Virginia 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
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Not verified yet
Renewal
Licenses issued under this chapter to electricians, gas fitters, liquefied petroleum gas fitters, natural gas fitter providers, HVAC tradesmen, or plumbers will expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license.
Before you begin
Agency guidance
Master examination eligibility: three years holding the residential plumber tradesman license; at least one year holding a journeyman license; or nine years of practical experience in the trade.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
D. An applicant for examination to be licensed as a master in a trade must furnish evidence that one of the following experience standards has been attained: 1. Having held a valid residential HVAC tradesman or residential plumber tradesman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for three years; 2. Having held a valid journeyman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for a minimum of one year; or 3. Nine years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired.Official source
Agency guidance
Exam fees paid to PSI: journeyman tradesman $100; master tradesman $125.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Exam Fees (paid directly to PSI) Journeyman Tradesman $100 Master Tradesman $125Official source
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
Virginia Board for Contractors
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
The Board for Contractors regulates individual tradesmen who engage in the trades of electrical; plumbing; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); gas fitting; water well construction; elevator mechanics; backflow prevention; and building energy analysis.
Official sourceOfficial agency page
Check the qualifications
Experience
Journeyman examination routes: related engineering bachelor's plus one year; related two-year degree/program certificate plus two years; 240 training hours plus four years; 160 hours plus five years; 80 hours plus six years; 40 hours plus seven years; or eight years of practical experience without formal training.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade One year of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired Associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field Two years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade Four years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade Five years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired 80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade Six years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired 40 hours of formal vocational training in the trade Seven years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired None Eight years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired
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
Virginia lists a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission examination agreement for journeyman and master plumbers and gas fitters.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) – Examination agreement for Journeyman and Master Plumbers and Gas Fitters.Official source
Official sources and verification (11)
Last verified 2026-10-24. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.
The Board for Contractors regulates individual tradesmen who engage in the trades of electrical; plumbing; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); gas fitting; water well construction; elevator mechanics; backflow prevention; and building energy analysis.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade One year of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired Associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field Two years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade Four years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade Five years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired 80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade Six years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired 40 hours of formal vocational training in the trade Seven years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired None Eight years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desiredOfficial source
Verified 2026-10-24
Licenses issued under this chapter to electricians, gas fitters, liquefied petroleum gas fitters, natural gas fitter providers, HVAC tradesmen, or plumbers will expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Licenses issued under this chapter to electricians, gas fitters, liquefied petroleum gas fitters, natural gas fitter providers, HVAC tradesmen, or plumbers will expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
For the trades of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, the course must be three hours in length.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
D. An applicant for examination to be licensed as a master in a trade must furnish evidence that one of the following experience standards has been attained: 1. Having held a valid residential HVAC tradesman or residential plumber tradesman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for three years; 2. Having held a valid journeyman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for a minimum of one year; or 3. Nine years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Exam Fees (paid directly to PSI) Journeyman Tradesman $100 Master Tradesman $125Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
relating to the applicable building code changes, from a provider approved by the board.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) – Examination agreement for Journeyman and Master Plumbers and Gas Fitters.Official 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
- Michigan
- 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
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Last verified 2026-10-24.
Official sources (4)
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Tradesmen
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title18/agency50/chapter30/partII/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section120/
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/boards/Tradesman/Tradesmen%20reciprocal%20agreements.pdf
Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.