Plumbing license requirements in 2026 vary significantly by state, but every state either licenses plumbers at the state level or leaves licensing to cities and counties, which still typically require registration, exams, and documented experience.
How plumber licensing works nationwide
Most U.S. jurisdictions follow the same basic ladder: start as an apprentice/trainee, move up to journeyman/journeyworker, and then qualify as a master plumber and/or plumbing contractor after additional experience and exams. Many states also require contractor business licenses, liability insurance, and bonds if you want to own a plumbing business or pull permits.
State‑by‑state plumber licensing overview (2026)
The table below summarizes whether each state licenses plumbers at the state level, and the typical top license level or contractor requirement. Always check the official state board or local authority before working, because local rules can add extra steps.
| State | Statewide license? | Main licensing authority / level (2026 snapshot) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board; apprentice, journeyman, master licenses required to work. |
| Alaska | Yes | Alaska Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development; licenses trainees, journeymen, contractors via Certificates of Fitness for multiple plumbing categories. |
| Arizona | Yes (contractors) | Arizona Registrar of Contractors; C‑36‑type plumbing contractor license required for jobs over set dollar threshold; some cities license journeymen locally. |
| Arkansas | Yes | Arkansas Dept. of Health, Plumbing & Natural Gas Division; apprentice registration, then journeyman and master licenses for all plumbing work. |
| California | Yes (contractors) | Contractors State License Board; C‑36 Plumbing contractor license with 4 years journeyman‑level experience plus exams and bond. |
| Colorado | Yes | Colorado DORA, State Plumbing Board; registers apprentices and licenses residential, journeyman, and master plumbers statewide. |
| Connecticut | Yes | Dept. of Consumer Protection; multiple P‑series contractor and journeyperson licenses with specific hour and exam requirements. |
| Delaware | Yes | Delaware Division of Professional Regulation; Board licenses apprentice, journeyman, master, and contractor plumbers. |
| Florida | Yes (contractors) | Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board; Certified and Registered Plumbing Contractor licenses for statewide or local practice. |
| Georgia | Yes | Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board; journeyman and master (Class 1 & 2) plumber licenses after documented experience and exams. |
| Hawaii | Yes | DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers; licenses apprentice, journey worker, master, and plumbing contractor statewide. |
| Idaho | Yes | Idaho Division of Building Safety / DOPL; licenses apprentices, journeymen, and contractors with required hours and exams. |
| Illinois | Yes | Illinois Dept. of Public Health (and Chicago); apprentice, plumber, and plumbing contractor licenses plus bond and insurance. |
| Indiana | Yes | Indiana Plumbing Commission; apprentice registration, journeyman and plumbing contractor licenses required for any plumbing services. |
| Iowa | Yes | Iowa Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board; licenses apprentices, journeymen, masters, and contractors statewide. |
| Kansas | No (local only) | No state plumbing license; cities like Wichita and Topeka license apprentice, journeyman, and master plumbers and contractors. |
| Kentucky | Yes | Dept. of Housing, Buildings & Construction – Division of Plumbing; journeyman and master licenses required; contractor registration for businesses. |
| Louisiana | Yes | State Plumbing Board of Louisiana issues journeyman and master licenses; Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors covers commercial contractor work over set thresholds. |
| Maine | Yes | Plumbers’ Examining Board; trainee, journeyman‑in‑training, journeyman, and master plumber licenses. |
| Maryland | Yes | Maryland Board of Plumbing; plumber‑in‑training, journeyman, master, and contractor licenses; strict penalties for unlicensed work. |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters; apprentice, journeyman, and master licenses plus business registrations. |
| Michigan | Yes | LARA – Bureau of Construction Codes; apprentice, journey plumber, master plumber, and separate plumbing contractor license. |
| Minnesota | Yes | Dept. of Labor & Industry; unlicensed individual registration, then journeyworker and master licenses; cities may require additional “comp cards.” |
| Mississippi | Partial (by project size) | Mississippi State Board of Contractors licenses residential and commercial contractors for plumbing work over defined dollar thresholds; smaller jobs may be only locally regulated. |
| Missouri | No (local only) | No state plumbing license; major cities and counties (e.g., Kansas City, St. Louis) register apprentices and license journeyman and master plumbers and contractors. |
| Montana | Yes | Montana Board of Plumbers; state journeyman and master licenses required; contractors and apprentices must register. |
