Pennsylvania has no state plumber license
Pennsylvania does not issue a state license for plumbers.1 Cities and counties set their own rules; this page lists what Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Master Plumber's License, Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Journeyman Plumber License, Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Plumber Apprentice License and Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Program (includes Pittsburgh): Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Apprentice Plumbers card require.
On this page
Is there a Pennsylvania plumber license?
No. Pennsylvania does not license plumbers at the state level.1
The official wording“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently has no licensure or certification requirements for most construction contractors (or their employees).”1
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
City and county licenses
Pennsylvania leaves plumber licensing to its 2,562 municipalities (L&I keeps no list), so check with the municipality where the work will be done. Philadelphia licenses master plumbers, journeyman plumbers and plumber apprentices through L&I; in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh area) the County Health Department's Plumbing Program licenses master and journeyman plumbers and issues apprentice cards.1
| City or county | What it requires | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Master Plumber's License | 1 year as a Philadelphia-registered journeyman plumber (or equivalent out-of-area authorization approved by L&I), pass the ICC-administered Philadelphia Master Plumber Examination, insurance, BIRT number and Commercial Activity License; $303 license fee ($50 non-refundable application fee applied to it); $253 annual renewal.2 | Official page2 |
| Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Journeyman Plumber License | 4 years registered as a Philadelphia apprentice plumber (or equivalent authorization approved by L&I) and pass the ICC-administered Journeyman Plumber Examination; $126 license fee ($25 non-refundable application fee applied to it); $126 annual renewal.3 | Official page3 |
| Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Plumber Apprentice License | Employment statement signed by the master plumber; $25 license fee ($20 non-refundable application fee applied to it); $25 annual renewal.4 | Official page4 |
| Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Program (includes Pittsburgh): Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Apprentice Plumbers card | Apprentice card on registering at an accredited apprenticeship program; journeyman: 576 hours of school plus 4 years with a registered master plumber, then the Journeyman Plumbers Examination ($133); master: 2 full years as a journeyman, then the Master Plumber Examination ($265). Licenses renew annually on the birthday: journeyman $125, master $375.5 | Official page5 |
Other rules for plumbers in Pennsylvania
- Education or training
- At least 576 clock hours5
Allegheny County: 576 hours of school (accredited apprenticeship program) before applying for the Journeyman Plumbers Examination. Philadelphia publishes no classroom-hour requirement.5
Who may teach it: An accredited apprenticeship program (Allegheny County).5 - Experience
- At least 4 years3
Philadelphia journeyman: registered as a Philadelphia apprentice plumber for at least 4 years (or a similar authorization from another state or local jurisdiction with equal or greater requirements, subject to L&I approval).3 - Experience
- At least 1 year2
Philadelphia master: registered as a Philadelphia journeyman plumber for at least 1 year (or similar out-of-area authorization approved by L&I).2
License you must hold first: Philadelphia Journeyman Plumber License2 - Experience
- At least 4 years5
Allegheny County journeyman: 4 years of employment with a registered master plumber (after 576 hours of school).5
Supervision: Employment with a registered master plumber; apprentices may plumb only when a journeyman plumber is present.5 - Experience
- At least 2 years5
Allegheny County master: two full years of work experience as a journeyman.5
License you must hold first: Allegheny County journeyman plumber license (the master application asks for the journeyman license number).6 - Exam
- Philadelphia Journeyman Plumber Examination3
Given by: International Code Council (ICC)3
Time limit: Exam must reference the current Philadelphia Code, or the application must be filed within 12 months of passing.3 - Exam
- Philadelphia Master Plumber Examination2
Given by: International Code Council (ICC)2
Time limit: Exam must reference the current Philadelphia Code, or the application must be filed within 12 months of passing.2 - Exam
- Allegheny County Journeyman Plumbers Examination5
Given by: Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Program (held at Cherry City Volunteer Fire Company, Pittsburgh)5
When you can take it: Apply online through the Accela Citizen Access Portal with a notarized work statement; next exam Tuesday, December 15, 2026, application deadline Monday, November 16, 2026.5
Based on the 2022 Allegheny County Article XV plumbing code.5
Retakes: Exams are given twice a year (spring and fall); the fee is charged per examination.5 - Exam
- Allegheny County Master Plumber Examination5
Given by: Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Program5
Retakes: Exams are given twice a year (spring and fall); the fee is charged per examination.5 - Insurance
- Philadelphia master plumber: general liability $500,000 per occurrence, automobile liability $300,000, workers' compensation $100,000 per accident / $100,000 per employee / $500,000 policy limit.2
- Business requirements
- Philadelphia master plumber: Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) account, Commercial Activity License, and current on all City taxes.2
- Also required
- Statewide, most home improvement contractors must register with the PA Attorney General (Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act).1
- Also required
- Philadelphia: journeyman and apprentice plumbers may not operate a business; apprentices must work as employees of a licensed master plumber.4
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $502 | City of Philadelphia | Philadelphia Master Plumber; credited toward the $303 license fee. Not refundable |
| Initial license fee | $3032 | City of Philadelphia | Philadelphia Master Plumber's License (includes the $50 application fee) |
| Application fee | $253 | City of Philadelphia | Philadelphia Journeyman Plumber; credited toward the $126 license fee. Not refundable |
| Initial license fee | $1263 | City of Philadelphia | Philadelphia Journeyman Plumber License (includes the $25 application fee) |
| Application fee | $204 | City of Philadelphia | Philadelphia Plumber Apprentice; credited toward the $25 license fee. Not refundable |
| Initial license fee | $254 | City of Philadelphia | Philadelphia Plumber Apprentice License (includes the $20 application fee) |
| Initial license fee | $3756 | Allegheny County Health Department | Allegheny County Master Plumber; first-year fee pro-rated to the next birthday. Effective January 1, 2023 |
| Initial license fee | $1257 | Allegheny County Health Department | Allegheny County Journeyman Plumber; first-year fee pro-rated to the next birthday. Effective January 1, 2023 |
| Exam fee | $2655 | Allegheny County Health Department | Allegheny County, per examination. Effective January 1, 2023 |
| Exam fee | $1335 | Allegheny County Health Department | Allegheny County, per examination. Effective January 1, 2023 |
| Registration fee | $228 | Allegheny County Health Department | Allegheny County apprentice card. Effective January 1, 2023 |
| Temporary license or permit | $808 | Allegheny County Health Department | Allegheny County. Effective January 1, 2023 |
| License by endorsement or reciprocity | $3758 | Allegheny County Health Department | Allegheny County. Effective January 1, 2023 |
| License by endorsement or reciprocity | $1258 | Allegheny County Health Department | Allegheny County. Effective January 1, 2023 |
Each line is a separate charge, listed by the city or county named in its notes; they are not added up.
Check a license or report a problem
Before you hire a plumber in Pennsylvania, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Pennsylvania is on the Pennsylvania license lookup page.
- File a complaint
- alleghenycounty.govqa.us9
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
Plumber licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- Contractor Licensing (state and local requirements pertaining to certain contractors)Pennsylvania Department of Labor & IndustryChecked November 7, 2026
- Get a master plumber's licenseCity of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Get a journeyman plumber licenseCity of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Get a plumber apprentice licenseCity of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Licensing Information (Plumbing Program)Allegheny County Health DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- How to Apply for a Master Plumber's LicenseAllegheny County Health DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- How to Apply for a Journeyman Plumber's LicenseAllegheny County Health DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- ACHD Plumbing Fee Schedule (Effective Jan. 1, 2023)Allegheny County Health DepartmentDated January 1, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
- Plumbing ProgramAllegheny County Health DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026