Rhode Island Plumber License Requirements (2026)

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Division of Professional Regulation (RI DLT) licenses plumbers under R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20 and Title 260-RICR-40. Rhode Island issues two levels of plumber credential: Journeyperson Plumber (works under supervision) and Master Plumber (may supervise, pull permits, and operate as a contractor). Rhode Island adopts the International Plumbing Code (IPC) with state amendments as the Rhode Island State Plumbing Code (SBC-3), and all plumbing exams are written to that code. The State Board of Examiners of Plumbers within RI DLT oversees examinations and discipline.

The Licensing Authority

Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board / Department of Labor and Training Professional Regulation (CRLB / DLT) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under R.I. General Laws Title 5 Chapter 65 (Contractors Registration); Title 5 Chapter 6 (Electricians); Title 5 Chapter 20 (Plumbers); Title 28 Chapter 27 (Pipefitters and Refrigeration). The Contractors Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) registers residential contractors and licenses commercial roofers. The Department of Labor and Training (DLT) Division of Professional Regulation licenses electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, refrigeration technicians, and sheet metal workers — the trade licenses required for HVAC work in Rhode Island.

Official portal: https://www.crb.ri.gov/
Address: Contractors Registration and Licensing Board, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 921-1500

Baseline Eligibility

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Rhode Island residency requirement.

Good moral character

The State Board of Examiners of Plumbers reviews every applicant for good moral character and prior trade discipline.

Background investigation

Mandatory disclosure of criminal history and prior disciplinary actions.

Experience and Education Requirements

A minimum of 4 years of Journeyperson Plumber: four years (8,000 hours) of verified plumbing experience under a licensed master plumber through a RI DLT-registered apprenticeship, plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction. Master Plumber: one additional year (2,000 hours) of licensed journeyperson experience after licensure. must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

RI DLT Apprenticeship Completion Certificate
Employer experience verification forms signed by a licensed master plumber
W-2 payroll records covering the qualifying period

Education substitution

Graduates of RI DLT-approved plumbing technology programs may receive credit toward a portion of the experience requirement at the board's discretion.

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to RI DLT), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Rhode Island Journeyperson Plumber Examination — Rhode Island State Plumbing Code (IPC-based), general trade practice — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Rhode Island Master Plumber Examination — state plumbing code, business and law, plan reading, calculations — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 examination fee per attempt paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $75 PSI fee.

Financial Security and Insurance

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

Individual plumber licenses do not require liability insurance. Master plumbers operating as a plumbing contractor business must register the business with RI DLT and carry liability insurance.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any plumbing business with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement requirement for individual plumber licenses.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$75
Examination	$75
Initial license	$96
Renewal (every 2 years)	$96

License Renewal

The Rhode Island Plumber License (Journeyperson and Master) must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $96. Lapsed licenses may be reinstated within one year by paying a late fee; longer lapses require re-examination.

Continuing education: Continuing education in the current Rhode Island State Plumbing Code is required each two-year renewal cycle as set by the Board of Examiners of Plumbers.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Rhode Island grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

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

Rhode Island has no formal plumbing reciprocity. Out-of-state licensees must apply, document experience, and sit for the Rhode Island examination.

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 Licensing Roadmap

Enroll in a registered plumbing apprenticeship. Register with RI DLT Apprenticeship and join a four-year plumbing apprenticeship program.
Complete 8,000 hours and 576 classroom hours. Log four years of supervised experience and finish related classroom instruction.
Apply for the Journeyperson exam. File the RI DLT plumber application with apprenticeship documentation and $75 exam fee.
Pass the PSI Journeyperson exam at 75%. Score 75% or better on the 80-question exam covering the Rhode Island State Plumbing Code.
Work one year as a licensed Journeyperson. Accumulate 2,000 hours as a licensed RI Journeyperson before applying for Master.
Pass the PSI Master Plumber exam at 75%. Score 75% or better on the 100-question master examination.
Register the plumbing contractor business (if self-employed). File a plumbing contractor business registration with RI DLT designating the Master Plumber as qualifying individual.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

International Plumbing Code (current Rhode Island-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
Rhode Island State Plumbing Code (SBC-3) amendments — Rhode Island Building Code Commission. State-specific amendments tested alongside the IPC.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20 and Title 260-RICR-40 — State of Rhode Island. Licensing statute and rules of the Board of Examiners of Plumbers.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to CRLB / DLT, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ RI DLT-registered plumbing apprenticeship completion certificate
☐ 8,000 hours OJT + 576 classroom hours documentation
☐ Employer experience verification forms signed by a licensed master plumber
☐ Completed RI DLT plumber application with $75 fee
☐ PSI Journeyperson or Master exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ Plumbing contractor business registration (if self-employed)
☐ Workers compensation certificate for any business with employees

Common Application Pitfalls

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Rhode Island Plumber application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Informal helper hours

Only hours accrued in a RI DLT-registered apprenticeship under a licensed master plumber count toward the 8,000-hour requirement.

Studying the wrong code

Rhode Island tests on the state-amended IPC, not the UPC. Using Massachusetts or UPC study materials causes exam failure.

Skipping the 576 classroom hours

The classroom instruction is a hard requirement documented on the apprenticeship completion certificate.

Confusing journeyperson with master scope

A Journeyperson may not pull permits, supervise others, or operate as a contractor. Only a Master Plumber may do so.

Not registering the business

A Master Plumber license authorizes the individual. Operating as a plumbing contractor requires a separate business registration with RI DLT.

Other Rhode Island Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Rhode Island trades; the published ones are listed here:

Answers to Common Questions

What plumbing code does Rhode Island use?

Rhode Island adopts the International Plumbing Code (IPC) with state amendments as the Rhode Island State Plumbing Code (SBC-3). The PSI exam is written to that code.

How many hours of experience does Rhode Island require for a journeyperson plumber?

8,000 hours (four years) of supervised experience under a licensed master plumber, plus 576 classroom hours through a RI DLT-registered apprenticeship.

How long from journeyperson to master plumber?

One additional year (2,000 hours) of licensed journeyperson experience is required before applying for the Master Plumber examination.

Does Rhode Island reciprocate plumber licenses?

No. Rhode Island has no formal plumbing reciprocity. Out-of-state plumbers must apply, document experience, and pass the Rhode Island PSI exam.

How often does the license renew?

Every two years. Renewal requires continuing education in the current state plumbing code as set by the Board of Examiners of Plumbers.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-09 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-07