How to get a Journeyman Plumber license in Kentucky

Kentucky plumber licenses

Kentucky issues 2 plumber credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Kentucky plumber license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old⁶

Background check

Background check required³⁸
The application asks whether you have a felony or misdemeanor conviction anywhere; a conviction may block the license and the applicant is told to contact the Plumbing Division. KRS 318.040 also requires good moral character.³⁸

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or resident alien authorized to work in the United States.⁶

Also required

Attach a passport-sized color photograph taken within the past 6 months to the exam registration.²

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, dhbc.ky.gov)³⁸

Renewal

How often

Every year⁴

When it expires

Annual: expires on the last day of your birth month each year; the first license runs to the end of your birth month the following year (prorated).⁴

Continuing education

At least 6 hours each renewal period⁵

Required topics

Courses must relate to business, job safety, the Kentucky State Plumbing Code, or subject matter directly related to the plumbing trade; no more than 2 hours of safety practices per 12 months count.⁵

Approved courses

Courses must be approved under 815 KAR 2:020; 1 hour = 50 minutes of classroom or approved online instruction.⁵

Exemptions

No CE for the first renewal if the initial license was issued within 12 months of renewal; excess hours (up to 12) carry forward 2 years.⁵
Renewal and revival fees may be waived for licensees on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.⁴

Renew online

dhbc.ky.gov⁹

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Renewal and revival fees may be waived for licensees on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.⁴

Who needs a Journeyman Plumber license

A journeyman plumber installs, alters, maintains, repairs and replaces plumbing under the supervision, direction and responsibility of a master plumber.⁷

Work that does not need this license:

• Homeowners may get a homeowner permit and do the plumbing in a home they occupy (or are building for themselves); all work must be done personally and meet the code, and only one new-home homeowner permit is issued per 5 years.¹
• Maintenance men and water company, water district or sanitation district employees laying and maintaining mains are exempt; a maintenance man may only repair, not replace or install, plumbing.¹⁰
• Apprentices need no license; they may assist a journeyman plumber under the personal supervision of a licensed master or journeyman.¹⁰
• Farmstead exemption: a farm dwelling and farm buildings on 10 acres or more outside city limits (see KRS 318.010(8)).¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Medical gas piping is plumbing in Kentucky: installers must be a licensed master or journeyman plumber and a certified medical gas installer under NFPA 99; the master plumber pulls the permit.¹¹

Requirements for a Journeyman Plumber license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

Optional route: a department-approved course on plumbing practice or the Kentucky State Plumbing Code cuts the apprentice experience to 1 year.²

Experience

At least 2 years²
2 consecutive years as an apprentice plumber (or 1 year plus an approved course), shown by W-2s, an affidavit from the employing Kentucky master plumber, or another state's license.³
Supervision: Apprentices work under the personal supervision of a licensed master or journeyman plumber; no apprentice license or registration is issued by the state.¹²
Substitute: 1 year as an apprentice plus a department-approved plumbing/code course.²
Substitute: A valid plumbing license from another state lets you sit the exam without the years-of-experience requirement.¹

Exam

Kentucky journeyman plumber examination²
Given by: Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Plumbing (state-run exam; State Plumbing Examining Committee designs it)²
Passing score: 75% on each portion²
When you can take it: Register with Form PLB-3 and the exam fee; the application must reach Frankfort at least 3 weeks before the exam. Regular exams are held in February, May, August and November.¹³
Written questions on basic plumbing principles, KRS 318, 815 KAR chapters 2 and 20²
Drawing (chart) section: insert the proper pipe sizes on a prepared drawing of stacks, wastes and vents²
Practical section: demonstrate proper installation, e.g. making connections of various plumbing materials (candidate brings the materials)²
Retakes: Within 1 year of the first exam notice you may reschedule or retake, paying the full exam fee each time; journeyman candidates retake only the failed portion(s). After 1 year without passing the application is void and you re-apply.²
Time limit: A passing score is valid for 3 years.²
Exam waived: No exam waiver except reciprocity under KRS 318.040(6) (other state with a statewide plumbing code, equivalent exam and reciprocal agreement). Holders of another state's license may sit the exam without meeting the experience requirement.⁶

How much a Journeyman Plumber license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Check you qualify: 18+, U.S. citizen or work-authorized resident alien, and 2 consecutive years as an apprentice plumber (or 1 year plus an HBC-approved plumbing/code course).²
2. Register for the exam with Form PLB-3, the non-refundable exam fee ($50) payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer and a passport photo; it must reach the Division of Plumbing in Frankfort at least 3 weeks before an exam date (exams in February, May, August and November).¹⁴ Form (PDF, dhbc.ky.gov)¹⁴
3. Sit the state exam (written + pipe-sizing drawing + practical; bring the materials the division lists) and score at least 75% on each portion.²
4. Apply for the license with Form PLB-2, proof of experience (W-2s, an affidavit from your Kentucky master plumber employer, or another state's license) and the journeyman license fee ($60, prorated by birth month).³ Form (PDF, dhbc.ky.gov)³
5. Renew every year by the end of your birth month online through the HBC portal (Form DHBC L-1), with the renewal fee and proof of 6 hours of CE.²

