SPEC SHEET · VA · PLUMBER
Virginia plumber license requirements
The answer
Virginia licenses plumbers statewide as DPOR Journeyman and Master Tradesmen. Journeyman: 4 years of experience + 240 hours of vocational training (sliding scale down to 7 years + 40 hours, or a related degree + 1–2 years, or 10 peer-verified years). Master: 1 year as a licensed journeyman. Licenses run 3 years; renewal needs 3 CE hours per trade.Your paths to the license
Experience + vocational training (sliding scale)
Qualify with 4 years experience + 240 hours formal vocational training — or 5 yrs + 160 hrs, 6 yrs + 80 hrs, 7 yrs + 40 hrs. Experience is documented on DPOR's Experience Verification form.
Residential Plumbing license (new April 2025)
Since April 1, 2025 Virginia offers a Residential Plumbing license needing less experience and vocational training than journeyman — residential structures only, a stepping stone to journeyman.
Degree + shorter experience
An associate degree or 2-year program certificate in a trade-related field + 2 years of experience — or an engineering bachelor's + 1 year — qualifies you for the journeyman exam.
10 years, no formal training
10 years of practical experience verified by people who observed your work qualifies without any vocational-training hours.
Out-of-state license / reciprocity
No state-pair plumbing reciprocity (only a WSSC exam agreement for journeyman/master plumbers and gas fitters). Out-of-state journeyman/master licensees qualify to SIT the Virginia exam directly.
License levels in Virginia
| Level | What it takes | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / helper | No state registration required; train under a licensed tradesman (registered apprenticeships count as vocational training). | — |
| Journeyman Plumbing Tradesman | Experience + vocational-training combination (see paths) + PSI exam; $150 license application. | $150 |
| Master Plumbing Tradesman | 1 year as a licensed journeyman (or 10 verified years, or an out-of-state J/M license) + exam. | $150 |
Published fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original tradesman license (by exam) | $150 |
| Renewal (3-year cycle) | $160 |
| Additional trade designation | $105 |
The exam
| Provider | PSI |
| Fees | Exam fee paid to the vendor; $150 DPOR license application |
Moving here with a license? Renewal? The rest of the picture
Reciprocity: No state-pair plumbing reciprocity (only a WSSC exam agreement for journeyman/master plumbers and gas fitters). Out-of-state journeyman/master licensees qualify to SIT the Virginia exam directly. Check your exact state pair →
Renewal & continuing education: Tradesman licenses expire 3 years from issuance (18VAC50-30-120); renewal requires 3 hours of board-approved CE per trade designation ($160).
Watch out: CONTRACTING as a business additionally requires a DPOR contractor license (Class A/B/C by contract size). · The WSSC (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission) exam agreement covers the DC-suburb utility's licensees.
Official sources for this page
Virginia plumber licensing FAQ
How many hours do you need to become a licensed plumber in Virginia?
Virginia licenses plumbers statewide as DPOR Journeyman and Master Tradesmen. Journeyman: 4 years of experience + 240 hours of vocational training (sliding scale down to 7 years + 40 hours, or a related degree + 1–2 years, or 10 peer-verified years). Master: 1 year as a licensed journeyman. Licenses run 3 years; renewal needs 3 CE hours per trade.
What does the Virginia plumber license cost?
Published fees: Original tradesman license (by exam) $150 · Renewal (3-year cycle) $160 · Additional trade designation $105. Exam-vendor fees may be extra — see the sources below.
Does Virginia have plumber license reciprocity?
No state-pair plumbing reciprocity (only a WSSC exam agreement for journeyman/master plumbers and gas fitters). Out-of-state journeyman/master licensees qualify to SIT the Virginia exam directly.
How often does the license renew and how much continuing education is required?
Tradesman licenses expire 3 years from issuance (18VAC50-30-120); renewal requires 3 hours of board-approved CE per trade designation ($160).
Get your personal route
Four questions — your experience and training matched against Virginia's actual routes.