StateLicensed

Plumber License Requirements in Iowa

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$279
Exam
Iowa Journeyperson Plumbing Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB), Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicant must be at least 18 years old and must provide documentation of any criminal convictions; a felony conviction triggers board review of eligibility rather than an automatic bar. No separate high-school-diploma/GED requirement is listed on the journey-level page beyond completion of the registered apprenticeship. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Iowa requires evidence of at least four years of practical experience as an apprentice rather than a fixed hour count. Effective January 1, 2010, that four-year apprenticeship must be through a program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (or the applicant must already hold a master-level plumbing license from another jurisdiction). DIAL's journey-level page does not publish a total-hours figure, so hours is left null rather than estimated. A separate, less common pathway (post-examination licensure) exists for people with qualifying field experience who were not in a registered apprenticeship. [1]

  3. 3

    Iowa Journeyperson Plumbing Examination

    Pass the Iowa Journeyperson Plumbing Examination (fee: $99). Before sitting for the exam, candidates must also pay the board a $35 exam-approval application fee per trade discipline (paid to PMSB, separate from the $99 Kirkwood testing fee). The $99 figure is Kirkwood's current per-attempt fee as stated on DIAL's examination page; DIAL directs candidates to Kirkwood's own site for question count, time limit, and allowed-reference details, which are not published on the board's own domain and so are omitted here rather than sourced from a non-official test-prep site. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB), Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL). [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB), Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) issues your Journeyperson Plumber License for Iowa.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $180
Renewal fee [3] $180
Iowa Journeyperson Plumbing Examination [2] $99
Exam-approval application fee (per trade discipline, paid to the board) [3] $35
Paper application fee (if submitting by mail instead of the online portal) [3] $25
Late renewal, 31-60 days after expiration (still eligible to work) [3] $60
Late renewal, 61-365 days after expiration (ineligible to work until renewed) [3] $100

Iowa does not charge a separate 'application' fee distinct from the license fee itself; new applicants pay a single license fee prorated by the month within the current 3-year licensing period (Jul 1, 2026-Jun 30, 2029), ranging from $180 at the start of the period down to about $30 near its end, so application is left null and $180 (the full/on-time rate) is recorded under license. On-time renewal at the end of a 3-year term is a flat $180. A 30% multi-license discount applies when renewing/purchasing multiple active master, journeyperson, or contractor licenses for the same person on the same day (discount does not apply to the $25 paper-application fee or late fees).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 8 continuing education hours required per cycle.

All PMSB license types, including journeyperson plumber, require at least 8 hours of board-preapproved classroom instruction per 3-year licensing term. Licenses expire June 30 of the final year of the term (current term ends June 30, 2029) and remain usable through August 31 before late fees escalate; a license lapsed more than 366 days requires current continuing education or re-examination to reinstate.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Iowa's only plumbing reciprocity agreement (in effect since 2016) is with South Dakota, and only for licenses issued on the basis of written examination (grandfathered/non-exam Iowa licenses do not qualify). South Dakota applicants must submit a copy of their South Dakota license plus a certificate of good standing from the South Dakota Plumbing Commission. No interstate plumbing licensure compact currently exists that Iowa participates in, so compacts is empty.

4 state-approved training providers in Iowa — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $180
  • $99
Total$279

Frequently asked questions

How do I qualify for an Iowa Journeyperson Plumber license?

You need at least four years of practical experience as an apprentice in a plumbing apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (required since January 1, 2010), and you must pass the Iowa journeyperson plumbing examination.

Who administers the Iowa journeyperson plumbing exam and what does it cost?

Kirkwood Community College, the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board's approved testing provider, administers the exam for a $99 per-attempt fee paid directly to Kirkwood. You also pay the board a separate $35 exam-approval application fee per trade discipline before you can register to test.

How much does an Iowa journeyperson plumber license cost and how long does it last?

Licenses run on a 3-year term; the on-time rate is $180 (new applicants pay a prorated amount depending on when in the 3-year term they apply). Renewal at the end of the term is $180 on time, with late fees of $60 (31-60 days late) or $100 (61-365 days late).

What continuing education does Iowa require to renew a journeyperson plumber license?

At least 8 hours of board-preapproved classroom instruction during each 3-year licensing term.

Can I use an out-of-state plumbing license to get licensed in Iowa?

Only if your license is from South Dakota and was issued by written examination — Iowa's Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board has a reciprocity agreement with South Dakota but with no other state, and there is no multi-state plumbing compact covering Iowa.

Sources

  1. [1] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure-2 — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure/examination — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure/fees — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure — accessed 2026-07-12