How to get a journeyman or master plumbing license in Kentucky under 815 KAR 20:030: eligibility, the exam, fees, exam dates and test sites, renewal and what a plumbing company needs.
Kentucky licenses plumbers as individuals, not as companies, and the license is good in every county. The Division of Plumbing inside the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction in Frankfort issues journeyman and master plumber licenses under KRS Chapter 318 and the rule 815 KAR 20:030.
At a glance
- Issuer: the Division of Plumbing, Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, under KRS Chapter 318
- Journeyman: 2 consecutive apprentice years, or 1 year plus a department approved course; 75 percent on each exam portion
- Master: a journeyman license held 2 of the past 5 years, plus 2 years under a master, among four possible routes; 80 percent on each exam portion
- Exams: regular sittings in February, May, August and November; file at least 3 weeks ahead; seats are capped first come, first served
- Fees: exam $50 journeyman, $150 master; initial license and annual renewal $60 journeyman, $250 master
This guide works from the current text of 815 KAR 20:030, KRS Chapter 318 and the Division of Plumbing's own pages, all checked on October 20, 2026. For how Kentucky treats the other licensed trades, see our Kentucky contractor license guide, and for every other state, see how to get a contractor license in each state.
Who the Plumbing Law Covers
Under KRS 318.030(1), no one may engage in plumbing or work at the trade unless they hold a valid, active master plumber license or a valid journeyman plumber license issued by the department. KRS 318.015(1) applies the chapter statewide, in every county of the Commonwealth, which is why a Kentucky plumbing license travels from Louisville to Florence to Hazard without a separate local license.
KRS 318.010(4) gives "plumbing" a specific statutory meaning: the pipes, fixtures and drainage in or next to a building. The definition expressly includes:
- the water service pipe from the property line to the building, other than fire protection piping
- private water supply systems
- house sewers running from the building to the property line or other point of disposal
- storm and rainwater piping inside the building to a point 2 feet outside it
- medical gas piping
The definition excludes on-site sewage disposal systems, except for the piping and fixtures needed inside the building itself.
A few groups fall outside the licensing requirement. KRS 318.020 exempts an apprentice assisting a journeyman, a maintenance employee keeping existing plumbing in repair, and crews of a water company, water district or sanitation district working on their own mains. KRS 318.015(3) exempts farmsteads, which KRS 318.010(8) defines as farm buildings on 10 acres or more outside city limits.
The Division runs the exams, issues installation permits and inspects the work, and anyone, including a homeowner choosing a plumber in Florence or any other Kentucky city, can confirm a license is active on the department's License Search and Verification tool before hiring.
One naming note worth clearing up: there is no separate agency called a "Kentucky Department of Plumbing." The licensing body is the Division of Plumbing, a division inside the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, itself a cabinet level department of Kentucky state government. People searching for a "department of plumbing" or a "plumbing board" in Kentucky are looking for this same Division, reachable through the department's Frankfort office and its dhbc.ky.gov site.
Apprentice, Journeyman and Master: Three Levels, Two Licenses
Kentucky recognizes three stages of plumbing work, but only two carry a license. The rule counts years of supervised experience, not classroom hours.
| Stage | Legal role | Exam required | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | Assists under personal supervision | None | KRS 318.010(7) |
| Journeyman | Works under a master's supervision | Written, drawing, practical | KRS 318.010(2) |
| Master | Responsible charge of the work | Written and drawing | KRS 318.010(3) |
Apprentice. KRS 318.010(7) defines an apprentice as a person learning the trade who assists and works under the personal supervision of a licensed master or licensed journeyman. No license or exam applies to this stage, but the years you log here are what later qualify you for the journeyman license.
Journeyman plumber. The working license. KRS 318.010(2) defines a journeyman as someone who installs, alters, repairs and replaces plumbing under the supervision, direction and responsibility of a master, and 815 KAR 20:050 Section 2(2) requires that work to proceed under a licensed master holding a valid permit.
