Field guide · 48 states

Plumber licensing, state by state

There is no national plumber license. 48 states, 48 rulebooks — experience, exams, fees and the surety bond, compared side by side.

Plumbing is one of the most consistently licensed trades. States generally require several years of documented experience, a trade exam, and a contractor license backed by a surety bond and liability insurance; some also set a credit or financial-responsibility requirement. The exact numbers differ by state — choose a state below for the details.

Moving states? Plumber license reciprocity, all 50 states →

Bond type: Fixed set amount · Tiered scales by volume · Credit-based financial responsibility in lieu of a bond · None no bond required

Primary figures at a glance — open any state for the full, source-cited requirement and its renewal, insurance and reciprocity detail.
ALAlabama2 yr$110$50Varies
AKAlaska8k h$50$50Varies
AZArizona4 yr$61$80Varies Tiered
ARArkansas4 yr$75$75None
CACalifornia4 yrIncl.$450$25,000 Fixed
COColorado2 yr$75Varies$10,000 Fixed
CTConnecticut2 yr$59$150None
DEDelaware2 yrVaries$173Varies
FLFlorida4 yr$80$149 Credit-based
GAGeorgia3 yr$207VariesVaries
HIHawaii5 yr$90$40Varies Tiered
IDIdaho2.5 yr$75$50Varies
ILIllinois4 yr$175$175$20,000 Fixed
INIndiana4 yr$75$30Varies
IAIowa4 yr$35$180$5,000 Fixed
KYKentucky1 yr$50VariesVaries
LALouisiana5 yr$125VariesVaries
MEMaine2 yrVariesVariesVaries
MDMaryland4 yrVariesVariesNone
MAMassachusetts1 yrVariesVariesNone
MIMichigan3 yr$100VariesNone
MNMinnesota1 yr$50$188$25,000 Fixed
MSMississippiVaries$50$400None
MOMissouri3 yr$30VariesVaries
MTMontana5 yr$85$100Varies
NENebraska4 yr$50$75$10,000 Fixed
NVNevada15 yrVaries$300 Credit-based
NHNew Hampshire8k h$90$198Varies
NJNew Jersey1.2k hIncl.$100$3,000 Fixed
NMNew Mexico4 yr$68.88$30$10,000 Fixed
NYNew York7 yr$585$750Varies
NCNorth Carolina2 yr$150$150None
NDNorth Dakota4 yr$50$50Varies
OHOhio5 yr$69$25Varies
OKOklahoma3 yr$92Varies$5,000 Fixed
OROregon576 hVaries$100Varies
PAPennsylvania1 yrVaries$50Varies
RIRhode Island1 yrVaries$75Varies
SCSouth Carolina2 yrVaries$350Varies
SDSouth Dakota4 yr$100$50Varies
TNTennesseeVariesVaries$250None
TXTexas2 yr$36VariesNone
UTUtah2 yrVariesVaries Credit-based
VTVermont8k hVariesVariesVaries
VAVirginia1 yr$100Varies Credit-based
WAWashington4 yr$189.80$189.80$6,000 Fixed
WVWest Virginia1 yr$59.95VariesVaries
WIWisconsin1 yr$20VariesNone
Preparing for the Plumber exam? Exam prep is state-specific — pick your state for the right plumber course. Find exam prep by state →