Becoming a Plumber in Virginia: A Step-by-Step Guide
To work as a plumber in any state requires a license, either at the state or local level. You need to know the technical aspects of the job—because no one wants a clog in their system. Virginia has a relatively lengthy process to obtain your journeyman plumber’s license that includes a combination of work experience and education. The entire process takes a minimum of four years, but the time commitment is worth it.
The job outlook for plumbers is better than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 6% job growth over the next decade and an estimated 10,930 open jobs.
To get started, check out our Virginia plumber licensing packages for all the resources you need to succeed
What Does a Plumber Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities depend a lot on whether you work in a residential, commercial, or industrial setting. In general, plumbers are responsible for installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing plumbing systems, including water, sewer, gas, and other piping systems. They clean and remove obstructions from drains and repair broken pipes and fixtures. Plumbers also install fixtures such as toilets, bathtubs, and appliances. A plumber must comply with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Codes.
To succeed as a plumber, you will learn effective problem-solving and troubleshooting skills to decode complicated plumbing systems. Plumbers have technical and mechanical skills as well as knowing how to effectively read and interpret construction drawings and blueprints.
Here’s a look at the different settings where plumbers work.
Residential Plumbers
Residential plumbers work on plumbing systems in single- and multifamily housing—their work begins where the yard meets the sidewalk. The plumbing work entails installing, maintaining, and repairing water, drain, and sewer lines and installing and troubleshooting appliances such as dishwashers, toilets, bathtubs, and water heaters.
Commercial Plumbers
The scope of work for commercial plumbers is like that of residential plumbers, but on a much larger scale. They work with a complex network of water supply and drainage systems in commercial buildings, large multifamily dwellings, schools, retail outlets, and other public spaces. The plumbing systems themselves handle much larger volumes of flow, have more fixtures, and complex layouts.
Industrial Plumbers
The work of industrial plumbers includes working with extensive pipe infrastructure. In addition to everything commercial plumbers do, industrial plumbers will also install and maintain steam systems, chemical transportation lines, and other complex piping associated with factories, warehouses, and industrial complexes.
The Steps to Becoming a Licensed Plumber
In addition to being physically fit enough to perform the work, there are education and experience requirements. You must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Document vocational training and experience prior to taking the exam.
- Pass an exam with a score of 75% or better.
- Apply for licensure and pay the fees.
- Provide a physical address or a combination of a physical address and post office box.
- Disclose any felony or non-marijuana misdemeanor criminal conviction. Criminal convictions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- Report any administrative action taken against a current or past professional license.
How to Meet the Education and Training Requirements
You’ll gain the experience you need working as an apprentice or in an entry-level job under a licensed master plumber. How much education you need depends on how much work experience you have. You can meet the requirements for the minimum education and experience in several ways, with the shortest path taking four years:
- Complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in engineering or another related field and get one year of hands-on experience as a plumber.
- Finish an associate’s degree from a two-year plumbing program or technical training school along with two years of field experience.
- Complete four years of work experience and 240 hours of classroom instruction from a vocational training program.
- Substitute one year of experience for 80 hours in the classroom for a maximum of 200 hours of classroom instruction. Here’s what that looks like:
- Five years of experience and 160 hours of classroom education
- Six years of experience and 80 hours in the classroom
- Seven to nine years of experience and 40 hours of classroom instruction
- 10 years of documented hands-on experience and no classroom or vocational training.
To be eligible for your master plumber’s license, you need one more year of field experience. You can bypass this additional on-the-job experience with 10 years of hands-on experience, meaning, if you have 10 years of experience under your belt, you’re eligible to sit for either the journeyman or master plumber’s license. You can also take the exam if you’re a master plumber in another state.
How to Find an Education and Training Program
The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations maintains a list of approved vocational training programs on their website. A popular route is to meet the educational requirements at a vocational school while completing the on-the-job training. Many vocational schools offer job placement as an apprentice. Community colleges offer the education component, and many will also help with job placement. Union apprenticeships combine on-the-job training and classroom education.
What to Expect from a Vocational Program
Regardless of the program you choose, you will learn how to install, maintain, and troubleshoot plumbing systems. All training programs cover safety, how to read blueprints and construction drawings, and the rules and regulations of the industry. Some training programs will include principles of electricity and electrical safety as they apply to plumbing. Most programs include applicable math to teach you how to calculate system requirements and demand.
