How to Get a Plumbing License
This guide is compiled from the 45 statewide pages on this site, covering the path to a plumber license.
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.
Which states license plumbers?
Licensed statewide (45): Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Montana · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin
Licensed at the city level (3): Missouri · Nebraska · Pennsylvania
Not yet covered on this site for Plumber: Kansas · Wyoming
The path, step by step
- Get the required experience. Each state sets its own rule and words it differently: in years, in supervised hours or through a registered apprenticeship, and not every state sets a fixed minimum. Open your state below for the exact wording.
- Sit the trade exam. All 45 statewide pages list a state trade exam.
- Prepare for the surety bond, if one applies. Of the 45 statewide pages, 9 pages state one fixed amount ($3,000–$25,000), 4 pages describe a bond that depends on tier, contract volume, endorsement or financial standing (see each state page), 1 page says the board may require one, 27 pages state that none is required, and 4 pages leave it unstated.
- Check the insurance rules. 23 of 45 statewide programs mandate liability insurance.
- Submit the application and its fee. Where a single application fee is stated (30 of 45 states), it ranges from $25 to $750.
- Keep the license active. Renewal cycles: Annual (16), every 2 years (21), every 3 years (7), every 4 years (1). 33 of 45 states mandate continuing education to renew.
Primary figures at a glance — the full, source-cited figure is on each state page.
Plumber license pages, by state
28 states list reciprocity agreements for Plumber — compare them on the reciprocity hub →
Verified: 48 pages, between 2026-06-19 and 2026-09-21
Frequently asked questions
Is there a national plumber license?
Plumbing is one of the most consistently licensed trades. Licensing is set state by state.
How much does a plumber license cost?
Where a single application fee is stated (30 of 45 states), it ranges from $25 to $750.
Which states set a fixed bond amount?
California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington.