LicensebyState

Moving to Indiana as a journeyman plumber: every state's rule

Indiana has reciprocity agreements with 0 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: endorsement.

Indiana journeyman plumber · “Journeyman Plumber”

Statewide license

Verified September 23, 2026· 4 sources

Issued by Indiana Plumbing Commission (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)

Indiana licenses plumbers statewide through the Indiana Plumbing Commission, which is administered by the Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) under IC 25-28.5-1. The Commission registers Plumbing Apprentices and approves apprenticeship programs and schools, and it issues Journeyman Plumber and Plumbing Contractor licenses to individuals, a Temporary Plumbing Contractor license, and a Corporate Plumbing Business registration for entities. Applications, renewals and license verification are handled online in MyLicense One with an Access Indiana account. The Indiana journeyman examination is administered by the testing vendor Prov, and initial license fees depend on whether the license is issued in an odd or even year of the two-year cycle. Indiana's statute contains a reciprocity section (IC 25-28.5-1-19) and nonresident provisions (IC 25-28.5-1-12(d) and -20), so an out-of-state journeyman applies to the Commission rather than to any city or county; cities may require a licensed plumber to register but may not require any other license (IC 25-28.5-1-33).

Every origin state

Endorsement 32No credit 18
Every state's path into Indiana
StateMechanismNoteVerified
AlabamaEndorsement2026-09-23
AlaskaEndorsement2026-09-23
ArizonaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
ArkansasEndorsement2026-09-23
CaliforniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
ColoradoEndorsement2026-09-23
ConnecticutEndorsement2026-09-23
DelawareNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
District of ColumbiaEndorsement2026-09-23
FloridaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
GeorgiaEndorsement2026-09-23
HawaiiEndorsement2026-09-23
IdahoEndorsement2026-09-23
IllinoisNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
IowaEndorsement2026-09-23
KansasNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
KentuckyEndorsement2026-09-23
LouisianaEndorsement2026-09-23
MaineEndorsement2026-09-23
MarylandEndorsement2026-09-23
MassachusettsEndorsement2026-09-23
MichiganEndorsement2026-09-23
MinnesotaEndorsement2026-09-23
MississippiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
MissouriNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
MontanaEndorsement2026-09-23
NebraskaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
NevadaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
New HampshireEndorsement2026-09-23
New JerseyNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
New MexicoEndorsement2026-09-23
New YorkNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
North CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
North DakotaEndorsement2026-09-23
OhioNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
OklahomaEndorsement2026-09-23
OregonEndorsement2026-09-23
PennsylvaniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
Rhode IslandEndorsement2026-09-23
South CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
South DakotaEndorsement2026-09-23
TennesseeNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
TexasEndorsement2026-09-23
UtahEndorsement2026-09-23
VermontEndorsement2026-09-23
VirginiaEndorsement2026-09-23
WashingtonEndorsement2026-09-23
West VirginiaEndorsement2026-09-23
WisconsinEndorsement2026-09-23
WyomingNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23

Getting licensed in Indiana from scratch

No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how Indiana issues a journeyman plumber license to a first-time applicant.

Verified September 23, 2026· 8 sources

Journeyman Plumber license by examination

Indiana issues the Journeyman Plumber license to an applicant at least 18 years old who completes a four-year plumbing apprenticeship program approved by the Indiana Plumbing Commission and passes the state journeyman exam. The apprenticeship must include at least 576 hours of classroom instruction and 6,400 hours of on-the-job training over at least four years, and it ends with a hands-on practical exam given by the apprenticeship school. Apprentices register with the Commission and work under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman plumber or plumbing contractor. After the Commission approves your application, you schedule the 90-question, three-hour multiple-choice exam with Prov; it is based on the Indiana edition of the 2006 International Plumbing Code and includes questions on Indiana business and law, and approved references may be brought into the exam.

