Plumber License Requirements in Colorado
- Training hours
- 6800 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $120
- Exam
- Journeyworker Plumber Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Colorado State Plumbing Board (Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and the Board's guide also lists possessing a high school diploma/GED, a valid driver's license, and a Social Security card as basic eligibility items for the apprentice pathway that leads to Journeyworker licensure. Applicants answer criminal-history screening questions and upload supporting documentation; a felony conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant but must be disclosed and is reviewed case-by-case by the Board. [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 6800 hours of training. Colorado qualifies applicants by documented practical experience, not classroom hours: 4 years (approximately 6,800 hours) of documented plumbing experience, which can include time already counted toward the lower Residential Plumber tier. Applicants cannot verify their own experience hours (codified in Rule 1.4 A(3)(f)); experience must be verified via Affidavit of Experience forms from current/former employers. A formal registered apprenticeship is a common path but is not the only route — experience can also come from direct employment with a registered plumbing contractor. [1]
- 3
Journeyworker Plumber Examination
Pass the Journeyworker Plumber Examination. Computer-based, open-book (approved code books allowed); 100 multiple-choice questions, 240-minute time limit; questions drawn from the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted by Colorado. Minimum passing score is 70% (70 of 100 correct). No fixed PSI exam fee is published by the Board; the Board sends PSI contact/scheduling information (including current fees) only after the application is approved, and English is the only language offered. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Colorado State Plumbing Board (Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations) with the $120 application fee. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Colorado State Plumbing Board (Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations) issues your Journeyworker Plumber License for Colorado.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $120 |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | $120 |
| Journeyworker Plumber Examination [2] | None specified |
Per the Board's official Plumbing Licensing Guide, the Journeyworker Plumber application fee is currently $120 (paid when submitting the license application, before the exam is scheduled); no separate license-issuance fee beyond this application fee was found, so 'license' is left null to avoid double-counting. The renewal fee is the same $120 figure. These are described as 'currently' set amounts subject to change, and no fixed PSI exam fee is published (see exams above).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.
As of this record's access date, Colorado plumbing licenses are on a 2-year renewal cycle expiring the last day of February of odd-numbered years; per the Board's own News page, this is scheduled to change to a 3-year cycle beginning March 1, 2027 (new expiration in 2030). Renewal requires 16 hours of continuing education over the 2-year cycle (8 hours each licensure year, not calendar year), with at least 4 hours on plumbing codes and no more than 2 hours on safety training; this CE requirement does not apply to the first renewal after an applicant is initially licensed by examination.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers plumbing. Colorado offers licensure by endorsement: the out-of-state license being endorsed must be active and issued/regulated by a STATE board (not a city, county, or local municipality), and must have been earned by testing on the current or previous edition of the International Plumbing Code. The applicant must also submit a Verification of Licensure form completed by the issuing state's board. Endorsement applicants cannot verify their own experience, same as the examination pathway.
Cost calculator
- $120
Frequently asked questions
How much experience does Colorado require for a Journeyworker Plumber license?
4 years (approximately 6,800 hours) of documented practical plumbing experience, verified through Affidavit of Experience forms from employers — applicants cannot verify their own hours.
Who administers Colorado's Journeyworker Plumber exam?
PSI Services LLC, under contract with the State Plumbing Board. It's a computer-based, open-book exam with 100 multiple-choice questions and a 240-minute time limit, requiring a 70% passing score.
What does it cost to apply for a Journeyworker Plumber license in Colorado?
A $120 application fee (current as of this record), which is paid before the exam is scheduled through PSI. No separate license-issuance fee was found beyond this application fee.
How often does a Colorado Journeyworker Plumber license need to be renewed?
Currently every 2 years (expiring the last day of February of odd-numbered years), moving to a 3-year cycle starting March 1, 2027. Renewal requires 16 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle (8 hours/year), except for the first renewal after initial licensure by examination.
Can I transfer my out-of-state plumber license to Colorado?
Yes, through licensure by endorsement, if your license is active, issued by a state board (not a city or county), and was earned by testing on the current or previous edition of the International Plumbing Code. Your issuing state board must complete a Verification of Licensure form.
Sources
- [1] dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing/Applications — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] drive.google.com/file/d/1qj5xUjZrBCbTDkd7GdhQQY7qNnIx5xks/view — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing/News — accessed 2026-07-12