Arkansas Master Plumber License Requirements (2026) | Official AR Plumbing Board Guide

The Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section, licenses individual plumbers statewide under Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 38 (Plumbers). Arkansas issues Apprentice, Journeyman, Master Plumber Restricted (residential only), and Master Plumber Unrestricted (all occupancies) credentials. Licensing is based on the Arkansas State Plumbing Code (a modified version of the Uniform Plumbing Code). All examinations are administered by PSI. A Master Plumber is required to pull plumbing permits and serve as the responsible party for a plumbing contracting business. Plumbing contracting businesses with projects of $50,000 or more must also hold an Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board Plumbing specialty license.

Regulatory Body Profile

Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 25 (Contractors) and Title 17 Chapter 38 (Residential Building); ACLB Rules and Regulations. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) licenses Commercial Contractors, Residential Builders, and Residential Remodelers statewide, sets financial responsibility standards, administers PSI examinations, and conducts disciplinary proceedings. ACLB enforces the $50,000 single-project threshold above which contracting work requires a state license.

Official portal: https://aclb.arkansas.gov/
Address: 4100 Richards Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117
Phone: (501) 372-4661

The Eligibility Audit

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Arkansas residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Plumbing Board conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least 2 years of Journeyman: four years (8,000 hours) of qualifying experience as a registered Apprentice Plumber under a licensed Master Plumber. Master (Restricted or Unrestricted): two additional years (4,000 hours) as a licensed Journeyman Plumber before sitting for the Master exam has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Arkansas Plumbing Board Experience Affidavit signed by each licensed Master Plumber supervisor
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Approved plumbing apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Completion of an approved plumbing trade school or accredited program may substitute for up to one year of the Journeyman experience requirement.

The Exam Syllabus

PSI Services LLC (under contract to the Arkansas Department of Health Plumbing Section) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

PSI Arkansas Master Plumber Examination — Arkansas State Plumbing Code, theory, calculations, and plumbing law — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 examination fee paid to PSI on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $75 fee. Candidates must wait a minimum of 30 days between attempts.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

The Plumbing Section does not impose a state-level general liability minimum for individual plumber credentials.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Arkansas under A.C.A. §11-9-101 et seq. for any plumbing contractor with three or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Individual plumber credentials do not require a financial statement. Plumbing contracting businesses performing work of $50,000 or more per project must obtain an ACLB Plumbing specialty license, which does require a financial statement.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$75
Initial license	$80
Renewal (every year)	$80

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Arkansas Master Plumber (Restricted / Unrestricted) and Journeyman Plumber runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $80. Arkansas plumber credentials renew annually.

Continuing education: Six hours of Plumbing Section-approved continuing education each renewal cycle for Master and Journeyman Plumbers, including code update training.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Arkansas does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Louisiana	Master Plumber exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Louisiana Master Plumbers.
Mississippi	Master Plumber exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Mississippi Master Plumbers.
Tennessee	Master Plumber exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Tennessee Contractor Plumbing license holders.

Arkansas maintains bilateral master plumber reciprocity agreements with most neighboring states. Reciprocal applicants must hold a current license in the originating state in good standing.

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

The Application Roadmap

Register as an Apprentice Plumber. File an Apprentice registration with the Arkansas Plumbing Section before beginning on-the-job training.
Log 8,000 hours as an Apprentice. Four years of qualifying experience under a licensed Master Plumber.
Pass the PSI Journeyman Plumber exam. Score 75% or better on the Arkansas State Plumbing Code examination.
Work 4,000 hours as a licensed Journeyman. Two additional years of journey-level experience before sitting for the Master exam.
Choose Restricted or Unrestricted Master. Restricted covers residential only; Unrestricted covers all occupancies including commercial and industrial.
Pass the PSI Master Plumber exam at 75%. Covers the Arkansas State Plumbing Code, theory, calculations, and plumbing law.
Obtain the ACLB Plumbing specialty license (if self-employed). File a separate ACLB application if you plan to contract plumbing work of $50,000 or more per project.

Recommended Study Materials

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

Arkansas State Plumbing Code — Arkansas Department of Health. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
Uniform Plumbing Code (current edition) — IAPMO. Basis for the Arkansas State Plumbing Code.
Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 38 and Plumbing Section Rules — State of Arkansas. Licensing law and rules.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to ACLB, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Arkansas Apprentice Plumber registration
☐ 8,000 hours of documented apprentice experience
☐ Arkansas Journeyman Plumber credential (prerequisite for Master)
☐ 4,000 hours of journey-level experience
☐ Plumbing Section Master application with fee
☐ PSI Master Plumber exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ ACLB Plumbing specialty license (if self-employed and projects $50,000+)

Where Applications Stall

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Arkansas Plumber applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Skipping Apprentice registration

Hours worked before Apprentice registration do not count toward the Journeyman experience requirement. Register before your first day on the job.

Choosing the wrong Master class

A Restricted Master cannot legally work on commercial or industrial plumbing. Upgrading to Unrestricted later requires a new exam.

Studying the wrong code

Arkansas uses the Arkansas State Plumbing Code (UPC-based). Candidates who study IPC materials often fail. Confirm the current edition with the Plumbing Section.

Confusing individual credential with contractor license

The Master Plumber credential authorizes you as an individual. Operating a contracting business for projects of $50,000 or more also requires an ACLB Plumbing specialty license.

Letting the credential lapse

A lapsed Master Plumber credential can trigger suspension of any dependent ACLB specialty license and may require re-examination if lapsed for more than one year.

Other Arkansas Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Arkansas licensing guides:

Common Questions

What is the difference between Restricted and Unrestricted Master Plumber in Arkansas?

A Restricted Master Plumber may only perform plumbing work on one- and two-family residential dwellings. An Unrestricted Master Plumber may perform plumbing work on any occupancy including commercial and industrial.

How many hours of experience does Arkansas require for a Master Plumber?

8,000 hours (four years) as an Apprentice to reach the Journeyman level, plus 4,000 additional hours (two years) as a licensed Journeyman before sitting for the Master exam.

What plumbing code does Arkansas use?

Arkansas uses the Arkansas State Plumbing Code, a modified version of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) adopted by the Arkansas Department of Health.

Do I need both a Master Plumber credential and an ACLB license?

Yes if you operate a self-employed plumbing contracting business with projects of $50,000 or more. The credential authorizes you as an individual; the ACLB Plumbing specialty license authorizes the business.

How often does the Arkansas Master Plumber credential renew?

Annually. Renewal requires payment of the renewal fee and completion of Plumbing Section-approved continuing education.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-16 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-14