Plumber License Requirements in Michigan
- Training hours
- 6000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $140
- Exam
- Journey Plumber Written Examination, Journey Plumber Hands-On Practical Skills Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes, Plumbing Division
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old. Applicant must be at least 18 years old. The Journey Plumber application (BCC-329A) does not ask about or require disclosure of criminal history, and no fingerprint-based background check is required for this license; backgroundCheck is recorded as false on that basis. Under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act's 'good moral character' provisions, a licensing board may consider a felony conviction directly related to the licensed activity, but this is not a routine background-check step in the application process. [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 6000 hours of training. Michigan does not require completion of a formal classroom program for Journey Plumber licensure; instead, an applicant must be a registered Plumbing Apprentice and accumulate not less than 6,000 clock hours of practical plumbing installation experience over a period of not less than 3 years, under the supervision of a licensed master or journey plumber, documented via notarized employer letters. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of application. [1]
- 3
Journey Plumber Written Examination
Pass the Journey Plumber Written Examination (fee: $100). 125 multiple-choice questions, 180-minute time limit, scheduled through PSI. Effective December 15, 2021, a Journey Plumber applicant must pass both the written and hands-on practical skills exams on a single approved application; passing scores do not carry over to a new application, and applications are valid for only 1 year. [1]
- 4
Journey Plumber Hands-On Practical Skills Examination
Pass the Journey Plumber Hands-On Practical Skills Examination. In-person practical/isometric skills exam held at scheduled dates and locations statewide (e.g. Lansing, Mason, Cadillac, St. Ignace); candidates must be checked in by 9:45 AM for a 10:00 AM start. LARA's own materials state a single $100 examination fee 'regardless if you are taking the plumbing journeyman or master exam' but do not clearly break out whether that $100 covers the written exam only or both written and practical components; since the practical is scheduled by emailing LARA directly (not via PSI's payment portal), fee is left null here rather than assumed to avoid double-counting the $100 already recorded against the written exam. [1]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes, Plumbing Division. [2]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes, Plumbing Division issues your Journey Plumber License for Michigan.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | None specified |
| License fee [2] | $40 |
| Renewal fee [2] | $40 |
| Journey Plumber Written Examination [1] | $100 |
| Journey Plumber Hands-On Practical Skills Examination [1] | None specified |
| Late renewal fee [2] | $100 |
LARA's Journey Plumber application form (BCC-329A) combines the application and license fee into a single $40 charge paid at the time of application (waived for active military, veterans, and their dependents with proof); there is no separate application-only fee, so 'application' is left null to avoid double-counting the $40 already recorded as 'license'. The $100 written-exam fee is recorded separately under exams[].
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year.
Journey Plumber licenses renew annually by April 30 ($40 renewal fee; $100 late fee if not renewed before expiration). There is no fixed annual continuing-education hour requirement; licensees must instead complete an approved 5-hour code-update course within 1 year of a new edition of the Michigan Plumbing Code being adopted, which does not happen every year, so ceHours is left null rather than a misleading fixed number.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
No interstate compact covers plumbing licensure. Michigan does not have licensing reciprocity agreements with any other state; an out-of-state licensed plumber must still take and pass the Michigan Journey Plumber exam, though notarized letters documenting prior supervised work experience can be submitted toward the 6,000-hour experience requirement. A narrow military-family exception exists: an active-duty military member, veteran, or their dependent who holds a valid out-of-state plumbing license may qualify for licensure without examination under MCL 339.6115.
1 state-approved training provider in Michigan — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $40
- $100
Frequently asked questions
How much experience does Michigan require for a Journey Plumber license?
At least 6,000 clock hours (roughly 3 years) as a registered Plumbing Apprentice, working under the supervision of a licensed master or journey plumber, documented with notarized employer letters. Applicants must be at least 18.
What exams does Michigan require for a Journey Plumber license?
Both a written exam (125 questions, 180 minutes, via PSI) and a hands-on practical skills exam (scheduled directly with LARA by email) must be passed on a single approved application; passing scores do not carry over if the application expires after 1 year.
What does a Michigan Journey Plumber license cost?
A combined $40 application/license fee paid to LARA at the time of application, plus a $100 written-exam fee paid to PSI when scheduling.
How often does a Michigan Journey Plumber license need to be renewed?
Annually, by April 30, for a $40 renewal fee ($100 late fee if the license lapses). A 5-hour code-update course is only required within a year of Michigan adopting a new plumbing code edition, not every renewal cycle.
Does Michigan offer reciprocity for plumbers licensed in other states?
No. Michigan has no reciprocity agreements with other states, so an out-of-state plumber must pass the Michigan exam, though documented prior work experience can count toward the 6,000-hour requirement. A narrow exam waiver exists for active-duty military members, veterans, and their dependents who already hold an out-of-state plumbing license.
Sources
- [1] michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/sections/licensing-section/exam-lic/plumbing-examination-licensing-registration-application-information — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] michigan.gov/lara/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bcc-media/BCC-Forms/Journey_Plumber_application_-_practical_-2021_741296_7.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/sections/licensing-section/license-registration-renewals — accessed 2026-07-12