How to Get a Plumbing License by State

The path to a plumbing contractor license runs through an individual journeyman and master credential before the company itself can be licensed. Here is the ladder every state uses, the qualifier rule that licenses the business, and links to the plumbing license rules in all 50 states.

A plumbing contractor license is the credential that lets a company bid plumbing work, sign contracts for it, and pull plumbing permits, and nearly every state ties that company license to a qualifier who already holds an individual master plumber or equivalent credential. Getting there means climbing the individual ladder first, usually apprentice, then journeyman, then master, before the company itself can be licensed. For the contractor rules in every state and trade, see how to get a contractor license in each state.

Who actually needs the company license depends on the role. A plumber who only installs and repairs under a licensed employer may never need anything past a journeyman card, while an owner who wants the company's name on contracts, permits and advertising needs the contractor or company license, which the state will not issue until a qualifier is in place.

At a glance The ladder: apprentice, then journeyman, then master; the company license sits on top of that. Experience: most states ask 4 to 5 years before a person can qualify a company, and Texas alone requires 8,000 hours before the journeyman license. Reciprocity: NASCLA's accredited exam covers general building and electrical contractors, not plumbing, so a plumbing license rarely transfers between states. Local only: Missouri and Nebraska are among the states that leave plumbing licensing to cities and counties instead of a state board. The qualifier seat can run empty only briefly: Michigan and Nevada give a company 30 days to replace a departing qualifier, Florida gives 60.

What a Plumbing Contractor License Covers and Who Needs One

A plumbing contractor license authorizes a business, not just a person, to advertise, bid, contract for and pull permits on plumbing work. The individual credential underneath it says what a person may do with tools; the company credential says what the business may sell. Most states require both: an individual master plumber or equivalent, and a separate company license or registration naming that person as the qualifier.

"Certified plumbing contractor" is a specific term in a few states rather than a universal title. Florida is the clearest example: a certified contractor holds a statewide credential and may work in any Florida jurisdiction, while a registered contractor works only where it met that jurisdiction's own local competency rules (Florida Statutes 489.105). Most other states simply call the credential a plumbing contractor license or a master plumber license, with the geographic reach set by the license class rather than a certified or registered label.

Who needs the company license depends on the role, not the trade. An employee who installs or repairs plumbing under a licensed employer typically only needs the individual journeyman or master card. An owner who wants to contract, advertise and pull permits in the company's own name needs the contractor license, and most states will not issue one until a qualifier is named on it.

The License Ladder: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, Contractor

Almost every licensing state builds the trade in the same four stages, even though the hours and years behind each step vary widely from state to state.

Stage	What it allows	Typical path	Example
Apprentice	Works under a licensed plumber	Register, then log hours	Texas: register with the board
Journeyman	Installs plumbing under a master	Years of hours, then an exam	Texas: 8,000 hours under an RMP
Master	Plans, supervises, can qualify a company	More years as a journeyman, then an exam	Texas: 2 years as a journeyman
Contractor	The business bids, contracts, pulls permits	Company license naming a qualifier	Michigan: a master plumber in place

Texas requires a journeyman to log at least 8,000 hours under a responsible master plumber, and a master to work as a journeyman for two years, or one year plus a Department of Labor approved program (Occupations Code 1301.002(5), as amended by HB 3214, effective September 1, 2025). Michigan asks 6,000 hours over at least 3 years as an apprentice for the journey license, then 4,000 hours over at least 2 years as a journey plumber for the master license (MCL 339.6115; MCL 339.6113). New York City requires at least 7 years of plumbing experience within the prior 10 under a licensed master plumber, with at least 2 of those years as a registered journeyman, before a candidate may sit for the Licensed Master Plumber exam (NYC Department of Buildings).

The contractor stage is different in kind, not just in degree. It is a business credential, and most states will not issue it to a company that has no licensed master plumber connected to it in the right role, whether that role is called a qualifier, a representative, or a responsible managing employee.

The Path Every State Shares, With the Details Set State by State

Every licensing state asks for the same five things in some order: documented experience, a trade exam, an application for the company or the individual, proof of insurance or a bond, and periodic renewal with continuing education. What differs is the number behind each one, so treat any figure below as an example, not a national rule.

Georgia's Class I and Class II master plumber licenses each require 5 years of plumbing experience with at least 2 of those years as a licensed journeyman, and a Class II applicant must also document experience in commercial or industrial plumbing work; both classes need a score of 70 on the exam (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 121-3-.02). California's qualifier needs four full years at journey level or above within the ten years before applying (Business and Professions Code 7068). Arizona's qualifying party needs 4 years of practical or management trade experience, with at least 2 of those years within the last ten (A.R.S. 32-1122). North Carolina requires 2 years (4,000 hours) of full time experience for its contractor exam, up to half of which may be academic or technical training (NC Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors). Nevada asks for 4 years as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee or contractor within the 15 years before applying, of which up to 3 years may come from an accredited training program (NRS 624.260). Florida's certified track needs 4 years of active experience as a plumbing worker, with at least 1 year of it as a foreman, or a qualifying bachelor's degree plus 1 year of experience (Florida Statutes 489.111).

