Plumber License in Virginia — Requirements, Fees & Exam

How to get licensed as a plumber in Virginia: PSI exam, renewed every three years — verified from official sources.

Source-verified

Requirements below are drawn from Virginia Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR) (official site) and last verified October 9, 2026. Boards change fees and rules often — confirm before acting.

At a glance

Residential Plumber Tradesman (PLB) - an individual license for plumbing work in dwellings and townhouses only (available since April 1, 2025)

Experience: 18VAC50-30-39 A (effective April 1, 2025) - ONE of these education-plus-experience pairs: 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade AND two years of practical experience; OR 120 hours AND three years… details below
Exam: PSI Residential Plumber examination: 50 items, passing score 35, 120 minutes (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin dated 7/23/2026). Open book.
Fee: $171.75 application fee to DPOR (A501-2709EXLIC-v3, 07/01/2026) plus a $100 examination fee paid directly to PSI.

Journeyman Plumber (PLB tradesman license, journeyman level)

Experience: 18VAC50-30-39 B - ONE of these education-plus-experience pairs: a bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade AND one year of practical experience… full text
18VAC50-30-39 B - ONE of these education-plus-experience pairs: a bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade AND one year of practical experience; OR an associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field AND two years; OR 240 hours of formal vocational training AND four years; OR 160 hours AND five years; OR 80 hours AND six years; OR 40 hours AND seven years; OR no vocational training AND eight years of practical experience. Other routes on the live application (A501-2710EXLIC-v8, 07/01/2026): completion of a registered apprenticeship program (Virginia or another state); exchange of a locality-issued card from before July 1, 1978 or a Department of Housing and Community Development card from before July 1, 1995; and an out-of-state journeyman or master license. Up to 40 hours of board-approved continuing education can count toward the formal vocational training (18VAC50-30-48).
Exam: PSI Journeyman/Master Plumber examination: 80 items, passing score 60, 210 minutes (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin dated 7/23/2026)… details below
Fee: $171.75 application fee to DPOR by examination, reciprocity or apprenticeship program; $131.75 by card exchange (A501-2710EXLIC-v8, 07/01/2026); plus a $100 examination fee paid to PSI where an exam is taken.

Master Plumber (PLB tradesman license, master level)

Experience: 18VAC50-30-39 D - ONE of: (1) "Having held a valid residential HVAC tradesman or residential plumber tradesman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for three years"… full text
18VAC50-30-39 D - ONE of: (1) "Having held a valid residential HVAC tradesman or residential plumber tradesman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for three years"; OR (2) "Having held a valid journeyman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for a minimum of one year"; OR (3) "Nine years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired." The live application adds a route for an out-of-state journeyman or master license holder. The apprenticeship-program route is not offered for the master level (the Apprenticeship Program box is greyed out for every Master designation on A501-2710EXLIC-v8).
Exam: PSI Journeyman/Master Plumber examination: 80 items, passing score 60, 210 minutes (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin dated 7/23/2026). Open book.
Fee: $171.75 application fee to DPOR by examination or reciprocity, or $131.75 by card exchange… details below

Plumbing contractor (PLB) - a Class A, B or C contractor license held by the business, not by the individual

Experience: A firm doing plumbing contracting needs a Board for Contractors license, and for the PLB classification its qualified individual must hold a "Master plumber tradesman license issued by the Board for Contractors"… details below
Exam: The PLB classification adds no further trade exam: 18VAC50-22-61 lists the master plumber tradesman license as the prerequisite and marks the board-approved examination column No. Class A and Class B firms must also… details below
Fee: Initial license fee on the live application (A501-27LIC-v18, 08/01/2026): Class A $439.50, Class B $419.50, Class C $274.50, each marked with the form's 2026 House Bill 30 Technology Fee footnote… details below