| Nebraska | Mixed | State registration plus local licenses; apprentices, journeymen, and masters register with the state, but cities like Omaha and Lincoln issue actual plumbing licenses. |
| Nevada | Yes | Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses journeyman and master plumbers; Nevada State Contractors Board licenses plumbing contractors. |
| New Hampshire | Yes | OPLC Mechanical Safety / Division of Fire Safety; apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber licenses via state exams. |
| New Jersey | Yes | NJ Division of Consumer Affairs – State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers; master licenses plus registered apprentices/journeymen. |
| New Mexico | Yes | Regulation & Licensing Dept.; state licenses apprentice and journeyman plumbers; separate plumbing contractor license via Construction Industries Division. |
| New York | No (local only) | No state plumbing license; cities and counties (e.g., NYC Dept. of Buildings) license apprentices, journeymen, and master plumbers. |
| North Carolina | Yes (contractors) | State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors; P‑I, P‑II, and Restricted Limited Plumbing contractor licenses plus plumbing technician registration. |
| North Dakota | Yes | North Dakota State Plumbing Board; apprentice, journeyman, and master licenses plus separate state contractor license for businesses. |
| Ohio | Yes (commercial contractors) | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses plumbing contractors for commercial work; journeyman/master are handled at local level. |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Oklahoma Construction Industries Board; plumbing apprentice registration plus journeyman and plumbing contractor licenses statewide. |
| Oregon | Yes | Building Codes Division issues non‑contracting (journeyman etc.); Construction Contractors Board issues plumbing business contractor licenses. |
| Pennsylvania | No (local only) | No state plumbing license; cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh license apprentices, journeymen, and masters. |
| Rhode Island | Yes | RI Dept. of Labor & Training; state licenses apprentices, journeymen, and master plumbers, plus underground utility contractors. |
| South Carolina | Yes (contractors) | Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation; Contractor’s Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission license plumbing contractors; helpers can work under licensees. |
| South Dakota | Yes | SD Plumbing Commission; licenses apprentices, journeymen, and plumbing contractors statewide with required hours and exams. |
| Tennessee | Yes | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors; Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) and contractor licenses with plumbing classifications; local journeyman/master licenses also common. |
| Texas | Yes | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners; apprentice registration, then Tradesman‑Limited, Journeyman, Master, and Plumbing Inspector licenses. |
| Utah | Yes | DOPL; apprentice, journeyman, master, and contractor plumbing licenses, each with defined work hours and exams. |
| Vermont | Yes | Dept. of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety; state journeyman and master licenses plus limited specialty plumbing licenses. |
| Virginia | Yes | Board for Contractors; journeyman and master plumber licenses plus Class A/B/C contractor licenses for higher‑value work. |
| Washington | Yes | Dept. of Labor & Industries; certifies trainees, journeymen, and plumbing contractors under a statewide program updated in 2021. |
| West Virginia | Yes | WV Division of Labor; plumber‑in‑training, journeyman, master, and contractor licenses required for plumbing work. |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Dept. of Safety & Professional Services; apprentice registration, journeyman, master, and contractor credentials (“trades credentials”). |
| Wyoming | No (local only) | No state license; cities such as Cheyenne and Casper issue apprentice, journeyman, and master plumbing licenses and contractor licenses. |
Key patterns for SEO‑focused content
If you are building SEO content around plumber licensing by state in 2026, you can target recurring search intents such as “how to get a plumbing license in [state]”, “journeyman plumber requirements [state]”, and “plumbing contractor license reciprocity [state]”. For each state page, emphasize: minimum experience and classroom hours, exam requirements, license levels (apprentice/journeyman/master/contractor), fees and renewal cycles, and whether local (city/county) registration is also needed.
Plumbers searching “plumber licensing by state 2026” want one thing: a clear, state‑by‑state roadmap to getting licensed, plus links to official resources and reciprocity rules. This guide is optimized for U.S. search intent and structured for rich snippets, FAQ results, and internal linking opportunities.
What is a plumbing license?
A plumbing license is a state or local credential that legally authorizes you to install, repair, and maintain water, sewer, and gas systems for pay. Most U.S. jurisdictions use a ladder of apprentice (or trainee), journeyman (or journeyworker), and master or plumbing contractor, each requiring specific work hours and exams.
