Licensing Guides
Virginia Plumbing License: How to Become a Plumber in Virginia
Plumbing, VA
5Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Plumbers License in Virginia?
How Long Does it Take to Get a Plumbers License in Virginia?
Plumbing is serious business. Every state in the country has implemented codes and regulations for this essential trade with the intent of protecting the health and safety of the public. To do this job, you not only need the technical know-how you need to have a firm grasp on the latest laws.
Virginia requires extensive training and experience before issuing a state license to work as a plumber. It will take you a minimum of four years before you can apply for a journeyman plumber license in Virginia.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are 482,700 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters nationwide and Virginia employs 10,930 of them. There's a strong demand for this skill set. Employment of plumbers is projected to grow 2% from 2022 to 2032 and five times that at 10% in Virginia according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, CareerOneStop
And there’s more good news if you’re interested in this profession. The Associated General Contractors of America says contractors are hiring. In the 2022 AGC-Autodesk Workforce Survey, 93% of firms in the U.S. and 100% of firms in Virginia had unfilled hourly craft positions.
Licensing requirements for plumbers vary from state to state and municipalities can have additional regulations. In fact, it is stated explicitly on the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation website that, “Individual tradesmen may also be subject to local ordinances, laws, or other requirements imposed by other state agencies, courts, or certain localities. Questions about local ordinances, etc. should be directed to the community in which the individuals plan to engage in their trade.”
It’s important to know what is required where you intend to work before you get started on this career path.
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Licensing Requirements for Plumbers in Virginia
Is a license required for plumbers in Virginia? Yes!
To be a plumber in Virginia, you must be licensed.
The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations requires that applicants seeking licensure meet certain entry qualifications. DPOR and its regulatory boards establish entry requirements for plumbers, HVAC, electricians, and other trades based upon a combination of education, examination, and/or experience. In some cases, holding a valid license in another state will satisfy some requirements to obtain licensure by reciprocity. The Board for Contractors regulates and licenses plumbers in Virginia.
Types of Plumbers Licenses in Virginia
What are the different types of plumbers licenses in Virginia?
There are three basic levels of plumbers licenses in Virginia. You qualify for each of them through a combination of formal education and practical experience. You’ll begin as an apprentice, but that does not require a license. As an apprentice, you are basically working as an entry-level employee or plumber’s helper for a company or contractor to gain the practical experience required to get a license while taking classes to learn the theoretical or conceptual parts of the trade required.
Journeyman License: A Journeyman Plumber License is the first level of licensure in Virginia. It allows you to work in the field under the supervision of a master plumber on projects valuing less than $1,000. To qualify for a journeyman plumber license you must acquire a minimum number of years of practical experience and classroom instruction and pass a state-mandated test. There are several ways to satisfy the experience and education requirements necessary for pre-approval for the exam.
Earn a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field like mechanical engineering or some other applicable engineering curriculum and get one year of hands-on experience in the field.
Earn an Associate’s degree or diploma certificate from a two-year plumbing program at a technical college or trade school and two years of work experience.
Accrue four years of work experience and 240 hours of formal vocational training.
Each additional year of practical experience can substitute for hours of vocational training. 1 year equals 80 hours of classroom work, up to a maximum of 200 hours; so
5 years of experience plus 160 hours of vocational training
6 years of experience plus 80 hours of vocational training
7 or more years of experience plus 40 hours of vocational training; or
Accumulate 10 years of verified practical experience in the trade.
Master License: A master license allows you to plan and lay out the details for installation and supervise the work of installing, repairing, and maintaining plumbing systems to comply with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code on projects valuing less than $1,000. Again, to qualify for a master license you must acquire a minimum amount of practical experience. There are two ways to do that to be allowed to sit for the exam.
Provide evidence that you have one year of experience as a licensed journeyman; or
Accumulate 10 years of verified practical experience in the trade.
Contractor License: There are three levels of Plumber Contractor License in Virginia you can acquire AFTER you earn your master license. In most cases, the type of contractor license you should apply for is based on the value or contract price of the projects your business will be bidding on or engaged in. Any project that has a contract price of $1,000 or more requires a contractor license. For each of the three classes, you must complete a mandatory 8-hour pre-education course from an approved provider.
Class A — A Class A license is unlimited. It has no restrictions on job size. To qualify for it you must have five years of experience and a minimum of $45,000 business capital.
Class B — A Class B license restricts you to individual projects of less than $120,000 and less than $750,000 in projects over the course of the year. You need a minimum of three years of experience and at least $15,000 in business capital.
Class C —A Class C license is restricted to projects of less than $10,000 with not more than $150,000 in projects for the year and requires two years of experience.