Issuing agency: Virginia Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR) Official site
How to apply: Official application page
Renewal: Three years. 18VAC50-30-120 A: licenses issued to plumbers and the other listed tradesmen "will expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license." The statute words… full text
Three years. 18VAC50-30-120 A: licenses issued to plumbers and the other listed tradesmen "will expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license." The statute words it as "A license for a tradesman shall be valid for three years from the date of issuance." (Va. Code 54.1-1132; three-year cycle since 2018 Acts c. 750 and the Board's rule effective January 1, 2019). Renewal fee $160 (18VAC50-30-120 G). There is a 30-day window after expiration to renew without the reinstatement fee, but the license is expired during it - the Board's FAQ: "You CANNOT continue to practice in Virginia after your license/certificate has expired." After 30 days the reinstatement fee ($210) applies, and "A license or certification may be reinstated for up to 24 months following the expiration date of the license or certification." (18VAC50-30-130 D); after that the person must apply as a new applicant, and "Such individual will be deemed eligible to sit for the examination for the same category and specialty of license as the expired license" (18VAC50-30-130 D). The Board's FAQ says it has no inactive or retired status for these licenses: "If you do not complete the requirements, you will be unable to renew your license." Online renewal on the Tradesmen page is marked "*available only for contractor firms and RBEA firms, not individual licenses"; individuals return the mailed renewal card with payment or send a credit card payment form.
Continuing education: Three hours per renewal for the plumbing designation, from a board-approved provider, covering the current International Plumbing Code. 18VAC50-30-120 C: "all individuals holding tradesman licenses with the trade… details below

Every requirement in the agency's own words: Requirements in detail, below.

Legal basis

Code of Virginia Title 54.1, Chapter 11, Article 3 (§§ 54.1-1128 to 54.1-1135) - Tradesmen, Backflow Prevention Device Workers, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Fitters
Code of Virginia §§ 54.1-1100 to 54.1-1117 - Contractors (licensing of the business, classes A/B/C, chapter-wide exemptions)
Code of Virginia § 54.1-205 - Universal license recognition
18VAC50-30 - Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations
18VAC50-22 - Board for Contractors Regulations (contractor firms; PLB classification)
2026 House Bill 30 - DPOR Technology Fee of $7.25 per year, July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 (as stated by DPOR on the Tradesmen page and on each application form)

Virginia Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR) administers plumber licensing in Virginia. Every figure below is verified against the board’s own official pages and dated. Who must personally hold a credential — the contractor, the business, or the individual worker — is set out under Requirements.

What it’s called

Virginia calls the plumber’s credential a tradesman license with the plumbing (PLB) trade designation, issued by the Board for Contractors through DPOR at three levels: Residential Plumber Tradesman, Journeyman Plumbing and Master Plumbing. A search for a Virginia plumbing license, a VA plumber license, a Virginia journeyman plumber license or a Virginia master plumber license maps to these individual licenses. A Virginia plumbing contractor license is a different credential: a Class A, B or C contractor license in the Plumbing contractors (PLB) classification, held by the business, whose qualified individual must hold a master plumber tradesman license. Gas piping needs a separate gas fitting designation. The backflow prevention device worker certificate is a separate, voluntary state certification.

