Idaho to Washington: journeyman plumber license reciprocity
Washington has a reciprocity agreement with Idaho: a Idaho journeyman plumber can get a Washington license without retaking the trade exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Reciprocal certification with Idaho (journey level plumber)
A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.
Washington and Idaho reciprocate journey level plumber certification. A plumber holding an active Idaho journey level plumber card applies to L&I for a reciprocal certificate by emailing a copy of the Idaho card and government-issued photo ID to [email protected] (or mailing them to Plumber Certification, PO Box 44470, Olympia, WA 98504) and paying the $202.10 reciprocity application fee; once L&I verifies the Idaho credential it invoices the $242.70 journey level certificate fee and issues the Washington PL01 certificate without examination. Under WAC 296-400A-070 the applicant must be a resident of Idaho at the time of application, may not be living in Washington when applying, must be applying work experience obtained in Idaho, and cannot use the agreement to take the Washington exam in place of the Idaho exam. The reciprocal certificate then renews like any Washington certificate: every three years for $242.70 with 24 hours of continuing education.
The agreement covers the journey level only; Idaho specialty or apprentice credentials are not mentioned. The Idaho DOPL side of this agreement belongs in the Idaho file.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
- Agreement
- Active
What you must already have
- Your Idaho license must be active and in good standing.
- Must be a resident of Idaho at the time of application and must not be residing in Washington when applying (WAC 296-400A-070(4) and (5))
- The work experience applied toward certification must have been obtained in Idaho, the state with which Washington has the agreement (WAC 296-400A-070(3), WAC 296-400A-045 note)
What you'll do to get licensed in Washington
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($202.10). Reciprocity application fee, non-refundable; the reciprocity application is valid for one year.
- 2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($242.70). Journey level plumber certificate fee, invoiced once the reciprocal application is approved; certificate renews every three years for $242.70 with 24 hours of continuing education.
Published fees on this path total $444.80, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
How Washington licenses journeyman plumbers
Washington journeyman plumber · “Journey Level Plumber (PL01)”
Statewide license
Issued by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Plumber Certification Program
Washington issues a statewide Journey Level Plumber (PL01) certificate of competency through the Department of Labor & Industries; anyone working in the plumbing trade must hold a journey level, specialty, residential service, trainee or temporary permit credential. A new applicant needs four years and at least 8,000 hours as a Washington plumber trainee (4,000 in commercial or industrial work), 16 hours of approved classroom education, and must pass the closed-book Washington journey level exam administered by PSI ($202.10 application fee plus PSI's scheduling fee, then a $242.70 certificate fee). Washington's only plumber reciprocity agreement is with Idaho for journey level plumbers: holders of an active Idaho journey level card receive the PL01 certificate without examination. Every other out-of-state plumber submits a copy of an active state license for L&I review; if L&I finds it comparable, the applicant is approved to sit the Washington exam and may buy a one-time 120-day temporary permit ($100.30) to work while waiting to test. Hours worked for out-of-state employers or in out-of-state apprenticeships are not credited. Certificates renew every three years on the holder's birthdate for $242.70 with 24 hours of continuing education (at least 12 hours of plumbing code and 4 hours of electrical).
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Washington journeyman plumber exam if I'm licensed in Idaho?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Idaho.
- What does it cost to get a Washington journeyman plumber license from Idaho?
- Published fees on this path total $444.80, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Idaho work hours count in Washington?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Washington's eligibility requirements.
Sources
- L&I - Get or Renew Your Plumber Certification · Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- L&I - Plumber Certification (becoming a plumber, certification requirements) · Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- L&I - Plumber Examination (in-state and out-of-state applicants, temporary permit) · Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- RCW 18.106.040 - Examinations - Eligibility requirements - Determination · RCW 18.106.040 · Washington State Legislature · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- RCW 18.106.155 - Reciprocity · RCW 18.106.155 · Washington State Legislature · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- WAC 296-400A-045 - Plumber certification and plumbing contractor fees · WAC 296-400A-045 · Washington State Legislature · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- WAC 296-400A-070 - Can I work as a certified plumber in Washington without taking the Washington state plumbers' competency examination? · WAC 296-400A-070 · Washington State Legislature · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- WAC 296-400A-121 - Trainee experience and plumber examination requirements for the journey level and specialty plumber · WAC 296-400A-121 · Washington State Legislature · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.