The exam itself is usually two parts: a trade knowledge exam and a business and law exam. Florida pairs a paper and pencil plumbing trade exam, given through Professional Testing, Inc. in Kissimmee, with a Business and Finance exam at Pearson VUE (Florida Statutes 489.111). Tennessee requires its CMC-A plumbing classification for jobs worth $25,000 or more, with board pre-approval, a $50 fee, before a candidate can even register for the exam, plus a Business and Law exam administered by Prov since July 1, 2026 (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors).

Insurance and bonds follow the same pattern: every state wants proof of financial responsibility, but the form and the amount differ by state and sometimes by class. Texas asks its responsible master plumber for at least $300,000 of commercial liability insurance (22 TAC 367.9). California requires a $25,000 contractor's bond (Business and Professions Code 7071.6), Nevada's board sets each plumbing bond between $1,000 and $500,000 depending on the applicant's own financial showing (NRS 624.270), and Illinois asks plumbing contractors for a $20,000 indemnification bond or letter of credit (Illinois Department of Public Health).

Reciprocity and the NASCLA Exam

The National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies runs an accredited exam program that lets a passing score transfer between member states without retaking the trade exam. That program currently covers the commercial general building classification and electrical contractor exams; it does not include a plumbing exam. In practice, that means a plumbing license essentially never transfers automatically between states, and a plumber who relocates generally has to meet the new state's own experience and exam requirements from the start.

A small number of states have signed their own bilateral agreements instead of relying on NASCLA. Washington recognizes an active Idaho journey level plumber certification in place of its own exam, though every other out of state plumber must either pass the Washington exam or present a comparable license for the board's review (Washington L&I). Agreements like this one are the exception, not the rule, so confirm directly with the destination state's board before assuming any out of state credential will carry over.

When Plumbing Work Needs a Commercial or Higher Class

Some states issue one plumbing license that covers every building type. Others split residential and commercial scope into separate classes, and a few ask for commercial experience before they grant the wider class.

State	Limited or residential class	Commercial or unrestricted class
North Carolina	Class II: single family detached homes	Class I: all structures
Georgia	Class I: homes, duplexes, up to 10,000 sq ft commercial	Class II: unrestricted
Arizona	R-37R: residential plumbing	C-37 commercial; CR-37 covers both
Washington	PL02: residential, up to three stories	PL01: broader commercial scope
Texas	Tradesman-Limited: one and two family	Journeyman or master under an RMP
Florida	Registered: listed local jurisdictions only	Certified: statewide

Table notes

North Carolina: Class II covers only single family detached dwellings, so a restaurant or office job needs Class I (General Statute 87-21).
Georgia: Class I is limited to single family and one story, two family dwellings, plus commercial structures no larger than 10,000 square feet; Class II is unrestricted but needs documented commercial or industrial experience (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 121-3-.02).
Arizona: C-37, R-37R and CR-37 each need 4 years of experience plus the Statutes and Rules exam and a trade exam.
Washington: PL02 covers single family dwellings, duplexes and apartments up to three stories after 6,000 hours; PL01 requires at least 8,000 hours as a plumber trainee, with at least 4,000 of those hours in commercial or industrial installations (Washington L&I).
Texas: A Tradesman Plumber-Limited may only assist on buildings other than one and two family dwellings (22 TAC 365.1(d)).
Florida: The certified or registered line is geographic, not a trade split; either may do the full plumbing trade, medical gas included, within its own jurisdictional reach (Florida Statutes 489.105).

States Where Plumbing Licensing Stays Local

Not every state licenses plumbers itself. Missouri has no statewide plumber license; state law instead requires master and journeyman certification in any city or town of 15,000 or more residents, and each jurisdiction runs its own exam and fee schedule (RSMo 341.010). Nebraska has no state plumbing board either, so licensing runs through individual cities such as Omaha and Lincoln; the state's own Contractor Registration Act is a general annual registration, not a plumbing license, and its fee rose to $40 a year effective August 1, 2026 (Nebraska Department of Labor).

New York has no statewide plumbing license outside New York City, where the Department of Buildings licenses master plumbers directly and, as of February 23, 2026, requires every application to go through DOB NOW: Licensing (NYC Department of Buildings). Pennsylvania's only statewide layer is registration with the Attorney General under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, required of anyone who performs at least $5,000 of home improvement work a year; the actual plumbing license in Pennsylvania comes from the city, such as Philadelphia or Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General).