Steps to Get a Plumber’s License in Virginia
You must be at least 18 years of age.
You must meet the educational requirements by passing all required courses prior to sitting for the state-mandated examination.
You must meet all of the practical experience requirements prior to sitting for the state-mandated examination.
You must pass the applicable state-mandated exam(s).
You must disclose your physical home address; a post office box alone is not acceptable.
You must pay the appropriate exam and license fee.
Each applicant is required to report any conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor in any jurisdiction. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction. The Board may deny licensure at its discretion based on the information provided. However, the board addresses each on a case-by-case basis and will not only consider the nature of the crime, but how long ago it occurred and behavior displayed since.
The applicant shall report any suspensions, revocations, or surrendering of a certificate or license in connection with a disciplinary action or which has been the subject of discipline in any jurisdiction prior to applying for licensure or certification in Virginia. The Board for Contractors may deny licensure at its discretion based on the information provided.
Each applicant for a home improvement contractor's license must meet the financial solvency guidelines. Any applicant who does not meet the financial solvency guidelines may purchase a surety bond.
You cannot become a Plumbing Contractor in Virginia without also being licensed as a master in your field, and carrying the appropriate insurance coverage.
Benefits of Getting a Plumbers License in Virginia
There are many benefits you’ll see from getting your Virginia plumbing license:
Most importantly, it is required by law in Virginia to be licensed through the state to legally perform any plumbing work.
A trade license is proof of your experience and skill.
Only licensed master plumbers can: operate a business and advertise services, obtain commercial insurance, pull building permits and pass inspections, bid on public and government projects.
Having a license protects your company and customers.
A license gives you a competitive advantage in the job market.
It also increases your earning potential.
What Is the Mean Salary for a Plumber in Virginia?
The annual mean wage for a plumber in Virginia is $57,720 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That salary increases, as you might expect, as you acquire more experience, according to indeed.com.
Apprentice: The average salary for an apprentice plumber is $17.43 per hour in Virginia and $5,500 overtime per year.
Journeyman: The average salary for a journeyman plumber is $33.19 per hour in Virginia and $6,750 overtime per year.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
What Business Owners Need to Know
Getting the most out of a plumbing technician, no matter where they are in their licensing journey, takes work. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based, all-in-one plumbing software gives technicians and business owners the technology they need to do the work efficiently, and the data they need to do it smartly.
ServiceTitan features:
SMS communications that keep customers informed about the technician’s visit.
Location-specific service history, including recorded calls, accessible from the mobile app.
Required forms that ensure every job is done right, driving consistency.
The ability to build multi-option proposals with photos, on-site, in minutes.
Sales presentations that make conversations with customers easier and drive average ticket.
Mobile payment acceptance, eliminating lost checks and increasing cash flow.
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How Much Does It Cost to Get a Plumbers License in Virginia?
There are different fees associated with each license class in Virginia.
Journeyman | License Fee: $130 | Exam Fee: $100
Master | License Fee: $130 | Exam Fee: $125
Contractor – Class A | License Fee: $385 | Exam Fee: $85
Contractor – Class B | License Fee: $370 | Exam Fee: $72
Contractor – Class C | License Fee: $235 | Exam Fee: no exam required with a Master Plumber’s license
All licenses must be renewed every two years, which costs $90.
How to Get a Plumbers License in Virginia
Plumbers in Virginia begin as either an entry-level worker, an apprentice or a student and must work toward a journeyman’s license. You must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED equivalency. Then you will need to acquire some combination of formal education and practical experience. There are a couple of ways you can satisfy these two components.
EDUCATION/ WORK EXPERIENCE: There are a couple of ways you can satisfy these two components.
Earn a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field like mechanical engineering and get one year of hands-on experience in the field.
Earn an Associate’s degree or diploma certificate from a two-year HVAC program and a technical college or trade school and two years of work experience.
Complete an approved apprenticeship program. There are a few offered through local unions in Virginia, but most are offered by individual employers and typically run five years. They satisfy the educational and practical experience requirements required by Virginia to apply for a journeyman license.
Attend a vocational school and complete 240 hours of vocational training through a certificate or diploma program and accumulate four years of work experience.
Each additional year of practical experience can substitute for hours of vocational training. 1 year equals 80 hours of classroom work, up to a maximum of 200 hours; so
5 years of experience plus 160 hours of vocational training
6 years of experience plus 80 hours of vocational training
7 or more years of experience plus 40 hours of vocational training; or
Accumulate 10 years of verified practical experience in the trade.