License types & fees

Type	Experience	Exam	Fee
Residential Plumber Tradesman (PLB) - an individual license for plumbing work in dwellings and townhouses only (available since April 1, 2025)	18VAC50-30-39 A (effective April 1, 2025) - ONE of these education-plus-experience pairs: 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade AND two years of practical experience; OR 120 hours AND three years; OR 80 hours AND four years; OR 40 hours AND five years; OR no vocational training AND six years of practical experience. The live Residential Tradesman Exam & License Application (A501-2709EXLIC-v3, 07/01/2026) lists the same five routes, plus a route for "Individuals currently certified or licensed as a Residential Tradesman by a governing body outside the Commonwealth of Virginia". Scope limit (18VAC50-30-10): the license covers dwellings and townhouses as defined in the Virginia Residential Code; "It does not include commercial, industrial, institutional, or government-use structures outside of dwellings and townhouses."	PSI Residential Plumber examination: 50 items, passing score 35, 120 minutes (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin dated 7/23/2026). Open book.	$171.75 application fee to DPOR (A501-2709EXLIC-v3, 07/01/2026) plus a $100 examination fee paid directly to PSI.
Journeyman Plumber (PLB tradesman license, journeyman level)	18VAC50-30-39 B - ONE of these education-plus-experience pairs: a bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade AND one year of practical experience; OR an associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field AND two years; OR 240 hours of formal vocational training AND four years; OR 160 hours AND five years; OR 80 hours AND six years; OR 40 hours AND seven years; OR no vocational training AND eight years of practical experience. Other routes on the live application (A501-2710EXLIC-v8, 07/01/2026): completion of a registered apprenticeship program (Virginia or another state); exchange of a locality-issued card from before July 1, 1978 or a Department of Housing and Community Development card from before July 1, 1995; and an out-of-state journeyman or master license. Up to 40 hours of board-approved continuing education can count toward the formal vocational training (18VAC50-30-48).	PSI Journeyman/Master Plumber examination: 80 items, passing score 60, 210 minutes (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin dated 7/23/2026). Open book. Completion of an apprenticeship approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement exempts the applicant from the journeyman examination (Va. Code 54.1-1131 A 3; 18VAC50-30-50 B).	$171.75 application fee to DPOR by examination, reciprocity or apprenticeship program; $131.75 by card exchange (A501-2710EXLIC-v8, 07/01/2026); plus a $100 examination fee paid to PSI where an exam is taken.
Master Plumber (PLB tradesman license, master level)	18VAC50-30-39 D - ONE of: (1) "Having held a valid residential HVAC tradesman or residential plumber tradesman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for three years"; OR (2) "Having held a valid journeyman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for a minimum of one year"; OR (3) "Nine years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired." The live application adds a route for an out-of-state journeyman or master license holder. The apprenticeship-program route is not offered for the master level (the Apprenticeship Program box is greyed out for every Master designation on A501-2710EXLIC-v8).	PSI Journeyman/Master Plumber examination: 80 items, passing score 60, 210 minutes (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin dated 7/23/2026). Open book.	$171.75 application fee to DPOR by examination or reciprocity, or $131.75 by card exchange (the Card Exchange cell is open on the Master Plumbing row; only the Apprenticeship Program cell is greyed) (A501-2710EXLIC-v8, 07/01/2026); the form's card exchange question covers "a tradesman card issued by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development prior to July 1, 1995 or a tradesman card issued by any local governing body prior to July 1, 1978"; an existing Virginia licensee upgrading to master pays $171.75 (Additional Designation & License Upgrade Application A501-2710_ADDLIC-v6, 07/01/2026); plus a $125 examination fee paid to PSI.
Plumbing contractor (PLB) - a Class A, B or C contractor license held by the business, not by the individual	A firm doing plumbing contracting needs a Board for Contractors license, and for the PLB classification its qualified individual must hold a "Master plumber tradesman license issued by the Board for Contractors" (18VAC50-22-61). The qualified individual's minimum experience in the classification or specialty depends on the class: one year for Class C (18VAC50-22-40 B 2), three years for Class B (18VAC50-22-50 C 2) and five years for Class A (18VAC50-22-60 C 2); the live contractor application states the same: "Must have the minimum years of experience in the classification or specialty – 1 year for a Class C license, 3 years for a Class B license and 5 years for a Class A license" (A501-27LIC-v18, 08/01/2026). A member of the responsible management must complete a board-approved basic business course (18VAC50-22-40 F). The license class follows contract value (Va. Code 54.1-1100): Class C "over $1,000 but less than $30,000" per contract (or under $250,000 in 12 months), Class B at least $30,000 but less than $150,000 per contract (or at least $250,000 but less than $1 million in 12 months), Class A $150,000 or more per contract (or $1 million or more in 12 months). "Class A applicants must document $45,000 in net worth/equity. Class B applicants must document $15,000 in net worth/equity." (A501-27LIC-v18).	The PLB classification adds no further trade exam: 18VAC50-22-61 lists the master plumber tradesman license as the prerequisite and marks the board-approved examination column No. Class A and Class B firms must also name a designated employee who "Has passed a board-approved examination ... or has been exempted from the examination requirement in accordance with § 54.1-1108.1" (18VAC50-22-50 B, 18VAC50-22-60 B). The live contractor application: "Class A and Class B contractors must have a Designated Employee who has passed the required portions of the examination"; "All Designated Employees for Class B licenses must successfully complete the General and Virginia portions of the examination. All Designated Employees for Class A licenses must successfully complete the General, Virginia, and Advanced portions of the examination. Please note that there is no Designated Employee for Class C licenses." The firm's other entry requirements (basic business course, financial and disclosure requirements) also apply.	Initial license fee on the live application (A501-27LIC-v18, 08/01/2026): Class A $439.50, Class B $419.50, Class C $274.50, each marked with the form's 2026 House Bill 30 Technology Fee footnote; the form adds that the license fee "may be adjusted per designation selection". The form's figures for the PLB classification include the Contractor's Recovery Fund fee: "When applying for Commercial Building or Commercial Improvement only, the Contractor's Recovery Fund fee is not required and you're application fee is $414.50 for Class A, $394.50 for Class B and $249.50 for Class C", and "Contractor's Recovery fund fee is required for all other classification/specialty designations." The regulation's base fees are Class C $235, Class B $380, Class A $400 (18VAC50-22-100).

