StateLicensed

Plumber License Requirements in Texas

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
8000 hrs
Upfront cost
$188.5
Exam
Journeyman Plumber Examination — Written, Journeyman Plumber Examination — Practical
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No minimum age is stated on TSBPE's Journeyman Plumber page. All applicants and examinees must submit fingerprint data (a one-time requirement; those who have previously submitted fingerprints to TSBPE need not resubmit). Applicants with a felony conviction must also submit a Supplemental Criminal History Information Form. Eligibility to sit the Journeyman exam requires being currently registered as a Texas Plumber's Apprentice, currently licensed as a Texas Tradesman Plumber-Limited, or currently licensed as a Journeyman/Master Plumber in another state; candidates must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-immigrants. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 8000 hours of training (including 48 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 8,000 hours (roughly 4 years) of documented experience working in the plumbing trade is required, verified via Employer Certification Form(s). Applicants must also complete a 48-hour training course approved by TSBPE (2 six-hour CPE courses, 10 hours of OSHA training, 8 hours on plumbing codes, and 18 hours on commercial plumbing codes) or be enrolled in/have completed a U.S. DOL Office of Apprenticeship-approved program — the 48-hour figure is recorded in clinicalHours since it is a classroom component layered on top of the 8,000-hour experience requirement. Applicants who already hold a Journeyman or Master Plumber license from another state are exempt from the 48-hour training course. [1]

  3. 3

    Journeyman Plumber Examination — Written

    Pass the Journeyman Plumber Examination — Written (fee: $68.5). 100 items, 120 minutes, computer-based; 70% required to pass. A separate $40 TSBPE application fee (recorded under fees.application) must be paid to TSBPE before Pearson VUE will issue an Authorization to Test. [2]

  4. 4

    Journeyman Plumber Examination — Practical

    Pass the Journeyman Plumber Examination — Practical (fee: $40). 6 practical items, 240 minutes. Must be completed within 1 year of passing the written exam; the practical demonstrates hands-on plumbing installation skills. Overall pass requires both the written and practical portions to be passed. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) with the $40 application fee. [1]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) issues your Journeyman Plumber License for Texas.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $40
License fee [1] $40
Renewal fee [1] $40
Journeyman Plumber Examination — Written [2] $68.5
Journeyman Plumber Examination — Practical [2] $40
Late renewal (expired less than 90 days) [1] $20
Late renewal (expired more than 90 days) [1] $40

The $40 application fee is paid to TSBPE to apply for/be authorized to sit the Journeyman exam. After passing both the written and practical portions, a separate $40 initial license fee is paid to TSBPE for the certificate of licensure and pocket card. These TSBPE fees are in addition to the Pearson VUE testing fees recorded under exams ($68.50 written + $40 practical), which are paid directly to the exam vendor.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 6 continuing education hours required per cycle.

TSBPE licenses (Journeyman, Master, Tradesman, Inspector) renew annually — the Board's own license-types page states 'Licenses renew annually,' and new licensees are assigned a random expiration date 6-18 months from the date they passed licensure, after which renewal becomes a yearly cycle. 6 hours of TSBPE-approved continuing professional education (CPE) are required before each renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Texas has formal reciprocal-licensing agreements with Louisiana (Louisiana journeymen who also hold an active Louisiana gasfitter license may obtain the equivalent Texas license without examination) and Arkansas (Arkansas plumbers must have held their Arkansas license for 4 years to qualify). Plumbers licensed in other states without a reciprocity agreement may still apply for a Texas license by endorsement through TSBPE by submitting an official letterhead letter from their home-state licensing authority confirming their journeyman/master license, its duration, renewability, and disciplinary history, and demonstrating that the home-state credential is substantially equivalent to the Texas one. No interstate plumbing licensure compact exists; Texas is not a member of one for this occupation.

1 state-approved training provider in Texas — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $40
  • $40
  • $68.5
  • $40
Total$188.5

Frequently asked questions

How much plumbing experience does Texas require for a Journeyman Plumber license?

8,000 hours (about 4 years) of documented experience in the plumbing trade, plus a 48-hour TSBPE-approved training course (or a U.S. DOL-approved apprenticeship program) — unless the applicant already holds a Journeyman or Master license from another state, which waives the 48-hour course.

Who administers the Texas Journeyman Plumber exam and what does it cost?

Pearson VUE administers both the written exam (100 items, 120 minutes, $68.50, 70% to pass) and the practical exam (6 items, 240 minutes, $40, given in Austin or Waco), on contract with TSBPE. A separate $40 TSBPE application fee and $40 initial license fee also apply.

How often does a Texas Journeyman Plumber license need to be renewed?

Annually. TSBPE licenses renew every year (new licensees get a randomized first expiration date 6-18 months out), and 6 hours of TSBPE-approved continuing education are required before each renewal.

Can an out-of-state plumber transfer their license to Texas?

It depends on the state. Louisiana and Arkansas have formal reciprocity agreements with specific conditions (e.g., Louisiana journeymen need an active gasfitter license too; Arkansas plumbers need 4 years holding their license). Plumbers from other states can apply for endorsement by proving their home-state license is substantially equivalent to Texas's.

Does Texas require a background check for a plumbing license?

Yes — all applicants and examinees must submit fingerprint data (a one-time requirement), and applicants with a felony conviction must submit a Supplemental Criminal History Information Form.

Sources

  1. [1] tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/494400.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] tsbpe.texas.gov/category/out-of-state-licensing/ — accessed 2026-07-12