Master plumber. The license that carries a business. KRS 318.010(3) gives the master responsible charge of journeymen and apprentices and of the design, contracting and superintending of plumbing work, and 815 KAR 20:050 Section 2(1) issues installation permits only to a licensed master or to a homeowner working on their own home.
Notice what Kentucky does not issue: a company license. The license sits with the person, and a plumbing company operates through a licensed master plumber in responsible charge of its work, under KRS 318.110. For the national picture of these two working licenses, see our journeyman vs master plumber breakdown.
Basic Eligibility for Either License
KRS 318.040(1) sets the floor that applies to both the journeyman and master license. An applicant must be at least 18 years old, be of good moral character, be a United States citizen or a resident alien authorized to work in the United States, and meet whatever other qualifications the department's regulations prescribe.
Every exam applicant files the Plumbing Examination Registration Form, Form PLB-3, with the non-refundable exam fee and a passport sized color photograph taken within the past six months, under 815 KAR 20:030 Section 1(1)(a). Section 1(1)(b) voids the application if the applicant does not pass within one year of the first notice of examination.
What Credentials Does a Kentucky Plumber Actually Need
There is no separate "plumbing certificate" in Kentucky beyond the two licenses above. A working plumber needs one of two credentials: a journeyman license to work under a master, or a master license to take responsible charge and pull permits. A degree, diploma or industry certificate such as an NCCER Plumbing credential is not itself a license and does not substitute for the exam, though department approved coursework can shorten the apprentice years required before the journeyman exam, as the next section explains.
Journeyman Plumber Requirements
Under 815 KAR 20:030 Section 3(1), there are two routes to qualify for the journeyman exam.
Route one. At least two consecutive years of experience as an apprentice plumber.
Route two. Complete a department approved course covering the practice of plumbing or the Kentucky State Plumbing Code, plus at least one year of apprentice experience.
Approved coursework cuts the required field experience in half, but the regulation does not name a single statewide course, a single provider or a single price. If you are weighing a specific training program, including one built on an NCCER Plumbing Level curriculum, confirm with the Division of Plumbing in writing that the specific course qualifies before you enroll, since approval is course specific and the department does not publish a standing list of prices.
Note the word consecutive in route one. If apprentice work was seasonal, split across employers or interrupted, raise that history with the Division before you file, not after a rejected application.
Once you pass the exam, you file the Application for License as a Journeyman Plumber, Form PLB-2, with proof of a passing score and the $60 license fee, under Section 3(2).
The Journeyman Exam Includes a Hands-On Portion
Under 815 KAR 20:030 Section 1(2)(b)3, the journeyman exam has a practical section in which the candidate demonstrates proper plumbing installation, including making proper connections of various plumbing materials. Under Section 1(2)(b)3.a, the candidate furnishes the plumbing materials for that practical section, and the department notifies candidates at least one week ahead of what to bring.
Per the Division's exam page, check in runs 7:30 a.m. with the exam starting at 8 a.m. Journeyman candidates get up to two and a half hours for the written portion and a separate two and a half hours for the practical portion.
The written portion covers basic plumbing principles, KRS Chapter 318, 815 KAR Chapter 2 and 815 KAR Chapter 20. The drawing portion asks the candidate to size pipe on a prepared drawing showing stacks, wastes, vents and connected fixtures, with sizing the main stacks carrying more weight than the rest and the grader deducting for both oversized and undersized pipe.
Passing score: at least 75 percent on each portion (Section 3(2)(b)).
Under Section 1(4)(b), a candidate who passes some portions but not all may retake only the portion failed. Section 1(4)(d) still charges the full exam fee for each retake, so a single failed portion costs as much to redo as the whole exam did the first time.
Master Plumber Requirements: Four Routes
Under 815 KAR 20:030 Section 2(1), there are four ways to qualify for the master plumber exam.
| Route | Who it fits | Core requirement | Exams needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | Kentucky journeyman | 2 of past 5 years licensed, plus 2 years under a master | Master only |
| (b) | Kentucky licensed engineer | Mechanical projects, reviewed by the department | Master only |
| (c) | Licensed in another state | 2 of past 5 years licensed there | Journeyman and master |
| (d) | Practiced where no license issues | 4 consecutive years at master level | Journeyman and master |
Route (a), the standard ladder. Hold a valid Kentucky journeyman license for at least two years within the five years immediately before applying, and be actively employed in plumbing under a licensed master's supervision for at least two of those years.
Route (b), the engineer route. Hold a Kentucky professional engineer license and be sufficiently experienced in mechanical engineering, judged by the department from the number and complexity of past mechanical engineering projects. No fixed year count applies.
Route (c), the out of state licensee route. Hold a valid plumbing license from another state for at least two years within the five years immediately before applying.
Route (d), the unlicensed state route. Have practiced plumbing, in a capacity equivalent to a master plumber, for at least four consecutive years immediately before applying, in a state that issues no plumbing license at all.
One catch applies to routes (c) and (d): Section 2(2)(b) requires those applicants to also pass the Kentucky journeyman exam. Coming in from outside Kentucky, a candidate on either route sits both exams, not only the master exam.
Separately, KRS 318.040(6) lets the department issue a license outright to a holder of another state's license if that state has a statewide plumbing code, an exam at least equal to Kentucky's, and the state agrees to reciprocate. None of the Division's own pages name a state that currently meets all three conditions, so in practice an out of state license gets a candidate into the Kentucky exam room, not a license without testing.
The Master Exam and the 80 Percent Rule
815 KAR 20:030 Section 1(2)(b)4 requires the master exam to be more complex than the journeyman exam. Per the Division's exam page, master candidates check in at 7:30 a.m., start at 8 a.m., and have a maximum of two and a half hours.
Passing score: at least 80 percent on each portion (Section 2(2)(a)2). The bar applies per portion, not as a composite average. A 92 on the written portion and a 74 on the drawing portion is a failure, not an 83 average pass.
Master candidates do not get a portion only retake; Section 1(4)(b) covers journeyman applicants specifically. A passing score stays valid for three years under Section 1(5). A new master then files the Application for License as a Master Plumber, Form PLB-1, with the $250 license fee, under Section 2(2)(a).
Exam Calendar, Deadlines and Test Sites
Under 815 KAR 20:030 Section 1(3), regular exams for both licenses run in February, May, August and November each year, and the department may schedule special exams at other times as needed.
| Checkpoint | Timing | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Regular exam months | February, May, August, November | 815 KAR 20:030 Sec. 1(3) |
| Application received in Frankfort | 3 weeks before the exam date | Division exam schedule |
| Scheduling notice to approved applicants | No later than 2 weeks before | Division exam schedule |
| Practical materials list (journeyman) | At least 1 week before | Sec. 1(2)(b)3 |
| Application void if not passed | 1 year from first notice | Sec. 1(1)(b) |
| Passing score stays valid | 3 years | Sec. 1(5) |
Per the Division's own schedule, seats fill first come, first served, and a full session takes no more applicants. Missing the three week filing window moves a candidate to the next regular sitting, typically three months later, and filing on time still does not guarantee a seat once a session fills.
Exam sites rotate around the Commonwealth based on facility availability and application volume from each area. The Division's schedule lists these locations as often used:
- Local 502 Training Center, 2335 Millers Lane, Louisville, KY 40216
- Local 184 Training Center, 5820 Benton Rd, Reidland, KY 42003
- Local 452 Training Center, 701 Allenridge Point, Lexington, KY 40510
- Local 633 Training Center, 3128 Alvey Park West, Owensboro, KY 42303
- Hazard Community and Technical College, 101 Vo-Tech Dr, Hazard, KY 41701
- Enzweiler Building Institute, 2751 Circleport Dr, Erlanger, KY 41018
The Division's exam page also links a 2023 code book for exam study and lists a line for exam questions, 502-573-0397. Work any hiring or staffing plan for a Kentucky master plumber backward from those four exam months, since a missed window adds roughly three months to the timeline.
