Licensing Information
Apprenticeship
Upon registering at an accredited apprenticeship program, students will be issued an Apprentice Plumbers card. This card allows the candidate to do plumbing as long as a journeyman plumber is present. All cards issued in a calendar year expire on September 30th.
Journeyman
After completing school (576 hours) and a period of employment (4 years) with a registered master plumber, journeyman candidates must submit an application through the Plumbing Program to take the Journeyman Plumbers Examination.
The exam is administered twice a year (spring and fall) and the cost is $133.00 per examination. After successfully passing the test, the candidate is issued a Health Permit Number. The Journeyman Plumber license is renewed annually on the plumber’s date of birth for a fee of $125.00.
Master Plumber
Journeymen wanting to take the Master Plumber Examination must complete two full years of work experience as a journeyman and make an application to the Plumbing Program. Once their application is accepted, candidates can take the exam.
The exam is administered twice a year (spring and fall) and the cost is $265.00 per examination. After successfully passing the test, the candidate is issued a Health Permit Number. The Master Plumber's License is renewed annually on the plumber's date of birth for a fee of $375.00.
Upcoming Certification Exams
The next plumbing exam scheduled is April 13 to 14, 2026. The deadline to apply is March 16, 2026. Applications for the exam will now be submitted exclusively online through the Accela Citizen Access Portal. Please reference these instructions on how to apply for the exam(PDF, 840KB).
The 2022 version of Allegheny County Article XV will apply for the exam.
Please submit an electronic copy of the completed notarized work statement when you submit your exam application. Blank copies of the work statement are available: Download work statement document(PDF, 179KB).
Please do not mail or hand deliver the notarized copies of the work statements.
Exam Location
Cherry City Volunteer Fire Company
309 Davis Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
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