If your state is not one of these, assume it licenses plumbers itself until its board's own page says otherwise.

What It Takes to License the Company Itself

The company license is where the qualifier comes in, and each state gives that person a different title. Texas board rule 22 TAC 367.9 says a company may not advertise, contract for or offer plumbing to the public unless it has secured the services of at least one responsible master plumber who is an employee or the owner, in good standing, with at least $300,000 of commercial liability insurance on file.

Michigan requires a plumbing contractor to either hold a master plumber license itself or employ the holder of one as its representative, and only a sole proprietor, partner, officer or LLC member may apply (MCL 339.6111). California qualifies a corporation or LLC through a responsible managing officer or a responsible managing employee in the same classification, and an RME must be a bona fide employee working at least 32 hours a week or 80 percent of the business's operating hours, whichever is less (Business and Professions Code 7068). New Jersey defines a plumbing contractor's bona fide representative as a licensed master plumber who holds not less than 10 percent of the business (N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3).

What a Plumbing License Costs

Board fees are the part of the budget every state publishes, but exam, bond and insurance costs sit on top of them and vary by company and carrier.

State	Fee	Amount
California	Original application	$450
California	Initial license, sole owner	$200
Texas	RMP initial application	$225
Texas	RMP annual renewal	$300
Florida	CILB initial certification	$245
Illinois	Plumbing contractor registration, yearly	$150
Louisiana	License required above this job value	$10,000
New York City	Master plumber written exam	$585
New York City	Master plumber practical exam	$530

California's $450 original application fee is separate from its initial license fee, which is $200 for a sole owner and $350 for other business types (CSLB). Florida's CILB certification fee of $245 applies to filings made between May 1, 2026 and August 31, 2027, and sits on top of separate exam registration costs. Louisiana requires its plumbing classification once a job's value passes $10,000, below which no state license is required for that job (Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors).

Renewal, Continuing Education and the Qualifier Clock

A license is not a one time event. Texas licenses renew every year with six hours of continuing professional education, three of them on health protection, energy conservation and water conservation (Occupations Code 1301.404). Florida plumbing contractors take 14 hours per renewal cycle, and certified licenses expire August 31 of even years (Florida CILB). Georgia plumbers renew online by November 30 of even years and must complete 4 hours of continuing education a year, for 8 hours total across the two year cycle (Georgia Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers).

The qualifier clock runs on a separate, shorter timer. If the named qualifier leaves, most states give the company a narrow window to name a replacement before it has to stop contracting. Michigan gives 30 days to designate another master plumber representative (MCL 339.6111), Nevada gives 30 days after the qualifier's departure with notice to the board due within 10 days (NRS 624.285), and Florida gives a business 60 days to employ another qualifying agent, during which it may not contract unless the board grants a temporary certificate (Florida Statutes 489.119). North Carolina's board says all contracting activity must stop until another licensee is in place as the qualifier.

The Licensing Steps in Order

Confirm what your state licenses, and whether your work needs a residential, commercial or unrestricted class.
Decide who will qualify the company: an owner who holds the master license, or a master plumber employee.
Document the qualifier's experience in the format the board asks for.
Get board approval to test where it is required, such as Tennessee's CMC-A pre-approval.
Pass the trade exam and, where required, the business and law exam.
Form the business entity and register it with the state.
File the bond, liability insurance and workers' compensation proof the board lists.
Submit the contractor application with the qualifier named on it, and pay the license fee.
Display the license number where the state requires it, on vehicles, signs and contracts.

Want the Application Done for You?

Once you know which class and qualifier your company needs, the application itself is still a lot of paperwork: state forms, the qualifier's experience documentation, insurance certificates, and the board's follow up questions. The Licensing Company's License Application Processing prepares and submits the state contractor license application for you, starting with an eligibility audit before anything is filed, then a document checklist so we chase the pieces with you, every state form prepared and reviewed line by line, submission the way the board requires, and the board's paperwork questions answered and resubmitted until the board decides.

It is a flat $999 per state application, paid up front. State fees, exam fees, background checks and fingerprinting are paid to the state, not to us. The service does not promise approval, does not promise a timeline, and does not include taking the exam for you. Call 615-219-2110 to start, or go straight to License Application Processing.

The Qualifying Agent Path

Many plumbing company owners are not the licensed master plumber on their own company's application. The seat still has to be filled, and the lawful way to fill it is a licensed master plumber or equivalent credential holder employed by the company full time as a W-2 employee who actually supervises the plumbing work. That person QUALIFIES the company, either as an owner or as a full time W-2 employee with real authority over the work, which is what a qualifying agent is. It fits the employee routes written into rules like Texas's RMP designation, Michigan's representative rule and California's RME rule.

If you are ready to talk about a qualifier for your plumbing company, see how to hire a qualifying agent, or read more about what a qualifying agent is.

