Plumbing licensing credential types and forms

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Plumbing contractor: a person who may contract to perform or offer to perform plumbing work in all areas of the state provided the contractor has at all times a licensed master plumber as a responsible individual and maintains compliance with the required bond, general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance requirements (Minnesota Statute 326B.46). Person is defined as an individual proprietor, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership or any other legal entity. License is required for any contractor performing plumbing work starting Jan. 1, 2012.  Application forms are available here.

Master plumber: an individual who is skilled in the planning, superintending and the practical installation of plumbing, who is otherwise lawfully qualified to contract for plumbing and installations and to conduct the business of plumbing and who is familiar with the laws and rules governing the same. This license authorizes the individual to perform plumbing statewide, for both interior plumbing and exterior water service, sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems within the property lines.

Journeyman plumber: an individual, other than a master plumber, who, as a principal occupation, is engaged as an employee of, or is otherwise working under the direction of, a master plumber in the practical installation of plumbing. This license authorizes the individual to work statewide, for both interior plumbing and exterior water service, sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems within the property lines.

Restricted plumbing contractor: a person who may contract to perform or offer to perform building sewer and water service installation work in all areas of the state; and who performs and offers to perform plumbing work in all areas of the state, except cities and towns with a population of more than 5,000 according to the most recent census, provided the contractor has at all times a licensed restricted master plumber as a responsible individual and maintains compliance with the required bond, general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance requirements (Minnesota Statute 326B.46). Person is defined as an individual proprietor, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership or any other legal entity. License is required for any contractor performing plumbing work starting on Jan. 1, 2012.  Application forms are available here.

Restricted master plumber: an individual who is lawfully qualified to contract for plumbing and installations and to conduct the business of plumbing in cities and towns with a population of fewer than 5,000 according to the most recent federal census, and who has at least four years of practical plumbing experience in the plumbing trade or two years experience as a plumbing contractor. This license authorizes the individual to work on both interior plumbing and exterior water service, sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems within the property lines in those areas.

Restricted journeyman plumber: an individual who has had at least two years of practical plumbing experience in the plumbing trade and is engaged as an employee of, or is otherwise working under the direction of, a restricted master plumber in the practical installation of plumbing in cities and towns with a population of fewer than 5,000 according to the most recent federal census. This license authorizes the individual to work on both interior plumbing and exterior water service, sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems within the property lines in those areas.

Unlicensed individual - plumbing: any person, other than a journeyman or master plumber (or restricted master or restricted journeyman plumber), who, as a principal occupation, is engaged in working as an employee of a plumbing contractor under the direct supervision of either a master or journeyman plumber (or restricted master or restricted journeyman plumber) or plumbing contractor in learning and assisting in the installation of plumbing.

Plumbing bond registration (pipe layer): a person who contracts to perform or offer to perform building sewer and water service installation work in all areas of the state; and does not perform any other plumbing work that requires a plumbing license under Minnesota Statute 326B.46 and must file an original plumbing contractor code compliance bond and SSTS business license surety bond. Person is defined as an individual proprietor, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, or any other legal entity. Application forms are available here.   

Certified pipelayer: an individual who has completed pipe-laying training in a program approved by the commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, and has a certificate to show record of the training. This certificate, or "pipelayer's card," may be carried by an individual in lieu of a plumber license to work on water service pipes, building drain/sanitary sewer pipes and storm sewer pipes within the property lines of a facility or residence, but not inside of buildings. This does not qualify a person to work on interior plumbing (which requires a plumber license). This credential authorizes the individual to work statewide on these exterior plumbing systems. 

Backflow prevention rebuilder: an individual holding a current plumbing license who may install, maintain, test, repair, replace or rebuild reduced pressure zone backflow prevention assemblies having completed reduced pressure backflow prevention assembly training approved by the commissioner. Individual must hold certification issued by the department starting Jan. 1, 2012.

Backflow prevention tester: an individual may test reduced pressure zone backflow prevention assemblies provided the individual completed reduced pressure backflow prevention assembly training approved by the commissioner, and obtains a certification from the department as a backflow prevention tester.  Individual must hold certification issued by the department starting Jan. 1, 2012.

Water conditioning contractor: the person in a firm or corporation who has demonstrated skill in planning, superintending, installing and servicing water conditioning installations.

Water conditioning installer: a person, other than a water conditioning contractor, who has demonstrated practical knowledge of water conditioning installation and servicing.

Please Note: The Department of Labor and Industry does not accept cash as payment for licenses, inspections, copy requests and other DLI services. Accepted methods of payment include checks, money orders and electronic payments that can be made through the DLI Web site.

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