Plumber License Requirements in Idaho
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $51.9
- Exam
- IAPMO Plumbing Journeyman Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Issuing board
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), Idaho Plumbing Board
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age or criminal-history/background-check requirement is stated on the DOPL Journeyman Plumber application materials for the Journeyman tier itself; the operative prerequisites are the hours/experience pathway and passing the IAPMO/PSI exam. (A minimum age of 16 has historically applied to the separate, earlier-tier Plumbing Apprentice Registration under IDAPA 24.39.20, but this record covers the Journeyman license, not the apprentice registration.) [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training. Idaho offers three pathways to a Plumbing Journeyman license: (1) Idaho Apprenticeship School pathway -- 576 hours of instruction at a board-approved plumbing apprenticeship program (College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, College of Eastern Idaho, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, North Idaho College, Porter House Inc., Treasure Valley Community College, Boise Plumbing JATC, or Pocatello Plumbing JATC) plus 8,000 hours of supervised plumbing installation work; (2) Work Experience pathway -- 16,000 hours of supervised plumbing installation work with no formal schooling requirement (pipe fitting and appliance plumbing specialty work do not count); (3) Reciprocity pathway from Montana, Oregon, or Washington (see reciprocity). Both non-reciprocal pathways require passing the state exam before applying for licensure. hours=8000 reflects the school-plus-work-experience pathway; approvedProgramRequired is false because the 16,000-hour work-experience-only pathway does not require attending an approved school. [1]
- 3
IAPMO Plumbing Journeyman Examination
Pass the IAPMO Plumbing Journeyman Examination. Idaho's Journeyman Application confirms applicants must take and pass the applicable IAPMO examination through PSI before applying for licensure (register at test-takers.psiexams.com). The exam is based on the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (ISPC), itself based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code. The current PSI exam fee is not published on the DOPL application form itself; this research could not independently confirm a specific dollar figure on an accessible official DOPL page (dopl.idaho.gov blocks automated fetches, and the relevant fee/exam-program pages did not preserve fee content in available Wayback Machine snapshots), so fee is left null rather than repeating an unverified secondary-source figure. [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), Idaho Plumbing Board with the $51.9 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), Idaho Plumbing Board issues your Plumbing Journeyman for Idaho.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $51.9 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | None specified |
| IAPMO Plumbing Journeyman Examination [1] | None specified |
The DOPL Plumbing Journeyman Application confirms a $51.90 non-refundable processing fee for Initial, Reciprocal, and Reopen-Closed-License application types. A separate license-issuance fee and a recurring renewal fee also apply, but this research could not independently confirm current dollar figures for either on an accessible official DOPL page during this session -- dopl.idaho.gov blocks direct automated fetches (connection refused), and the Wayback Machine snapshots retrieved for the licensing/fee pages did not preserve the dynamically-loaded fee-table content. Left null rather than repeating unverified secondary-source figures.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 3 years.
Idaho's own Plumbing Board FAQ page states plainly there are no Continuing Education Requirements (CEUs) for plumbing, so ceHours is left null. Idaho plumbing certificates of competency are issued/renewed on a staggered cycle tied to the licensee's birthdate, not to exceed three (3) years between renewals, per IDAPA 24.39.20.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Idaho has a dedicated Reciprocity Pathway on the Journeyman application for Montana, Oregon, and Washington. From Montana or Oregon, the applicant needs a License Verification Form showing completion of an apprenticeship program plus 8,000 hours of work experience, active license status, and licensure by examination. From Washington, the applicant needs a License Verification Form showing either 8,000 or 16,000 hours of work experience, active license status, and licensure by examination. When reciprocating from Washington or Montana, the applicant must be a resident of the state in which they hold their license at the time of application. No interstate compact covers plumbing.
1 state-approved training provider in Idaho — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $51.9
Frequently asked questions
What are the pathways to becoming a licensed Plumbing Journeyman in Idaho?
Three: (1) complete 576 hours of instruction at a board-approved apprenticeship school plus 8,000 hours of supervised plumbing installation work; (2) complete 16,000 hours of supervised plumbing installation work with no formal schooling; or (3) reciprocate an active Montana, Oregon, or Washington plumbing journeyman license. All non-reciprocal applicants must also pass the IAPMO exam through PSI before applying.
Who administers Idaho's plumbing journeyman exam?
PSI Services administers the IAPMO-developed Plumbing Journeyman examination; candidates must pass it before submitting their DOPL application. The exam is based on the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code, which is itself modeled on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code.
Does Idaho have continuing education requirements for plumbers?
No. The Idaho Plumbing Board's own FAQ states there are no Continuing Education Requirements (CEUs) for plumbing.
Does Idaho have reciprocity with other states for plumbers?
Yes -- Idaho has a formal reciprocity pathway for journeyman plumbers licensed in Montana, Oregon, or Washington, requiring a License Verification Form from the other state confirming active licensure by examination and the applicable experience hours. Reciprocating applicants from Montana or Washington must be a resident of the state where they hold their license at the time of application.
What is the application fee for an Idaho Plumbing Journeyman license?
$51.90, non-refundable, whether applying as an initial applicant, a reciprocal applicant, or to reopen a closed license.
Sources
- [1] dopl.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/PLB-Journeyman-Application.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] dopl.idaho.gov/plb/plb-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12