Plumbing License Requirements in Every State

Each of the 50 states sets its own experience, exam and fee rules for plumbing, and the list below links all 50. Find your state for the specific numbers; none of them are listed here because they belong on the state's own page, not in a single national figure.

Northeast: Connecticut plumbing license, Maine plumbing license, Massachusetts plumbing license, New Hampshire plumbing license, New Jersey plumbing license, New York plumbing license, Pennsylvania plumbing license, Rhode Island plumbing license, Vermont plumbing license

Southeast: Alabama plumbing license, Arkansas plumbing license, Florida plumbing license, Georgia plumbing license, Kentucky plumbing license, Louisiana plumbing license, Mississippi plumbing license, North Carolina plumbing license, South Carolina plumbing license, Tennessee plumbing license, Virginia plumbing license, West Virginia plumbing license

Midwest: Illinois plumbing license, Indiana plumbing license, Iowa plumbing license, Kansas plumbing license, Michigan plumbing license, Minnesota plumbing license, Missouri plumbing license, Nebraska plumbing license, North Dakota plumbing license, Ohio plumbing license, South Dakota plumbing license, Wisconsin plumbing license

Southwest and West: Arizona plumbing license, California plumbing license, Colorado plumbing license, Hawaii plumbing license, Idaho plumbing license, Montana plumbing license, Nevada plumbing license, New Mexico plumbing license, Oklahoma plumbing license, Oregon plumbing license, Texas plumbing license, Utah plumbing license, Washington plumbing license, Wyoming plumbing license

Alaska plumbing license, Delaware plumbing license, Maryland plumbing license

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Bidding before the right class is issued. A North Carolina Class II license does not cover a commercial building, and a Georgia Class I license stops at a single commercial structure of 10,000 square feet.
Assuming a license travels. NASCLA's accredited exam does not cover plumbing, Georgia has no reciprocity with any state for master or journeyman plumbers, and Washington's only reciprocal arrangement is with Idaho's journey level certification.
Letting the qualifier seat go empty. The replacement window is 30 days in Michigan and Nevada and 60 days in Florida; North Carolina requires all contracting to stop at once until a new licensee is in place.
Employing unlicensed plumbers. Texas's penalty guideline for employing an unlicensed or unregistered person is $4,000, and the statute allows up to $5,000 per violation, with each day counted separately. See penalties for unlicensed contracting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "certified plumbing contractor" mean?

In most states it is just another name for a licensed plumbing contractor. Florida uses it as a specific, statewide credential that lets the holder work in any Florida jurisdiction, as opposed to a registered contractor who works only where it met local competency rules (Florida Statutes 489.105).

How much does it cost to get a plumbing license?

It depends entirely on the state and the license level. California's original contractor application is $450 plus a $200 or $350 initial license fee, Texas's RMP designation is $225 to apply and $300 a year to renew, and New York City's two master plumber exams together run $1,115, before any bond, insurance or prep course costs.

How long does it take to become a plumbing contractor?

Plan on years, not months, because the qualifier's experience drives the timeline. Texas requires 8,000 hours before the journeyman license and two more years as a journeyman before the master license, and most other states fall in a similar 4 to 7 year range once apprentice and journeyman time are added together.

Can I own a plumbing company without being a licensed plumber?

In many states, yes, if the company secures a qualified master plumber. Texas lets a company secure an RMP who is its employee, Michigan lets a contractor employ a master plumber as its representative, and California lets a company qualify through a responsible managing employee. New Jersey's rules define the company's bona fide representative as a master plumber holding at least 10 percent of the business.

What is the difference between a master plumber and a plumbing contractor?

The master license belongs to a person; the contractor license belongs to the business. In Michigan, the contractor license will not issue without a master plumber representative in place, and the same pattern holds in most other licensing states.

Does a general contractor need a plumbing license to do plumbing work?

Often, yes. Washington requires a general contractor that wants to perform plumbing to hold a plumbing contractor license with its own bond, and Florida requires contractors to subcontract plumbing unless they hold a state certificate or registration in that trade (Florida Statutes 489.113).

What licensing and insurance does a Texas plumbing company need?

A Texas plumbing company needs a responsible master plumber secured as an employee or owner, and that RMP must carry at least $300,000 of commercial liability insurance and stay in good standing with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (22 TAC 367.9). The RMP designation itself costs $225 to apply for and $300 a year to renew.

Talk With a Plumbing Licensing Specialist

The qualifier rules decide whether your company can bid this year or has to wait. The Licensing Company, led by industry authorities Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, helps plumbing companies find and keep a qualified master plumber on staff, and our License Application Processing service can prepare and submit the state application itself. Call 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent.

Sources

Retrieved 2026-10-08.

How to Get a Plumbing Contractor License: Requirements by State