Division of Plumbing Fees
These are the fees set out in 815 KAR 20:030 and KRS 318.054, current as of October 20, 2026. Confirm with the Division before paying, since regulations can change between visits to this page.
| Fee | Master | Journeyman | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam, non-refundable | $150 | $50 | Sec. 1(1)(a)2 |
| Initial license | $250 | $60 | Sec. 2(2)(a)3; Sec. 3(2)(c) |
| Annual renewal | $250 | $60 | Sec. 4(1)(a) |
| Inactive status | $125 | $30 | Sec. 4(2)(a) |
| Reactivation | $125 | $30 | Sec. 4(2)(c) |
| Revival within 180 days | $5 plus renewal | $3 plus renewal | KRS 318.054(4) |
| Reinstatement after cancellation | $10 plus back renewals | $6 plus back renewals | KRS 318.054(4) |
Fee notes:
- Retakes cost full price. A candidate pays the full exam fee again for any retake, including a single failed journeyman portion (Sec. 1(4)(d)).
- Proration helps new licensees. The initial license fee may be prorated for not less than seven months and not more than eighteen months (Sec. 2(3); Sec. 3(3)).
- Renewal fees go to the state treasurer. Renewal fees are payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer (Sec. 4(1)(a)).
- Military service can waive fees. The department may waive renewal or revival fees for a person on active duty in the Armed Forces (KRS 318.054(4)).
Renewal, Continuing Education and Inactive Status
Every Kentucky plumbing license expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month, not on a single common date statewide, under KRS 318.054(1). The department mails a renewal notice to the licensee's last known address no later than 30 days before expiration, which is why 815 KAR 20:030 Section 5(1) requires licensees to report any change to the name or address of their business or employer.
To renew, Section 4(1) requires the renewal fee, proof of continuing education under 815 KAR 2:010, proof of insurance for a master, and the Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1. In the department's online portal, the renewal option appears once a license is within 60 days of its expiration date.
| Continuing education rule | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per renewal | At least 6 approved hours | 815 KAR 2:010 Sec. 2(1) |
| Measurement window | The 12 months before renewal | Sec. 1(2) |
| Carry forward | Excess hours into the next 2 years, 12 hours max | Sec. 1(3) |
| First renewal | None required if licensed within 12 months | Sec. 1(4) |
| Safety topic cap | No more than 2 hours count | Sec. 1(5) |
| One class hour | 50 minutes of instruction | Sec. 1(8) |
Approved courses must relate to business, job safety, the Kentucky State Plumbing Code or the plumbing trade itself, under 815 KAR 2:010 Section 2(6).
Inactive status. An inactive master may not secure a plumbing permit, advertise, represent themselves as a qualified master or otherwise perform master level work, under 815 KAR 20:030 Section 4(2)(b). Inactive licensees owe no continuing education while inactive, but must show the required hours from the 12 months before reactivating, under 815 KAR 2:010 Section 1(11).
Late renewal. Under KRS 318.054(4), a licensee can revive an expired license within 180 days by paying the renewal fee plus a revival fee of $5 for a master or $3 for a journeyman, and showing completed continuing education. Miss that 180 day window and the license is canceled automatically by operation of law. Reinstatement after cancellation then takes all delinquent renewal fees plus a revival fee of $10 for a master or $6 for a journeyman.
The Insurance Rule and the Employee Exemption
KRS 318.030(2)(a) bars any person, firm or corporation from engaging in plumbing unless it carries general liability insurance of not less than $250,000 and submits proof of compliance with Kentucky workers' compensation and unemployment insurance law.
Proof goes in before the license does. Under KRS 318.030(2)(b), proof of that insurance reaches the department before issuance or renewal of an active master plumber license.
A lapse reports itself. Under KRS 318.030(2)(c), no license stays valid without the required insurance, and insurance carriers must notify the department when a licensee's coverage is canceled.