Who does NOT need this license — exemptions

Virginia’s carve-outs sit in the tradesman article (Va. Code 54.1-1129 and 54.1-1131), in the chapter-wide exemptions of 54.1-1101, and in the exam exemptions of 54.1-1131 A and 18VAC50-30-50. They are quoted in full below.

(0) SCOPE OF THE LICENSING DUTY - the licence requirement in 54.1-1129 A attaches to “work as a tradesman as defined in § 54.1-1128”, and 54.1-1128 reads: “Tradesman” means any individual who engages in, or offers to engage in, work for the general public for compensation in the trades of electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

(1) SUPERVISED HELPERS - 54.1-1129 A: “Individuals shall not be subject to licensure as a tradesman when working under the supervision of a tradesman who is licensed in the specialty for which work is being performed.”

(2) INCIDENTAL WORK IN ANOTHER TRADE - 54.1-1129 A: “Individuals holding a license in one specialty shall not be required to have a tradesman license in another specialty when performing work which is incidental to work being performed under their own specialty license.” 18VAC50-30-10 defines Incidental as work “that is necessary for that particular repair or installation and is outside the scope of practice allowed to the regulant by this chapter.”

(3) VESSELS AND SMALL SINGLE-FAMILY JOBS - 54.1-1131 C: “The provisions of this article shall not apply to any individual who is performing work on (i) any ship, boat, barge or other floating vessel or (ii) a single-family residence where the value of the work performed is less than $250 and such individual does not hold himself out to the general public as a tradesman.”

(4) CHAPTER-WIDE EXEMPTIONS - 54.1-1101 A (these apply to the whole of Chapter 11, which includes the tradesman article): “A. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to: 1. Any governmental agency performing work with its own forces; 2. Work bid upon or undertaken for the armed services of the United States under the Armed Services Procurement Act; 3. Work bid upon or undertaken for the United States government on land under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government either by statute or deed of cession; 4. Work bid upon or undertaken for the Department of Transportation on the construction, reconstruction, repair, or improvement of any highway or bridge; 5. Any other persons who may be specifically excluded by other laws but only to such an extent as such laws provide; 6. Any material supplier who renders advice concerning use of products sold and who does not provide construction or installation services; 7. Any person who performs or supervises the construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by him and for his own use during any 24-month period; 8. Any person who performs or supervises the construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a house upon his own real property as a bona fide gift to a member of his immediate family provided such member lives in the house. For purposes of this section, “immediate family” includes one’s mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandchild, grandparent, mother-in-law, and father-in-law; 9. Any person who performs or supervises the repair or improvement of industrial or manufacturing facilities, or a commercial or retail building, for his own use; 10. Any person who performs or supervises the repair or improvement of residential dwelling units owned by him that are subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§ 55.1-1200 et seq.); 11. Any owner-developer, provided that any third-party purchaser is made a third-party beneficiary to the contract between the owner-developer and a licensed contractor whereby the contractor’s obligation to perform the contract extends to both the owner-developer and the third party; 12. Work undertaken by students as part of a career and technical education project as defined in § 22.1-228 established by any school board in accordance with Article 5 (§ 22.1-228 et seq.) of Chapter 13 of Title 22.1 for the construction of portable classrooms or single family homes; 13. Any person who performs the removal of building detritus or provides janitorial, cleaning, or sanitizing services incidental to the construction, removal, repair, or improvement of real property; 14. Any person who is performing work directly under the supervision of a licensed contractor and is (i) a student in good standing and enrolled in a public or private institution of higher education, (ii) a student enrolled in a career training or technical education program, or (iii) an apprentice as defined in § 2.2-2043; and 15. Work undertaken by a person providing construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, or demolition valued at $25,000 or less per project on behalf of a properly licensed contractor, provided that such contractor holds a valid license in the (i) residential building, (ii) commercial building, or (iii) home improvement building contractor classification. However, any construction services that require an individual license or certification shall be rendered only by an individual licensed or certified in accordance with this chapter.” Conditions on those exemptions - 54.1-1101 C: “Any person who is exempt from the provisions of this chapter as a result of subdivision 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 14 of subsection A shall comply with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (§ 36-97 et seq.).” 54.1-1101 B requires a person exempt under subdivision A 7, 10, 11 or 12 to obtain a certificate of occupancy before conveying the property to a third-party purchaser unless the purchaser acknowledges in writing that none was issued.

(5) WATER WELLS - 54.1-1129 D (water well systems work otherwise needs a water well certification): “Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit licensed plumbing tradesman from (i) completing work contained in the applicable plumbing code, or (ii) performing normal maintenance and repair on large-diameter bored or hand-dug water table wells provided such wells are 100 feet or less in depth and the work is being performed for an entity granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.”

