How to get a Plumber license in South Dakota

South Dakota plumber licenses

South Dakota issues 6 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 several of the South Dakota plumber licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 6)

Requirements

Background check

Background check required³
The commission may refuse, revoke or suspend a license for a conviction of, or plea of guilty/nolo contendere to, a crime of violence; applications ask this question and require court documents and rehabilitation evidence if yes.¹

Fees

Renewal

Renew online

dlr.sd.gov⁷

2. Every license level except Apprentice Plumber (plumber's apprentice license)

Renewal

Continuing education

At least 4 hours each renewal period²¹

Exemptions

Exceptions/extensions for health, military service or other reasonable cause.²

3. Every license level except Restricted Plumber (restricted license) and Restricted Plumbing Contractor (restricted license)

Renewal

How often

Every year¹²

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Military plumbing counts toward experience at one year of credit for every two years served, up to five years; CE extensions for military service. The application asks about active-duty military spouses.²

4. Every license level except Plumber and Plumbing Contractor

From another state

5. Plumber, Apprentice Plumber (plumber's apprentice license) and Plumbing Contractor

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁷

6. Plumber, Third-year Apprentice Plumber (licensed by examination) and Plumbing Contractor

Requirements

Social Security number

Social Security number is mandatory on the application (child-support enforcement, 42 USC 666).³

How to apply

1. Collect experience verification signed by the licensed plumbing contractor(s) you worked under (you cannot verify your own hours).⁷ Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁷
2. Once approved, pay the exam fee and schedule the exam (Pierre by appointment, or a Rapid City/Sioux Falls session).⁸
3. After passing, pay the license fee; the commission emails the next steps and fees due.⁶

Renewal

Required topics

2 of the 4 hours must cover the plumbing code (board page).⁹

Approved courses

Commission-approved providers (board lists SDPHCC, IAPMO and online providers); out-of-state courses may be accepted if equal to SD requirements.⁹

7. Plumber and Plumbing Contractor

Requirements

Also required

New plumbing contractors and journeyman plumbers must receive 4 hours of potable-water-distribution training and 4 hours of drainage, waste and vent training in their first year.¹

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. Working in Sioux Falls? Also get the city license (city exam) after the state license.¹⁰

Renewal

When it expires

Expires annually on December 31.¹¹

If it expires

Working 60 or more days after expiry is subject to discipline.²

From another state

8. Apprentice Plumber (plumber's apprentice license) and Third-year Apprentice Plumber (licensed by examination)

Renewal

If it expires

Apprentices contact the office to reinstate.⁷

9. Restricted Plumber (restricted license) and Restricted Plumbing Contractor (restricted license)

What it covers

Plumbing only in rural areas or municipalities under 1,500 population (last federal census).¹

Requirements

Experience

The commission may waive certain licensing requirements for these applicants if they pass an exam on plumbing laws and rules; which requirements are waived is not specified.¹

Also required

Restricted licensees who did not pass a state-administered plumbing exam receive commission training on the plumbing code and laws.¹

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Contact the Plumbing Commission: restricted licenses are not listed on the board licensing page or application form; the statute lets the commission license applicants for rural areas and towns under 1,500 who pass its exam.¹

Who needs a Plumber license

Installs plumbing as an employee of, or under the direction of, a plumbing contractor.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• No license needed for plumbing in your own owner-occupied home (or a single-family home you are building to live in), or for plumbing repair work on your own property or where you are employed; homeowners still need a homeowner plumbing installation certificate and state inspections.¹³

Other rules on who may do this work:

• License required for plumbing on any property connected to a public water or sewer system.¹

Requirements for a Plumber license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 5, group 6 and group 7 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 1,020 clock hours²
Trade-school or apprenticeship route: graduates of an accredited 9-month plumbing program with at least 1,020 hours of instruction, or of a 3-year accredited association apprenticeship, may test after 3 years / 5,700 hours as an apprentice.²
Who may teach it: Accredited trade school or accredited association apprenticeship program.²

Experience

At least 4 years²
Four years as a licensed apprentice plumber with at least 1,900 hours each year (7,600 hours).⁶
Supervision: As an apprentice under the immediate and personal supervision of a plumbing contractor or plumber; hours verified by the contractor.¹
Substitute: Military plumbing counts toward experience at one year of credit for every two years served, up to five years; CE extensions for military service. The application asks about active-duty military spouses.²
Substitute: Trade school / 3-year apprenticeship graduates: 3 years and 5,700 hours.²

Exam

Plumber (journeyman) examination (3 parts, state plumbing code)²
Given by: State-administered by the Plumbing Commission (Pierre by appointment; sessions in Rapid City and Sioux Falls when enough applicants).⁸
Passing score: 70%²
When you can take it: Application and exam fee must be approved before scheduling.⁸
Part 1: state plumbing code questions, code allowed, 2 hours²
Part 2: state plumbing code questions, closed code, 2 hours²
Part 3: sizing stacks, wastes and vents on drawings, 1 hour (code allowed for contractor exam only)²
Retakes: May sit for the same license exam only once every three months; re-exam fee due at least 2 weeks before a Rapid City/Sioux Falls session.²