Employees sit outside the rule. KRS 318.030(2)(d) exempts an employee of a plumbing firm from the insurance requirement personally, leaving the coverage obligation with the employing company itself.
Permits: Who Can Pull Them and What They Cost
KRS 318.134(1) bars anyone from constructing, installing or altering plumbing without first procuring a plumbing installation permit from the department. 815 KAR 20:050 Section 2(1) issues that permit only to a licensed master plumber or to a homeowner working on a home they occupy or build for personal use, who files an affidavit and personally performs all the work.
A permit is required for new installations, relocated fixtures or waste openings, new or replaced house sewers and water services, added backflow prevention devices, and new or replacement water heaters, under Section 1. Repairing leaks, cocks or valves, and cleaning out waste or sewer pipes, need no permit. When a master takes over an installation permitted to another master or a homeowner, a new permit is required.
| Permit | Base fee | Each fixture or opening | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| One and two family residential | $50 | $14 | 815 KAR 20:050 Sec. 4(1) |
| All other buildings | $50 | $20 | Sec. 4(2) |
| One water heater only | $50 | None | Sec. 4(3) |
Permit notes:
- Inspections: each permit includes five inspections; each additional inspection costs $50 unless the permit itself cost more than $250 (Sec. 5).
- Expiration: a permit expires one year after issuance unless construction is ongoing, and becomes void if work stops for more than 12 months (Sec. 6).
The local layer. KRS 318.140 lets a city or county adopt the Kentucky State Plumbing Code by ordinance, issue plumbing permits, set its own permit and inspection fees, and appoint local inspectors with at least eight years as a master or journeyman. Local governments may also collect occupational license fees from plumbing businesses. The license travels statewide, while permits, inspections and business fees can vary by city or county, a split our explainer on state vs. local contractor licensing covers in more depth.
Penalties. KRS 318.990 sets a fine of $10 to $100, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both, for each offense, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. KRS 318.064 lets the department revoke or suspend a license for knowing violations, fraud, incompetence or deceptive conduct. KRS 318.120 bars anyone in responsible charge of an installation from putting an unlicensed person on the work, apprentices excepted.
Kentucky Issues No General Contractor License
Kentucky has no statewide general contractor license. The Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction licenses and certifies plumbers, electricians, boiler contractors, sprinkler and fire alarm contractors and building inspectors, and separately runs HVAC licensing under KRS 198B.650 to 198B.689. A 2026 House bill, HB 300, would have created contractor licensing under the department; its last recorded action remains a committee referral on January 16, 2026, with no further movement as of this update.
For the neighboring trades handled by the same department, see how to get an HVAC license in Kentucky and how to get an electrician license in Kentucky.
How Long the Path Takes
On paper, the standard ladder runs at least four years of experience before a master license, or at least three years through the course route, before counting exam windows and filing deadlines.
| Stage | Minimum time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice to journeyman license | 2 consecutive years, or 1 year plus a course | 815 KAR 20:030 Sec. 3(1) |
| Journeyman to master license | 2 years licensed within the past 5 | Sec. 2(1)(a) |
| Wait for an exam window | Up to 3 months between regular exams | Sec. 1(3) |
| Filing lead time | 3 weeks before the exam date | Division exam schedule |
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Start as an apprentice. Work under the personal supervision of a licensed master or journeyman, and keep records showing your years are consecutive, or enroll in a department approved course.
- Register for the journeyman exam. File Form PLB-3 with the $50 exam fee and a recent color photo so it reaches Frankfort at least three weeks before the exam date.
- Watch for your notices. Approved applicants hear about scheduling no later than two weeks out, and the practical materials list arrives at least one week before.
- Pass all three portions. Score at least 75 percent on the written, drawing and practical portions.
- Apply for the journeyman license. File Form PLB-2 with proof of passing and the $60 license fee.
- Work two years as a licensed journeyman. Stay employed in plumbing under a licensed master, inside the five year window.
- Register for the master exam. File a new PLB-3 with the $150 exam fee at least three weeks before a February, May, August or November sitting.