EXAM EXEMPTIONS (the license is still required; only the exam is waived). 54.1-1131 A: “An individual certified or licensed by any one of the following agencies shall not be required to fulfill the examination requirement specified in § 54.1-1130 for a tradesman license: 1. The Board of Housing and Community Development prior to July 1, 1995. 2. Any local governing body prior to July 1, 1978. 3. An apprenticeship program that is approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.” 18VAC50-30-50 B: “An individual who successfully completes an apprenticeship program approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement as outlined in § 54.1-1131 A 3 of the Code of Virginia, as evidenced by providing a certificate of completion or other official document, is exempt from the journeyman examination.”

Fees

Fees are taken from the live DPOR forms, which are higher than the base fees in the regulation because of the Technology Fee. The DPOR Tradesmen page: “Effective July 1, 2026, certain fees include a separate Technology Fee of $7.25 per year, pursuant to 2026’s House Bill 30. This fee will remain in place through June 30, 2030 and is used solely to upgrade or replace DPOR’s software system.” APPLICATION (paid to DPOR, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia, nonrefundable): journeyman or master plumber by examination, reciprocity or apprenticeship program $171.75; by card exchange $131.75 (Tradesman Exam & License Application A501-2710EXLIC-v8, 07/01/2026); residential plumber by examination $171.75 (A501-2709EXLIC-v3, 07/01/2026); Universal License Recognition $171.75 (A501-2710ULR-v4, 07/01/2026); adding a designation to an existing license $105.00 and upgrading to master $171.75 (A501-2710_ADDLIC-v6, 07/01/2026). The regulation’s base fees are $150 for an original tradesman license by examination or without examination, $110 for card exchange and $105 for an additional designation (18VAC50-30-90 B, last amended effective August 1, 2025). EXAMINATION (paid to PSI): Journeyman Plumber $100, Master Plumber $125, Residential Plumber $100. RENEWAL: $160 for a tradesman license and REINSTATEMENT $210, which “Includes renewal fee” (18VAC50-30-120 G and 18VAC50-30-130 B). DPOR does not post a payable renewal amount online, so whether the Technology Fee is added to the $160 renewal could not be confirmed from a published source. CONTRACTOR LICENSE (business): Class A $439.50, Class B $419.50, Class C $274.50 on A501-27LIC-v18 (08/01/2026).

Exam

Administered by PSI after Board approval (“Pre-approval from the Board is required to sit for the exam.”). PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for DPOR individual licenses (dated 7/23/2026): the Journeyman/Master Plumber portion is 80 items, passing score 60, 210 minutes; the Residential Plumber portion is 50 items, passing score 35, 120 minutes. “All examinations are open book.” Candidates bring their own references, which may be highlighted, underlined and permanently tabbed but not written in. Code references: the International Plumbing Code, 2021, plus the Board’s Individual License and Certification Regulations. Fees paid to PSI: Journeyman Plumber $100, Master Plumber $125, Residential Plumber $100 (PSI bulletin; the DPOR Tradesmen page gives the same $100 journeyman and $125 master amounts and does not list the residential exam). The regulation caps them: “The current examination will not exceed a cost of $200 for the journeyman exam, $225 for the master exam for any of the trades” (18VAC50-30-100, amended effective March 11, 2026). “THE EXAMINATION FEE IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF PAYMENT.” Retakes: “unsuccessful candidates may be able to retest within two business days”, depending on space. Test centers listed by DPOR: Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Vienna and Virginia Beach, VA; Johnson City, TN; Salisbury, MD. PSI lists the journeyman and master plumber exams for test-center or live online-proctored delivery, and the residential plumber exam for test-center delivery only. Exemptions from the exam: Va. Code 54.1-1131 A and 18VAC50-30-50 (quoted under exemptions).

