Plumber License Requirements in Mississippi
- Training hours
- —
- Upfront cost
- $640
- Exam
- Law and Business Management Examination, Plumbing (Commercial) Trade Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No explicit statutory minimum age for a Certificate of Responsibility was found in the MSBOC rules and regulations reviewed, so minAge is left null rather than assumed. No fingerprint-based or formal criminal background check process was described; the Board instead considers 'character' as one of several discretionary factors (alongside experience/ability and financial condition) when evaluating an application, so backgroundCheck is recorded as false. A GAAP-prepared financial statement (from a CPA, for commercial) and proof of good standing with the MS Secretary of State are required. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete the required training. Mississippi does not license individual journeyman plumbers at the state level; it licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS (businesses/qualifying individuals) through MSBOC's Commercial Plumbing classification (unlimited commercial and residential plumbing, excluding fuel gas or boiler systems, under the Mechanical major classification) or the more limited Residential Plumbing classification (residential work only, used by some smaller operators). This record uses the Commercial Plumbing pathway. MSBOC does not publish a fixed hours/years-of-experience threshold for the qualifying party; instead, per Miss. Code Ann. Sec. 31-3-13 and Board Rule 1.1, the Board evaluates each applicant's 'experience and ability,' character, and manner of performance of previous contracts on a case-by-case basis rather than a numeric hour requirement, so hours is left null rather than assumed. No approved school/training program is required; a candidate qualifies by passing the required exams. [1]
- 3
Law and Business Management Examination
Pass the Law and Business Management Examination (fee: $120). Open-book (NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management - Mississippi), 50 questions, 2 hours, 70% required to pass. Mandatory for all MSBOC commercial and residential license applicants regardless of trade classification. [2]
- 4
Plumbing (Commercial) Trade Examination
Pass the Plumbing (Commercial) Trade Examination (fee: $120). Open-book (International Plumbing Code 2021 and related references), 70 questions, 3 hours, 70% required to pass. Covers general plumbing regulations, safety, cleanouts, and related subject areas. Combined with the Law and Business Management exam, total PSI exam fees are $240 for a first-time Commercial Plumbing applicant. The trade exam may be waived (for a $50 fee) if the applicant holds a current, qualifying out-of-state license under one of MSBOC's reciprocity agreements (see reciprocity notes). [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) with the $400 application fee. [3]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) issues your Certificate of Responsibility - Commercial Plumbing (Mechanical major classification) for Mississippi.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $400 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $400 |
| Law and Business Management Examination [2] | $120 |
| Plumbing (Commercial) Trade Examination [2] | $120 |
| Residential Plumbing application (alternate, residential-only pathway) [3] | $50 |
| Residential license renewal (alternate pathway) [3] | $100 |
| Commercial license renewal - late fee [3] | $50 |
| Additional classification fee [3] | $100 |
| Trade exam waiver fee (reciprocity) [3] | $50 |
Commercial Plumbing application is $400 for one classification and includes issuance, so 'license' is null. The Board's own published Fee Schedule (the PDF linked from msboc.us/forms, effective 2016-01-01) lists Commercial Application $400.00 and Commercial License Renewal $400.00, with a $50.00 late fee, $100.00 additional classification, $50.00 request for waiver of exam, and the residential alternates at $50.00 application / $100.00 renewal — all matching what is recorded here. This settles the $200-vs-$400 question flagged at close-out: the $200 figure in the Board's 2022-revised Rule 3.4 text is superseded by the fee schedule the Board actually publishes and bills from. Exam fees ($120 per exam, paid to PSI) are separate from the state application fee.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year.
Commercial licenses (and Residential licenses) must be renewed annually; MSBOC's own materials reviewed did not describe a continuing-education hour requirement for renewal, so ceHours is left null rather than assumed. Renewal requires proof of current general liability insurance, proof of good standing with the MS Secretary of State, and (for commercial) a GAAP balance sheet showing minimum net worth.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers plumbing contracting. MSBOC has bilateral reciprocity agreements with several state contractor-licensing boards that waive the Mississippi Plumbing trade exam (for a $50 fee) for applicants who hold a current, qualifying out-of-state license without recent disciplinary action - Tennessee is the only listed state that waives BOTH the Mechanical and Plumbing trade exams outright; others (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina Residential Builders Commission) waive plumbing/mechanical trade exams under specified conditions. All reciprocity applicants must still take the mandatory Law and Business Management exam and submit a full MSBOC application with all standard fees and documentation.
1 state-approved training provider in Mississippi — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $400
- $120
- $120
Frequently asked questions
Does Mississippi license individual journeyman plumbers?
No. Mississippi licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS through MSBOC's Commercial Plumbing classification (unlimited commercial and residential plumbing, excluding fuel gas/boiler systems) or the more limited Residential Plumbing classification, not individual journeymen.
What experience does Mississippi require for a Commercial Plumbing Certificate of Responsibility?
MSBOC does not publish a fixed hours or years-of-experience number. The Board evaluates each applicant's experience and ability, character, and history performing prior contracts on a discretionary, case-by-case basis rather than a numeric threshold.
What exams does the Commercial Plumbing license require?
A mandatory Law and Business Management exam (50 questions, 2 hours) and a Plumbing trade exam (70 questions, 3 hours), both open-book and requiring a 70% passing score, administered by PSI Services LLC for $120 each ($240 total).
What does it cost to get a Commercial Plumbing Certificate of Responsibility in Mississippi?
A $400 application fee to MSBOC (covers one classification, includes license issuance) plus $240 in PSI exam fees. Annual renewal is $400 ($450 if late), per MSBOC's current renewal form.
Can an out-of-state plumbing contractor transfer their license to Mississippi?
MSBOC has reciprocity agreements with several states' contractor boards that waive the Plumbing trade exam for a $50 fee (Tennessee waives it outright; others have conditions). All applicants, including reciprocity applicants, must still pass the Law and Business Management exam and submit a complete MSBOC application.
Sources
- [1] msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COMMERCIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] test-takers.psiexams.com/mscontlb — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Fee-Schedule-Effective-1-1-16-accessible.pdf — accessed 2026-07-27
- [4] msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Reciprocity-Instructions-and-Form-updated-07-2025-B.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12