Texas Plumbing License Requirements

The following is a brief summary of the courses & experience required to apply for each Texas plumbing license.

Tradesman:

06 Hours, Continuing Education

10 Hours, OSHA Safety
08 Hours, Residential Code
—
24 Hours Total (in any order)

(We offer the OSHA and Residential code hours as one 18 hour course which we call Section 1.)

Tradesman courses may be taken in any order while obtaining the required experience, but 4,000* hours of work (while a registered apprentice) must be certified by an RMP before applying to take the exam.

Journeyman:

06 Hours, Continuing Education

10 Hours, OSHA Safety
08 Hours, Residential Code

06 Hours, Continuing Education
18 Hours, Commercial Code
—
48 Hours Total (in any order)

(We offer the OSHA and Residential code hours as one 18 hour course which we call Section 1, the Commercial Code as one 18 hour course which we call Section 2.)

Journeyman courses may be taken in any order while obtaining the required experience, but 8,000* hours of work (while a registered apprentice) must be certified by an RMP before applying to take the exam.

Master:

No additional courses are required to take the Master exam but the licensee must have held a Journeyman license for at least 4 years* before applying for an examination date.

If you wish to become a Responsible Master Plumber (for someone else or to run your own shop), a 24 hour Responsible Master Plumber course is still available but no longer required.

Endorsements:

The following endorsements each require a related 24 hour course:

Medical Gas Piping Installation
Multipurpose Residential Fire Sprinkler
Water Supply Protection Specialist

Backflow & Septic Sytems:

We often receive calls about these additional licenses:

• Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester
• Customer Service Inspector
• On-Site Sewage Systems (Including Septic Tanks)

These are licensed and regulated by TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) and details may be found on their website.  There is sometimes confusion around these topics because of these closely related and overlapping activies:

• Backflow Device Installation (licensed plumbers may install but not test or repair)
• Customer Service Inspection (licensed plumbers with the WSPS endorsement may also perform this)

If there is any doubt about your planned activity, please contact the TCEQ or TSBPE for official clarification.

Criminal Conviction Notice

Anyone pursuing an occupational license (i.e. plumbing) is hereby notified:

1. Past criminal convictions may impact your eligibility for issuance of a license.
2. The general guidelines are issued under Section 53 of the Occupations Code.
3. TSBPE specific guidance may be found in the current Board Rules.
4. Applicants have the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter (see Sec 53.102).

We see a significant number of people apply to the Board for a license, registration, or renewal, only to be denied because not enough time as has passed for them to be considered.  Per the TSBPE staff attorneys, the Board does not consider such applications until one year after initial incarceration or one year after the previous denial, whichever is later.  However, allowing one year to pass does not automatically assure approval by the Board.  The members generally want to see enough time and tangible, documented progress to prove rehabilitiation.  Applying too early often results in a denial of the application, which restarts the one year period again.

If you have any questions about this information or need help determining which course you should take, please feel free to contact us and we will be glad to help!

There are exceptions to the provisions listed above for plumbers transferring from other states or who completed officially recognized apprenticeship programs*.

Visit the TSBPE for official licensing rules.