Louisiana Plumber License Requirements

Official classification: LSLBC Plumbing classification (company) + State Plumbing Board of Louisiana Journeyman/Master Plumber (individual) · Issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA).

🔧 PlumberLA ✔ Verified 2026-09-30

In Louisiana, plumbers must hold the LSLBC Plumbing classification (company) + State Plumbing Board of Louisiana Journeyman/Master Plumber (individual), issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed plumber in Louisiana

Follow these steps to earn your LSLBC Plumbing classification (company) + State Plumbing Board of Louisiana Journeyman/Master Plumber (individual). Every figure is verified against the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Journeyman: 8,000 hours of plumbing under a licensed journeyman/master (7,000 hours if in a state-approved indentured apprenticeship). Master: must hold a current Journeyman Plumber license (or be a LA Professional Engineer with 5 years plumbing experience).
Pass the Journeyman Plumber examination and Master Plumber examination exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Not mandated for the individual SPBLA plumbing license. Workers' compensation: Required under LA Title 23 if employing workers.
Clear the background check. The notarized application asks whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony associated with the art of plumbing; no statewide fingerprint criminal check is specified.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA) — Journeyman exam $125 / Master exam $100 (SPBLA) application fee, plus a Journeyman initial license $50; Master initial license $190 active / $40 inactive (SPBLA) license fee. Processing time: Exams are held quarterly; the license is issued after passing and paying the license fee.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Annual — all SPBLA plumbing licenses renew by December 31 each year. Continuing education: Continuing professional education required annually before renewal (confirm the current hour requirement with the State Plumbing Board).

For the general path in every state, see the Plumber guide →

Louisiana plumber license lookup

To confirm a plumber is properly licensed in Louisiana — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official public.spbla.com database →

License types

Journeyman Plumber (SPBLA) — Individual license to perform plumbing work; requires apprenticeship hours and an exam.
Master Plumber (SPBLA) — Individual license; must already hold a Journeyman Plumber license (or be a LA Professional Engineer with 5 years plumbing experience).
Plumbing classification (LSLBC) — Company contractor license required for plumbing projects exceeding $10,000 (commercial) or within residential thresholds.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Journeyman: 8,000 hours of plumbing under a licensed journeyman/master (7,000 hours if in a state-approved indentured apprenticeship). Master: must hold a current Journeyman Plumber license (or be a LA Professional Engineer with 5 years plumbing experience).
Application fee	Journeyman exam $125 / Master exam $100 (SPBLA)
License fee	Journeyman initial license $50; Master initial license $190 active / $40 inactive (SPBLA)
Renewal fee	Journeyman $50/yr; Master $190/yr active / $40/yr inactive, if renewed by December 31; revival fees apply after that (SPBLA)
Renewal period	Annual — all SPBLA plumbing licenses renew by December 31 each year
Continuing education	Continuing professional education required annually before renewal (confirm the current hour requirement with the State Plumbing Board).
Bond required	No surety bond required for the individual plumbing license or the LSLBC company license. A company short of the $50,000 net-worth requirement may cover the shortfall only with an irrevocable letter of credit (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).
Liability insurance	Not mandated for the individual SPBLA plumbing license
Property damage	—
Workers' comp	Required under LA Title 23 if employing workers
Background check	The notarized application asks whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony associated with the art of plumbing; no statewide fingerprint criminal check is specified.
Credit requirement	None for the individual SPBLA plumbing license. The LSLBC company plumbing classification requires a financial statement showing net worth of at least $50,000 (or an irrevocable letter of credit for the shortfall).
Reciprocity	Texas (Journeyman Plumber only); Arkansas (Journeyman Plumber only; the Board does not reciprocate the Master Plumber license) · compare all states
Processing time	Exams are held quarterly; the license is issued after passing and paying the license fee.

What a Louisiana plumber license costs

Application fee	Journeyman exam $125 / Master exam $100 (SPBLA).
License fee	Journeyman initial license $50; Master initial license $190 active / $40 inactive (SPBLA).
Journeyman Plumber examination	$125.
Master Plumber examination	$100.
Surety bond	No surety bond required for the individual plumbing license or the LSLBC company license. A company short of the $50,000 net-worth requirement may cover the shortfall only with an irrevocable letter of credit (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).
Renewal fee	Journeyman $50/yr; Master $190/yr active / $40/yr inactive, if renewed by December 31; revival fees apply after that (SPBLA).
Renewal period	Annual — all SPBLA plumbing licenses renew by December 31 each year.

Exams

Journeyman Plumber examination	Provider: State Plumbing Board of Louisiana · Passing: 70% · Fee: $125
Master Plumber examination	Provider: State Plumbing Board of Louisiana · Passing: 70% · Fee: $100

Renewing a Louisiana plumber license

The LSLBC Plumbing classification (company) + State Plumbing Board of Louisiana Journeyman/Master Plumber (individual) renews on a fixed cycle set by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA). Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Annual — all SPBLA plumbing licenses renew by December 31 each year
Renewal fee	Journeyman $50/yr; Master $190/yr active / $40/yr inactive, if renewed by December 31; revival fees apply after that (SPBLA)
Continuing education	Continuing professional education required annually before renewal (confirm the current hour requirement with the State Plumbing Board).
Where to renew	Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA)

Local / municipal notes

Plumbing is dual-regulated: the individual plumber is licensed by the State Plumbing Board (SPBLA), while the plumbing contracting company needs the LSLBC Plumbing classification for projects over $10,000. Act 908 of the 2026 session transfers licensing and regulatory authority for the plumbing trade from the SPBLA to the LSLBC, fully in effect January 1, 2027; until then the SPBLA issues and renews plumber licenses.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Louisiana plumber license cost?

Application: Journeyman exam $125 / Master exam $100 (SPBLA). License: Journeyman initial license $50; Master initial license $190 active / $40 inactive (SPBLA). Renewal: Journeyman $50/yr; Master $190/yr active / $40/yr inactive, if renewed by December 31; revival fees apply after that (SPBLA).

How do I look up a plumber license in Louisiana?

Search the official license database at public.spbla.com. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do plumbers in Louisiana need a surety bond?

No surety bond required for the individual plumbing license or the LSLBC company license. A company short of the $50,000 net-worth requirement may cover the shortfall only with an irrevocable letter of credit (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).

What experience is required for a Louisiana plumber license?

Journeyman: 8,000 hours of plumbing under a licensed journeyman/master (7,000 hours if in a state-approved indentured apprenticeship). Master: must hold a current Journeyman Plumber license (or be a LA Professional Engineer with 5 years plumbing experience).

Is insurance required for plumbers in Louisiana?

Liability: Not mandated for the individual SPBLA plumbing license. Workers' compensation: Required under LA Title 23 if employing workers.

How long does it take to get a Louisiana plumber license?

Processing time: Exams are held quarterly; the license is issued after passing and paying the license fee.

Is a background check required for plumbers in Louisiana?

Background check: The notarized application asks whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony associated with the art of plumbing; no statewide fingerprint criminal check is specified.

Is there a credit or financial requirement for a Louisiana plumber license?

Credit requirement: None for the individual SPBLA plumbing license. The LSLBC company plumbing classification requires a financial statement showing net worth of at least $50,000 (or an irrevocable letter of credit for the shortfall).

How often must a Louisiana plumber license be renewed?

Annual — all SPBLA plumbing licenses renew by December 31 each year. Continuing education: Continuing professional education required annually before renewal (confirm the current hour requirement with the State Plumbing Board).

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-09-30 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA) before applying. This is not legal advice.