StateLicensed

Plumber License Requirements in Arkansas

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$150
Exam
Journeyman Plumber Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Arkansas Department of Health, Protective Health Codes — State Committee of Plumbing Examiners

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No minimum age specific to Journeyman Plumber applicants was found in the current rules or Ark. Code Ann. Title 17; left null rather than assumed. A criminal background check applies (Section VII, 'Prohibiting Criminal Offenses,' Ark. Code Ann. §17-3-102 and related provisions) — a disqualifying criminal offense can bar licensure, though a sealed conviction or a pre-licensure background-check petition can mitigate this. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete the required training. Arkansas qualifies applicants by experience, not a fixed classroom-hour count: a minimum of 4 years of plumbing experience or its equivalent. An unlicensed applicant who is not enrolled in the Arkansas Plumbing Apprenticeship Program may instead document that experience through notarized affidavits from current or former employers on company letterhead. Apprentices who complete the state apprenticeship program are separately eligible to sit the Journeyman exam. [1]

  3. 3

    Journeyman Plumber Examination

    Pass the Journeyman Plumber Examination. No separate line-item exam fee was found; the $75 Journeyman application fee covers review and scheduling of the initial exam attempt. A $50 fee applies only for an additional examination needed due to failing without proper notification or failing a portion of the test. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Arkansas Department of Health, Protective Health Codes — State Committee of Plumbing Examiners with the $75 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Arkansas Department of Health, Protective Health Codes — State Committee of Plumbing Examiners issues your Journeyman Plumber License for Arkansas.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $75
License fee [2] $75
Renewal fee [2] $75
Journeyman Plumber Examination [1] None specified
Re-examination fee (failure or no-show) [2] $50

Per the Department's current fee schedule: $75 application fee and $75 annual license fee for the Journeyman tier. Journeyman licenses expire annually on December 31 and the $75 license fee is paid again at each annual renewal (effectively the same figure as the initial license fee).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

Journeyman licenses expire annually on December 31 and must be renewed by February 1 (a 30-day grace period), after which a $5/month penalty applies. No continuing-education hour requirement for Journeyman renewal was found in the current rules (unlike Plumbing Inspector renewal, which does require 8 hours of refresher training).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers plumbing. The State Committee of Plumbing Examiners may grant reciprocal or 'automatic' licensure to an applicant who holds a plumber's license in good standing from another U.S. jurisdiction with substantially similar plumbing laws/codes; no exam, apprenticeship, education, or training may be required as a condition of reciprocal licensure. Arkansas has published bilateral reciprocity agreements with Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma specifically.

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $75
Total$150

Frequently asked questions

How much experience does Arkansas require to become a Journeyman Plumber?

A minimum of 4 years of plumbing experience or its equivalent, documented through notarized employer affidavits (for unlicensed applicants) or through completion of the state Apprenticeship Program.

Who administers the Arkansas Journeyman Plumber exam?

The Arkansas Department of Health's State Committee of Plumbing Examiners administers the exam directly — it is not outsourced to a third-party testing vendor.

What does it cost to get a Journeyman Plumber license in Arkansas?

A $75 application fee plus a $75 license fee. A $50 fee applies only if you need to retake the exam after a failed attempt or unexcused no-show.

How often does an Arkansas Journeyman Plumber license need to be renewed?

Annually — licenses expire every December 31 and must be renewed by February 1 (a 30-day grace period), with a $5/month penalty after that. The annual renewal fee is $75.

Can I transfer my out-of-state plumber license to Arkansas?

Yes, if your license is in good standing from a jurisdiction with substantially similar plumbing laws and codes — no exam, apprenticeship, or additional training is required for reciprocal licensure. Arkansas also has specific bilateral agreements with Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

Sources

  1. [1] healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Plumbing-Licensing-Rules.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/INSTRUCTIONS-for-Plumber-Exam-Applications-2026.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/licensing-military-member-licensure-permits-plan-reviews/protective-health-codes/plumbing-natural-gas/ — accessed 2026-07-12