Home › Guides

How to Become a Plumber: Licensing Steps by State and Province

By Dale Morgan · Updated 2026-10-17 · Every fact links to its official source.

Plumbing is a trade where you earn while you learn. Most people start by working under a licensed plumber, build up documented experience, pass an exam, and then apply for their own license. It's a dependable path, but the details change a lot from one state or province to the next.

This guide walks through the general path first, then shows what each jurisdiction's official pages actually require. The explanations are ours. The hours, exams, fees and renewal rules are quoted from facts our editor verified, each linked to its official source.

chart iconCoverage at a glance

Only facts our editor checked word-for-word against an official page are counted. A blank cell means not yet verified, not not required.

JurisdictionVerified factsExam infoFees infoReciprocity infoPage
Arizona11verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Texas9verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
California7verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Illinois7— not yet— not yet— not yetview
North Carolina7verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Ontario6verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Quebec6verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Ohio5verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Oregon5verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Washington5verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Alabama4verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Colorado4— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Georgia4verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Indiana4verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Iowa4verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Michigan4verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Nevada4verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
British Columbia3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Maine3— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Massachusetts3— not yet— not yet— not yetview
New Brunswick3— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
New Jersey3— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Prince Edward Island3verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
South Dakota3— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Utah3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
West Virginia3verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Yukon3— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Delaware2verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Northwest Territories2verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Nunavut2— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Oklahoma2— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
Alaska1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Florida1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Louisiana1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Pennsylvania1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Tennessee1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Wisconsin1— not yet— not yet— not yetview

steps iconThe typical path (general overview)

  1. Find out who licenses plumbers where you live. It may be a state board, a provincial apprenticeship authority, or a city.
  2. Register as an apprentice or trainee if your jurisdiction requires it, and log your hours.
  3. Meet the experience requirement for the license level you want (see the verified figures below).
  4. Pass the exam required by your jurisdiction.
  5. Apply, pay fees, and keep up renewal and continuing education.

That's the shape of the journey almost everywhere. What differs is the detail: how much experience counts, who runs the exam, what it costs, and how often you renew. Those specifics are below, jurisdiction by jurisdiction. Our practical advice is to find your section, open the official links, and start keeping a careful log of your hours from day one, because documentation is usually what slows applications down.

chart iconThe licensing path at a glance

Typical path to a plumber license1Find thelicensing authority2Log supervisedexperience3Pass theexam4Apply andpay fees5Renew and keepup CE
Typical path to a plumber license. A general outline only; the order and requirements differ by jurisdiction — see the verified facts below.

section iconComparing the numbers

The charts below compare only like-for-like values: the same kind of fee or the same experience measure, each quoted from an official page. Read the scope note on each source, because a contractor fee and an individual license fee are not the same thing.

Experience hours by jurisdiction — individual licenses (verified values only)Utah16,000Texas8,000Washington8,000Oregon7,700British Columbia6,300Michigan6,000Texas4,000Michigan4,000Maine2,000South Dakota1,900
Experience hours by jurisdiction — individual licenses (verified values only) (hours). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (experience hours):

Experience hours by jurisdiction — contractor licenses (verified values only)North Carolina4,000South Dakota1,900
Experience hours by jurisdiction — contractor licenses (verified values only) (hours). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (experience hours):

pin iconUnited States

Arizona

Here is what the official Arizona pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Arizona plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Experience / hours

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

Local (city/county) licensing

Texas

Here is what the official Texas pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Texas plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

California

Here is what the official California pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our California plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Illinois

Here is what the official Illinois pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Illinois plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Experience / hours

Renewal

Local (city/county) licensing

Other notes

North Carolina

Here is what the official North Carolina pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our North Carolina plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Experience / hours

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Continuing education

Reciprocity & endorsement

Ohio

Here is what the official Ohio pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Ohio plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Exam

Continuing education

Other notes

Oregon

Here is what the official Oregon pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Oregon plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Washington

Here is what the official Washington pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Washington plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Experience / hours

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

Alabama

Here is what the official Alabama pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Alabama plumber license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Colorado

Here is what the official Colorado pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Colorado plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Renewal

Other notes

Georgia

Here is what the official Georgia pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Georgia plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Exam

Renewal

Other notes

Indiana

Here is what the official Indiana pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Indiana plumber license requirements page.

