Alaska Plumber License Requirements (2026)

Alaska plumber licensing is administered by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Mechanical Inspection Section, under AS 18.62 and 8 AAC 65. DOL issues individual Certificates of Fitness for Apprentice, Journeyman, and Utility Plumbers, with the Journeyman Plumber Certificate required to perform plumbing work without direct supervision. Alaska has adopted the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as the technical standard. Plumbing contractors also need a DCCED Construction Contractor registration with the Specialty Contractor endorsement to operate as a business entity under AS 08.18.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development — Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Construction Contractors Section (DCCED CBPL) pursuant to Alaska Statutes AS 08.18 (Construction Contractors); 12 AAC 21 (Construction Contractors regulations). The Construction Contractors Section of DCCED issues contractor endorsements statewide (General Contractor with Residential, General Contractor without Residential, Specialty, Mechanical, Handyman), enforces the surety bond and insurance requirements of AS 08.18, and processes disciplinary actions. Electrical administrator and mechanical administrator certificates of fitness are issued separately by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Mechanical Inspection Section.

Official portal: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ConstructionContractors.aspx
Address: P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806
Phone: (907) 465-2550

Eligibility Requirements

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Alaska residency requirement.

Good moral character

DOL reviews disciplinary and work history. Prior unsafe-work findings are grounds for denial.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure on the Certificate of Fitness application.

Experience & Education Matrix

The applicant must document and verify at least 4 years of 8,000 hours of documented plumbing experience (typically a four-year DOL-registered apprenticeship) working under the supervision of a licensed Journeyman Plumber.. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Completion certificate from a DOL-registered plumbing apprenticeship (UA Local 375 or equivalent)
DOL Certificate of Fitness Experience Affidavit signed by supervising journeymen
Payroll records (W-2 or certified payroll) covering the qualifying period

Education substitution

A DOL-registered apprenticeship program satisfies the 8,000-hour experience requirement.

Examination Structure

ICC (International Code Council) under contract to the Alaska Department of Labor runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Alaska Journeyman Plumber Exam — Uniform Plumbing Code (current adopted edition), Alaska amendments, AS 18.62 — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $200 examination fee paid to ICC.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after a 30-day wait by paying a new fee.

Insurance & Financial Security

The DCCED CBPL requires a $10,000 contractor license surety bond to be on file before the license will issue.

General liability

Plumbing businesses registered as Specialty Contractors must carry the AS 08.18.101 minimums of $20,000 property / $50,000 bodily injury per occurrence, or $100,000 combined single limit.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under AS 23.30 for any business with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required. DCCED Specialty Contractor endorsement requires a $10,000 surety bond.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$200
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$200

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Alaska Journeyman Plumber Certificate of Fitness every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $200. Alaska Certificates of Fitness renew every two years. The bond and insurance must remain in effect continuously.

Continuing education: Sixteen hours of DOL-approved continuing education per two-year cycle, including UPC update training when a new edition is adopted.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Alaska Plumber License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Alaska does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Alaska does not formally reciprocate plumbing credentials with other states. Out-of-state journeymen must document experience and pass the Alaska UPC exam.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Plumber license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Obtain an Apprentice Plumber Certificate of Fitness. Register with DOL as an apprentice before starting qualifying work.
Complete a DOL-registered plumbing apprenticeship. Typically four years and 8,000 hours through UA Local 375 or an approved alternative.
Submit the DOL Journeyman Plumber application. File the Certificate of Fitness application with experience affidavits and fee.
Pass the ICC Journeyman Plumber exam. Score 70% or better on the UPC-based exam.
Receive the Journeyman Plumber Certificate of Fitness. DOL issues the wallet card on a two-year renewal cycle.
Register the business with DCCED. File the Specialty Contractor endorsement application with the $10,000 bond and liability insurance.
Maintain continuing education and renewals. Complete required UPC update training each cycle and renew both DOL and DCCED credentials.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with DCCED CBPL:

☐ DOL-registered plumbing apprenticeship completion
☐ Apprentice Plumber Certificate of Fitness during training
☐ 8,000 hours of documented experience
☐ DOL Journeyman Plumber application and fee
☐ ICC Journeyman Plumber exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ DCCED Specialty Contractor application with Plumbing endorsement
☐ $10,000 surety bond and AS 08.18.101 liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation coverage (if any employees)

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

Uniform Plumbing Code (current Alaska-adopted edition) — IAPMO. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the ICC exam.
Alaska Statutes AS 18.62 and 8 AAC 65 — State of Alaska. Plumbing administrator law and rules.
IAPMO UPC Study Guide — IAPMO. Structured question-and-answer review keyed to the UPC.

Common Filing Mistakes

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Alaska Plumber application.

Working unlicensed as an apprentice

Alaska requires even apprentices to hold a Certificate of Fitness. Working without one voids experience credit.

Using IPC instead of UPC

Alaska uses the Uniform Plumbing Code. Studying from IPC materials will fail the exam.

Skipping the DCCED endorsement

DOL certifies the individual, not the business. A separate DCCED Specialty Contractor endorsement is required before bidding or contracting.

Missing CE

Sixteen hours of CE per renewal cycle is mandatory. Missed CE blocks renewal.

Assuming reciprocity

Alaska has no plumber reciprocity. Out-of-state licenses do not transfer.

Other Alaska Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Alaska trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues plumber licenses in Alaska?

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Mechanical Inspection Section, under AS 18.62. DCCED issues the separate Specialty Contractor endorsement for the business.

What code does Alaska use?

The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) in its currently adopted edition with Alaska amendments.

How many hours are required for the journeyman certificate?

8,000 hours of documented plumbing experience, typically completed through a four-year DOL-registered apprenticeship.

Does Alaska reciprocate plumber credentials?

No formal reciprocity. Out-of-state applicants must document experience and sit for the Alaska exam.

How often does the certificate renew?

Every two years through DOL Mechanical Inspection.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-07 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-05