber in another state.
Iowa
To be eligible to work as a plumber in the state of Iowa, you’ll need to get your plumbing license from the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board.
To get your apprentice plumber license you’ll need to complete high school or have your GED equivalent and be enrolled in an apprenticeship program. You’ll also need to provide proof that you’re working under the supervision of a licensed plumber (either journeyperson or master).
To qualify for your journeyperson plumber license you’ll need to complete four years of plumbing experience as an apprentice and pass the licensing exam.
Plumbers who are looking to get their master plumber license will need to have two years of experience as a journeyperson plumber and pass an additional licensing exam.
Kansas
There are no licensing requirements to become a plumber in the state of Kansas
Plumbers in Kansas can choose to get the optional Class DP plumbing contractor license by passing a licensing exam.
Kentucky
To work as a plumber in the state of Kentucky you’ll need a plumbing license.
To qualify for your journeyperson plumber license, you’ll need a minimum of four years of experience as a plumbing apprentice and pass a written licensing exam.
To get your master plumber license, plumbers will need to pass their licensing exam, have general liability insurance valued at $250,000, and provide proof of their workers’ compensation as well as unemployment insurance.
Louisiana
You’ll need a plumbing license in the state of Louisiana to perform any plumbing work worth more than $10,000.
To qualify for your journeyperson plumber license applicants need to complete an apprenticeship program, have a minimum of five years experience as a full-time plumber, and pass their licensing exam.
To be eligible for your master plumbing license, plumbers will need to have their journeyperson license or a Louisiana Professional Engineers License with no less than five years of experience in plumbing.