APPLY TO TAKE EXAMINATION: After you have satisfied the time and training requirements, you will need to pass the licensing examination. Virginia has contracted with PSI Testing Services to administer all of the trade and contractor exams. You must apply to the Board to be permitted to take the exam. To apply you will complete this Tradesman Exam & License Application. There are two ways to complete it.This page on the DPOR website explains how to use either an interactive or static form. If you choose static, you will mail it along with a check or money order made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia to:
Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board of Contractors 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400 Richmond, VA 23233
TAKE LICENSING EXAM: The Board will determine if you are eligible to test. If you apply through reciprocity from another state or if you have completed an approved apprenticeship program you may be exempt from testing. The PSI Individual License and Certification Candidate Information Bulletin provides information about the examination and the process. As soon as you finish the computerized test, your result will appear. The Board will be notified and your Journeyman license will be mailed to you.
ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE: If you choose to pursue a Master license, you will need to accrue additional work experience.
Document and demonstrate one year of experience as a licensed journeyman; or
Accumulate 10 years of verified practical experience in the trade.
APPLY TO TAKE EXAMINATION: Once you’ve fulfilled the work experience requirements, you may apply to take the master license exam. It’s the same form again, but you select the Master Plumber option this time.
TAKE LICENSING EXAM: The Board will determine again if you meet the eligibility requirements to test. The Candidate Information Bulletin provides information about the examination and the process. As soon as you finish the computerized test, your result will appear. The Board will be notified and your Master license will be mailed to you.
PSI can be reached at:
PSI Examination Services (PSI) 3210 E. Tropicana Las Vegas, NV 89121 1-855-340-3910 www.psiexams.com
CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS: As with any profession, the longer you practice the trade the more you know. That may lead you to the decision that you’d like to be a licensed contractor. Contractor licenses in Virginia are issued to business entities, not to individuals. So, you’ll own your own business and be able to take on larger projects. With a Master Plumber License and at least two years of experience, you can apply for a contractor’s license in Virginia.
There are three levels of contractor licenses.
Class A — Unrestricted. No limits on job size. Requires five years of licensed master level experience and a minimum of $45,000 of business capital.
Class B — Restricted to individual projects of less than $120,000 and less than $750,000 in projects per year. Minimum of three years of experience with master license and at least $15,000 in business capital.
Class C — Restricted to projects of less than $10,000 with not more than $150,000 in projects for the year. Requires two years of experience.
There is a mandatory 8-hour Pre-License Education course required for each of these licenses that must be taken from an approved provider. Class A, B, and C applicants will all need to fill out the Board of Contractors License Application. Class A and Class B applicants need to complete the financial statement form or the surety bond form to demonstrate that they meet the financial stability requirement. The state-mandated examination for each level gets progressively more in-depth and requires a wider base of knowledge reflecting the increased responsibility at each level. You will also have to declare your area of specialization. If you are strictly a plumbing contractor, that is the only specialty you’ll designate, but for some larger contractors, you may have several.
There are also requirements for designating Responsible Members and Qualified Individuals in the company. For smaller contractors, you may fill all of those roles, but for larger commercial groups you may have multiple people filling these roles.
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How Long Does it Take to Get a Plumbers License in Virginia?
It will take a minimum of four years to qualify to take the Journey Level licensing exam in Virginia and then at least an additional year working as a Journeyman to qualify for the Master level. However, even if part of that time is dedicated to classes you will likely be working and earning money the whole time.
Virginia Plumber Training Programs and Schools
Plumbers are responsible for a lot more than just fixing leaks or clogs. They design, install and renovate systems that carry liquids or gasses, so they must know more than just the mechanics. They must know the plumbing code. For the most part, there are two ways to get the practical experience and the formal education you need to qualify to take the journeyman plumber license exam. You can either go to college or technical school and get an entry-level job to gain practical experience or you can join an approved apprenticeship program.
Virginia mandates that vocational training courses must be completed through Approved Tradesman Formal Vocation Training Providers; that is accredited colleges, universities, junior and community colleges, Virginia Apprenticeship Council programs, or proprietary schools approved by the Virginia Department of Education. It’s important that you make sure the school you attend is acceptable to the Board.
You’ll learn about plumbing systems including:
Underground water supply systems
Stormwater
Sewer drainage
Fixture installation
Waste and vent piping both inside and outside of buildings
Residential and service plumbing
Any program should also cover OSHA safety training, detailed instruction in chemistry, mathematics, physics, blueprint reading and drafting, in-depth examination of state codes, and advanced training about water treatment systems, water heaters, plumbing appliances, and plumbing fixtures.
