How to get a Journeyman Plumber license in Vermont
Vermont licenses plumbers statewide through the Division of Fire Safety (DFS).1 For the Journeyman Plumber license you need at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training2 and a passing score on the Vermont Journeyman Plumber exam (Prov)3. The board lists $90 for the initial license2. You renew every 2 years1 and complete at least 8 hours of continuing education4.
Who issues it
Division of Fire Safety (DFS)
Training and experience
Experience: at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training2
Exam
Vermont Journeyman Plumber exam (Prov)3
On this page
- Vermont plumber licenses
- Applies to every license level
- Who needs a Journeyman Plumber license
- Requirements for a Journeyman Plumber license
- How much a Journeyman Plumber license costs
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to Vermont with a license from another state
- Specialist: P1 Water Heater, P2 Heating System, P1/P2, P3 Water Treatment license
- Master Plumber
- City and county rules
- Check a license or report a problem
- Laws and rules
- Rule changes since January 2024
- Common questions
- Plumber licenses in other states
Vermont plumber licenses
Vermont issues 3 plumber credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.
| License | What it covers | Training or experience | Exam | Application or license fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | Installs plumbing and water treatment or heating specialties under the direction of a master plumber; may supervise an apprentice employed by a master; may do all specialist work without a specialist license; may not act as a master plumber.4 | Experience 12,000 hours2 | Yes1 | $902 |
| Specialist (limited license): P1 Water Heater, P2 Heating System, P1/P2, P3 Water Treatment | Limited license for one or more specialty fields only: P1 water heaters and hot water supply tanks; P2 hydronic space heating systems (steam limited to 15 PSI); P3 potable water treatment and filtration equipment, well pressure tanks, pumps and municipal water meters. A specialist may make a supply connection to an existing water supply for testing but no other plumbing or heating work; a specialty business may employ only people licensed in that specialty.4 | Training 144 classroom hours2 Experience 2,000 hours2 | Yes1 | $504 |
| Master Plumber | As a business, designs and/or installs plumbing systems, hires or employs people to do plumbing work, or supervises journeymen and apprentices; may do all specialist (P1-P3) work without a specialist license.4 | Experience 12 months1 | Yes1 | $1202 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for several of the Vermont 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 3)
Requirements
- Social Security number
- Social Security Number is required on all applications; the application must be signed and notarized.2
- Also required
- Three references, unrelated to the applicant, who know the applicant's plumbing background.2
- Also required
- The license card must be carried at all times while working and shown on request.1
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $803 | Prov, Inc. | Not refundable |
| Exam retake fee | $803 | Prov, Inc. | – |
| License certificate | $101 | DFS | Optional certificate suitable for framing |
| Other fee | $803 | Prov, Inc. | The cost of the review is the same as the exam fees. Optional exam review (only if within 10 points of the 70% pass mark) |
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
- Complete the Vermont Energy Goals education module and keep the completion certificate for the application.5
- Fill in the paper application (all classes), get employer affidavits of experience and three references, sign it before a notary, and mail it with a check to DFS at least two weeks before a Board meeting.2 Form (PDF, firesafety.vermont.gov)5
- After Board approval, schedule the computer-based exam with Prov ($80) and pass with 70%; the state mails the license after a pass.3
- Application form
- Form (PDF, firesafety.vermont.gov)5
- Processing time
- Applications must reach DFS at least two weeks before a Plumbers' Examining Board meeting or they go on a later agenda; no processing time in days is published.2
Renewal
- How often
- Every 2 years1
- When it expires
- Licenses expire on the last day of a month designated by the Board and are valid two years; the renewal application and fee must reach the Department before the expiry date (DFS sends a renewal notice; the licensee must ask for a form if none arrives).1
- Continuing education
- At least 8 hours each renewal period4
- Required topics
- At least 2 of the 8 hours must be code review; a course counts for one renewal only.4
Vermont Energy Goals education module (not more than two hours) at initial licensure and every renewal (masters and journeymen need not repeat it for a specialty license).1 - Approved courses
- Courses must be Board-approved; sponsors submit content, hours, instructors (master plumber, engineer, plumbing inspector, vocational teacher or other acceptable person) and materials. DFS publishes a searchable list of approved plumbing CE.4
