STATE-BY-STATE · VERIFIED
Plumber license requirements by state
✓ VERIFIED 2026-09-13every state against its official board
The short version
Plumbing is the most consistently licensed trade: expect 4,000–8,000 supervised hours plus an exam almost everywhere, apprentice registration FIRST in strict states (Texas voids unregistered hours), and very little interstate reciprocity. Pick your state below.Compare the 20 verified states
| State | Licensing model | Min. route | Median wage | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Contractor-level licensing | 4 yrs | $72,830 | 2026-09-13 |
| Colorado | State license (individual ladder) | 3,400 hrs | $63,240 | 2026-09-13 |
| Florida | Contractor-level licensing | 1 yrs | $52,910 | 2026-09-13 |
| Illinois | State license (individual ladder) | 4 yrs | $99,950 | 2026-09-13 |
| Indiana | State license (individual ladder) | 4 yrs | $76,320 | 2026-09-13 |
| Maryland | State license (individual ladder) | 3,750 hrs | $65,400 | 2026-09-13 |
| Michigan | State license (individual ladder) | 6,000 hrs | $80,190 | 2026-09-13 |
| Minnesota | State license (individual ladder) | 1 yrs | $94,410 | 2026-09-13 |
| New York | No state license — local rules | local | $77,490 | 2026-09-13 |
| North Carolina | Contractor-level licensing | 2,500 hrs | $57,080 | 2026-09-13 |
| Ohio | Contractor-level licensing | 3 yrs | $63,330 | 2026-09-13 |
| Oklahoma | State license (individual ladder) | 3 yrs | $57,970 | 2026-09-13 |
| Oregon | State license (individual ladder) | 4 yrs | $97,050 | 2026-09-13 |
| Pennsylvania | No state license — local rules | local | $68,080 | 2026-09-13 |
| Tennessee | Contractor-level licensing | see routes | $58,600 | 2026-09-13 |
| Texas | State license (individual ladder) | 4,000 hrs | $59,840 | 2026-09-13 |
| Utah | State license (individual ladder) | 8,000 hrs | $61,900 | 2026-09-13 |
| Virginia | State license (individual ladder) | 2 yrs | $60,470 | 2026-09-13 |
| Washington | State license (individual ladder) | 3 yrs | $81,030 | 2026-09-13 |
| Wisconsin | State license (individual ladder) | 5 yrs | $81,210 | 2026-09-13 |
Pick your state
California
Contractor-level licensing
Contractors State License BoardColorado
3,400 hours · shortest route
Colorado DORAFlorida
Contractor-level licensing
Florida DBPRIllinois
State license (individual ladder)
Illinois Department of Public HealthIndiana
State license (individual ladder)
Indiana Professional Licensing AgencyMaryland
3,750 hours · shortest route
Maryland Department of LaborMichigan
6,000 hours · shortest route
Michigan LARAMinnesota
State license (individual ladder)
Minnesota Department of Labor and IndustryNew York
No state license — local rules
No statewide licenseNorth Carolina
2,500 hours · shortest route
NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler ContractorsOhio
Contractor-level licensing
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing BoardOklahoma
State license (individual ladder)
Oklahoma Construction Industries BoardOregon
State license (individual ladder)
Oregon Building Codes DivisionPennsylvania
No state license — local rules
No statewide plumber licenseTennessee
Contractor-level licensing
Tennessee Board for Licensing ContractorsTexas
4,000 hours · shortest route
Texas State Board of Plumbing ExaminersUtah
8,000 hours · shortest route
Utah Division of Professional LicensingVirginia
State license (individual ladder)
Virginia DPORWashington
State license (individual ladder)
Washington State Department of Labor & IndustriesWisconsin
State license (individual ladder)
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Not sure where to start?
Answer four questions and get your qualification route with the actual hours, exam and fees.
FAQ
Which states have the toughest plumber licensing?
Measured by published hours, the strict ladder states cluster around 8,000 supervised hours for journeyman level (Texas, Washington, Michigan, Colorado for electricians). Contractor-only states look "easier" on paper but require 3–5 documented years to contract legally.
Which states don't license plumbers at all?
It varies by trade — see the "local rules" rows in the table. Pennsylvania licenses none of the three trades statewide; Illinois licenses plumbers but not electricians; New York leaves all of it to cities.
How current is this data?
Every state page shows its own verification date and links the official pages we read. We re-verify in tranches and ship corrections first — the current dataset was verified 2026-09-13.
Licensing rules change — every state page links its official sources and shows its verification date. Confirm with the board before applying. Not legal advice.