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Plumber
Total cost: $230
Governing Authority
Board for Contractors, under Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
Official website →Yes
State Licensed?
8,000
Apprentice Hours
6
License Levels
$230
Total Fees
3 hrs
CE Hours
International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
Code Version
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Get the Roadmap — $20Apprentice Registration Fee
$35
Apprentice registration fee
Journeyman License Fee
$130
License fee; exam: $100 (PSI)
Master Plumber License Fee
$130
License fee; exam: $125 (PSI)
Exam Fee
Not to exceed $100 (journeyman) / $125 (master)
Plumbing exam fee
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Board for Contractors, under Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
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
Multiple pathways: 4 years + 240 hrs vocational, OR 5 years + 160 hrs, OR 6 years + 80 hrs, OR 7+ years + 40 hrs, OR Associate degree/certificate from 2-year program + 2 years experience, OR out-of-state J/M license + certification
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
1 year as licensed journeyman plumber, OR 9 years practical experience, OR out-of-state J/M license
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
PSI
Plumbing Code Version
International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
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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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.
Virginia has 10% above average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
Virginia has above-average plumbers density — competitive market.
Virginia ranks #24 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Apprentice registration fee | $35 |
Journeyman License License fee; exam: $100 (PSI) | $130 |
Master License License fee; exam: $125 (PSI) | $130 |
Exam Fee Plumbing exam fee | Not to exceed $100 (journeyman) / $125 (master) |
Total Initial Fees Journeyman: exam ($100) + license ($130) = $230; Master: exam ($125) + license ($130) = $255 | $230 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
3
CE Hours Required
—
Renewal Fee
Continuing Education Required
Regulatory Board
Biennial per license type
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 Virginia with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Virginia's Board for Contractors integrates plumbing licensing with other contractor types, with classification levels based on project size.
NEW: Residential Plumber Tradesman license effective April 1, 2025 — less experience required, residential only, stepping stone to journeyman
Multiple journeyman pathways: 4 years/240 hrs through 7+ years/40 hrs — flexible experience/education trade-off
Master requires only 1 year as journeyman OR 9 years practical experience
Contractor classes: A (single $120K+ / annual $750K+, 5 yrs, $45K net worth), B ($10K-$120K, 3 yrs, $15K), C ($1K-$10K, 2 yrs)
Contractor fee increases effective September 24, 2025
CE: 3 hours per renewal (journeyman and master)
Uses VA Uniform Statewide Building Code (based on IPC)
Reciprocity with WSSC (MD) and Washington State journey level
Exam: 80 questions, 3.5 hours, open book, 70% passing
Plumber Schools in Virginia
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Plumber requirements in Virginia verified against Board for Contractors, under Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-24
Accessed 2026-03-06