- Late renewal
- Reinstatement fee: $154 (renewal within 90 days after expiry)
- If it expires
- Within 90 days of expiry: renew with the renewal fee plus a $15 reinstatement fee.1
After 90 days the licensee must apply for reinstatement and appear before the Board.1 - Renew online
- vt.accessgov.com5
From another state
Military service members, veterans and spouses: Military: journeyman license without exam for service members and veterans (discharged no more than 2 years before applying) designated 12K Plumber with at least 8,000 hours and four years of active-duty field work; the Board must waive application fees for qualified military members and spouses on request. The application form also offers a "Reciprocal Military License" for master applicants (12K course + 12,000 hours), which the statute does not mention.2
2. Every license level except Specialist (limited license): P1 Water Heater, P2 Heating System, P1/P2, P3 Water Treatment
Requirements
- Also required
- Experience hours must be documented on notarized Employer Affidavit of Experience forms signed by a licensed master plumber.2
Who needs a Journeyman Plumber license
Installs plumbing and water treatment or heating specialties under the direction of a master plumber; may supervise an apprentice employed by a master; may do all specialist work without a specialist license; may not act as a master plumber.4
Work that does not need this license:
- Owners and their regular employees working in the owner-occupied, freestanding single-family dwelling or its accessory outbuildings need no license.1
- Also exempt: laboratory experimental systems; a property owner's regular maintenance employee; vocational-school training projects; manual-labour repairs on one's own property; farm buildings used only for agriculture/animal housing on owner-occupied farms; water-company employees working on supply pipes, meters or control valves.1
- The plumbing rules cover all public buildings and all buildings connected to a public water or sewer system; owner-occupied single-family homes not on public water or sewer are not covered.5
Other rules on who may do this work:
- Penalty for unlicensed plumbing work or advertising: fine of up to $1,000 per offense.1
Requirements for a Journeyman Plumber license
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.
- Education or training
- A plumbing apprenticeship with both instruction and work-process practice, verified by the Vermont Apprenticeship Council (certificate of completion), or equivalent training and experience acceptable to the Board.1
Who may teach it: Apprenticeship registered with the Vermont Apprenticeship Council; apprentices are supervised by a master or journeyman under Vermont Department of Labor apprenticeship guidelines.4
Alternative: Completed apprentices from elsewhere: documented instruction, training and experience acceptable to the Board, including at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training.2 - Experience
- At least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training2
Experience is part of the registered apprenticeship (no separate Vermont hour count in statute or rules). Non-Vermont completed apprentices: at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training, documented by master-plumber affidavits.2
Supervision: Apprentices work for, or under the direction of, a master plumber, supervised on the job by a master or journeyman.4 - Exam
- Vermont Journeyman Plumber exam (Prov)3
Given by: Prov, Inc. (third-party vendor); the exam is computer-based and costs $80.4
Passing score: 70%3
When you can take it: After Board approval of the application (apprenticeship completion or equivalent).1
80 questions, 3 hours3
Retakes: Two more attempts after a first failure (no waiting period, same fee); after three failed attempts the applicant must appear before the Board, which may recommend further education, training or tutoring before a fourth attempt.3
Exam waived: No exam for holders of an equivalent license from another state or municipality (reciprocity), applicants licensed elsewhere for 3 years (endorsement), or qualifying 12K military plumbers (journeyman).1
How much a Journeyman Plumber license costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $902 | DFS | Journeyman license, two-year term |
How to apply
- Complete a plumbing apprenticeship registered with the Vermont Apprenticeship Council and get its certificate of completion (or document equivalent training, including at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training).2
Renewal and continuing education
- Renewal fee
- $904 (Two-year renewal)
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your Vermont Journeyman Plumber license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to Vermont with a license from another state
These are the routes DFS publishes for the Journeyman Plumber license. The other plumber licenses have their own routes in their sections below.
