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Plumber
Total cost: $205
Governing Authority
South Dakota Plumbing Commission (under SD Department of Labor and Regulation)
Official website →Yes
State Licensed?
8,000
Apprentice Hours
5
License Levels
$205
Total Fees
4 hrs
CE Hours
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) (IAPMO)
Code Version
Get the South Dakota Plumber Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
Get the Roadmap — $20Apprentice Registration Fee
$10
Apprentice registration fee
Journeyman License Fee
$105
Journeyman ('Plumber') application fee; exam: $100
Master Plumber License Fee
$275
Plumbing Contractor application fee; exam: $100
Exam Fee
$100
Plumbing exam fee
Renewal Fee
$100 (journeyman) / $60 (contractor)
Annual; expires December 31; renewal notices sent end of September; verify current amounts
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the South Dakota Plumbing Commission (under SD Department of Labor and Regulation)
Apprenticeship Program
8,000
Total Hours
4 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
4 years as apprentice, minimum 1,900 hours/year; military credit: 1 year for each 2 years in military, up to 5 years max
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
Plumbing Contractor: 6 years total (as contractor, plumber, or apprentice), with at least 2 years as contractor or plumber, minimum 1,900 hours/year
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
South Dakota Plumbing Commission (state-administered)
Plumbing Code Version
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) (IAPMO)
Open Book Exam
Passing Score
70%
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Overall licensing difficulty: 25/100
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.
South Dakota has 31% above average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
South Dakota is one of the most saturated plumbers markets in the country.
South Dakota ranks #6 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Apprentice registration fee | $10 |
Journeyman License Journeyman ('Plumber') application fee; exam: $100 | $105 |
Master License Plumbing Contractor application fee; exam: $100 | $275 |
Exam Fee Plumbing exam fee | $100 |
Renewal Fee Annual; expires December 31; renewal notices sent end of September; verify current amounts | $100 (journeyman) / $60 (contractor) |
Total Initial Fees Journeyman: app ($105) + exam ($100) = $205; Contractor: app ($275) + exam ($100) = $375 | $205 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedAnnual, expiring December 31
Renewal Period
4
CE Hours Required
$100 (journeyman) / $60 (contractor)
Renewal Fee
Continuing Education Required
Regulatory Board
Annual; expires December 31; renewal notices sent end of September; verify current amounts
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 South Dakota with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
SD uses 'Plumber' instead of 'Journeyman' and 'Plumbing Contractor' instead of 'Master'; Third-Year Apprentice can work unsupervised on single-family after test; Contractor exam requires 80% (higher than journeyman's 70%); uses UPC (IAPMO); reciprocity with MN, ND, MT, CO.
SD uses 'Plumber' instead of 'Journeyman' and 'Plumbing Contractor' instead of 'Master'
Unique: Third-Year Apprentice can work unsupervised on single-family dwellings after passing test (2 years/3,800 hours)
Contractor exam passing score: 80% (higher than journeyman's 70%)
Military credit: 1 year for each 2 years served, up to 5 years max
CE: 4 hours annually for all plumbers including 3rd-year apprentices
Uses Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) (IAPMO)
Reciprocity with MN, ND, MT, and CO
Annual renewal; expires December 31
Exam locations: Pierre, Sioux Falls, Rapid City (limited availability)
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Official Sources
Plumber requirements in South Dakota verified against South Dakota Plumbing Commission (under SD Department of Labor and Regulation), April 2026.
Official regulatory agency — added during plumber audit
Accessed 2026-03-24
Accessed 2026-03-24
Accessed 2026-03-06