What to Expect from a Union Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeships combine work experience and online or in-person classroom instruction. Programs are offered through the Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association or the UA Local 10 Plumbers and Pipefitters union in Richmond and Roanoke. You will be required to join the union to participate in their programs.
Pros and cons of an apprenticeship vs. trade school
Both apprenticeships and trade schools are great options to become a licensed plumber in Virginia. Your decision should be based on your skills and abilities. All apprenticeships are paid, so you earn as you learn. For those that either don’t care for or do not excel in a classroom environment, working as an apprentice for a longer period of time limits your in-class requirement.
While you’re making money as an apprentice, licensed journeyman plumbers earn more, and the fastest way to becoming licensed is a combination of two years of education and two years of work experience. The downside is the cost of the vocational training program or community college tuition. However, this should be weighed against the time it takes to become a licensed plumber using just experience to qualify.
What Are the Plumbing License Types in Virginia?
There are three license types in Virginia: journeyman, master, and contractor. They each build on each other.
Becoming a licensed journeyman plumber is the first step. Getting your journeyman license requires a mix of education and experience or 10 years of experience as an apprentice or licensure from another state. After obtaining your journeyman plumber license, another year of experience makes you eligible to take the exam to become a master plumber in Virginia. You can only become a licensed plumbing contractor after acquiring your master plumbing license. In general, the license you hold restricts your work to certain duties and dollar amounts.
Here’s detailed information about the three license types, the work you can perform, and information you need to reach each level.
Journeyman Plumbing License
As a licensed journeyman plumber, you’re permitted to install, repair, and maintain plumbing systems under the supervision of a master plumber. This includes work on water and sewer lines, installing piping for sprinkler systems, repairing and maintaining water heating systems, and installing and troubleshooting plumbing for appliances. In addition, you will read and interpret construction drawings.
A journeyman plumbing license is the first hurdle to becoming a master plumber or plumbing contractor. Many plumbers achieve this level and enjoy long careers as journeyman plumbers. Journeyman plumbers in Virginia earn between $56,421 and $73,833 annually. Salary improves with experience, certifications, and skills.
Master Plumbing License
A master plumber performs the same job functions as a journeyman plumber but without supervision. Master plumbers also supervise apprentices and journeyman plumbers. They are permitted to work on projects valuing less than $1,000 or for a plumbing contractor. Becoming a master plumber is required before getting your plumbing contractor’s license.
Top earners make $126,360. The average master plumber earns $72,800 annually.
Plumbing Contractor License
Master plumbers can apply for their plumbing contractor’s license after they have some experience working as master plumbers. There are three class types, and what class you choose depends on the value of the projects, your experience, and business capital.
- A Class A license is unrestricted. To apply for this class type, you’re required to have five years of experience as a master plumber and $45,000 in business capital.
- A Class B license is restricted to individual projects valued under $120,000 and annual projects valued under $750,000. Three years of experience is required along with $15,000 in business capital.
- A Class C license is obtainable after two years of experience, and there is no business capital requirement. With a Class C license, you’re permitted to work on individual projects valued at less than $10,000 and less than $150,000 annually.
Before getting your plumbing contractor’s license, you’re required to complete an approved eight-hour pre-education course.
Additional requirements for plumbing contractors include bonding and insurance. All licensed plumbing contractors, except Class C applicants, are required to have a $50,000 bond. General liability insurance requirements depend on the class type. Class A requires $1,000,000 of coverage, Class B requires $500,000, and Class C requires $300,000.
How to Gain and Document Work Experience
Documented hands-on experience is essential in every step of the licensing process. One Experience Verification Form for each employer showing the type of work you performed, and the dates and hours worked is required. The form must be completed and signed by a licensed plumber verifying your work.
To gain experience, many new plumbers become apprentices or take entry-level jobs working as plumbing assistants. Journeyman and master plumbers work under master plumbers or plumbing contractors. The same verification form is used for apprentices, journeyman, and master plumbers.
