Connecticut Plumber License Requirements (2026)

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Occupational and Professional Licensing Division licenses individual plumbers statewide under Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-330 et seq. Connecticut uses a tiered occupational license system: apprentice registration, P-2 Journeyperson Plumber (unlimited plumbing scope, must work under a P-1 contractor), and P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor (independent contracting authority). Candidates must complete a four-year registered apprenticeship of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction, then pass a PSI examination. The P-1 contractor upgrade requires the P-2 plus two additional years of journey-level experience.

Governing Authority

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-330 et seq. (Occupational Licensing: electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling trades); Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-418 et seq. (Home Improvement Act); Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-417a et seq. (New Home Construction Contractors Act), Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Occupational and Professional Licensing Division (DCP) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection registers home improvement and new home construction contractors, licenses individual electrical, plumbing and heating/cooling tradespeople, administers the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, and conducts disciplinary proceedings for all contractor trades statewide.

Official portal: https://portal.ct.gov/DCP
Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 901, Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 713-6135

Eligibility Requirements

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

Good moral character

DCP reviews prior discipline and felony convictions. Prior occupational discipline from any jurisdiction must be disclosed.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility requires 4 years of P-2 Journeyperson: four years (8,000 hours) of registered apprenticeship on-the-job training plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction. P-1 Unlimited Contractor: P-2 license plus two additional years of journey-level experience under a P-1 contractor., documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training (CTDOL) completion certificate
Signed Experience Verification Form from each P-1 supervising contractor
W-2 statements and pay stubs covering the qualifying period
Related instruction transcripts from an approved technical school or trade union program

Education substitution

Graduation from an accredited plumbing technology program may substitute for a portion of the classroom hours but not for the 8,000 on-the-job hours.

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to DCP). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Connecticut P-2 Journeyperson Plumber Examination — International Plumbing Code and Connecticut plumbing amendments — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%
Connecticut P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor Examination — business and law, IPC, Connecticut amendments — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $90 per PSI examination paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be retaken by paying a new $90 fee. Each application remains valid for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

DCP does not impose a state-level general liability minimum. Municipalities and project owners commonly require $500,000 to $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Connecticut under Conn. Gen. Stat. §31-284 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$90
Examination	$90
Initial license	$150
Renewal (every year)	$150

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Connecticut P-2 Journeyperson Plumber and P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor every year. Renewal currently costs $150. Connecticut plumbing licenses renew annually. License numbers must appear on every plumbing permit application.

Continuing education: Connecticut does not mandate statewide continuing education for P-2 or P-1 licenses.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Massachusetts	Trade exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Massachusetts Journeyman and Master Plumbers in good standing.
Rhode Island	Trade exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Rhode Island plumbing credentials.
New Hampshire	Trade exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity with comparable NH experience and exam requirements.
Maine	Trade exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity with Maine plumbing credentials in good standing.
Vermont	Trade exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Vermont plumbing license holders.

Connecticut maintains bilateral reciprocity with all five surrounding New England states. Reciprocal applicants still must pay Connecticut fees and complete a Connecticut jurisprudence portion.

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

Register as a plumbing apprentice. Register with the Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training or an approved joint apprenticeship committee.
Complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. Four years of full-time registered apprenticeship under a licensed P-1 contractor.
Complete 576 hours of related classroom instruction. At an approved technical high school, community college, or union training center.
Apply for the P-2 Journeyperson Plumber license. File the DCP application with the apprenticeship completion certificate and $90 examination fee.
Pass the PSI P-2 Journeyperson examination at 70%. 80 questions covering the International Plumbing Code and Connecticut amendments.
Work two years as a P-2 Journeyperson. Required journey-level experience under an active P-1 contractor before upgrading to P-1.
Apply for and pass the P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor exam. File the upgrade application and pass the 100-question business, law, and technical exam at 70%.

Pre-Submission Checklist

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

☐ Registered apprenticeship enrollment with Connecticut DOL
☐ 8,000 hours of documented on-the-job training under a P-1 contractor
☐ 576 hours of related classroom instruction transcript
☐ DCP P-2 Journeyperson application with $90 fee
☐ PSI P-2 Journeyperson exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ Two additional years of journey experience for P-1 upgrade
☐ PSI P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor exam pass certificate

Study and Reference Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

International Plumbing Code, Connecticut-adopted edition — International Code Council. Primary technical reference. Open-book at PSI test centers.
Connecticut State Building Code — Plumbing Amendments — Connecticut Department of Administrative Services. State-specific modifications to the IPC tested on the exam.
Connecticut Journeyperson and Contractor Plumber Exam Prep — Builders Book Inc.. Practice exams aligned to the Connecticut-specific PSI format.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Connecticut Plumber application.

Under-documenting apprenticeship hours

DCP requires verified, employer-signed hour logs. Informal or reconstructed hour records are routinely rejected.

Skipping the related instruction

The 576 classroom hours are mandatory. Field experience alone does not qualify regardless of years worked.

Expecting the P-2 to authorize independent work

A P-2 Journeyperson must work under a P-1 contractor. Independent contracting requires the P-1 upgrade.

Studying the wrong IPC edition

Connecticut adopts the IPC on a delayed cycle. Confirm the current adopted edition before purchasing study materials.

Ignoring the annual renewal

Connecticut renews every year, not every two or three. Missing the annual renewal lapses the license.

Other Connecticut Trade Licenses

If the Plumber license is not the right fit, the following published Connecticut trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Connecticut P-2 and P-1 plumber license?

P-2 is the Journeyperson Plumber — unlimited plumbing scope but must work under a P-1 contractor. P-1 is the Unlimited Plumbing Contractor — authorizes independent contracting and supervision of journeypersons and apprentices.

How long does it take to become a licensed plumber in Connecticut?

Four years of registered apprenticeship (8,000 hours on-the-job plus 576 classroom hours) to reach P-2, then two additional years of journey-level experience to qualify for the P-1 contractor license.

Does Connecticut reciprocate plumbing licenses?

Yes. Connecticut maintains bilateral reciprocity with Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Reciprocal applicants still must pay Connecticut fees.

What plumbing code does Connecticut use?

Connecticut adopts the International Plumbing Code with state-specific amendments published by the Department of Administrative Services. The current adopted edition is tested on PSI exams.

How often does the Connecticut plumber license renew?

Every year. Renewal is required annually.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-17 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-15