Virginia’s Community College System has several campuses that offer introduction to plumbing, principles of plumbing, plumbing code, and blueprint reading classes. Virginia Technical Institute also offers a Plumbing Course Curriculum. There are also many more options available within the state through other institutions such as Virginia Technical Academy, Associated Builders & Contractors, and Centura College Allied Health & Trades. Or for online training, there are options like Fortis College in Norfolk.
Apprenticeship
If you choose to forego a more traditional college degree, a formal apprenticeship can give you the hands-on and classroom instruction you need. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Division of Registered Apprenticeship is your resource to finding approved apprenticeships. There are a few offered through local unions in Virginia, but most are offered by individual employers. They satisfy the educational and practical experience requirements required by Virginia to apply for a journeyman license and, in some cases, the state-mandated examination is not required. Oftentimes, the educational component of the apprenticeships is provided through the Community College system.
Here are some other benefits they tout:
As a full-fledged employee of the sponsoring company, a Registered Apprentice completes a minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training and a minimum of 144 hours of related technical instruction for each year of apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship terms are occupation-specific, but the average term is four years.
Successful completion of the Registered Apprenticeship Program earns the apprentice nationally recognized state certification as a journeyperson.
All apprentices are registered through a Department of Labor and Industry apprenticeship consultant.
The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry site will give you a better understanding of this option.
Program Prerequisites: You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or a GED.
On-the-Job Experience: While on the job, you will need to have good customer service skills, be detail-oriented, have mechanical capability, and be physically fit because the job can include some heavy lifting and hours of walking, standing, and working in tight spaces.
Virginia Plumber Licensing Exam Details
PSI Examination provides examination services for the Virginia Board of Contractors.
Before an individual can take an examination for licensure as journeyman, master, or contractor they must apply to the Board to receive permission. The Board will determine if you are eligible to test based on your practical experience and education. If you apply through reciprocity or if you have completed an approved apprenticeship program you may be exempt from testing. The PSI Individual License and Certification Candidate Information Bulletin explains the process and details each of the journeyman and master exams. The Contractor Examination Candidate Information Bulletin does the same for the contractor exam.
Exam Questions and Time Limits: Both the Journeyman and Master HVAC Examinations have 80 items and a time limit of 210 minutes. You need to get 60 correct to pass either test. Both are open book and the reference that is allowed for each is the International Plumbing Code 2015 or 2018 listed in the Candidate Information Bulletin.
The Class C Contractor license does not require additional testing. Class B requires you to take the General Portion of the exam and the Rules and Regulation Portion. For a Class A license, you’ll also have to take the Advanced Portion.
Fees: The Master exam costs $125. The Journeyman exam costs $100. The Class A test costs $85 for all three portions. Class B costs $72 for the two portions. For Master and Journeyman you can register and pay online at the PSI site or print the registration form at the end of the Bulletin and mail it to:
PSI Attn: Examination Registration VA TR 3210 E. Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89121
For Contractors, you can register and pay online at the PSI site or print the registration form at the end of that Bulletin and mail it to:
PSI Attn: Examination Registration VA CON 3210 E. Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89121
You may pay by credit card, money order, company check, or cashier's check made payable to PSI. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
Exam locations: PSI has testing centers throughout Virginia. They are located in:
Vienna, VA
Richmond, VA
Virginia Beach, VA
Roanoke, VA
Charlottesville, VA
Who Issues Plumbers Licenses in Virginia?
The Virginia Board for Contractors issues all trade and contractor licenses in the Commonwealth. The email address for the Board is:
contractors@dpor.virginia.gov The phone number for the Board office is: 804-367-2785
Does My Virginia Plumbers License Work in Any Other State?
Yes, but only in a VERY limited area of Maryland. Virginia has a reciprocity agreement with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) which serves Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland. You would still apply using the Tradesman Exam & License Application.
Plumbing Certifications
Other certifications can help you demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers and clients. National Inspection Testing and Certification (NITC), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (ASSE Certifications), and other professional certifications are not required but may make you a more attractive hire to prospective employers or can increase your marketability to customers.
Other Requirements Unique to Virginia
To keep your state-issued license current, Virginia requires you to renew it every two years. Licenses expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued. The cost to renew is $90. The board will mail a renewal notice outlining procedures for renewal. Failure to receive this notice, however, does not relieve you of the obligation to renew on time.
Continuing Education
The Commonwealth of Virginia requires you to complete three hours of approved continuing education to maintain your eligibility for licensure.
Resources
You can stay up to date on all Plumbing industry news in several ways:
Check top plumbing blogs, including ServiceTitan’s blog.
Read about the latest industry trends.
Listen to top plumbing podcasts like ServiceTitan’s Toolbox for the Trades podcast.