How to Pass the Plumbing Licensing Exams
A state-mandated exam is required to become a journeyman or master plumber. The exam has 80 questions, and a passing score is achieved with correct responses to 60 questions (75%). You have 210 minutes to complete the open-book exam. The questions cover the same topics for both exams, and include:
- Standards of practice (3 items)
- Standards of conduct (3 items)
- Renewal and reinstatement (2 items)
- Definitions (1 item)
- Qualification for licensure (1 item)
- Revocation of licensure (1 item)
- Drainage waste and vents (24 items)
- Water supply systems (10 items)
- Backflow prevention (10 items)
- Storm drainage systems (10 items)
- Plumbing fixtures (7 items)
- General regulations (5 items)
- Interceptors and traps (4 items)
Plumbers can take specialty exams for HVAC, gasfitter, LP gasfitter, natural gasfitter, and backflow prevention. The specialty exams have specific questions related to the respective specialty. The HVAC exam has 85 questions; journeyman plumbers must answer 60 questions correctly, and master plumbers need to answer 64 correctly to pass. There is a 210-minute time limit to take this exam.
The three gasfitter exams have 50 questions each. Journeyman plumbers must correctly answer 35 and master plumbers 37 to pass. The backflow device exam has 40 questions and a passing score for both journeyman and master plumbers is 30 correct responses. These four specialty exams have a time limit of 150 minutes.
All exams are open book. However, no loose paper or unbound materials are permitted. References can be highlighted prior to the exam and tabbed using permanent tabs only. Writing is not allowed on any of the reference materials.
To sit for the exam, you need prior approval from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). The DPOR will require proof that you’ve met the education and experience requirements. You can get more information here, as well as a link to the application form. You will have application fees and exam fees. Exam fees are paid directly to PSI, the exam administrator. The testing fees for the journeyman exam is $100 and for the master plumber exam is $125. The application fee is paid to the DPOR and is $130.
The best way to prepare for the test is to take an exam prep course. A quality exam preparation course will provide pre-tabbed and highlighted references you can take into the exam with you. They include multiple practice exams to get you “test-ready” come exam day.
How to Renew Your Plumbing License
Your license is valid for two years. Relevant continuing education (CE) is required to renew your license and must be completed before your license expires from an approved CE provider. Additional CE is required for each specialty license you hold. Journeyman and master plumbers and plumbing contractors must complete three hours of CE and an additional one hour of CE for each specialty certification in gas fitting, natural gas, and LP gas.
Online and correspondence courses are required to test your knowledge. In-person courses are not required to give you a test but may elect to in order to assess your understanding of the material.
There is an automatic 30-day grace period if you fail to renew your license or take CE units before your license expires. The grace period allows you to complete the requirements for renewal, but it does not allow you to work. If you fail to renew during the grace period, there is an additional fee. If your license lapses by one year, you’re required to apply for a new license and meet any new eligibility requirements.
Plumbers can pay the fee and renew their license online. The current fee is $135.
Exploring Career Opportunities as a Licensed Plumber
The plumbing field offers a wide range of career opportunities. As a journeyman or master plumber, you can work for small or large companies. As a plumbing contractor, you can open your own business and work as a one-person show or hire plumbers to work under you.
How much you earn depends on your experience, license level, and ability to outbid other contractors. Journeyman plumbers make an average of $65,000, and master plumbers earn $72,800 annually. Plumbing contractors can earn much more depending on their business savvy and how hard they’re willing to work for jobs.
The benefits of obtaining additional certifications, such as gas fitting, HVAC, and backflow prevention increase your hire-ability and income. Additionally, commercial and industrial plumbers make more than residential plumbers.
It’s worth exploring all your options and talking to plumbers currently working in the field.
Not an Easy Journey but Worth it
Virginia requires a lot of hoops to jump through before becoming a licensed journeyman plumber. You’re required to have substantial documented work experience and classroom education. Depending on your preference, you can get more work experience to decrease the number of hours you spend in a classroom. Moving from a journeyman to a master plumber is a much more streamlined process and requires just another year of documented field experience. For both licenses, you’re required to pass an exam and pay a licensing fee.
Getting your Virginia plumber’s license is challenging, but the right preparation is key to passing on the first try. With expert guidance from Contractor Training Center, you’ll have the tools, insights, and confidence you need to succeed.
Don’t leave your career to chance—partner with the experts who know Virginia’s licensing requirements inside and out. Visit our Virginia plumber exam course page to start preparing with the best resources.