Virginia Plumber License Requirements

Official classification: Contractor License (Class A/B/C) with Plumbing (PLB) specialty; plus individual Plumber Tradesman license (Journeyman/Master) · Issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors.

🔧 PlumberVA ✔ Verified 2026-06-19

In Virginia, plumbers must hold the Contractor License (Class A/B/C) with Plumbing (PLB) specialty; plus individual Plumber Tradesman license (Journeyman/Master), issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors, 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 Virginia

Follow these steps to earn your Contractor License (Class A/B/C) with Plumbing (PLB) specialty; plus individual Plumber Tradesman license (Journeyman/Master). Every figure is verified against the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Contractor specialty Qualified Individual: 1 year (Class C), 3 years (Class B), or 5 years (Class A) of plumbing experience, and must hold a Virginia Master Plumber tradesman license. Journeyman tradesman pathways: 4 yrs experience + 240 hrs vocational training, 5 yrs + 160 hrs, 6 yrs + 80 hrs, 7 yrs + 40 hrs, or 8 yrs experience only. Master tradesman: 1 year as a licensed journeyman, 3 years as a Virginia residential plumber tradesman, or 9 years experience.
Pass the Plumbing trade exam (for tradesman license) and Business exams - Class B: General + Virginia; Class A: General + Virginia + Advanced (Designated Employee) exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Secure your surety bond. Virginia requires No surety bond required. Class A/B firms must document net worth/equity ($45,000 Class A, $15,000 Class B), or may submit a surety bond on the Board's Surety Bond Form as an alternative proof of financial responsibility. Class C has no net-worth requirement.
Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (Not state-mandated by DPOR), and workers' compensation coverage.
Clear the background check. Disclosure of felony and recent non-marijuana misdemeanor convictions; Virginia residents with convictions must provide a Virginia State Police criminal history record dated within 90 days. No routine fingerprinting.
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Class A: $45,000 net worth/equity. Class B: $15,000. Class C: none. Class A/B must disclose adverse financial history within the past 5 (A) / 4 (B) years.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors — Contractor license fee: Class A $425, Class B $405, Class C $260. Tradesman license (by exam or without exam): $150; additional designation $105. application fee, plus a Included in application fee above license fee. Processing time: Approximately 30 days for routine applications.
Keep the license active. Renew contractor license: every 2 years. Plumber tradesman license: every 3 years., completing Contractor: none required. Plumber tradesman: 3 hours of board-approved continuing education (building code) per renewal.

Virginia plumber license lookup

To confirm a plumber is properly licensed in Virginia — 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 dpor.virginia.gov database →

License types

Class C contractor (PLB) — Single project under $30,000; up to $250,000 total work per 12 months
Class B contractor (PLB) — Single project under $150,000; up to $1 million total per 12 months; net worth $15,000
Class A contractor (PLB) — No monetary limit; net worth $45,000
Plumber Tradesman (Journeyman/Master) — Individual license required to perform plumbing work; the firm's Qualified Individual for the PLB specialty must hold a Master Plumber Tradesman license. A Residential Plumber license (effective April 1, 2025) is a reduced-requirement pathway for residential-only work.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Contractor specialty Qualified Individual: 1 year (Class C), 3 years (Class B), or 5 years (Class A) of plumbing experience, and must hold a Virginia Master Plumber tradesman license. Journeyman tradesman pathways: 4 yrs experience + 240 hrs vocational training, 5 yrs + 160 hrs, 6 yrs + 80 hrs, 7 yrs + 40 hrs, or 8 yrs experience only. Master tradesman: 1 year as a licensed journeyman, 3 years as a Virginia residential plumber tradesman, or 9 years experience.
Application fee	Contractor license fee: Class A $425, Class B $405, Class C $260. Tradesman license (by exam or without exam): $150; additional designation $105.
License fee	Included in application fee above
Renewal fee	Contractor: Class A $270, Class B $260, Class C $220 (plus $30 Recovery Fund). Tradesman: $160.
Renewal period	Contractor license: every 2 years. Plumber tradesman license: every 3 years.
Continuing education	Contractor: none required. Plumber tradesman: 3 hours of board-approved continuing education (building code) per renewal.
Bond required	No surety bond required. Class A/B firms must document net worth/equity ($45,000 Class A, $15,000 Class B), or may submit a surety bond on the Board's Surety Bond Form as an alternative proof of financial responsibility. Class C has no net-worth requirement.
Liability insurance	Not state-mandated by DPOR
Property damage	Not state-mandated by DPOR
Workers' comp	Required under Virginia law if the business has 3 or more employees (including subcontractors' employees)
Background check	Disclosure of felony and recent non-marijuana misdemeanor convictions; Virginia residents with convictions must provide a Virginia State Police criminal history record dated within 90 days. No routine fingerprinting.
Credit requirement	Class A: $45,000 net worth/equity. Class B: $15,000. Class C: none. Class A/B must disclose adverse financial history within the past 5 (A) / 4 (B) years.
Reciprocity	No blanket state-to-state reciprocity; out-of-state journeyman/master plumbers in good standing may qualify for a Virginia tradesman license without re-examination via a Letter of Good Standing
Processing time	Approximately 30 days for routine applications

Exams

Plumbing trade exam (for tradesman license)	Provider: PSI · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: $100 (journeyman) / $125 (master), paid to PSI
Business exams - Class B: General + Virginia; Class A: General + Virginia + Advanced (Designated Employee)	Provider: PSI · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: Paid to PSI

Preparing for the Plumber exam? State-specific contractor exam-prep courses help you pass the first time. Start exam prep →

Local / municipal notes

A Virginia contractor license is required for any single job over $1,000; firms must also satisfy local (city/county) licensing where work is performed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Virginia plumber license cost?

Application: Contractor license fee: Class A $425, Class B $405, Class C $260. Tradesman license (by exam or without exam): $150; additional designation $105.. License: Included in application fee above. Renewal: Contractor: Class A $270, Class B $260, Class C $220 (plus $30 Recovery Fund). Tradesman: $160..

How do I look up a plumber license in Virginia?

Search the official license database at dpor.virginia.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do plumbers in Virginia need a surety bond?

No surety bond required. Class A/B firms must document net worth/equity ($45,000 Class A, $15,000 Class B), or may submit a surety bond on the Board's Surety Bond Form as an alternative proof of financial responsibility. Class C has no net-worth requirement.

What experience is required for a Virginia plumber license?

Contractor specialty Qualified Individual: 1 year (Class C), 3 years (Class B), or 5 years (Class A) of plumbing experience, and must hold a Virginia Master Plumber tradesman license. Journeyman tradesman pathways: 4 yrs experience + 240 hrs vocational training, 5 yrs + 160 hrs, 6 yrs + 80 hrs, 7 yrs + 40 hrs, or 8 yrs experience only. Master tradesman: 1 year as a licensed journeyman, 3 years as a Virginia residential plumber tradesman, or 9 years experience.

Is insurance required for plumbers in Virginia?

Liability: Not state-mandated by DPOR Workers' compensation: Required under Virginia law if the business has 3 or more employees (including subcontractors' employees)

How often must a Virginia plumber license be renewed?

Contractor license: every 2 years. Plumber tradesman license: every 3 years.. Continuing education: Contractor: none required. Plumber tradesman: 3 hours of board-approved continuing education (building code) per renewal.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-19 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors before applying. This is not legal advice.