The TSBPE path from plumber's apprentice to master, the exams and fees at each step, and what a plumbing company needs to open its doors in Texas.
How do you get a plumbing license in Texas? You register as a plumber's apprentice with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), log supervised hours, and pass an exam at each tier on the way to tradesman, journeyman and master. A separate designation, the Responsible Master Plumber (RMP), is what lets a company advertise, contract and pull permits at all.
At a glance Who licenses: the TSBPE, under Occupations Code Chapter 1301 and 22 TAC Part 17. First step: register as a plumber's apprentice ($15, age 16); hours before registration do not count. Hours: 4,000 for tradesman, 8,000 for journeyman, then two years as a journeyman for master. Company: a plumbing company needs a Responsible Master Plumber with $300,000 in liability insurance on file. Upkeep: every license renews each year with six hours of continuing education.
This guide covers the full path from first registration to running a company. For the wider picture, start with the Texas contractor license requirements, and for every other state see how to get a contractor license in each state.
Who Needs a Plumbing License in Texas
Texas does not set a dollar threshold for plumbing work the way some states do for general contracting. Under Occupations Code 1301.354, anyone doing or learning plumbing work for pay needs a TSBPE registration or license at every dollar amount, unless a specific exemption applies.
What license do you need to start a plumbing business? The plumber doing the work needs a tradesman, journeyman or master license. The company itself needs more: under 22 TAC 367.9(a), no person or company may advertise, contract for or offer plumbing to the public without securing a Responsible Master Plumber, an RMP, as an employee or owner. A journeyman or an unlicensed owner cannot open a plumbing company alone.
The narrow exemptions sit in Occupations Code 1301.051 and 1301.052: a homeowner working in his or her own homestead, and some plumbing, other than new construction, repair or remodeling, in certain unplatted rural tracts, in areas without a public water system that requires a license, or in cities under 5,000 people, in counties under 50,000, that allow it by ordinance.
The Texas Plumbing License Ladder
| Credential | Experience | Training | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber's Apprentice | None, age 16 | None | None |
| Tradesman Plumber-Limited | 4,000 hours | 24 hour course | Yes |
| Journeyman Plumber | 8,000 hours | 48 hour course | Yes |
| Master Plumber | 2 years as a journeyman | Or 1 year plus a DOL program | Yes |
| Responsible Master Plumber | Master license | $300,000 insurance on file | None |
Tradesman or journeyman first. The tradesman license is optional. An apprentice can go straight to journeyman at 8,000 hours, or stop at tradesman at 4,000 hours to work on homes sooner.
Scope. Journeyman and master plumbers work under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber. Under 22 TAC 365.1, only a master plumber who meets the RMP requirements may advertise, sign contracts, pull permits and work without supervision.
For a side by side of the two senior licenses, see journeyman vs master plumber.
Plumber's Apprentice Registration
This is the registration most people mean when they search for a plumber's apprenticeship license, and it is the step that costs people years when they skip it. Occupations Code 1301.354 requires anyone learning the trade to register as a plumber's apprentice before assisting a licensed plumber.
- Age: at least 16 (22 TAC 363.7).
- Fee: $15 to register and $15 to renew each year.
- Eligibility: a US citizen or national, or a person eligible for licensure in Texas.
- Supervision: a licensed plumber must be on the job site with you at all times you do plumbing work.
Hours only count after you register. Under 22 TAC 363.2(e), experience counts only while you hold a valid apprentice registration or tradesman license. The board's apprentice page is blunt about it: hours worked before you register do not count toward the tradesman or journeyman exam.
Proof of hours. When you apply for an exam, each employer fills out an Employer's Certification Form. The RMP or the licensee who supervised you must return it within 30 business days of your written request.
Tradesman Plumber-Limited
The tradesman license covers one and two family dwellings. A tradesman may build, install and repair plumbing on those homes under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber, and on larger buildings may only assist while a journeyman or master is on site.
