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Plumber
Total cost: $85
Governing Authority
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), part of the Division of Industrial Compliance, Ohio Department of Commerce
Official website →Yes
State Licensed?
10,000
Apprentice Hours
4
License Levels
$85
Total Fees
10 hrs
CE Hours
International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted under Ohio Building Code
Code Version
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$60
OCILB commercial contractor exam (PSI)
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), part of the Division of Industrial Compliance, Ohio Department of Commerce
Apprenticeship Program
10,000
Total Hours
5 yrs
Duration
720
Classroom Hours
9,280
OJT Hours
Registered Apprenticeship Program Required
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Experience Required
Registration required; no prior experience
No exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
Varies by local jurisdiction — no statewide journeyman license. Commercial Plumbing Contractor (OCILB): 5 years as plumbing tradesperson (or 3 years as registered engineer with construction experience)
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
Commercial Plumbing Contractor (OCILB) — also referred to as 'master' license: 5 years as plumbing tradesperson; proof via tax documents (W-2s, Schedule Cs, Schedule K-1s)
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
PSI
Plumbing Code Version
International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted under Ohio Building Code
Open Book Exam
Passing Score
70%
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Overall licensing difficulty: 33/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Plumber Licensing Exam
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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.
Ohio has 10% below average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
Ohio has average plumbers density relative to population.
Ohio ranks #36 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Exam Fee OCILB commercial contractor exam (PSI) | $60 |
Total Initial Fees OCILB commercial contractor: application ($25) + exam ($60) = $85 (plus $500K insurance) | $85 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified1 year
Renewal Period
10
CE Hours Required
—
Renewal Fee
Continuing Education Required
Regulatory Board
Expires every 1 or 3 years (expiration date on license); renewal notice sent ~90 days prior
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 Ohio with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
SPLIT SYSTEM: State (OCILB) licenses commercial plumbing contractors only; residential/journeyman licensing is entirely local. A license from one Ohio jurisdiction may NOT be valid in another.
SPLIT SYSTEM: State (OCILB) licenses commercial plumbing contractors only; residential/journeyman licensing is entirely local
No statewide licensing for residential/general plumbers — each city sets own requirements
A license from one Ohio jurisdiction may NOT be valid in another
Local examples: Columbus registration $185, Cincinnati $130, Dayton requires separate city exam, Toledo $100 journeyman app
Commercial contractor requires 5 years experience + $500K minimum liability insurance
Two PSI exams (open book, 70% each) for commercial contractor
Proof of experience via tax documents (W-2s, Schedule Cs, Schedule K-1s)
CE: 10 hours/year for commercial contractors
Reciprocity with SC, TN, WV — only for exam-based licenses (not grandfathered)
Uses IPC as adopted under Ohio Building Code
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Official Sources
Plumber requirements in Ohio verified against Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), part of the Division of Industrial Compliance, Ohio Department of Commerce, April 2026.
Official regulatory agency — added during plumber audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-06
Accessed 2026-03-06