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$60²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $3⁴ (renewal after expiry but within 180 days (renewal fee plus revival fee, with CE shown))
Reinstatement fee: $6⁴ (license canceled after 180 days unpaid: all delinquent renewal fees plus this revival fee)

If it expires

Late renewal within 180 days of expiry: renewal fee + revival fee + proof of CE. After 180 days unpaid the license is canceled by law; reinstatement needs all delinquent renewal fees plus a higher revival fee.⁴
Inactive status: journeyman $30 to go inactive and $30 to reactivate; an inactive journeyman may not represent himself as a qualified journeyman or do journeyman work.²

Moving to Kentucky with a license from another state

These are the routes HBC publishes for the Journeyman Plumber license. The other plumber licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Master Plumber

A master plumber takes responsible charge of journeyman plumbers and apprentices, and is the only one (besides a homeowner) who may obtain plumbing permits and design, contract for or superintend plumbing.⁷

Requirements

Experience

At least 2 years²
Journeyman license held 2 years (within the last 5 years) and 2 years of plumbing work under a licensed master plumber.²
Supervision: Under a licensed master plumber.²
License you must hold first: Kentucky journeyman plumber license (main route).²
Substitute: Kentucky-licensed engineer with enough mechanical engineering experience (judged by HBC).²
Substitute: Another state's plumbing license held 2 years in the last 5 (must also pass the Kentucky journeyman exam).²
Substitute: 4 consecutive years at master-equivalent level in a state that does not license plumbers (must also pass the Kentucky journeyman exam).²

Exam

Kentucky master plumber examination²
Given by: Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Plumbing (state-run exam; State Plumbing Examining Committee designs it)²
Passing score: 80% on each portion²
When you can take it: Register with Form PLB-3 and the exam fee; the application must reach Frankfort at least 3 weeks before the exam. Regular exams are held in February, May, August and November.¹³
Written questions on basic plumbing principles, KRS 318, 815 KAR chapters 2 and 20²
Drawing (chart) section: insert the proper pipe sizes on a prepared drawing of stacks, wastes and vents²
Retakes: Within 1 year of the first exam notice you may reschedule or retake, paying the full exam fee each time. After 1 year without passing the application is void and you re-apply.²
Time limit: A passing score is valid for 3 years.²
Exam waived: No exam waiver except reciprocity under KRS 318.040(6) (other state with a statewide plumbing code, equivalent exam and reciprocal agreement). Holders of another state's license may sit the exam without meeting the experience requirement.⁶

Insurance

$250,000 general liability insurance plus proof of workers' compensation and unemployment insurance compliance, filed before the active master license is issued or renewed (not required of employees).¹⁵

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Check you qualify: 18+, U.S. citizen or work-authorized resident alien, and 2 years as a Kentucky journeyman (within the last 5 years) plus 2 years under a master, or one of the alternative routes (Kentucky-licensed engineer with mechanical experience; 2 years of another state's plumbing license; 4 years at master level in a state without licensing).²
2. Register for the exam with Form PLB-3, the non-refundable exam fee ($150) payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer and a passport photo; it must reach the Division of Plumbing in Frankfort at least 3 weeks before an exam date (exams in February, May, August and November).¹⁴ Form (PDF, dhbc.ky.gov)¹⁴
3. Sit the state exam (written + pipe-sizing drawing) and score at least 80% on each portion.²
4. Apply for the license with Form PLB-1 and the master license fee ($250, prorated by birth month); masters must also file proof of $250,000 general liability insurance and workers' compensation/unemployment insurance compliance.² Form (PDF, dhbc.ky.gov)⁸
5. Renew every year by the end of your birth month online through the HBC portal (Form DHBC L-1), with the renewal fee and proof of 6 hours of CE and current insurance.²

Renewal

Renewal fee

$250²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $5⁴ (renewal after expiry but within 180 days (renewal fee plus revival fee, with CE shown))
Reinstatement fee: $10⁴ (license canceled after 180 days unpaid: all delinquent renewal fees plus this revival fee)

If it expires

Late renewal within 180 days of expiry: renewal fee + revival fee + proof of CE. After 180 days unpaid the license is canceled by law; reinstatement needs all delinquent renewal fees plus a higher revival fee.⁴
Inactive status: master $125 to go inactive and $125 to reactivate; inactive licensees may not work as (or advertise as) plumbers.²
Proof of the required liability insurance (KRS 318.030) must be filed at each master renewal.²

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Journeyman PlumberOne statewide license. Cities and counties may adopt and enforce the State Plumbing Code and collect permit/inspection and occupational license fees, but the plumber license itself comes from the state.¹⁶

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a plumber in Kentucky, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Kentucky is on the Kentucky license lookup page.

Look up a license

dhbc.ky.gov¹⁷

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• KRS 318.010 (definitions)
• KRS 318.020 (apprentices, maintenance men, utility employees exempt)
• KRS 318.030 (license and general liability insurance required)
• KRS 318.040 (qualifications, examinations, reciprocity)
• KRS 318.050
• KRS 318.054
• KRS 318.060 (reexamination)
• KRS 318.140 (local adoption and enforcement of the State Plumbing Code)
• 815 KAR 20:030 (plumbing licenses)
• 815 KAR 20:030 Sections 1-4
• 815 KAR 2:010 (continuing education requirements)
• 815 KAR 20:195 (medical gas piping installation)

Common questions

Plumber licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin