Plumber License Requirements in Missouri
- Training hours
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- Upfront cost
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- Exam
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- Renewal cycle
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- Issuing board
- No state licensing authority for individual plumbers. Missouri's Division of Professional Registration does not include a plumbing board among its licensing boards (see pr.mo.gov's full board listing). Under RSMo Chapter 341 (§§341.010–341.190), the state instead REQUIRES cities and towns of 15,000 or more inhabitants to establish and administer their own plumber examination/certification boards — plumber licensing is a local, not state, function. Contact your local city or county building/licensing department.
How to get licensed
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Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No statewide prerequisites exist for plumbers, since there is no mandatory statewide individual license. Prerequisites such as minimum age, apprenticeship experience, or background checks are set by each municipality's own certification board under RSMo §341.010, where one exists — for example, St. Louis City's Board of Examiners (Plumbers and Drainlayers) and Kansas City's Contractor Licensing program each set their own local requirements. [1]
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Complete approved training
Complete the required training. No statewide training-hour requirement exists because Missouri has no mandatory statewide individual plumber license. RSMo §341.010 requires cities/towns of 15,000+ inhabitants to certify master and journeyman plumbers under their own locally-established boards, so training/apprenticeship requirements (e.g. hours, classroom instruction) are set independently by each municipality that licenses the trade — they are not uniform statewide figures. [1]
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Submit your application
Submit your application to No state licensing authority for individual plumbers. Missouri's Division of Professional Registration does not include a plumbing board among its licensing boards (see pr.mo.gov's full board listing). Under RSMo Chapter 341 (§§341.010–341.190), the state instead REQUIRES cities and towns of 15,000 or more inhabitants to establish and administer their own plumber examination/certification boards — plumber licensing is a local, not state, function. Contact your local city or county building/licensing department.. [1]
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Receive your license
Once your application is approved, No state licensing authority for individual plumbers. Missouri's Division of Professional Registration does not include a plumbing board among its licensing boards (see pr.mo.gov's full board listing). Under RSMo Chapter 341 (§§341.010–341.190), the state instead REQUIRES cities and towns of 15,000 or more inhabitants to establish and administer their own plumber examination/certification boards — plumber licensing is a local, not state, function. Contact your local city or county building/licensing department. issues your No statewide license — regulated at the city/county level for Missouri.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | None specified |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | None specified |
No state fees apply to plumbers because Missouri does not mandate a state-level individual plumber license; the Division of Professional Registration has no plumbing board or fee schedule. Fees for master/journeyman plumber certificates are set independently by each municipality that licenses the trade under RSMo §341.010 (e.g. St. Louis and Kansas City each publish their own fee schedules through their local licensing departments).
Renewal & continuing education
Renewal cycle not specified.
No statewide renewal cycle or continuing-education requirement exists, since there is no mandatory statewide individual plumber license. Renewal terms (cycle length, CE hours if any) are set by each municipality's own program under RSMo §341.010, where one exists.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
No statewide reciprocity exists for plumbers, since there is no mandatory statewide individual license to reciprocate. RSMo §341.010 requires each qualifying city/town (15,000+ inhabitants) to run its own certification board, and a license held in one Missouri municipality (e.g. St. Louis or Kansas City) does not automatically satisfy another municipality's requirements. No multistate plumbing licensure compact exists for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Missouri issue a statewide plumber license?
No. Missouri has no mandatory statewide individual plumber license. The Division of Professional Registration, which licenses most other trades and professions, does not include a plumbing board. Instead, RSMo Chapter 341 requires cities and towns of 15,000 or more inhabitants to establish their own plumber certification boards.
Where do I get licensed as a plumber in Missouri?
Contact the building or licensing department of the specific city or county where you plan to work. Under RSMo §341.010, plumber licensing (master and journeyman) is administered locally by each qualifying municipality, not by a state agency.
Which Missouri cities require a local plumber license?
Larger jurisdictions with their own plumber licensing programs include St. Louis City (Board of Examiners for Plumbers and Drainlayers), St. Louis County, and Kansas City (Contractor Licensing, City Planning and Development Department). Any city or town with 15,000 or more inhabitants may establish its own program under RSMo §341.010.
If I'm licensed as a plumber in one Missouri city, can I work in another city without a new license?
Not automatically. Because plumber licensing is administered locally under RSMo §341.010 rather than by a single state board, a license issued by one municipality does not by itself satisfy another municipality's separate licensing requirements. Check with the specific city or county building department where you intend to work.
Sources
- [1] revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx — accessed 2026-07-12