Key elements most states require:
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Minimum on‑the‑job experience (typically 2–5 years).
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Passing a trade exam and often a business/law exam.
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Proof of liability insurance and sometimes a surety bond.
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Registration or licensing at both state and, in some states, city/county level.
Do plumbers need a license in every state?
Yes. Every state either licenses plumbers at the state level or leaves licensing to local (city/county) authorities, which still usually require some form of license or registration. A few states, like Kansas, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, do not issue a statewide plumbing license but rely on local building departments.
If you plan to work in more than one state, you must:
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Meet the licensing rules for each state where you perform work.
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Check reciprocity agreements to see whether your current license can be transferred or fast‑tracked.
Plumbing license requirements by state (2026 overview)
Use this section to target long‑tail keywords like “how to get a plumbing license in Texas” or “journeyman plumber license requirements in Florida”. For full details, always click through to the linked state or board pages.
States with statewide plumber licensing
These states issue licenses at the state level (often with additional local permits):
| State | Typical top license | Key facts | Helpful resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Journeyman, Master | State Board licenses apprentices, journeymen, and masters; no reciprocity for plumbing contractors. | Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board (official) – linked via AL section on ServiceTitan. |
| Alaska | Journeyman, Contractor | Certificates of Fitness for residential/commercial plumbing; experience plus exam required. | Alaska Dept. of Labor plumbing licensing – linked from state‑by‑state guide. |
| Arizona | Plumbing Contractor | ROC contractor license (e.g., C‑37) with 4 years’ experience, trade + business exam, bond. | Arizona Registrar of Contractors site – linked from license guides. |
| Arkansas | Journeyman, Master | Dept. of Health issues apprentice, journeyman, and master licenses for all plumbing work. | AR Department of Health Plumbing & Natural Gas Division – linked in 50‑state guides. |
| California | C‑36 Contractor | CSLB C‑36 requires 4 years journeyman‑level experience, trade + law exam, bond. | CSLB “C‑36 Plumbing” page – linked in major licensing articles. |
| Colorado | Residential, Journeyman, Master | State Plumbing Board licenses at three levels; registered apprentices must work under supervision. | Colorado DORA Plumbing Board – linked from 50‑state licensing guide. |
| Florida | Certified/Registered Plumbing Contractor | Certified = statewide; Registered = local; both require exams, experience, and insurance. | Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board – linked from contractor guides. |
| Georgia | Journeyman, Master | Construction Industry Licensing Board issues state exams; experience requirements apply. | Georgia Secretary of State licensing page – referenced in state guides. |
| Hawaii | Journey Worker, Master, Contractor | DCCA Board of Electricians & Plumbers licenses multiple plumbing classifications. | Hawaii DCCA plumbing licensing – linked via national guides. |
| Idaho | Journeyman, Contractor | State offers reciprocity to journeyman plumbers from MT, OR, WA; licenses apprentices, journeymen, contractors. | Idaho Division of Occupational & Professional Licenses plumbing board. |
| Illinois | Plumber, Plumbing Contractor | Illinois Dept. of Public Health licenses plumbers; Chicago has its own local process. | IDPH plumbing licenses page – linked in national breakdowns. |
| Indiana | Journeyman, Plumbing Contractor | Indiana Plumbing Commission licenses plumber and plumbing contractor; apprenticeship required. | IN Plumbing Commission page – referenced in state‑by‑state guides. |
| Iowa | Apprentice, Journeyperson, Master | Iowa Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board licenses all levels statewide. | Iowa PMSB official site – linked in license requirement summaries. |
| Kentucky | Journeyman, Master | Division of Plumbing issues and renews all state licenses. | KY Division of Plumbing “Plumbing Licensing Requirements”. |
| Louisiana | Journeyman, Master | State Plumbing Board licenses plumbers; contractor board covers high‑value projects. | State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA) official site. |
| Maine | Trainee, Journeyman, Master | Plumbers’ Examining Board manages licensing at each level. | Maine Plumbers’ Examining Board page – linked from license guides. |
| Maryland | Plumber‑in‑Training, Journeyman, Master | Maryland Board of Plumbing has multi‑tier licensing with strict enforcement. | MD Board of Plumbing site – linked in national overviews. |
