Plumber License Requirements in Alaska
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $250
- Exam
- Plumber Journeyman Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age specific to Journeyman certificate applicants was found in AS 18.60 or the Board's regulations (the statutes define 'apprentice' as at least 16, but that applies to the trainee tier, not journeyman); left as null rather than assumed. No fingerprint-based or criminal-history background check requirement for certificate applicants was found. [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training. Alaska qualifies applicants by hours of supervised field work, not classroom hours: 8,000 qualifying hours of plumbing work performed under the direct supervision of a journey-level tradesperson for a contractor with valid credentials. Starting in 2025, vocational-training and military hours may be substituted for up to half the requirement (4,000 hours maximum). [1]
- 3
Plumber Journeyman Examination
Pass the Plumber Journeyman Examination. Open-book examination on the Uniform Plumbing Code and Fuel Gas Code; minimum passing score of 70%; a failed exam may be retaken after 30 days. No separately published exam-only fee was found; exam scheduling is covered by the $50 nonrefundable application fee, and the certificate is issued for $200 upon passing (tracked under fees.license below), so the exam is not a distinct line-item charge the way a third-party vendor exam would be. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section with the $50 application fee. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section issues your Plumbing Journeyman Certificate of Fitness for Alaska.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $50 |
| License fee [2] | $200 |
| Renewal fee [2] | $200 |
| Plumber Journeyman Examination [2] | None specified |
Per the Board's current Certificates of Fitness Statutes and Regulations (dated August 2025): $50 nonrefundable application fee, then $200 for issuance of a Journeyman-level certificate and $200 for its 2-year renewal (prorated if issued for less than two years). An older application-form PDF (cfapp00.pdf) shows a different, apparently outdated combination ($50 application + $160 certificate = $210 total, $160 renewal); per source-rule precedence this record uses the more current regulation text ($200/$200) and flags the discrepancy here.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.
A Journeyman-level Certificate of Fitness is valid for 2 years. Renewal requires at least 16 hours of continuing education within the preceding 24 months, of which at least 8 hours must cover significant changes or updates to the Uniform Plumbing Code.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers plumbing. As of August 8, 2025, Alaska accepts reciprocal applications for Plumbing Journeyman certificates from any other U.S. state or jurisdiction without requiring a mutual reciprocity agreement between the two states — an applicant submits a completed application with a copy of their current out-of-state license; a reciprocal certificate is issued for a full two years and renews as a normal journey-level certificate thereafter.
Cost calculator
- $50
- $200
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of experience does Alaska require for a Plumber Journeyman certificate?
8,000 qualifying hours of plumbing work performed under the direct supervision of a journey-level tradesperson for a properly credentialed contractor. Since 2025, up to 4,000 of those hours may instead come from vocational training or military experience.
Who administers Alaska's Plumber Journeyman exam?
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Mechanical Inspection Section administers the exam directly (not a third-party vendor), at its Anchorage, Juneau, or Fairbanks offices, or via an approved third-party proctor at the applicant's expense. It's open-book and requires a 70% passing score.
What does it cost to get a Plumber Journeyman certificate in Alaska?
A $50 nonrefundable application fee, then $200 for the 2-year certificate once you pass the exam, per the Board's current regulations.
How often does an Alaska Plumber Journeyman certificate need to be renewed?
Every 2 years, for a $200 renewal fee, with at least 16 hours of continuing education completed in the preceding 24 months (including at least 8 hours on Uniform Plumbing Code updates).
Can I transfer my out-of-state plumber license to Alaska?
Yes. As of August 8, 2025, Alaska accepts reciprocal Plumbing Journeyman applications from any other U.S. state or jurisdiction without needing a mutual agreement — submit an application with a copy of your current out-of-state license, and a reciprocal certificate is issued for a full two years.
Sources
- [1] labor.alaska.gov/lss/mi-faq.html — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] labor.alaska.gov/lss/forms/cof-regs.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12