To sit for the exam under 22 TAC 363.6 you need:
- Experience: at least 4,000 hours working in the trade under the supervision of an RMP or an out of state master.
- Training: 24 hours of approved training, including a six hour apprentice continuing education class, the OSHA 10 Hour Outreach class and eight hours on residential plumbing installation.
- Status: a current apprentice registration, or a journeyman or master license from another state.
Shortcuts. A registered apprentice enrolled in good standing in a US Department of Labor (DOL) apprenticeship is exempt from the 24 hours, and the board may credit up to 1,000 hours of experience for an approved program. High school students who finish the state's career and technology plumbing courses may take the tradesman exam without registering as apprentices (Occupations Code 1301.3542).
Journeyman Plumber
The journeyman license covers every type of building. Under 22 TAC 363.5 you need:
- Experience: at least 8,000 hours under the supervision of an RMP or an out of state master.
- Training: 48 hours of classroom training from an approved provider, unless you are enrolled in good standing in a DOL apprenticeship, have finished the classroom portion of an approved program, or hold a journeyman license from another state.
- Status: a current apprentice registration, tradesman license, or journeyman license from another state.
At 2,000 hours a year, 8,000 hours is about four years of full time supervised work. The board may credit up to 1,000 hours for the classroom portion of a DOL or approved program, and an apprentice who earns a board approved associate of applied science degree in plumbing technology may test early. A journeyman may supervise apprentices on any site, but still works under an RMP.
Master Plumber and the 2025 Two Year Rule
House Bill 3214 changed the master plumber definition in Occupations Code 1301.002(5), effective September 1, 2025. A journeyman now qualifies for the master exam after two years as a journeyman, down from four. The other route still applies: one year as a journeyman plus a DOL Office of Apprenticeship program or another nationally recognized apprentice program the board accepts.
Only time spent as a licensed journeyman counts toward those two years, and 22 TAC 363.4 counts a journeyman license issued in Texas or another state. The change applies to applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, so it is the rule for everyone applying today.
A master plumber may add three endorsements: Medical Gas Piping Installation, Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist, and Water Supply Protection Specialist. Journeymen may hold them too, and each endorsement renews once every three years rather than annually.
The Exams
Each exam mixes written questions with practical applications where they fit, and the board posts the scope of each exam on its website. Results come within 30 days (22 TAC 363.21).
Tradesman and journeyman exams are administered through the board's own process; the master plumber exam is delivered by Pearson VUE, with a $25 exam processing fee paid to the TSBPE and a separate $128.50 exam fee paid to Pearson VUE on exam day, a total of $153.50.
Under 22 TAC 363.22, a score of 69.9 or less on any part is a failing score. You retake only the part you failed, with three hours allowed, after filing a new exam application and fee. Before a retake you complete a training period: 30 days after a first failure, 60 days after a second, and 90 days after a third or later.
Cancel in time. If you cannot sit for a scheduled exam, notify the board in writing no later than 10 business days before the exam date, or you forfeit the fee (22 TAC 363.17). An excused emergency allows one reschedule.
How to Apply: The Licensing Steps in Order
- Register as a plumber's apprentice. File the application and the $15 fee, and submit fingerprints through the Department of Public Safety's vendor, a one time requirement.
- Log supervised hours. Work under a licensed plumber and track every employer for your Employer's Certification Forms.
- Finish the classroom training. Take the 24 hour or 48 hour course, or enroll in a DOL apprenticeship.
- Apply for the exam. Send the application, the Employer's Certification Forms and the exam fee to the TSBPE.
- Pass and pay the license fee. The board then issues your certificate and pocket card.
- Work two years as a journeyman. Or one year plus a DOL program, then apply for the master exam.
- Add the RMP designation. Upload a $300,000 certificate of insurance and apply to become the RMP of record for your company.
- Renew every year. Complete six hours of continuing education and pay the renewal before your license expires.