| Massachusetts | Apprentice, Journeyman, Master | Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters licenses plumbers and gas fitters statewide. | MA board page on mass.gov. |
| Michigan | Journey, Master, Contractor | LARA issues journey plumber, master plumber, and plumbing contractor licenses. | Michigan State Plumbing Board page on LARA. |
| Minnesota | Journeyworker, Master | Dept. of Labor & Industry licenses state plumbers; some cities require extra registrations. | MN DLI plumbing license page – referenced in reciprocity and license guides. |
| Mississippi | Commercial/Residential Plumbing Contractor | State Board of Contractors licenses contractors (journeymen are local); reciprocity with AL, LA, TN, AR. | MS State Board of Contractors plumbing info. |
| Montana | Journeyman, Master | Board of Plumbers licenses at state level; reciprocity with some nearby states. | Montana Board of Plumbers – linked via reciprocity map. |
| Nebraska | Registration + Local | State registers plumbers; major cities issue local licenses. | Nebraska state registration resources cited in 50‑state guides. |
| Nevada | Journeyman, Master, Contractor | Plumbing Board and Contractors Board handle trade and business licensing. | Nevada State Contractors Board – linked in contractor licensing guides. |
| New Hampshire | Apprentice, Journeyman, Master | State exams for journeyman and master, overseen by mechanical safety regulators. | NH OPLC plumbing page – referenced in license lists. |
| New Jersey | Master Plumber | State Board licenses master plumbers; apprentices/journeymen work under them. | NJ Division of Consumer Affairs – Master Plumber Board. |
| New Mexico | Journeyman, Contractor | RLD licenses journeyman plumbers and construction contractors with plumbing classification. | New Mexico RLD Construction Industries Division. |
| North Carolina | Plumbing Contractor (P‑I, P‑II, Limited) | Board licenses contractors; techs register under a licensee. | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors. |
| North Dakota | Journeyman, Master, Contractor | State Plumbing Board licenses plumbers and contractors statewide. | ND State Plumbing Board – cited in reciprocity and license guides. |
| Ohio | Plumbing Contractor (commercial) | OCILB licenses commercial plumbing contractors; journeymen are local; reciprocity with KY, LA, TN. | Ohio OCILB plumbing license page. |
| Oklahoma | Journeyman, Contractor | Construction Industries Board licenses apprentice, journeyman, and contractor plumbers. | OK CIB plumbing license info – linked via reciprocity guide. |
| Oregon | Journeyman + Contractor | Building Codes Division licenses individuals; Construction Contractors Board licenses businesses. | Oregon BCD + CCB plumbing licensing pages. |
| Rhode Island | Apprentice, Journeyman, Master | Dept. of Labor & Training licenses plumbers statewide. | RI DLT plumbing licensing – cited in 50‑state guides. |
| South Carolina | Mechanical Contractor (PB) | Contractor’s Licensing Board handles larger jobs; reciprocity with GA, MS, NC, TN. | SC Contractor’s Licensing Board – plumbing classification PB. |
| South Dakota | Journeyman, Contractor | Plumbing Commission licenses all levels, including contractors. | SD Plumbing Commission – cited in reciprocity map. |
| Tennessee | Contractor (CMC‑A), Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) | State licenses contractors and LLPs (under $25k); journeymen are local; reciprocity with MS, AL, SC. | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors + LLP portal. |
| Texas | Apprentice, Tradesman‑Limited, Journeyman, Master | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners oversees multi‑tier licensing statewide. | TSBPE plumbing licenses – linked in national guides. |
| Utah | Journeyman, Master, Contractor | DOPL licenses apprentices, journeymen, masters, and contractors. | Utah DOPL plumbing licensing page – referenced in state list. |
| Vermont | Journeyman, Master | Division of Fire Safety manages licenses and specialty categories. | VT Fire Safety plumbing licensing resources. |
| Virginia | Journeyman, Master, Contractor (Class A/B/C) | Board for Contractors licenses individuals and businesses based on project size. | Virginia DPOR contractor and tradesman licensing. |
| Washington | Plumbing Contractor, Journeyman | L&I licenses plumbers and plumbing contractors; specific insurance and bonding rules apply. | WA L&I plumbing license requirements. |
| West Virginia | Plumber‑in‑Training, Journeyman, Master, Contractor | WV Division of Labor licenses all levels statewide. | WV Division of Labor plumber licensing page – cited in 50‑state guides. |
| Wisconsin | Journeyman, Master, Contractor | DSPS issues “trades credentials” for plumbers and contractors. | WI DSPS plumbing credential list. |
States that rely on local plumbing licenses
Several states do not issue a statewide plumber license but regulate plumbing via local (city/county) building departments. This matters for SEO because searchers often include a city name, such as “NYC master plumber license requirements”.
