Plumber License Requirements in Vermont
- Training hours
- 12000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $170
- Exam
- Vermont Journeyman Plumber Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Vermont Division of Fire Safety, Plumbers Examining Board (Department of Public Safety)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age is stated on the official Journeyman Plumber application or the Division's plumbing licensing page (the application only collects date of birth as identifying information). The application's Section 9 'Compliance Questions' cover child support, tax, unemployment-compensation, and fines/penalties obligations to the State of Vermont — no felony disclosure, fingerprint submission, or criminal-history check is requested anywhere on the official application, so backgroundCheck is recorded as false. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 12000 hours of training. The official Journeyman application accepts any ONE of: (1) a Certificate of Completion from the Vermont State Apprenticeship Council (a 4-5 year registered apprenticeship, whose specific hour breakdown is not itemized on the application form itself); (2) for applicants who did not complete a registered apprenticeship, documentation of at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training/experience/instruction acceptable to the Plumbers Examining Board (this is the figure recorded in hours); (3) a Universal License route for those already licensed as a Journeyman-equivalent in another state, requiring a certified letter of licensure plus proof of schooling and 8,000 hours of experience; or (4) a Reciprocal Military License route (DD-214 showing an honorable discharge within the prior 2 years, plus 12,000-hour course-equivalent and 8,000 hours of experience). Because the 12,000-hour OJT route does not require a formal approved program, approvedProgramRequired is recorded as false. Applicants for a new license issued after July 1, 2021 must also complete a Vermont Energy Goals educational module. [1]
- 3
Vermont Journeyman Plumber Examination
Pass the Vermont Journeyman Plumber Examination (fee: $80). 80 questions, 3 hours, computer-based, open-book with approved references; 70% or higher required to pass. Content areas: General Knowledge & Plumbing Math, Fixtures & Fittings, Water Heaters, Water Supply and Distribution, Sanitary Drainage & Indirect/Special Waste, Vents & Vent Systems, Traps/Interceptors/Separators, Storm & Roof Drainage, Plan Reading & Isometrics, and Safety. All Division of Fire Safety trade exams (including retakes) are a flat $80 fee. A hand-scored review of a failed exam costs $25. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Vermont Division of Fire Safety, Plumbers Examining Board (Department of Public Safety) with the $90 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Vermont Division of Fire Safety, Plumbers Examining Board (Department of Public Safety) issues your Journeyman Plumber License for Vermont.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $90 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $90 |
| Vermont Journeyman Plumber Examination [2] | $80 |
| Reinstatement fee (renewed within 90 days of lapse) [1] | $15 |
The Journeyman application fee is $90, per the Division's official application instructions; this covers issuance of the initial license, and the Division does not itemize a separate post-exam license fee, so license is left null. The Prov exam fee ($80) is paid separately, directly to the exam vendor, and is recorded under exams.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 8 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Vermont plumbing licenses renew every 2 years. Licensees must complete 8 hours of continuing education per cycle, with at least 2 of those hours covering code review, and provide a completion certificate to the board. A lapsed license renewed within 90 days of expiration incurs a $15 reinstatement fee in addition to the renewal fee.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Vermont does not have formal reciprocity agreements with other states, but its 'Universal License' pathway lets a Journeyman-equivalent license holder from another state obtain a Vermont Journeyman license without retaking the Vermont exam, by submitting a certified letter of licensure from the issuing state plus proof of the apprenticeship/schooling behind that license and 8,000 hours of experience. A separate Reciprocal Military License pathway exists for veterans with qualifying training and experience. No interstate plumbing licensure compact exists for this occupation.
Cost calculator
- $90
- $80
Frequently asked questions
How much experience does Vermont require for a Journeyman Plumber license?
Either a Vermont State Apprenticeship Council completion certificate (a 4-5 year registered apprenticeship) or, for those who didn't complete a registered apprenticeship, at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training/experience acceptable to the Plumbers Examining Board.
Who administers the Vermont Journeyman Plumber exam and what does it cost?
Prov, Inc., under contract with the Division of Fire Safety. It's 80 questions over 3 hours, open-book, with 70% required to pass, for a flat $80 fee (same for retakes).
How often do Vermont plumbing licenses need to be renewed?
Every 2 years, with 8 hours of continuing education required per cycle (at least 2 hours must cover code review).
How much does a Vermont Journeyman Plumber license cost?
The application fee is $90, and renewal is also $90, in addition to the separate $80 Prov exam fee.
Can I use my out-of-state plumbing license to get licensed in Vermont?
Vermont doesn't have formal reciprocity agreements, but its 'Universal License' pathway allows an equivalent out-of-state Journeyman license (with a certified letter of licensure, proof of schooling, and 8,000 hours of experience) to bypass Vermont's own exam.
Sources
- [1] firesafety.vermont.gov/sites/firesafety/files/files/forms/dfs_plumbing_license_application.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] provexam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/VT_DFS_CIB-2025.05.07.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing/plumbing — accessed 2026-07-12