How to apply

1. Mail the Plumbing License Application (Plumber) with the non-refundable application fee ($50); incomplete applications expire after 30 days.³ Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁷

Temporary or provisional license

Temporary license ($50) valid three months or until you pass the exam, whichever comes first.²

Renewal and continuing education

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $255¹⁴ (expired license reinstated after January 31)

Apprentice Plumber license

Works for a plumbing contractor under the immediate and personal supervision of a contractor or plumber while learning the trade.¹

Requirements

Social Security number

SSN mandatory on the application.⁴

Also required

Application must name the plumbing contractor you will work under.²

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. Mail the Apprentice License Application naming your employing plumbing contractor, with the $20 non-refundable application fee.⁴ Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁷
2. When approved, you get an email with the license fee due; the license issues once it is paid.⁶
3. In Sioux Falls, also get the city apprentice license.¹⁵

Renewal

Renewal fee

$30 to $50² (By year of apprenticeship)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 3, group 4, group 5 and group 8 under Applies to every license level.

Third-year Apprentice Plumber

After 3,800 hours and passing the state exam, may work without immediate supervision, but only on single-family dwellings, while employed by a licensed plumbing contractor.²

Requirements

Experience

At least 3,800 hours of on-the-job training⁵
Two years as an apprentice plumber with at least 1,900 hours per year (3,800 hours).⁶

Exam

Third-year apprentice plumber state-administered examination⁶
Given by: State-administered by the Plumbing Commission.⁶
Retakes: Re-exam fee $50 each attempt.⁸

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. Mail the Plumbing License Application (3rd Year Apprentice Plumber) with the non-refundable application fee ($20); incomplete applications expire after 30 days.³ Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁷

Renewal

Renewal fee

$40 to $50² (By year of apprenticeship)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 6 and group 8 under Applies to every license level.

Restricted Plumber license

Requirements

Exam

Restricted Plumber examination (plumbing code, open code)²
Passing score: 70%²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 4 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

Plumbing Contractor

Plans, superintends and installs plumbing and may contract for plumbing installations and run a plumbing business; obtains plumbing installation certificates for jobs.¹

Requirements

Experience

At least 6 years⁶
Six years as a plumbing contractor, plumber or apprentice, at least two of them as a plumbing contractor or plumber, with at least 1,900 hours each year; experience must be licensed work experience.²
Supervision: Experience must be verified by the licensed plumbing contractor you worked under.⁵
License you must hold first: At least two of the six years as a licensed plumber or plumbing contractor (3,800 hours as plumber).⁵
Substitute: Military plumbing counts toward experience at one year of credit for every two years served, up to five years; CE extensions for military service. The application asks about active-duty military spouses.²

Exam

Plumbing contractor examination (3 parts, state plumbing code)²
Given by: State-administered by the Plumbing Commission (Pierre by appointment; sessions in Rapid City and Sioux Falls when enough applicants).⁸
Passing score: 80%²
When you can take it: Application and exam fee must be approved before scheduling.⁸
Part 1: state plumbing code questions, code allowed, 2 hours²
Part 2: state plumbing code questions, closed code, 2 hours²
Part 3: sizing stacks, wastes and vents on drawings, 1 hour (code allowed for contractor exam only)²
Retakes: May sit for the same license exam only once every three months; re-exam fee due at least 2 weeks before a Rapid City/Sioux Falls session.²

How to apply

1. Mail the Plumbing License Application (Plumbing Contractor) with the non-refundable application fee ($50); incomplete applications expire after 30 days.³ Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁷

Temporary or provisional license

Temporary license ($50) valid three months or until you pass the exam, whichever comes first; request it on the application.²

Renewal

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $425¹⁴ (expired license reinstated after January 31)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 5, group 6 and group 7 under Applies to every license level.

Restricted Plumbing Contractor license

Requirements

Exam

Restricted Plumbing Contractor examination (plumbing code, open code)²
Passing score: 80%²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 4 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Apprentice Plumber (plumber's apprentice license)Cities may add their own plumbing rules, inspections and fees (meeting the state code minimum); a state licensee may work in a city for six months after applying for a city permit or license. Sioux Falls requires a city license (with a city exam) for master plumber contractors, journeymen and apprentices on top of the state license.²

Check a license or report a problem

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

File a complaint

dlr.sd.gov¹⁷

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• SDCL ch. 36-25 (Plumbers)
• ARSD art. 20:53 (Plumbing Commission: licenses, CE, permits)
• ARSD ch. 20:53:12
• SDCL 36-25-17.1, 36-25-17.2

Common questions

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