| State | How licensing works | SEO note |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | No statewide license; major cities/counties set apprentice, journeyman, and master requirements. | Target “[city] plumbing license requirements” (e.g., Wichita, Overland Park). |
| Missouri | No statewide plumbing license; cities like Kansas City and St. Louis license plumbers and contractors. | Create city‑level content for each major metro. |
| New York | Local licensing only; NYC, Buffalo, etc. have their own master and journeyman rules. | Focus pages on “NYC plumbing license”, “Buffalo plumber license”, etc. |
| Pennsylvania | Local plumbing licenses; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh manage exams and credentials. | Use geo‑modifier keywords such as “Philadelphia plumber license”. |
| Wyoming | Local licensing handled by municipalities like Cheyenne and Casper. | Combine state‑level overview with internal links to city‑specific pages |
Plumbing license reciprocity: working in multiple states
Plumbing license reciprocity is when one state accepts your existing license or waives part of the application process, such as the trade exam. Reciprocity is not uniform; each state negotiates its own agreements and usually only with states that have similar requirements.
Examples of reciprocity and exam waivers:
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Delaware recognizes certain plumbing licenses from Connecticut, Iowa, and Maryland and may waive experience proof if standards are substantially similar.
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Mississippi may waive the trade exam for plumbers coming from Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
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Minnesota can waive exam requirements for licensed plumbers from North Dakota and South Dakota.
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Idaho offers journeyman plumber reciprocity with Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
For each state you target, include an internal section like “Does [State] have plumber license reciprocity?” and then link to:
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A reciprocity map or table summarizing which states qualify.
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The specific application form and board instructions on the state site.
Step‑by‑step: how to get a plumbing license in the U.S.
While details change by state, the basic roadmap to becoming a licensed plumber is similar across the country.
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Meet basic eligibility requirements
Most states require you to be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or GED, and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. -
Enroll in an apprenticeship or trade school
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Join a union or non‑union apprenticeship program, or
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Attend a vocational/technical school, often combined with on‑the‑job training.
Typical programs last 4–5 years and combine classroom hours with thousands of supervised work hours.
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Register as an apprentice or trainee
Many states require apprentices to register with the state board before accruing hours toward journeyman status. -
Log required experience and classroom hours
Requirements vary but often fall between 4,000 and 10,000 hours of supervised work, plus specified classroom instruction. -
Pass the journeyman exam
Once you have enough hours, you apply for the journeyman exam, which typically tests codes (IPC, UPC, state amendments), safety, and trade math. -
Upgrade to master or plumbing contractor
After additional years as a journeyman, you can sit for a master or contractor exam, often combined with a business/law exam and proof of insurance/bonding. -
Maintain your license
Many states require renewals every 1–3 years, plus continuing education hours tied to new plumbing codes and safety rules.
## Sources
1. ServiceTitan – “Plumbing License Requirements for All 50 States”
https://www.servicetitan.com/blog/plumbing-license-requirements
2. FieldPulse – “Plumbing Contractor License Requirements By State”
https://www.fieldpulse.com/resources/blog/plumbing-contractor-license-requirements-by-state
3. HowToBecomeAPlumber.org – “Plumber Licensing Requirements by State”
4. Contractor Nerd – “Plumbing License Requirements by State: Complete 2025 Guide”
5. Procore – “Contractor License Reciprocity: Working Across State Lines”
https://www.procore.com/library/contractor-license-reciprocity
6. Plumbers Training Institute – “Reciprocity Rules for Plumbers: Simplifying Multi-State Licensing”
https://www.plumberstraininginstitute.com/plumbing-license-reciprocity/
7. GetJobber – “Plumbing License: How to Become a Certified Plumber”
https://www.getjobber.com/academy/plumbing-license/
8. ServiceTitan – “SEO for Plumbers: The Definitive Guide”
https://www.servicetitan.com/blog/plumbing-seo