Renewal & continuing education

Three years. 18VAC50-30-120 A: licenses issued to plumbers and the other listed tradesmen “will expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license.” The statute words it as “A license for a tradesman shall be valid for three years from the date of issuance.” (Va. Code 54.1-1132; three-year cycle since 2018 Acts c. 750 and the Board’s rule effective January 1, 2019). Renewal fee $160 (18VAC50-30-120 G). There is a 30-day window after expiration to renew without the reinstatement fee, but the license is expired during it - the Board’s FAQ: “You CANNOT continue to practice in Virginia after your license/certificate has expired.” After 30 days the reinstatement fee ($210) applies, and “A license or certification may be reinstated for up to 24 months following the expiration date of the license or certification.” (18VAC50-30-130 D); after that the person must apply as a new applicant, and “Such individual will be deemed eligible to sit for the examination for the same category and specialty of license as the expired license” (18VAC50-30-130 D). The Board’s FAQ says it has no inactive or retired status for these licenses: “If you do not complete the requirements, you will be unable to renew your license.” Online renewal on the Tradesmen page is marked “*available only for contractor firms and RBEA firms, not individual licenses”; individuals return the mailed renewal card with payment or send a credit card payment form. Three hours per renewal for the plumbing designation, from a board-approved provider, covering the current International Plumbing Code. 18VAC50-30-120 C: “all individuals holding tradesman licenses with the trade designations of plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and cooling must satisfactorily complete three hours of continuing education for each designation” … “relating to the applicable building code changes, from a provider approved by the board.” 18VAC50-30-220 A: “for plumbing tradesmen, the International Plumbing Code”. A licensee holding both journeyman and master plumbing needs one course, not two; a licensee with plumbing and gas fitting designations needs courses for each (DPOR Tradesmen FAQ). The Board grants 3 credit hours “regardless of how long the course is”. Providers report completions to the Board “within seven days of the completion of each individual course” (18VAC50-30-230). The Board’s approved-provider list: “You will be required to complete the continuing education requirements during each three-year renewal period of your license.” “There is no grandfather provision for continuing education.” Residential plumber tradesmen hold a PLB designation; 18VAC50-30-120 C does not single them out.

How to apply

Applications are handled by Virginia Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR). Start at the official application page .