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- Reciprocity: license without exam for a holder of an equivalent master, journeyman or specialty license from another state or municipality with equivalent standards that grants Vermont licensees a like exemption.1
- States on Vermont's list
- The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
- Conditions
- Proof of bona fide licensure: a state-issued certificate of licensure and letter of good standing (a printed copy of the license alone is not accepted), plus the Energy Goals module certificate.4
- Fee
- $901
- Route
- Universal license recognition
- What the board says
- Universal endorsement: the Board shall license masters, journeymen and specialists licensed in good standing in another US jurisdiction for at least three years, whether or not that jurisdiction meets the reciprocity test (the Board may ask for stricter rules for a specific jurisdiction).1
- Conditions
- The DFS application asks universal-license applicants for a certified letter of licensure from the issuing state, proof of schooling, documented experience (8,000 hours for journeyman, 12,000 hours for master) and a 2-hour Vermont code course.2
- Fee
- $901
- Route
- Exam waiver
- What the board says
- Service members and veterans designated 12K Plumber (or equivalent) with at least 8,000 hours and four years of active-duty field work get a journeyman license without exam (veterans: discharged no more than two years before applying).1
- Conditions
- Submit the DD-214, the 12K course completion (or equivalent) and proof of 8,000 hours.2
- Fee
- $901
Specialist: P1 Water Heater, P2 Heating System, P1/P2, P3 Water Treatment license
Limited license for one or more specialty fields only: P1 water heaters and hot water supply tanks; P2 hydronic space heating systems (steam limited to 15 PSI); P3 potable water treatment and filtration equipment, well pressure tanks, pumps and municipal water meters. A specialist may make a supply connection to an existing water supply for testing but no other plumbing or heating work; a specialty business may employ only people licensed in that specialty.4
Requirements
- Education or training
- At least 144 classroom hours2
P1/P2: registered apprenticeship with the Vermont State Apprenticeship Council with a Department of Labor completion certificate covering 2,000 hours, or at least 144 hours (one year of school) of formal instruction with the 4,000-hour route.2
Who may teach it: Specialty classes are provided by the Department of Labor or others.1 - Education or training
- P3: successful completion of a Board-certified education course on water treatment (with 4,000 hours), or other instruction, training and experience acceptable to the Board.2
- Experience
- At least 2,000 hours of on-the-job training2
P1/P2 route A: registered apprentice with 2,000 hours of experience covered by a Vermont Department of Labor completion certificate.2 - Experience
- At least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training2
P1/P2 route B: 4,000 on-the-job training hours documented by affidavits from a P1/P2 specialist or master plumber, plus at least 144 hours of formal instruction.2 - Experience
- At least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training2
P3: 4,000 hours of experience documented by affidavits from a P3 specialist or master plumber, plus the water treatment course.2 - Exam
- Vermont specialist exams (Prov): P1 Water Heater, P2 Heating System, P1/P2 Water Heater/Heating System, P3 Water Treatment3
Given by: Prov, Inc. (third-party vendor); the exam is computer-based and costs $80.4
Passing score: 70%3
When you can take it: After Board approval of the application.1
P1 Vermont Water Heater Specialist3
P2 Vermont Heating System Specialist3
P3 Vermont Water Treatment Specialist3
Retakes: Two more attempts after a first failure (no waiting period, same fee); after three failed attempts the applicant must appear before the Board, which may recommend further education, training or tutoring before a fourth attempt.3
Exam waived: No exam for holders of an equivalent license from another state or municipality (reciprocity), applicants licensed elsewhere for 3 years (endorsement), or qualifying 12K military plumbers (journeyman).1
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $504 | DFS | Per specialty field (P1/P2 together = two fields); masters and journeymen pay no specialist fees |
How to apply
- Complete the training route for your field (P1/P2: registered apprenticeship with 2,000 hours, or 4,000 hours plus 144 hours of instruction; P3: 4,000 hours plus a Board-certified water treatment course).2
Renewal
- Renewal fee
- $504 (Two-year renewal, per specialty field)
From another state
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- Reciprocity: license without exam for a holder of an equivalent master, journeyman or specialty license from another state or municipality with equivalent standards that grants Vermont licensees a like exemption.1
- States on Vermont's list
- The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
- Conditions
- Proof of bona fide licensure: a state-issued certificate of licensure and letter of good standing (a printed copy of the license alone is not accepted), plus the Energy Goals module certificate.4
- Fee
- $501
- Route
- Universal license recognition
- What the board says
- Universal endorsement: the Board shall license masters, journeymen and specialists licensed in good standing in another US jurisdiction for at least three years, whether or not that jurisdiction meets the reciprocity test (the Board may ask for stricter rules for a specific jurisdiction).1
- Conditions
- The DFS application asks universal-license applicants for a certified letter of licensure from the issuing state, proof of schooling, documented experience (8,000 hours for journeyman, 12,000 hours for master) and a 2-hour Vermont code course.2
- Fee
- $501
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.
