How to Get a Virginia Plumbing License
If you're trying to get a plumbing license in Virginia, the first thing to understand is that there are two different types of licenses you may come across: a tradesman license and a contractor license.
The simplest way to remember the difference is:
Tradesman license = licenses the individual plumber
Contractor license = licenses the plumbing business
Depending on what you plan to do, you may need one or both.
Do I Need a Tradesman License or a Contractor License?
If you want to become individually licensed as a plumber, you'll start with Virginia's Tradesmen Program.
Virginia offers individual plumbing licenses for:
Residential Plumber
Journeyman Plumber
Master Plumber
A contractor license is different. It licenses the business that contracts with customers to perform plumbing work.
For example, a plumber might personally hold a Master Plumber license, while the plumbing company they own or work for holds a Class A, B, or C Plumbing Contractor license.
These aren't two levels of the same license, and you don't upgrade a tradesman license into a contractor license. The individual and the business are licensed separately.
You can learn more about this distinction in Virginia Tradesman License vs. Contractor License: What's the Difference?.
What Is a Virginia Tradesman Plumbing License?
A tradesman license belongs to you as an individual plumber.
Virginia's tradesman application includes Journeyman Plumbing (PLB) and Master Plumbing (PLB) licenses. Virginia also has a separate Residential Plumber license with its own application and requirements.
If you change employers, your individual plumbing license stays with you.
To become licensed, you'll need to meet the requirements for the specific plumbing license you're pursuing.
View Virginia's Tradesman Exam & License Application
Residential vs. Journeyman vs. Master Plumber
The next step is determining which individual plumbing license fits your situation.
Residential Plumber
Virginia's Residential Plumber license is an option for plumbers performing residential work.
This license has lower experience and education requirements than the Journeyman license, but its scope is limited to residential plumbing work.
It can also provide a pathway toward eventually qualifying for a Journeyman plumbing license.
We'll cover this option in detail in Virginia Residential Plumbing License Requirements.
Journeyman Plumber
A Journeyman Plumber has met Virginia's applicable education and practical experience requirements for Journeyman licensure.
There isn't one experience requirement that applies to everyone. Virginia provides several ways to qualify based on your combination of plumbing experience and vocational education or training.
A registered apprenticeship can also provide a pathway to Journeyman licensure.
Master Plumber
A Master Plumber is the higher individual plumbing license level.
You do not necessarily have to become a Journeyman first. Virginia provides multiple ways to qualify for Master licensure, including pathways based on Journeyman experience, practical experience in the trade, or experience as a Virginia-licensed Residential Plumber.
How Do I Qualify for a Virginia Plumbing License?
The exact requirements depend on the license you're pursuing and how you're qualifying.
For Journeyman and Master Plumbing, DPOR's application provides four methods of licensure:
Examination — qualify based on the applicable education and experience requirements and pass the required examination.
Reciprocity — qualify through an applicable reciprocal licensing agreement.
Apprenticeship Program — qualify through an approved registered apprenticeship pathway.
Card Exchange — available in specific circumstances described by DPOR.
How to Apply for a Virginia Plumbing License
If you're applying for a Journeyman or Master Plumbing license through the examination pathway, the basic process is:
Determine which plumbing license you need.
Make sure you meet the applicable education and experience requirements.
Submit your Tradesman Exam & License Application and supporting documents to DPOR.
Wait for approval from the Board.
Once approved, schedule your plumbing exam with PSI.
Pass the applicable exam and complete the licensing process.
You cannot simply schedule the Virginia Journeyman or Master Plumbing exam with PSI before being approved by the Board.
What If I Already Have a Plumbing License in Another State?
Virginia has limited reciprocal licensing and examination agreements for tradesmen.
For plumbing, DPOR currently lists an examination agreement with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) for Journeyman and Master Plumbers and Gas Fitters.
Applicants using an applicable agreement still need to submit a Virginia application and the required verification of their existing license.
View DPOR's Tradesmen Reciprocal Licensing and Examination Agreements.
When Does a Plumber Need a Contractor License?
This is where the individual plumbing license and contractor license can work together.
A tradesman license belongs to the plumber. A contractor license belongs to the business contracting for the work.
DPOR's Tradesman Exam & License Application specifically tells applicants performing work over $1,000 to contact the Board for Contractors about obtaining a Virginia contractor license.
So if you work as a plumber for a licensed plumbing contractor, the company handles the contractor business license.
If you're operating your own business and contracting directly with customers for work that requires contractor licensure, the business will need the appropriate Virginia contractor license in addition to the applicable individual plumbing qualification.
For a Plumbing contractor classification, the business's Qualified Individual must hold the required Master Tradesman credential in plumbing.
If you're starting your own plumbing business, read How to Get a Virginia Contractor License for the business licensing process.
Do Virginia Plumbers Need Continuing Education?
Yes. Virginia requires licensed Journeyman and Master Plumbers to complete three hours of Board-approved continuing education as part of license renewal.
This is different from the vocational education or apprenticeship training that may be used to qualify for your initial plumbing license.
Virginia Plumbing License: Where Should I Start?
If you're just beginning the process, start by determining what you're trying to license:
I want to become licensed as a plumber.
→ Look at the Residential, Journeyman, or Master plumbing requirements.
I want to start or license a plumbing contracting business.
→ Look at Virginia contractor licensing requirements.
I want to operate a plumbing business and personally qualify it for plumbing.
→ You may be dealing with both individual Master Plumber licensing and contractor business licensing.
Once you know which path applies to you, the rest of Virginia's plumbing licensing requirements become much easier to navigate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to become a Journeyman before becoming a Master Plumber?
No. Journeyman experience is one way to qualify for Master licensure, but Virginia provides other qualification pathways as well.
Can I get a Virginia plumbing license through an apprenticeship?
Yes. DPOR's tradesman application includes a registered apprenticeship pathway for Journeyman licensure.
Can I take the plumbing exam before applying to DPOR?
No. For applicants pursuing licensure by examination, the Board must approve your application before you can schedule the applicable exam with PSI.
Is a Master Plumber license the same as a plumbing contractor license?
No. A Master Plumber license belongs to an individual. A plumbing contractor license belongs to a business entity or sole proprietor.
Can a Master Plumber be the Qualified Individual for a plumbing contractor?
Yes. The Master Plumber credential can be used to satisfy the applicable individual qualification for the Plumbing contractor classification, provided the other Qualified Individual and contractor licensing requirements are met.
Does my plumbing license belong to my employer?
No. Your individual tradesman plumbing license belongs to you. A contractor business license belongs separately to the licensed business.
Do I need a contractor license for plumbing jobs over $1,000?
DPOR's current Tradesman Exam & License Application states that an applicant performing work over $1,000 must contact the Board for Contractors to obtain a Virginia contractor license. Contractor licensing depends on the business contracting for the work and the applicable Virginia contractor requirements.
