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Plumber
Total cost: Approx. $497.70 ($56.40 trainee + $189.80 exam application + $80 PSI scheduling + $227.90 certification)
Governing Authority
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries — Plumber Certification Program
Official website →Yes
State Licensed?
8,000
Apprentice Hours
9
License Levels
Approx. $497.70 ($56.40 trainee + $189.80 exam application + $80 PSI scheduling + $227.90 certification)
Total Fees
24 hrs
CE Hours
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) with Washington State amendments
Code Version
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Get the Roadmap — $20Apprentice Registration Fee
$56.40
Trainee certification fee; annual renewal; must complete 8 hours CE annually
Journeyman License Fee
$227.90
Journey Level certification fee; exam application: $189.80; PSI exam: $80
Exam Fee
$80
PSI exam fee; exam application: $189.80 separate
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries — Plumber Certification Program
Apprenticeship Program
8,000
Total Hours
4 yrs
Duration
640
Classroom Hours
7,360
OJT Hours
Registered Apprenticeship Program Required
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Experience Required
Registration required; no prior experience
No exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
At least 8,000 hours (4 years) as a plumber trainee; at least 4,000 hours must be in commercial or industrial installations
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
Washington does NOT have a master plumber license. Journey Level Plumber (PL01) is the highest individual certification. Plumbing Contractor is a separate business license.
No exam required
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
PSI Exams
Plumbing Code Version
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) with Washington State amendments
Closed Book Exam
Passing Score
70%
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Overall licensing difficulty: 27/100
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.
Washington has 13% above average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
Washington has above-average plumbers density — competitive market.
Washington ranks #21 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Trainee certification fee; annual renewal; must complete 8 hours CE annually | $56.40 |
Journeyman License Journey Level certification fee; exam application: $189.80; PSI exam: $80 | $227.90 |
Exam Fee PSI exam fee; exam application: $189.80 separate | $80 |
Total Initial Fees Journey Level: exam app ($189.80) + PSI ($80) + cert ($227.90) = $497.70 | Approx. $497.70 ($56.40 trainee + $189.80 exam application + $80 PSI scheduling + $227.90 certification) |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified3 years
Renewal Period
24
CE Hours Required
—
Renewal Fee
Continuing Education Required
Regulatory Board
Triennial (every 3 years on birthday) for Journey/Residential; Contractor: biennial
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 Washington with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Washington does NOT have a 'Master Plumber' license — Journey Level Plumber (PL01) is the highest individual certification. Exam is CLOSED BOOK. Requires 4,000 of 8,000 hours in commercial/industrial. 9 license types. Monopolistic workers' comp state. Reciprocates journey level with Idaho only.
Washington does NOT have a 'Master Plumber' license — Journey Level Plumber (PL01) is the highest individual certification
Exam is CLOSED BOOK — unusual, as many states are open book
Requires 4,000 of 8,000 hours specifically in commercial/industrial installations
Plumbing Contractor license mandatory since 2021; surety bond $6,000; liability $250K per occurrence
WA is a monopolistic workers' comp state — must buy from L&I
9 license types including specialty certifications (Residential, Pump/Irrigation, Domestic Well, Backflow, Medical Gas)
Trainee age: 16+; cert fee $56.40; must complete 8 hrs CE annually
CE: 24 hours every 3 years for Journey/Residential (12 hrs code + 4 hrs electrical)
Triennial renewal on birthday
Reciprocates journey level with Idaho only
Contractor license fee: $139.10 (increasing to $141.10 July 1, 2025); electronic insurance submissions required January 15, 2026
Uses UPC with Washington State amendments
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Plumber requirements in Washington verified against Washington State Department of Labor & Industries — Plumber Certification Program, April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-24
Accessed 2026-03-06