- Pass at 80 percent on each portion. The score stays valid for three years.
- Apply for the master license. File Form PLB-1 with proof of passing and the $250 license fee, with proof of the KRS 318.030 insurance on file.
- Renew every year. Renew by the last day of your birth month with the renewal fee, six hours of continuing education and Form DHBC L-1.
What Kentucky Requires of a Plumbing Company
KRS 318.110 lets a company engage in the plumbing business in any county if a person connected with that company in responsible charge of the plumbing work is a licensed master plumber, and that master must notify the department whenever they start or end that connection.
The statute also addresses what happens when the master is gone. Under KRS 318.054(5)(a), if the master who procured permits for a company dies, the department grants the company an interim period of up to 180 continuous calendar days before that master's license terminates, provided the company documents all required bonding and insurance and keeps it in force for the whole period. Under 815 KAR 20:030 Section 5(2), the company must notify the department within ten days of the death, and again once it has a replacement master to represent it.
Then comes the sentence that matters most to any company planning ahead. Under KRS 318.054(5)(c), once the deceased master's license terminates, "a company shall have an employee with a current and valid Kentucky master plumber's license in order to procure permits and perform plumbing work governed by this chapter." The HVAC statute, KRS 198B.667(3), uses the same construction for master HVAC contractors.
That interim period covers only a master's death. Because permits issue only to a licensed master, a company whose master resigns or retires needs another master in responsible charge before it can procure new permits. See the contractor qualifier contingency plan and our Kentucky qualifier guide for the fuller analysis.
The qualifier angle. When a company needs a licensed master plumber in responsible charge, whether it is entering Kentucky, its master is retiring, or it lost one unexpectedly, that is the seat a qualifying agent fills. A qualifying agent qualifies the company as an owner or a full time W-2 employee who actually supervises the plumbing work, which fits both the "connected with that company" test in KRS 318.110 and the "employee" language in KRS 318.054(5)(c). Start at Hire a Qualifying Agent, read what a qualifying agent actually is if the role is new to you, or see our contractor qualifier services for the fuller structure.
See how the role works specifically for plumbing contractors. Licensed masters considering the role themselves can read about becoming a qualifying agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take to Get a Plumbing License in Kentucky?
A journeyman license takes at least two consecutive apprentice years, or one year plus an approved course, then a pass in one of the four yearly exam windows. A master license takes at least two more years as a licensed journeyman under a master, so the standard ladder runs at least four years before the master license, longer if an exam window is missed.
How Much Does a Kentucky Plumbing License Cost?
A journeyman pays a $50 exam fee and a $60 license fee, then $60 a year to renew. A master pays a $150 exam fee and a $250 license fee, then $250 a year, and an active master license needs proof of the $250,000 general liability coverage KRS 318.030 requires.
What Credentials Do I Need Before I Can Sit for the Exam?
The journeyman exam needs two consecutive apprentice years, or one year plus a department approved course. The master exam needs one of the four routes above, most commonly two of the past five years as a licensed journeyman working under a master. Neither exam accepts a training certificate alone in place of that experience.
Where Do I Take the Journeyman or Master Plumbing Test?
The Division schedules sittings at training centers and colleges around the state, commonly in Louisville, Reidland, Lexington, Owensboro, Hazard and Erlanger, chosen by facility availability and how many applications come from each area. File Form PLB-3 at least three weeks before your target exam month, since the Division assigns the site once it schedules you.
How Much Does the Level 3 Plumbing Course Cost in Kentucky?
Neither 815 KAR 20:030 nor the Division's own pages name a single approved course, provider or price, so this guide does not print a figure that no Kentucky source backs. The rule only requires that an approved course cover plumbing practice or the Kentucky State Plumbing Code; confirm a specific program's approval and cost directly with the Division of Plumbing before you enroll.
How Do I Renew a Kentucky Plumbing License?
Renew by the last day of your birth month with the renewal fee, six hours of continuing education from the prior 12 months, proof of insurance for a master, and Form DHBC L-1. The department's online portal shows the renewal option once the license is within 60 days of expiration.
