Plumber License Requirements by State
Installs and repairs water, gas, and drainage systems. This page compares plumber contractors licensing requirements across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Every row links to the verified state page with statute citations, fees, exam scope, insurance, and renewal rules.
- Published guides
- 51
- Exam pathways recorded
- 44
- Require surety bond
- 10
- Local / scope-specific
- 3
- Avg published experience
- 3.6 yr
Comparison table — all 51 jurisdictions
Scroll horizontally on smaller screens. Use the sort control to compare low-fee states, high-bond states, or the jurisdictions with the heaviest published experience requirements. Click any state to open the verified license page.
3 of these published jurisdictions have no single statewide trade license; local and scope-specific rules may apply.
| State | License | Exam | Experience | Bond | Initial fee | Renewal | NASCLA | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State registration | Alabama Master Plumber Certification and Company Registration | Required | 3 yr | — | $175 | 1 yr | — | At least three years for the ordinary apprentice-to-master experience path |
| Alaska State license | Alaska Plumber Journeyman Certificate of Fitness | Confirm with authority | 4 yr | $10,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | The standard experience path is 8 |
| Arizona Mixed / scope-dependent | Arizona Plumbing Contractor — C-37 Commercial / CR-37 Dual / Residential Plumbing Classifications | Required | 4 yr | — | $480 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on examination completion |
| Arkansas State license | Arkansas Master Plumber and Journeyman Plumber License | Confirm with authority | 5 yr | — | $75 | 1 yr | — | — |
| California State license | California Class C-36 — Plumbing Contractor | Required | 4 yr | $25,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | Varies with application review |
| Colorado State license | Colorado Master, Journeyworker, Residential, and Apprentice Plumber — State Plumbing Board | Required | — | — | — | — | — | Timing depends on the license level |
| Connecticut State license | Connecticut P-2 Unlimited Journeyperson Plumber and P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor | Confirm with authority | 4 yr | — | $120 | 1 yr | — | The standard P-2 path has a four-year/8 |
| Delaware Mixed / scope-dependent | Delaware Master Plumber License | Required | 2 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | A complete application is reviewed on or before the next Board meeting |
| District of Columbia State license | DC Master Plumber/Gasfitter and Journeyman Plumber | Required | 8 yr | $5,000 | $120 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on DLCP review |
| Florida State license | Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) | Required | 4 yr | — | $145 | 2 yr | — | Varies with examination scheduling |
| Georgia State license | Georgia Master Plumber (Class I or Class II) | Required | 4 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | Varies by application completeness |
| Hawaii State license | Hawaii Journey Worker Plumber / Master Plumber; C-37 Plumbing Contractor | Depends on pathway | 5 yr | — | — | 3 yr | — | Timing depends on Board review |
| Idaho State license | Idaho Journeyman Plumber and Plumbing Contractor | Required | 4 yr | $2,000 | $147 | 3 yr | — | Journeyman: four years through the 8 |
| Illinois State registration | Illinois Licensed Plumber and Plumbing Contractor Registration | Required | 4 yr | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Indiana State license | Indiana Plumbing Contractor (and Journeyman Plumber) | Required | 4 yr | — | $100 | 2 yr | — | At least four years to complete the published apprenticeship or experience route |
| Iowa State license | Iowa Master Plumber License and Contractor License | Required | 2 yr | $5,000 | $240 | 3 yr | — | — |
| Kansas State license | Kansas Plumber — City and County Licensure | Depends on pathway | 2 yr | — | — | 1 yr | — | Varies by experience verification |
| Kentucky State license | Kentucky Master Plumber (and Journeyman Plumber) | Required | 2 yr | — | $250 | 1 yr | — | Journeyman: at least one to two years of qualifying apprentice experience |
| Louisiana State license | Louisiana Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, and Plumbing Contractor | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | Varies with the individual credential path |
| Maine State license | Maine Plumber Licenses (Trainee, Journeyman-in-Training, Journeyman, and Master) | Confirm with authority | 4 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | Depends on the chosen trainee or JIT pathway |
| Maryland State license | Maryland Master Plumber/Gas Fitter | Required | 6 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | — |
| Massachusetts State license | Massachusetts Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Plumber Requirements | Required | 5 yr | — | $52 | 2 yr | — | At least five years for the standard post-2008 Journeyman path |
| Michigan State license | Michigan Journey Plumber / Master Plumber / Plumbing Contractor | Required | 3 yr | — | — | 1 yr | — | At least three years to reach Journey eligibility |
| Minnesota State license | Minnesota Master Plumber and Plumbing Contractor License | Required | 4 yr | $25,000 | $188 | 2 yr | — | — |
| Mississippi State license | Mississippi Plumbing Contractor License | Depends on pathway | — | — | $400 | 1 yr | — | — |
| Missouri Local / scope-specific | Missouri Plumber — City and County Licensing | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | Local |
| Montana State license | Montana Journeyman and Master Plumber | Required | 5 yr | — | — | 1 yr | — | Journeyman qualification is based on five years of legally obtained experience |
| Nebraska Local / scope-specific | Nebraska Plumber — City or Village License | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Nevada Mixed / scope-dependent | Nevada C-1 Plumbing and Heating Contractor | Depends on pathway | 4 yr | — | $600 | 2 yr | — | Varies with completeness of experience |
| New Hampshire State license | New Hampshire Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Plumber License | Required | 4 yr | — | $330 | 2 yr | — | — |
| New Jersey State license | New Jersey Master Plumber License | Required | 5 yr | $3,000 | $160 | 2 yr | — | The Board reviews completed applications at monthly meetings |
| New Mexico State license | New Mexico MM-1 Plumbing Contractor and JP Journeyman Plumber | Required | 4 yr | $10,000 | — | 2 yr | — | Varies with experience-affidavit approval |
| New York Local / scope-specific | New York City Master Plumber License (New York licensing is local) | Required | — | — | $250 | — | — | DOB does not publish a fixed end-to-end processing time |
| North Carolina State license | North Carolina Plumbing Contractor (P-I or P-II) | Depends on pathway | 2 yr | — | $150 | 1 yr | — | Varies |
| North Dakota State license | North Dakota Master and Journeyman Plumber | Required | — | — | $200 | 1 yr | — | Depends on Board qualification review and examination scheduling. |
| Ohio State license | Ohio Plumbing Contractor (OCILB Commercial License) | Required | 5 yr | — | $25 | 1 yr | — | Varies with experience documentation |
| Oklahoma State license | Oklahoma Plumbing Journeyman and Contractor License | Confirm with authority | 3 yr | $5,000 | — | 1 yr | — | Timing depends on verified experience |
| Oregon State license | Oregon Journeyman Plumber and Plumbing Business (PB) License | Required | 4 yr | — | — | 3 yr | — | The standard path includes a four-year apprenticeship |
| Pennsylvania Mixed / scope-dependent | Pennsylvania Plumber — Local Licensing; No Statewide Trade License | Required | 1 yr | — | $253 | 1 yr | — | Varies by the local authority |
| Rhode Island State license | Rhode Island Journeyperson and Master Plumber | Required | 4 yr | — | $240 | 2 yr | — | Journeyperson qualification requires 8 |
| South Carolina State license | South Carolina Commercial Plumbing Contractor License — Mechanical Classification | Required | 2 yr | — | $350 | 2 yr | — | Varies with examination completion |
| South Dakota State license | South Dakota Plumber and Plumbing Contractor | Required | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Tennessee State license | Tennessee CMC-A Plumbing Contractor (LLP Limited Licensed Plumber for projects under $25,000) | Depends on pathway | 3 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on CMC-A pre-approval |
| Texas State license | Texas Master Plumber License | Required | 2 yr | — | $75 | 1 yr | — | Straightforward applications typically take 30–45 days to process |
| Utah State license | Utah Master Plumber License and P200 Contractor License | Required | 2 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | The Master Plumber route requires a Journeyman license plus 4 |
| Vermont State license | Vermont Master and Journeyman Plumber License | Confirm with authority | 1 yr | — | $90 | 2 yr | — | Depends on completing a verified apprenticeship or accepted equivalency |
| Virginia State license | Virginia Master Plumber Tradesman License | Required | 1 yr | — | — | 3 yr | — | Varies with DPOR application approval and PSI availability. |
| Washington State license | Washington Journey Level Plumber (PL01) | Required | 4 yr | $6,000 | $243 | 3 yr | — | Timing depends on L&I review of experience records and PSI scheduling |
| West Virginia Mixed / scope-dependent | West Virginia Master Plumber (and Journeyman Plumber) | Required | 4 yr | — | $75 | 1 yr | — | Timing depends on experience certification |
| Wisconsin State license | Wisconsin Master Plumber | Required | 3 yr | — | $500 | 4 yr | — | — |
| Wyoming State license | Wyoming Plumbing Requirements (Local Credentials and Permits) | Confirm with authority | — | — | — | — | — | Varies by jurisdiction and permit review |
National picture for plumber contractors
Of the 51 jurisdictions currently published in this dataset, 44 record required or conditional examination pathways, 10 record a positive license-bond amount, and 0 record NASCLA acceptance. Among entries with a positive numeric experience threshold, the average recorded value is 3.6 years.
The comparison above is generated at build time directly from the state license entries on this site. Every value is traceable to the regulator's published rule. If you spot a discrepancy, the state page is the source of truth and will be re-verified against the official source set.
Choosing where to license first
- Lowest barrier to entry: compare the recorded fee and examination pathway, then read the guide for local obligations and missing costs. A local-only label does not mean the work is unregulated.
- Strongest reciprocity downstream: states marked NASCLA Accepted, because the same exam can unlock multiple jurisdictions later.
- Lowest upfront cost: focus on combinations with the smallest initial fee and no bond requirement.
- Fastest path to wallet card: compare the Time column, but remember that municipal programs can still involve multiple city registrations.
Related trades
Scope of work overlaps at the edges of every classification. Contractors researching plumber contractors licensing often also need the comparison hub for these adjacent trades:
- HVAC Technician by state
- Fire Sprinkler Contractor by state
- Pool Contractor by state
- Septic Contractor by state
Local requirements and practical guides
- Do Subcontractors Need a License? California, Tennessee, and Texas Examples
Learn why a prime contractor’s license may not cover a subcontractor, using California’s triggers, Tennessee’s trade thresholds, and Texas electrical rules.
- How to Add a California Contractor License Classification
Prepare a California additional-classification application: scope selection, qualifier experience, the $230 fee, exams, fingerprints, and returned applications.
Related reading
Original cross-state analyses from our dataset that add context to the plumber contractors table above — who runs the exams, where the burden is heaviest, and what a criminal record means for eligibility.
The Contractor Licensing Atlas
What mapping 918 licenses revealed about exam providers, bonds, and where a trade needs no state license at all.
Contractor license difficulty index
Where each state ranks on exam, experience, and bond burden — hardest to easiest.
License costs ranked by state
Cheapest to most expensive states once fees, bond, and first-year insurance are counted.
Licensing with a criminal record
A 50-state look at background checks and which convictions actually block a license.
Data is sourced from the issuing boards' published rules. Latest completed source-check date represented in the dataset: 2026-09-30.