Texas plumber license requirements
9 facts reviewed by our editor against the official page. Passages marked “not yet reviewed” are copied word-for-word from official state pages (fetched 2026-10-17) and are pending human review — read them in context on the linked source.
| Item | Detail (with quote from the official source) |
|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Individual worker license Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) licenses plumbers. “The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners is the state agency responsible for licensing plumbers in Texas” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · License Types – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
| Experience / hours | Individual worker license Journeyman Plumber exam: at least 8,000 hours of plumbing experience. “you have at least 8,000 hours of experience working in the plumbing trade; and” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Journeyman Plumber – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners Individual worker license Tradesman Plumber-Limited exam: at least 4,000 hours of plumbing experience. “you have at least 4,000 hours of experience working in the plumbing trade; and” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Tradesman Plumber-Limited – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners Individual worker license Master Plumber exam: hold a journeyman plumber license (Texas or another state) for at least two years (one year with a DOL apprenticeship). “a Journeyman Plumber in Texas or another state and have held your license for at least two years;” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Master Plumber – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
| Education & training | Individual worker license Journeyman exam requires a TSBPE-approved 48-hour training course (or a DOL-approved apprenticeship). “you have completed a 48-hour training course* approved by the TSBPE or you are enrolled and in or have completed a training program approved by the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Journeyman Plumber – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
| Exam | Individual worker license Master Plumber exam fee $128.50, paid to Pearson VUE on exam day (plus $25 TSBPE processing fee). “Exam Fee (payable to Pearson VUE on the day of the exam): $128.50” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Master Plumber – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
| Fees | Individual worker license Journeyman exam application $40 to TSBPE; $40 after passing for the license certificate. “Once you have successfully passed the exam, you must submit a $40 fee to obtain your certificate of licensure and pocket card.” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Journeyman Plumber – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
| Renewal | Individual worker license Texas plumbing licenses renew annually. “To obtain a license, you must meet all eligibility requirements, take and pass an examination, and pay a fee. Licenses renew annually.” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · License Types – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
| Reciprocity & endorsement | Individual worker license Holders of a journeyman or master plumber license from another state may sit for the Texas Journeyman exam and skip the 48-hour training. “*If you hold a Journeyman or Master Plumber License issued to you by another state, you do not have to complete the 48-hour training program.” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Journeyman Plumber – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
Check a license in Texas
Search Texas license holders Data: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – All Licenses (data.texas.gov)
Questions to ask the board
- Which license level matches my experience, and do hours from another jurisdiction count?
- Is the exam open-book, and which code edition is used?
- Do I also need a city or county license where I will work?
- Is there a reciprocity or endorsement agreement with my current jurisdiction?
Sources checked: tsbpe.texas.gov · tsbpe.texas.gov · tsbpe.texas.gov · tsbpe.texas.gov