Texas Plumber License Requirements
Official classification: Tradesman / Journeyman / Master Plumber (TSBPE) · Issued by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE).
🔧 PlumberTX ✔ Verified 2026-06-16
License types
- Plumber's Apprentice (registration) — Entry point; works only under the direct on-site supervision of a licensed plumber. Must be 16+. Hours worked before registering do not count toward higher tiers.
- Tradesman Plumber-Limited — Plumbing on one- and two-family dwellings under a Responsible Master Plumber. Requires 4,000 hours plus a 24-hour TSBPE-approved course (or DOL apprenticeship).
- Journeyman Plumber — Plumbing on any structure under a Responsible Master Plumber. Requires 8,000 hours of experience while registered.
- Master Plumber — Highest tier; performs and supervises plumbing. Requires holding a Journeyman license 2 years (1 year with an approved apprenticeship). The Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) designation is what lets a business pull permits.
- Endorsements — Water Supply Protection, Multipurpose Residential Fire Sprinkler, and Medical Gas Piping can be added to Journeyman/Master/Inspector licenses.
Requirements at a glance
| Experience required | Tradesman: 4,000 hours + a 24-hour approved course (or DOL apprenticeship). Journeyman: 8,000 hours accrued while registered. Master: hold a Journeyman license 2 years (1 year with an approved apprenticeship). Hours are documented via Employer Certification Forms — TSBPE does not track them for you. |
|---|---|
| Application fee | Apprentice registration $15; Tradesman $36 exam; Journeyman $40; Master $25 processing |
| License fee | Tradesman $35; Journeyman $40; Master $75 (certificate + pocket card) |
| Renewal fee | Annual — Apprentice $15; Tradesman $35; Journeyman $40; Master $75 |
| Renewal period | Annual |
| Continuing education | 6 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) per year for Master, Journeyman, Tradesman and endorsed Apprentices. |
| Bond required | No statewide surety bond required by TSBPE (a city permit registration may require one). |
| Liability insurance | Not mandated by TSBPE for the individual license; commonly required by employers, clients and city permit registration. |
| Property damage | — |
| Workers' comp | Per Texas employer rules; not a TSBPE license condition. |
| Background check | Fingerprint-based criminal history check at registration/licensure. Felony convictions require a Supplemental Criminal History form; reviewed case-by-case. |
| Credit requirement | None |
| Reciprocity | Out-of-state Journeyman/Master licensees are exempt from the Tradesman 24-hour course; other out-of-state requests reviewed case-by-case (no blanket reciprocity). |
| Processing time | Variable via TSBPE; exam scheduled through Pearson VUE after approval. |
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Exams
| Tradesman Plumber-Limited Exam | Provider: Pearson VUE (for TSBPE) Passing: Not publicly disclosed by TSBPE Fee: $36 exam fee |
| Journeyman Plumber Exam | Provider: Pearson VUE (for TSBPE) Passing: Not publicly disclosed by TSBPE Fee: $40 |
| Master Plumber Exam | Provider: Pearson VUE (for TSBPE) Passing: Not publicly disclosed by TSBPE Fee: $128.50 (paid to Pearson VUE on exam day) |
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Local / municipal notes
TSBPE licenses plumbers statewide, but cities still issue permits and may require the company's Responsible Master Plumber to register locally before pulling permits.
Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-16 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) before applying. This is not legal advice.
Official sources
https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/
https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/tradesman/
https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/
https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/master-plumber/