What Is on the Kentucky Journeyman Plumbing Test?
A written portion on plumbing principles, KRS Chapter 318 and 815 KAR Chapters 2 and 20; a drawing portion where you size stacks, wastes and vents; and a hands-on practical for which you bring the materials. You need 75 percent on each portion to pass.
Can I Get a Kentucky Master Plumber License Without Being a Journeyman First?
Yes, through routes (b), (c) and (d): a Kentucky licensed engineer with enough mechanical engineering experience, a plumber licensed in another state for two of the past five years, or four consecutive years of master level practice in a state that issues no plumbing license. Routes (c) and (d) also require passing the Kentucky journeyman exam.
What Happens If My Plumbing License Expires?
You have 180 days to revive it with the renewal fee plus $5 for a master or $3 for a journeyman, under KRS 318.054(4). After that the license is canceled by operation of law, and reinstatement takes all delinquent renewal fees plus $10 for a master or $6 for a journeyman.
Does Kentucky Accept a Plumbing License From Another State?
Not by itself. The Division's plumbing FAQ says a license from another state does not let you work in Kentucky, and that its holder may sit the Kentucky exam without meeting the years of experience requirement, but must still meet every other requirement. KRS 318.040(6) lets the department license another state's holder outright only if that state has a statewide plumbing code, an exam at least equal to Kentucky's, and agrees to reciprocate, but the Division's own pages name no state that currently qualifies. For the master license specifically, route (c) credits two years of licensure elsewhere within the past five, alongside both Kentucky exams.
Does Kentucky Require the Master Plumber to Be an Employee?
Not in every case while that master is alive. KRS 318.110 only requires a licensed master "connected with" the company in responsible charge of its plumbing work, which can include an owner. After a master's death, KRS 318.054(5)(c) is stricter: once the 180 day interim period ends, the company "shall have an employee" holding a current Kentucky master plumber's license to procure permits and perform plumbing work.
Do I Need a Separate Contractor License for a Plumbing Business?
Not at the state level, since Kentucky issues no general contractor license at all. A plumbing business needs a licensed master plumber in responsible charge, the KRS 318.030 insurance, permits from the Division or an authorized local program, and whatever business licensing its city or county imposes.
Talk to Us About a Kentucky Master Plumber
If you are opening in Kentucky or replacing a master who is leaving, call The Licensing Company at 615-219-2110. Our team, led by founders Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, will walk through your trade, your counties and your timeline and tell you plainly what Kentucky requires. You can also start online at Hire a Qualifying Agent.
Sources
All opened or reconfirmed on October 20, 2026. Requirements change, so confirm with the Division of Plumbing before filing.
- 815 KAR 20:030, Plumbing licenses (Legislative Research Commission), retrieved 2026-10-20
- 815 KAR 20:050, Installation permits (Legislative Research Commission), retrieved 2026-10-20
- 815 KAR 2:010, Continuing education requirements (Legislative Research Commission), retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.010, Definitions, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.015, Application of chapter, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.020, Exemptions, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.030, License and general liability insurance, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.040, Qualifications, examinations and reciprocity, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.054, Expiration, renewal, revival and interim period, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.064, Revocation or suspension, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.110, Company connected with a licensed plumber, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.120, Employment of unlicensed plumber prohibited, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.134, Installation permits, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.140, Local adoption of the State Plumbing Code, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 318.990, Penalties, retrieved 2026-10-20
- KRS 198B.667, Interim period for a master HVAC contractor's license, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Division of Plumbing, Plumbing Licensing Examination, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Division of Plumbing, Master and Journeyman Examination Schedule, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Division of Plumbing, permits and duties, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Division of Plumbing, Frequently Asked Questions, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, online renewal instructions, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, License Search and Verification, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, home page, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Kentucky General Assembly, 2026 Regular Session HB 300, retrieved 2026-10-20
- Kentucky.gov, Division of Plumbing agency profile, retrieved 2026-10-20
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.