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Plumber
Total cost: $270
Yes
State Licensed?
4,000
Apprentice Hours
3
License Levels
$270
Total Fees
4 hrs
CE Hours
2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — effective January 1, 2023
Code Version
Get the Alabama Plumber Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
Get the Roadmap — $20Apprentice Registration Fee
$35
Apprentice registration fee (updated per audit 2026-03-22)
Journeyman License Fee
$75
Journeyman plumber license fee
Master Plumber License Fee
$175
Master plumber certification fee
Exam Fee
$110
Plumbing exam fee (updated per audit 2026-03-22)
Renewal Fee
$30 (journeyman) / $175 (master) / $10 (apprentice)
Annual renewal fees vary by license level
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board
Apprenticeship Program
4,000
Total Hours
2 yrs
Duration
576
Classroom Hours
7,424
OJT Hours
Registered Apprenticeship Program Required
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Experience Required
Registration required; no prior experience
No exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
2 years of CURRENT work experience as registered apprentice under a licensed journeyman or master plumber, OR completion of a board-approved apprentice training program
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
1 year of CURRENT work experience as a licensed journeyman plumber under a licensed master plumber
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
Prov Testing Services (provexam.com)
Plumbing Code Version
2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — effective January 1, 2023
Open Book Exam
Passing Score
70%
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Overall licensing difficulty: 14/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
Not sure if you need a plumber license? Check whether your state requires one.
Alabama has 12% above average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
Alabama has above-average plumbers density — competitive market.
Alabama ranks #23 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Apprentice registration fee (updated per audit 2026-03-22) | $35 |
Journeyman License Journeyman plumber license fee | $75 |
Master License Master plumber certification fee | $175 |
Exam Fee Plumbing exam fee (updated per audit 2026-03-22) | $110 |
Renewal Fee Annual renewal fees vary by license level | $30 (journeyman) / $175 (master) / $10 (apprentice) |
Total Initial Fees Estimated total for journeyman: apprentice registration ($35) + exam ($110) + application ($50) + certification ($75) = $270 | $270 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedAnnual (implied)
Renewal Period
4
CE Hours Required
$30 (journeyman) / $175 (master) / $10 (apprentice)
Renewal Fee
Continuing Education Required
Regulatory Board
Annual renewal fees vary by level; renewal period: October 1 – December 31
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Licenses
Transfer Type
Endorsement
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Most states require plumbers to pass the local exam or apply for endorsement when transferring an out-of-state license. Requirements vary by state.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Alabama with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Alabama maintains separate licensing tracks for plumbing and gas fitting, requiring separate exams for each specialty.
Alabama issues separate certifications for Plumbing and Gas Fitting at each level
Journeyman exam: 70 questions, 3 hours, open book; Master trade exam: 100 questions, 4 hours, open book
Must submit application within 90 calendar days of passing exam or must re-test
Application fee: $50 for both journeyman and master levels
CE requirement: 4 hours annually (NEW effective January 1, 2025); if holding both plumbing AND gas certs: 2 hrs plumbing + 2 hrs gas
CE age exemption: Licensees age 65+ are NOT required to complete CE
Master plumber Business Law Exam added effective January 1, 2026 (fee: $100)
Insurance required for Master/Contractor: $300,000 property damage, $100,000 general liability per occurrence
Reference materials allowed on exam: 2021 IPC, 2021 IFGC, Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters 8th Ed, Alabama Code Ch 37, Board Rules 720-X
Board URL changed from plumbersboard.alabama.gov to pgfb.alabama.gov
Apprentice must not knowingly perform work for an unlicensed contractor
Also governed by 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
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Official Sources
Plumber requirements in Alabama verified against Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, April 2026.
Official board URL — updated during plumber audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Former board URL, redirects to pgfb.alabama.gov
Accessed 2026-03-06
Accessed 2026-03-06