Requirements in detail

Who must hold a credential
Virginia licenses the INDIVIDUAL plumber. The Board's tradesman instructions say: "Tradesman licenses are issued to INDIVIDUALS, not companies." The Board's page says: "The Board for Contractors regulates individual tradesmen who engage in the trades of electrical; plumbing; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); gas fitting; water well construction; elevator mechanics; backflow prevention; and building energy analysis." The statute (Va. Code 54.1-1129 A): "no individual shall engage in, or offer to engage in, work as a tradesman as defined in § 54.1-1128 unless he has been licensed under the provisions of this article." Va. Code 54.1-1128 defines the term: "Tradesman" means any individual who engages in, or offers to engage in, work for the general public for compensation in the trades of electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The Board's regulation adopts that definition (18VAC50-30-10 A: "Section 54.1-1128 of the Code of Virginia provides definitions of the following terms and phrases as used in this chapter", listing "Tradesman"). A helper needs no license of their own while supervised: "Individuals shall not be subject to licensure as a tradesman when working under the supervision of a tradesman who is licensed in the specialty for which work is being performed." A business that contracts plumbing work also needs a contractor license (see below).
Contractor license for jobs over $1,000
Every tradesman application carries this line: "Any applicant performing work over $1,000 must contact the Board for Contractors to obtain a Virginia Contractors License." Va. Code 54.1-1103 A: "No person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed under the provisions of this chapter." For plumbing contractors, 54.1-1100 adds: "The Board shall require a master tradesmen license as a condition of licensure for electrical, plumbing, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors." The plumbing contractor (PLB) classification "does not provide for (i) gas piping or (ii) the function of fire sprinkler contracting except for sprinklers that are tied into the domestic water supply" (18VAC50-22-20).
Age and identification
"The applicant must be at least 18 years of age." (18VAC50-30-30). The application requires a copy of a government-issued ID and a Social Security number or a Virginia DMV control number: "State law requires every applicant for a license, certificate, registration or other authorization to engage in a business, trade, profession or occupation issued by the Commonwealth to provide a social security number or a control number issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles." (A501-2710EXLIC-v8).
Experience and vocational training
Each level has its own table in 18VAC50-30-39 (effective April 1, 2025) and every row pairs education with experience - more training means fewer years. Residential plumber: two to six years of practical experience depending on vocational hours (160, 120, 80, 40 or none). Journeyman: one to eight years depending on education (an engineering bachelor's degree, a two-year associate degree or certificate, or 240, 160, 80, 40 or no hours of formal vocational training). Master: three years holding a residential plumber license, OR one year holding a journeyman license, OR nine years of practical experience. Experience is verified by "reference letters of experience from: building officials, building inspectors, current or former employers, contractors, engineers, architects, or current or past clients attesting to the applicant's work in the trade" (18VAC50-30-47 A). Vocational training must come from "accredited colleges, universities, junior and community colleges; adult distributive, marketing and formal vocational training as defined in this chapter; Virginia Apprenticeship Council programs; or proprietary schools approved by the Virginia Department of Education" (18VAC50-30-200 A).
Board pre-approval before the exam
"Pre-approval from the Board is required to sit for the exam." (DPOR Tradesmen page). PSI's bulletin: "All candidates will need to have satisfactorily completed all education and work experience set by the Board for Contractors prior to applying for the examination." An application not completed within 12 months must be filed again: "An individual who fails to complete the application process within 12 months of receipt of the application in the board's office must submit a new application." (18VAC50-30-25 C).
Criminal history and prior discipline
Under 18VAC50-30-30, "each applicant must disclose any conviction in any jurisdiction of any felony or non-marijuana misdemeanor" and must report any action taken against a license in any jurisdiction; the Board may deny licensure in its discretion, with review available under the Administrative Process Act. The application asks separately about felonies and non-marijuana misdemeanors and routes yes answers to the Criminal Conviction Reporting Form.
Unlicensed practice
Va. Code 54.1-1135 A: "Practicing or attempting to practice as a tradesman, liquefied petroleum gas fitter or natural gas fitter provider in the Commonwealth, except as provided for in this article, is prohibited and shall constitute the commission of a Class 1 misdemeanor." Building officials must report it: "Any building official who finds that an individual is practicing as a tradesman, elevator mechanic, liquefied petroleum gas fitter or natural gas fitter provider without a license as required by this article shall file a report to such effect with the Board." (54.1-1134).
What plumbing work covers
Under 18VAC50-30-10, plumbing work is "work that includes the installation, maintenance, extension, or alteration or removal of piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with any of the following": backflow prevention devices; boilers; domestic sprinklers; hot water baseboard heating systems; hydronic heating systems; process piping; public or private water supply systems within or adjacent to any building, structure, or conveyance; sanitary or storm drainage facilities; steam heating systems; storage tanks incidental to the installation of related systems; venting systems; or water heaters. "These plumbing tradesmen may also install, maintain, extend, or alter the following": liquid waste systems; sewerage systems; storm water systems; and water supply systems. Gas fitting is a separate trade designation (GFC, LPG or NGF) with its own examination.
Reciprocity and out-of-state licenses
There are three routes for out-of-state plumbers, and none is automatic. (1) Universal License Recognition (Va. Code 54.1-205): the individual must have held the other state's license "for at least one year", that state must have required an examination and education, training or experience, and there must be no pending investigations or disqualifying discipline; someone from a state that does not license the work needs at least three years of work in it and must pass the Virginia examination. The ULR application warns: "DPOR may require an individual seeking a professional or occupational licensure or government certification pursuant to the Code of Virginia, §54.1-205 to pass an examination specific to relevant state laws." (2) 18VAC50-30-70: out-of-state tradesman licenses are accepted "if the board has determined the requirements and standards under which the license or certificate was issued are substantially equivalent to those established in this chapter", and holders may "sit for the same level of tradesman examination by completing the required application and providing a copy of a currently valid journeyman or master license or certification." (3) Board agreements: the Board's list of reciprocal licensing and examination agreements (PDF carries no date; server Last-Modified October 14, 2025) names one tradesman agreement that covers plumbers - "Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) – Examination agreement for Journeyman and Master Plumbers and Gas Fitters." The other trade agreements on that list cover electrical or HVAC licences. The list also carries an examination agreement that names no trade: "Ohio Business and Law and Virginia Advanced and General Law examination reciprocity." The Board's list says: "For detailed information about each agreement, please contact the Board for Contractors".
Military service members, veterans and spouses
DPOR's Military and Veterans Services page: active-duty personnel and spouses "may be eligible for automatic license transfers under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act"; honorably discharged veterans "may apply substantially equivalent military training, education, or experience toward certain Virginia license requirements"; military spouses "may request expedited processing using the Military Spouse Expedited License Application", and "Spouses licensed in another state may also receive a temporary 12‑month license if they need more time to meet Virginia‑specific requirements".
Exam language
The application asks which language the candidate prefers - "English or Spanish" - and "If this question is not answered, the exam language will default to English." PSI lists Spanish versions of the Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber and Residential Plumber Tradesman exams. Va. Code 54.1-1103.1 (added by 2026 Acts c. 80) requires Board exams that averaged over 50 administrations a year to be offered in each language that meets the election-materials threshold of 24.2-128.
Local requirements: The Board's page: "Individual tradesmen may also be subject to local ordinances, laws, or other requirements imposed by other state agencies, courts, or certain localities." Permits: a building official may not issue a permit unless the applicant shows a Chapter 11 license or certificate number or "evidence of being exempt from the provisions of this chapter" (Va. Code 54.1-1111 A).
Backflow prevention device worker certification
Backflow work is part of the plumbing scope, but the separate backflow prevention device worker certificate is voluntary at state level: "The certification program set forth in this article concerning backflow prevention device workers shall be voluntary and shall not be construed to prevent or affect the practice of backflow prevention device workers by those not certified by the Board, so long as any requirements of the applicable local governing body's programs relating to backflow prevention device workers are met." (Va. Code 54.1-1129 B).

