• Plumbing is licensed in Virginia is at 3 levels: journeyman, master, and contractor. To become either a journeyman plumber or a master plumber, there are two examination portions that must be passed: statutory and regulatory portion and the trade portion. To become an plumbing contractor, a Virginia Class A, B, or C license must also be obtained along with a master plumber license. 
• Pre-approval from the state is required to sit for the examination.
• To sit for the trade examinations, a candidate must document that they have met one of the following experience requirements. Individuals who hold a currently valid license or certification from another state as a journeyman or master tradesman may sit for the same level examination by providing a copy of that license or certification card.

Journeyman license:

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  • Two years of practical experience in the trade and a degree or certification showing the completion of a two year program from either a trade or technical school, or a community college; or
  • Four years of practical experience in the trade and 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
  • Five years of practical experience in the trade and 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
  • Six years of practical experience in the trade and 80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
  • A bachelor’s degree received from an accredited college or university in an engineering curriculum related to the trade and 1 year of practical experience in the trade; or
  • Ten years of practical experience in the trade, verified by an affidavit from those who observed the candidate’s work in the trade

Master license:

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  • One year of practical experience as a licensed Virginia journeyman; or
  • Ten years of practical experience in the trade, verified by an affidavit from those who observed the candidate’s work in the trade.

This type of contractor allows contracts including the installation, maintenance, extension, alteration or removal of all piping, fixtures, appliances, appurtenances in connection with; boilers, backflow prevention devices, hot water heaters, hydronic systems, process piping, steam heating systems, venting systems related to plumbing, and others.

Applications for licensure can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation State Board for Contractors by calling 1-804-367-8511.

You are required to submit your application to the Board prior to taking the examination.  Applications can be downloaded HERE.

YOU MUST FIRST OBTAIN PRE-APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD PRIOR TO TAKING THE EXAMINATION.  PRE-APPROVAL APPLICATIONS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM HERE.  

• The statutory and regulatory portion has 10 questions and a time limit of 30 minutes.
• The fee for the statutory and regulatory portion is $30.
• A 70% is required to pass.
• Topics on this exam include standards of practice; standards of conduct; renewal and reinstatement; definitions; qualification for licensure; and revocation of licensure.

• The journeyman and master plumbing portions have 70 questions and a time limit of 180 minutes.
• The fee for the journeyman portion is $70 while the master portion has a fee of $90. 
• Both examinations have a passing score of 76%.
• Topics on both examinations include drainage waste and vents; water supply systems; backflow prevention; storm drainage systems; plumbing fixtures; general regulations; and interceptors and traps.
• To schedule your exam, contact PSI at 1-800-733-9267.

The following references are permitted to be taken into the examination. These references may be tabbed (with a permanent index tab) and highlighted. For the Statutory and Regulatory portion, “Individual License and Certification Regulations” may be printed online free of charge. For the trade portion, the references may be purchased from our online contractors bookstore.

• Individual License and Certification Regulations (Statutory and Regulatory portion only)
• 2006 International Plumbing Code (Trade portion only)

We offer review for the Virginia Master and Journeyman Plumber examinations in a home study/tutorial format. The fee for the study guide is $150. This study guide includes sample figures, questions, as well as a highlighting guide for the approved references. For more information, or to order, contact our office at 1-800-952-0910.

Study Guide Price: $150

We now offer practice tests for this exam online! Click here to begin!