Master Plumber
As a business, designs and/or installs plumbing systems, hires or employs people to do plumbing work, or supervises journeymen and apprentices; may do all specialist (P1-P3) work without a specialist license.4
Requirements
- Experience
- At least 12 months1
Hold a Vermont journeyman plumber license for at least 12 months (or document equivalent training and experience in or outside Vermont acceptable to the Board).1
License you must hold first: Vermont Journeyman Plumber2 - Experience
- At least 1 year2
Alternative on the DFS application: licensed outside Vermont for 1 year at a level equal to a Vermont journeyman, with proof of schooling and experience.2 - Experience
- At least 14,000 hours of on-the-job training2
Alternative on the DFS application: documented instruction, training and experience acceptable to the Board, including at least 14,000 hours of experience.2 - Exam
- Vermont Master Plumber exam (Prov)3
Given by: Prov, Inc. (third-party vendor); the exam is computer-based and costs $80.4
Passing score: 70%3
When you can take it: After Board approval of the application (journeyman license held 12 months or equivalent).1
97 questions, 3 hours3
Retakes: Two more attempts after a first failure (no waiting period, same fee); after three failed attempts the applicant must appear before the Board, which may recommend further education, training or tutoring before a fourth attempt.3
Exam waived: No exam for holders of an equivalent license from another state or municipality (reciprocity), applicants licensed elsewhere for 3 years (endorsement), or qualifying 12K military plumbers (journeyman).1
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $1202 | DFS | Master license, two-year term |
How to apply
- Hold a Vermont journeyman plumber license for at least 12 months (or document equivalent out-of-state licensure/experience).2
Renewal
- Renewal fee
- $1204 (Two-year renewal)
From another state
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- Reciprocity: license without exam for a holder of an equivalent master, journeyman or specialty license from another state or municipality with equivalent standards that grants Vermont licensees a like exemption.1
- States on Vermont's list
- The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
- Conditions
- Proof of bona fide licensure: a state-issued certificate of licensure and letter of good standing (a printed copy of the license alone is not accepted), plus the Energy Goals module certificate.4
- Fee
- $1201
- Route
- Universal license recognition
- What the board says
- Universal endorsement: the Board shall license masters, journeymen and specialists licensed in good standing in another US jurisdiction for at least three years, whether or not that jurisdiction meets the reciprocity test (the Board may ask for stricter rules for a specific jurisdiction).1
- Conditions
- The DFS application asks universal-license applicants for a certified letter of licensure from the issuing state, proof of schooling, documented experience (8,000 hours for journeyman, 12,000 hours for master) and a 2-hour Vermont code course.2
- Fee
- $1201
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.
City and county rules
Journeyman PlumberNo local plumber licenses. Municipalities may run Board-approved plumbing inspection programs (master-plumber inspectors, standards at least equal to the state's) and charge their own inspection fees in place of state fees; Burlington requires plumbing permits through its Trades Division alongside zoning approval.1
| City or county | What it requires | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington | Plumbing permit (with building/electrical/mechanical permits) through the Trades Division online permit system; zoning approval first.6 | Official page6 |
Check a license or report a problem
Before you hire a plumber in Vermont, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Vermont is on the Vermont license lookup page.
- Look up a license
- data.vermont.gov5
- File a complaint
- vtdfs.powerappsportals.us5
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
Rule changes since January 2024
- November 4, 2025: 2025 edition of the Vermont Plumbing Rules took effect (adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code with Vermont amendments; licensing sections 8-11 restate the statute, 8-hour CE with 2 hours of code review, and universal licensing documentation).4
Common questions
How long does it take to get a Journeyman Plumber license in Vermont?
Can I transfer my plumber license to Vermont?
DFS publishes these routes for the Journeyman Plumber license: reciprocity agreements1, universal license recognition1 and exam waiver1. Conditions and forms.
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
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- 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.
- 26 V.S.A. chapter 39 (Plumbers and Plumbing), full chapterVermont General AssemblyChecked November 7, 2026
- Plumbing License Applications - All ClassesVermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire SafetyChecked November 7, 2026
- 2026 PROV Bulletin (candidate bulletin for Vermont trade license exams)Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire SafetyDated January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Vermont Plumbing Rules, 2025 Edition (V2)Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire SafetyDated November 4, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- DFS Plumbing licensing pageVermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire SafetyChecked November 7, 2026
- Construction PermitsCity of Burlington, Department of Permitting & InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026