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license to work as a plumber in Virginia?

Yes, as an individual. Virginia licenses each plumber through the Board for Contractors (DPOR) - “Tradesman licenses are issued to INDIVIDUALS, not companies.” The licensing duty covers work as a “tradesman”, which the statute defines as work “for the general public for compensation” (Va. Code 54.1-1128). Exceptions include a helper working under a licensed plumber: “Individuals shall not be subject to licensure as a tradesman when working under the supervision of a tradesman who is licensed in the specialty for which work is being performed.” The statute also exempts an individual working on “a single-family residence where the value of the work performed is less than $250 and such individual does not hold himself out to the general public as a tradesman” (54.1-1131 C), and “Any person who performs or supervises the construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by him and for his own use during any 24-month period” (54.1-1101 A 7). The full list of exemptions is quoted in the exemptions section.

What plumber license levels does Virginia have?

Residential Plumber Tradesman (dwellings and townhouses only, since April 1, 2025), Journeyman Plumbing and Master Plumbing. A business that contracts plumbing work also needs a Class A, B or C contractor license in the Plumbing (PLB) classification, and its qualified individual must hold a master plumber tradesman license.

How much experience do you need for a Virginia journeyman plumber license?

Between one and eight years of practical experience, depending on education: one year with a related engineering bachelor’s degree, two years with a two-year associate degree or certificate, four years with 240 hours of vocational training, five with 160, six with 80, seven with 40, or eight years with no vocational training (18VAC50-30-39 B). Completing an approved apprenticeship program is another route and exempts you from the journeyman exam.

How do you become a master plumber in Virginia?

Qualify by holding a Virginia journeyman plumbing license for at least one year, OR holding a residential plumber tradesman license for three years, OR documenting nine years of practical experience; then pass the PSI master plumber exam (80 items, passing score 60, open book). The master exam fee is $125 to PSI, and the application fee is $171.75 to DPOR.

How much does a Virginia plumbing license cost?

The application to DPOR is $171.75 for a journeyman, master or residential plumber license by examination ($131.75 for a card exchange), which includes the Technology Fee DPOR has charged since July 1, 2026. The PSI exam is $100 for journeyman or residential and $125 for master. The regulation’s renewal fee is $160 every three years.

How often do Virginia plumbing licenses renew, and how much continuing education is required?

Every three years: licenses “will expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued”. Renewal requires three hours of board-approved continuing education on the International Plumbing Code for the plumbing designation, completed before the license expires.

Does Virginia accept out-of-state plumbing licenses?

Not automatically. Universal License Recognition (Va. Code 54.1-205) accepts a license held for at least one year that required an exam and education, training or experience, and DPOR may require a Virginia-law exam. The Board may also accept a substantially equivalent out-of-state license, or let the holder sit for the same-level Virginia exam (18VAC50-30-70). The Board’s agreement list names a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) examination agreement for journeyman and master plumbers.

Can a Virginia plumber take jobs without a contractor license?

Only small ones. Every tradesman application states: “Any applicant performing work over $1,000 must contact the Board for Contractors to obtain a Virginia Contractors License.” Contracting work above that needs a Class C, B or A contractor license, chosen by contract value.

Is the Virginia plumbing exam open book, and can you take it in Spanish?

Yes to both. PSI’s bulletin says “All examinations are open book” (your own bound, unmarked references), and PSI lists Spanish versions of the journeyman, master and residential plumber exams; the application asks for English or Spanish.

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in Virginia.

Sources & verification

Last verified against these sources: October 9, 2026.

We re-check cited sources on a weekly schedule wherever a source can be fetched automatically. See what changed at the agencies, or every correction we have ever made.

LicensingAtlas states licensing and certification requirements categorically from official sources. It is a reference, not legal or career advice, and requirements change frequently — confirm details with the issuing board before you act.