Wisconsin Plumber License Requirements

Official classification: Plumber License (Journeyman / Master Plumber) · Issued by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).

🔧 PlumberWI ✔ Verified 2026-06-24

In Wisconsin, plumbers must hold the Plumber License (Journeyman / Master Plumber), issued by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), 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 Wisconsin

Follow these steps to earn your Plumber License (Journeyman / Master Plumber). Every figure is verified against the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Journeyman: a DSPS-approved 5-year apprenticeship with 8,000+ hours of on-the-job training, 572 paid and 260 unpaid instruction hours; or 1 year as a licensed Journeyman Restricted. Master: 3+ years (1,000 hrs/year) as a licensed journeyman, or a related engineering degree.
Pass the Journeyman Plumber Exam and Master Plumber Exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: No state-mandated general-liability minimum (local jurisdictions may require it). Property damage: Not specified at the state level. Workers' compensation: Required for any employer under Wisconsin law.
Clear the background check. Criminal-history disclosure required (DSPS Form 2255).
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Apprentice $15; Journeyman $10; Master $20 application fee, plus a Journeyman $180; Master $500 (4-year) license fee. Processing time: Processed through the DSPS LicensE portal.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 4 years (Journeyman and Master); expires March 31. Continuing education: Journeyman and Master: 24 hours per 4-year cycle (12 hours for the restricted tiers).

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

Wisconsin plumber license lookup

To confirm a plumber is properly licensed in Wisconsin — 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 license.wi.gov database →

License types

Plumbing Apprentice — Entry level in an approved apprenticeship; works under supervision.
Journeyman Plumber — Performs plumbing work under the supervision of a master plumber.
Master Plumber — Responsible for plumbing installations; pulls permits and supervises journeymen and apprentices.
Journeyman/Master Plumber Restricted — Limited-scope appliance or service-and-repair tiers.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Journeyman: a DSPS-approved 5-year apprenticeship with 8,000+ hours of on-the-job training, 572 paid and 260 unpaid instruction hours; or 1 year as a licensed Journeyman Restricted. Master: 3+ years (1,000 hrs/year) as a licensed journeyman, or a related engineering degree.
Application fee	Apprentice $15; Journeyman $10; Master $20
License fee	Journeyman $180; Master $500 (4-year)
Renewal fee	Journeyman $180; Master $500 (every 4 years); expires March 31
Renewal period	Every 4 years (Journeyman and Master); expires March 31
Continuing education	Journeyman and Master: 24 hours per 4-year cycle (12 hours for the restricted tiers).
Bond required	No statewide surety bond is required for a plumber license. (Milwaukee requires a master plumber performance bond for local permits — a city, not state, requirement.)
Liability insurance	No state-mandated general-liability minimum (local jurisdictions may require it)
Property damage	Not specified at the state level
Workers' comp	Required for any employer under Wisconsin law
Background check	Criminal-history disclosure required (DSPS Form 2255).
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	No state-by-state reciprocity agreement. DSPS lists out-of-state application methods: for Journeyman Plumber, a completed out-of-state plumbing apprenticeship, or an out-of-state apprenticeship plus a passed journeyman exam and at least five years of practice under another state's journeyman or equivalent credential; for Master Plumber, comity (out-of-state) and examination. · other states' agreements
Processing time	Processed through the DSPS LicensE portal.

What a Wisconsin plumber license costs

Application fee	Apprentice $15; Journeyman $10; Master $20.
License fee	Journeyman $180; Master $500 (4-year).
Journeyman Plumber Exam	$40 (DSPS, $20 for each of the two required parts) or $180 (Pearson VUE, $90 per part); open book.
Master Plumber Exam	$60 (DSPS, $30 for each of the two required parts) or $190 (Pearson VUE, $95 per part); open book.
Surety bond	No statewide surety bond is required for a plumber license. (Milwaukee requires a master plumber performance bond for local permits — a city, not state, requirement.).
Renewal fee	Journeyman $180; Master $500 (every 4 years); expires March 31.
Renewal period	Every 4 years (Journeyman and Master); expires March 31.

Exams

Journeyman Plumber Exam	Provider: Wisconsin DSPS or Pearson VUE · Passing: 70% · Fee: $40 (DSPS, $20 for each of the two required parts) or $180 (Pearson VUE, $90 per part); open book
Master Plumber Exam	Provider: Wisconsin DSPS or Pearson VUE · Passing: 70% · Fee: $60 (DSPS, $30 for each of the two required parts) or $190 (Pearson VUE, $95 per part); open book

Renewing a Wisconsin plumber license

The Plumber License (Journeyman / Master Plumber) renews on a fixed cycle set by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). 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	Every 4 years (Journeyman and Master); expires March 31
Renewal fee	Journeyman $180; Master $500 (every 4 years); expires March 31
Continuing education	Journeyman and Master: 24 hours per 4-year cycle (12 hours for the restricted tiers).
Where to renew	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)

Local / municipal notes

No one may perform plumbing in Wisconsin without a license (Wis. Stat. 145.06). Milwaukee requires additional local contractor registration with a performance bond and proof of insurance — a city requirement, not a state one.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Wisconsin plumber license cost?

Application: Apprentice $15; Journeyman $10; Master $20. License: Journeyman $180; Master $500 (4-year). Renewal: Journeyman $180; Master $500 (every 4 years); expires March 31.

How do I look up a plumber license in Wisconsin?

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

Do plumbers in Wisconsin need a surety bond?

No statewide surety bond is required for a plumber license. (Milwaukee requires a master plumber performance bond for local permits — a city, not state, requirement.)

What experience is required for a Wisconsin plumber license?

Journeyman: a DSPS-approved 5-year apprenticeship with 8,000+ hours of on-the-job training, 572 paid and 260 unpaid instruction hours; or 1 year as a licensed Journeyman Restricted. Master: 3+ years (1,000 hrs/year) as a licensed journeyman, or a related engineering degree.

Is insurance required for plumbers in Wisconsin?

Liability: No state-mandated general-liability minimum (local jurisdictions may require it). Property damage: Not specified at the state level. Workers' compensation: Required for any employer under Wisconsin law.

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

Processing time: Processed through the DSPS LicensE portal.

Is a background check required for plumbers in Wisconsin?

Background check: Criminal-history disclosure required (DSPS Form 2255).

How often must a Wisconsin plumber license be renewed?

Every 4 years (Journeyman and Master); expires March 31. Continuing education: Journeyman and Master: 24 hours per 4-year cycle (12 hours for the restricted tiers).

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-24 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) before applying. This is not legal advice.