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Iowa

Here is what the official Iowa pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Iowa plumber license requirements page.

Exam

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

Michigan

Here is what the official Michigan pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Michigan plumber license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Exam

Other notes

Nevada

Here is what the official Nevada pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Nevada plumber license requirements page.

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

Maine

Here is what the official Maine pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Maine plumber license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Fees

Renewal

Massachusetts

Here is what the official Massachusetts pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Massachusetts plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Continuing education

New Jersey

Here is what the official New Jersey pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our New Jersey plumber license requirements page.

Fees

Other notes

South Dakota

Here is what the official South Dakota pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our South Dakota plumber license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Continuing education

Utah

Here is what the official Utah pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Utah plumber license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

West Virginia

Here is what the official West Virginia pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our West Virginia plumber license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Exam

Fees

Delaware

Here is what the official Delaware pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Delaware plumber license requirements page.

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Oklahoma

Here is what the official Oklahoma pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Oklahoma plumber license requirements page.

Reciprocity & endorsement

Alaska

Here is what the official Alaska pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Alaska plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Florida

Here is what the official Florida pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Florida plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Louisiana

Here is what the official Louisiana pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Louisiana plumber license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Pennsylvania

Here is what the official Pennsylvania pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Pennsylvania plumber license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Tennessee

Here is what the official Tennessee pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Tennessee plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Wisconsin

Here is what the official Wisconsin pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Wisconsin plumber license requirements page.

Continuing education

pin iconCanada

Ontario

Here is what the official Ontario pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Ontario plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Experience / hours

Exam

Fees

Reciprocity & endorsement

Quebec

Here is what the official Quebec pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Quebec plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Experience / hours

Exam

Fees

Renewal

British Columbia

Here is what the official British Columbia pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our British Columbia plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Experience / hours

Exam

New Brunswick

Here is what the official New Brunswick pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our New Brunswick plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Education & training

Reciprocity & endorsement

Prince Edward Island

Here is what the official Prince Edward Island pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Prince Edward Island plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Yukon

Here is what the official Yukon pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Yukon plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Fees

Other notes

Northwest Territories

Here is what the official Northwest Territories pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Northwest Territories plumber license requirements page.

Education & training

Exam

Nunavut

Here is what the official Nunavut pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Nunavut plumber license requirements page.

License levels

Education & training

pin iconStates and provinces not covered yet

If your jurisdiction is not listed above, we have not verified its plumber rules yet. Use the Plumber hub to find the official board link — we don't publish guesses.

steps iconHow to use this guide

help iconFAQ

What does Arizona require for a plumber license?

Phoenix Journeyman: an exam from an approved testing organization is required before applying. (City-level rule (Phoenix, AZ)) — source: Journeyman and Apprentice Licensing | City of Phoenix, verified 2026-10-17

What does Texas require for a plumber license?

Master Plumber exam fee $128.50, paid to Pearson VUE on exam day (plus $25 TSBPE processing fee). (Individual worker license) — source: Master Plumber – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, verified 2026-10-17

What does California require for a plumber license?

CSLB: applicants must pass a trade exam and/or a business and law exam, given by an approved testing vendor (exam fees paid to the vendor). (Contractor license (C-36 Plumbing, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

What does Illinois require for a plumber license?

Plumber exam: at least 4 years as a licensed apprentice plumber plus 2 years of high school or equivalent. (Individual worker license) — source: Plumbing, verified 2026-10-17

What does North Carolina require for a plumber license?

Exams are computer-based and administered by PSI. (Contractor license (NC Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler board)) — source: FAQ - North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, verified 2026-10-17

What does Ontario require for a plumber license?

Certifying exam; on passing, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Qualification. (Individual worker certificate) — source: Plumber - Skilled Trades Ontario, verified 2026-10-17