Michigan plumber license & renewal
The requirements, the timing and the official sources. Everything we’ve verified, in one place.
License fee
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Not verified yet
Required hours
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Not verified yet
Exam
Journey applicants must pass written and practical portions on one application. Master and contractor applicants must pass the applicable examination.
Renewal
You must renew every year by 4/30.
Before you begin
Agency guidance
Master and plumbing contractor licenses renew every three years by April 30; not all licensees renew in the same year.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
You must renew every three (3) years by 4/30. ... Not all master plumbers renew the same year. ... Not all plumbing contractors renew the same year.Official source
Agency guidance
Renewal fee: journey $40; master $300; plumbing contractor $300.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
It is $40.00 to renew your license. ... It is $300.00 to renew your license.Official source
Agency guidance
Plumbing contractors must hold or employ a master plumber; a master can qualify only one contractor license at a time.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
You need to hold a Master Plumber license OR employ someone who holds a Master Plumber license. ... A Master Plumber can only “qualify” one Plumbing Contractor license at a time.Official source
Agency guidance
Plumbing contractor license application fee: $300.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
NON-REFUNDABLE LICENSE APPLICATION FEE DUE WITH PLUMBING CONTRACTOR APPLICATION $300.00Official source
Agency guidance
Renewal instructions: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/sections/licensing-section/license-registration-renewals
How to get this license
Use the agency’s requirements below to plan your next steps. Missing details stay marked.
Start with the licensing authority
Licensing board
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Division
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs ... Bureau of Construction Codes / Licensing Division
Official sourceOfficial agency page
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Plumbing Examination, Licensing/Registration & Application Information
Official sourceCheck the qualifications
Experience
Journey: 6,000 hours over at least three years as an actively registered apprentice under a licensed master/journey plumber. Master: 4,000 journey hours over at least two years immediately before application, with no licensing lapses.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
not less than 6,000 hours experience attained over a period of not less than 3 years as an actively registered plumbing apprentice ... Must have 4,000 hours experience in work as a journey plumber over a period of not less than 2 years immediately preceding the date of the application. Any lapses in licensure in the 2 years immediately preceding the application will not meet requirements.
Official sourceExam
Journey applicants must pass written and practical portions on one application. Master and contractor applicants must pass the applicable examination.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Must pass both the written and hands on practical skills portions of the examination on a single application. ... Must pay the examination fee and pass the examination.
Official sourceReview fees and apply
Application fee
Not verified yet
Exam fee
Not verified yet
License fee
Not verified yet
Apply with the agency
Reciprocity
Not verified yet
Official sources and verification (13)
Last verified 2026-10-24. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs ... Bureau of Construction Codes / Licensing DivisionOfficial source
Verified 2026-10-24
Plumbing Examination, Licensing/Registration & Application InformationOfficial source
Verified 2026-10-24
not less than 6,000 hours experience attained over a period of not less than 3 years as an actively registered plumbing apprentice ... Must have 4,000 hours experience in work as a journey plumber over a period of not less than 2 years immediately preceding the date of the application. Any lapses in licensure in the 2 years immediately preceding the application will not meet requirements.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Must pass both the written and hands on practical skills portions of the examination on a single application. ... Must pay the examination fee and pass the examination.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
You are only required to take a code update course within one year of new code being adopted. This does not happen every year.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
You must renew every three (3) years by 4/30. ... Not all master plumbers renew the same year. ... Not all plumbing contractors renew the same year.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
It is $40.00 to renew your license. ... It is $300.00 to renew your license.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
You need to hold a Master Plumber license OR employ someone who holds a Master Plumber license. ... A Master Plumber can only “qualify” one Plumbing Contractor license at a time.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
NON-REFUNDABLE LICENSE APPLICATION FEE DUE WITH PLUMBING CONTRACTOR APPLICATION $300.00Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Keep exploring.
Same license in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Last verified 2026-10-24.
Official sources (3)
- https://www.michigan.gov/lara/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bcc-media/BCC-Forms/Plumbing/bcc329_plumbing_examination_0317-fillable.pdf?hash=749550DE8F228E97338DB9E99E1AA9FC&rev=c963369e9b46491bb5499c50cba16a68
- https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/sections/licensing-section/exam-lic/plumbing-examination-licensing-registration-application-information
- https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/sections/licensing-section/license-registration-renewals
Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.