Want the Application Done for You?
Each step above means another state form, another document the board wants proof of, and another chance for a mistake to bounce your application back. The Licensing Company's License Application Processing prepares and submits your Texas plumbing license application: an eligibility audit before anything is filed, a document checklist so you and we chase the pieces together, every state form prepared and reviewed line by line, submission the way the TSBPE 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. We do not promise approval, we do not promise a timeline, and we do not sit for your exam. Call 615-219-2110 to start.
What a Texas Plumbing License Costs
These are the fees charged by the TSBPE for each credential. Fingerprint processing is paid separately to the Department of Public Safety's vendor.
| Credential | Exam fee | License fee | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber's Apprentice | None | $15 | $15 |
| Tradesman Plumber-Limited | $36 | $35 | $35 |
| Journeyman Plumber | $40 | $40 | $40 |
| Master Plumber | $25 plus $128.50 | $75 | $75 |
| Responsible Master Plumber | None | $225 | $300 |
- Master exam. The $25 processing fee goes to the TSBPE; the $128.50 exam fee goes to Pearson VUE on exam day.
- RMP designation. The $225 initial application fee is waived if you apply during your license renewal period; the designation then renews at $300 a year.
- Late renewal. Half the renewal fee when a license has been expired less than 90 days, and the full renewal fee when it has been expired more than 90 days.
- Military. The board waives initial license, application and exam fees for service members, veterans and military spouses who substantially meet the requirements.
A plumber who holds both a journeyman and a master license pays only the master renewal.
The Responsible Master Plumber and Insurance
The master license alone does not let you open a plumbing company. The Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) designation does. It names the master plumber who answers for a company's plumbing work, and 22 TAC 367.9(a) says no person or company may advertise, contract for or offer plumbing to the public without securing the services of at least one RMP.
To hold the designation, a master plumber must be in good standing and file a certificate of insurance. Occupations Code 1301.552 sets the floor: commercial general liability coverage for property damage and bodily injury of not less than $300,000 for all claims in a one year period. Under 22 TAC 367.6, the policy must cover every type of plumbing done under the license, and the certificate must be uploaded to the RMP's online account before the master acts as RMP.
The RMP rules that shape a company:
- One company at a time. A master may be the RMP of record for only one company, and must notify the board within 10 business days of any change (22 TAC 367.5).
- Full responsibility. The RMP answers for every contract and permit under the license, and for all workers, employees or subcontractors, holding the right license.
- Vehicles. The RMP's number, preceded by M, MPL or RMP, and the company name go on both sides of every service vehicle in letters at least two inches tall (22 TAC 367.10).
- Paperwork. The first page of every proposal, invoice and contract shows the RMP's name and number and the phrase "regulated by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners."
How Long It Takes
There is no shortcut around the hours. At roughly 2,000 hours a year of full time supervised work, tradesman takes about two years and journeyman takes about four. Add two years as a licensed journeyman, or one year plus an accepted DOL program, before you can sit for the master exam.
Start to finish, a plumber who goes straight through from apprentice to master is looking at about six years, less with DOL apprenticeship credit. The exam and license steps themselves move in weeks once your hours and training are documented; results post within 30 days of the exam.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Every Texas plumbing license, registration and endorsement is valid for one year and renews annually (Occupations Code 1301.401). To renew a license or endorsement, you complete at least six hours of continuing professional education each year, and three of the six must cover health protection, energy conservation and water conservation (1301.404). Courses must come from a board approved provider, and they may be taken in person, by correspondence or online.
Renew on time. Under 22 TAC 365.5, a late renewal leaves an unlicensed period from the expiration date to the date the renewal issues, and no licensed plumbing work may be done in that gap.
Applying and Renewing Online
The TSBPE runs its applications and renewals through its Online Licensing System, reached from the "Apply / Renew Online" link on the board's site. Most apprentices, tradesmen, journeymen and masters file their registration, exam and renewal paperwork there rather than by mail, and the system also hosts the board's Public License Search for verifying a credential. Fingerprinting still runs through the Department of Public Safety's separate vendor and is not done online.
