Plumber states
51
Below median
Occupational licensing · Construction · 51 state boards
Plumber Licensing Requirements by State
Plumber licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.
Plumber across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Electrician, Elevator Installer, Fire Sprinkler Installer.
- States regulated
- 51
- Avg initial fee
- $154
- Require an exam
- 100%
- Avg education hours
- 5,837
Board Pathway Strip
Plumber: 51 boards · ~5,837 avg pre-licensure hrs · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $154. Same-lane boards: Electrician, Elevator Installer, Fire Sprinkler Installer.
Plumber vs. every tracked profession
Average confirmed pre-licensure education hours, board-sourced state requirements
5,837 4th of 47 higher than 43 of 47 professions
professions with confirmed education-hour requirements, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more professions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainCredential NCSL and state-board corpus · 2026
Installs and repairs pipes and plumbing systems. Requires apprenticeship.
Plumber initial fees swing $30 (NH) to $296 (CA), a $266 spread across 51 boards ; Electrician often lands on a different fee band.
Board thresholds for Plumber drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Electrician and Elevator Installer in construction. Methodology notes live on our methods page.
Plumber edu hrs
5,837 hrs
Top 10% highest
Plumber first fee
$154
Above median
Plumber renewal
$131
Above median
Board gates for Plumber: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 8 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Electrician / Elevator Installer before calling this license soft or hard.
Other licenses near Plumber's board count
Coverage band
- Security Alarm Installer · 51 states
- Amusement Ride Operator · 51 states
- Animal Breeder · 51 states
- Arborist / Tree Surgeon · 51 states
Hour load
- Psychologist · 5,919 avg hrs
- Veterinarian · 4,919 avg hrs
Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Plumber
A $266 fee spread for the same credential
Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 30) and California ($ 296) bracket the field, a 9.9× spread for identical practice rights.
NH
New Hampshire
$30 initial licensing fee
CA
California
$296 initial licensing fee
Plumber boards vs Electrician / Elevator Installer - state table
51 statesWhat to do with this
Plumber is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.
- Plumber ranks #4 of 47 professions by average pre-licensure education hours -- see how it compares to similar roles. Browse all professions
- #68 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
- Initial fees for Plumber range from $30 (NH) to $296 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide
Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.
Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Plumber requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.