Plumbing license experience requirements

Applicants for plumbing license exams must have certified practical work experience.  

• One year of practical plumbing experience consists of at least 1,750 hours, though no more than 1,750 hours can be credited for one calendar year.

• Not more than two years of practical plumbing experience from a state other than Minnesota will be credited unless the applicant first obtains a plumber's license in the other state.

• Applicants must verify their own plumbing experience.

• Plumbing experience must be certified by the licensed master plumber responsible for the work performed.

Journeyworker plumber

To qualify for the journeyworker plumber exam, an applicant must have:

• At least four years of recorded practical plumbing experience as a DLI-registered unlicensed plumber; or

• Completed a DLI-registered apprenticeship program; or

•  A current Minnesota restricted journeyworker plumber license or a restricted master plumber license and at least two years of practical plumbing experience gained while holding the restricted plumber license; or

• A current plumber’s license from another state where the licensing jurisdiction requires at least four years of practical plumbing experience and an examination to qualify for licensure.

More ways applicants can obtain practical work experience include:

• During military service and the applicant’s military officer certifies the experience; or

• As part of a plumbing education class approved by DLI and an authorized representative of the educational institution certifies the experience; or

• As a participant in an apprenticeship program in another state where the experience is certified by the state agency that regulates plumbing in that state.

Applicants who are registered unlicensed plumbers must demonstrate four years of practical plumbing experience, including:

• Water distribution system installation:  2,000 hours

• Drain, waste and vent system installation:  2,000 hours

• Fixture installation:  1,000 hours

Applicants who are licensed restricted journeyworkers or restricted master plumbers must demonstrate four years of practical plumbing experience, including:

• Water distribution system installation:  1,000 hours

• Drain, waste, and vent system installation:  1,000 hours

• Fixture installation:  500 hours

• A licensed restricted master plumber cannot certify their own work experience.

Master plumber

To qualify for the master plumber exam, the applicant must have:

• At least one year of practical plumbing experience as a licensed journeyworker plumber; or

• A current master plumber license from another state where the requirements of the licensing jurisdiction are equivalent to those of Minnesota as determined by DLI; or

• A current Minnesota restricted master plumber license and five years of verifiable experience in business as a plumbing contractor in Minnesota.