Other Plumbing Registrations
Beyond the apprentice to master ladder, the TSBPE issues three narrower registrations for specific drain and yard line work, each open only to a current plumber's apprentice.
| Registration | Prerequisite | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Drain Cleaner-Restricted | Apprentice registration | Clears obstructions via existing openings |
| Drain Cleaner | 4,000 hrs as Drain Cleaner-Restricted | Installs cleanouts, resets p-traps |
| Residential Utilities Installer | 2,000 hrs as apprentice | Installs yard water and sewer lines |
- Each registration requires a passing score on the board's own Verification of Training Affidavit for that credential, not a separate written exam.
- All three work under the general supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber, and the registrant still needs direct supervision for any plumbing work outside that narrow scope.
- Each costs $18 to register and $18 to renew annually, with the same half fee and full fee late renewal pattern as the other credentials.
Starting or Running a Plumbing Company
A plumbing company in Texas is only as licensed as its Responsible Master Plumber. Under 22 TAC 367.9(b), a company has secured an RMP only if the RMP is its employee or its owner, and a master may be the RMP of record for one company at a time. If the owner is not yet a master plumber, the company cannot advertise, bid or pull permits for plumbing until a master plumber on its payroll holds the designation. The one exception in 22 TAC 367.9(c) is a signed written subcontract that hands the plumbing to another company that has its own RMP.
That is where a qualifying agent fits. A qualifying agent here is a licensed master plumber who joins the company as a full time W-2 employee, becomes its RMP of record with the certificate of insurance on file, and actually supervises the plumbing work, exactly as Chapter 1301 and the board rules expect. If you are building toward your own master license but want to open the company now, a qualifying agent can hold the RMP designation for the business while you work your hours. Learn what a qualifying agent is, see the trade specific rules in plumbing contractor qualifying agent requirements, read our Texas qualifying agent guide, and explore hiring a qualifying agent when your company is ready to operate.
For other states, see how to get a plumbing contractor license. Other Texas trades: the electrician license, HVAC license and general contractor license guides.
Moving to Texas From Another State
Texas gives credit for out of state licenses. A journeyman or master license from another state satisfies the status requirement for the tradesman and journeyman exams and waives the training hours, and journeyman time in another state counts toward the two years for master (22 TAC 363.4 to 363.6).
Under Occupations Code 1301.3581, the board may waive prerequisites for a plumber licensed in a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent requirements, and may not require an exam if the applicant has held the equivalent license for at least two years. A plumber moving from another state should ask the board how it treats that license before applying.
Who Still Regulates Plumbing in Texas
The TSBPE issues every plumbing license, registration and endorsement in the state. Its authority comes from Occupations Code Chapter 1301, the Plumbing License Law, and its rules sit in Title 22, Part 17 of the Texas Administrative Code: chapter 361 (administration and fees), 363 (examination and registration), 365 (licensing and registration) and 367 (enforcement and the RMP's duties).
You may read that plumbing is moving to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). It is not under current law. The board's 2019 Sunset bill did not pass, Executive Order GA-06 kept the board running, and Occupations Code 1301.003 now sets the board's Sunset date at September 1, 2033: the board is abolished on that date unless the Legislature continues it, and its next Sunset review is set for the 2032 to 2033 cycle.
Today the TSBPE is still the agency you apply to. Its tie to TDLR is cooperation: under Occupations Code 1301.259 the two agencies share information through a memorandum of understanding, and each agency's enforcement officers may check the other's licenses on a job and report problems.
Penalties for Working Without a License
Unlicensed plumbing, or employing someone unlicensed, is a Class C misdemeanor under 1301.508. The board may also assess an administrative penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate violation (1301.702).
Every city over 5,000 people, Fort Worth included, must regulate plumbing by ordinance and require a permit for most work (1301.551). Before issuing a permit, the city checks that the RMP has a certificate of insurance on file with the board (1301.552).
Frequently Asked Questions
What license do I need to start a plumbing business in Texas? The plumber doing the work needs at least a tradesman license for residential jobs, or a journeyman or master license for everything else. The company itself cannot advertise, bid or pull permits until it secures a Responsible Master Plumber, an employee or owner who holds a master license and keeps $300,000 in liability insurance on file.
How do you become a licensed plumber in Texas? Register as a plumber's apprentice, work supervised hours under a licensed plumber, finish the required classroom training, and pass the exam for tradesman or journeyman. From journeyman, two years of licensed experience qualifies you for the master exam.
Is there an online plumbing license in Texas? There is no fully online path that skips the hours and exams, but the TSBPE's Online Licensing System handles most of the paperwork: apprentice registration, exam applications, license issuance and annual renewal all run through that portal rather than by mail.
How long does it take to become a master plumber in Texas? Count on 8,000 hours for journeyman, about four years full time, plus two years as a licensed journeyman since September 1, 2025. The DOL route can shorten the master wait to one year.
How much does a Texas plumbing license cost? Board fees are small: $15 to register as an apprentice, $36 for the tradesman exam, $40 for the journeyman exam, and $25 plus $128.50 for the master exam. Training courses and fingerprinting are paid separately; the fee table above lists each fee.
Can a journeyman plumber start a plumbing company in Texas? Not alone. A journeyman works under the supervision of an RMP, and a company may not advertise or contract for plumbing until it secures an RMP as an employee or owner. A journeyman who owns a company can bring on a master plumber employee as its RMP, or a qualifying agent, to hold that role.
Does a drain cleaner need a separate license in Texas? Drain Cleaner-Restricted and Drain Cleaner are registrations, not licenses, open only to a current plumber's apprentice who passes the board's Verification of Training Affidavit for that work. Each costs $18 to register and $18 to renew.
Is the Texas plumbing board moving to TDLR? Not under current law. The board's 2019 Sunset bill did not pass, Occupations Code 1301.003 sets the TSBPE's Sunset date at September 1, 2033, and its next Sunset review is set for 2032 to 2033.
Open Your Texas Plumbing Company
Running a Texas plumbing company takes a Responsible Master Plumber on your payroll, and that is where skilled plumbers most often get stuck. If the paperwork itself is the holdup, License Application Processing handles it for a flat $999 per state application.
Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski built The Licensing Company around that problem, placing licensed master plumbers as full time W-2 qualifying agents who serve as a company's RMP and supervise the work. Call 615-219-2110 or start with hiring a qualifying agent. To compare other markets, see our states overview.
Sources
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, license types, retrieved 2026-10-05
- TSBPE, Plumber's Apprentice registration, retrieved 2026-10-05
- TSBPE, Tradesman Plumber-Limited, retrieved 2026-10-05
- TSBPE, Journeyman Plumber, retrieved 2026-10-05
- TSBPE, Master Plumber, retrieved 2026-10-05
- TSBPE, Responsible Master Plumber, retrieved 2026-10-05
- TSBPE, Other Registrations, retrieved 2026-10-05
- TSBPE, notice of the September 1, 2025 master plumber change, retrieved 2026-10-05
- Texas Occupations Code 1301.003, Sunset date, retrieved 2026-10-05
- Texas Occupations Code 1301.552, Responsible Master Plumber insurance, retrieved 2026-10-05
- Texas Occupations Code 1301.401, license terms, retrieved 2026-10-05
- Texas Occupations Code 1301.404, continuing education, retrieved 2026-10-05
- Texas Occupations Code 1301.702, administrative penalty, retrieved 2026-10-05
- Texas Legislature, HB 3214 (2025), enrolled text, retrieved 2026-10-05
- Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, retrieved 2026-10-05
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.