The exam covers general requirements, fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, vents, storm water systems, developed length and isometric analysis, and Indiana business (7 questions); it is offered in English or Spanish. Approved references are the 2006 International Plumbing Code (Indiana edition, or the 2006 IPC or its Code and Commentary), the 2012 Indiana amendments at 675 IAC 16-1.4, and the Commission's compilation of the Indiana plumbing law and rules or Prov's Indiana Plumbing Supplement. Neither the Commission's rules nor Prov's bulletin publishes a passing percentage; passing candidates are told only that they passed. You have one year from approval to take the exam the first time and up to seven attempts within two years of your first scheduled date, paying the fee for each attempt; after that you must file a new application. Registering as an apprentice requires enrollment in an approved program, age 17 or older and a $10 fee. An applicant who holds a current plumbing license from another state follows the out-of-state route described above.

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Exam given by
Prov
Exam format
Open book
Renewal
Every 2 years

Who can apply

  • Complete a registered apprenticeship (4 years): Completion of a four-year plumbing apprenticeship program approved by the Indiana Plumbing Commission.The program must be approved by the Indiana Plumbing Commission and accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship office or a similar certifying organization (860 IAC 2-1-1). It is not complete until you pass the school's practical exam, scoring at least 70% on each of the copper, cast iron and plastic pipe assembly projects; the program sponsor certifies completion on the Commission's Certificate of Completion form. Apprenticeship credit for earlier education, training or experience granted by the Department of Labor and approved by the Commission may cover up to 75% of the hours.
  • Complete at least 576 hours of classroom or related instruction.Classroom instruction within the approved apprenticeship program (860 IAC 1-1-9).
  • You must document at least 6,400 hours of qualifying work experience.On-the-job training within the apprenticeship, over at least four years; no more than 40 hours count in any calendar week (860 IAC 1-1-9).
  • Be at least 18 years old.

Other ways to qualify

Each of these replaces the requirements above. You only need one.

Four years of experience in the plumbing trade

Indiana law also admits an Indiana resident to the exam on a notarized statement of four years of experience in the plumbing trade. The rule defines that experience narrowly: plumbing work done as an employee of the federal, state or local government acting within that job, on federal property or a project governed by federal law, or as a full-time maintenance person repairing existing systems at your own workplace. Four years means at least 6,400 hours over at least four years, with no more than 40 hours counted in any week, and each employer signs a notarized affidavit. The Commission's online journeyman instructions list only the apprenticeship and out-of-state license routes, so confirm with the Commission ([email protected]) before applying this way.

  • You must document at least 6,400 hours of qualifying work experience.Over at least four years, no more than 40 hours in any week (860 IAC 1-1-9).
  • Be at least 18 years old.

Steps to get licensed

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($30). Journeyman Plumber application fee, paid by card in MyLicense One; nonrefundable.
  2. 2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($30). Initial license issuance fee when the license is issued in an even-numbered year; $15 when it is issued in an odd-numbered year. The fee follows the year the license is issued, not the year you apply..
  3. 3Other. Certificate of Completion for Plumbing Apprenticeship signed by the approved program sponsor, uploaded with the application.
  4. 4Other. Answer the application's background questions; for any "yes" answer, attach a full statement (violation, location, date, cause number and disposition) and copies of the court documents. By statute you must state that you have no conviction that would be grounds for discipline or a felony bearing directly on your ability to practice (IC 25-28.5-1-13)..
  5. 5Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Indiana Journeyman Plumber exam (Prov): 90 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours on the 2006 International Plumbing Code with Indiana amendments, approved references allowed.
  6. 6Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($75). Prov examination fee, paid to Prov for each attempt; nonrefundable.

Published fees on this path total $135, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

Keeping it active

Every 2 years and a $30 renewal fee.

All journeyman licenses expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year, whatever the issue date. Renewal notices go out about 90 days before expiration. A renewal received after December 31 but before March 1 costs $15 more; after March 1 of the even year the late fee is $100. A license expired for three years or more must be reinstated.

Exam preparation

Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.

  • Trade exam
  • Exam fee · $75

Sources for this section

  1. 860 IAC 1 - Indiana Plumbing Commission, General Provisions (fees, admission to examination, examinations) · 860 IAC 1-1-2.1, 1-1-7, 1-1-8, 1-1-9, 1-1-10, 1-1-11, 1-3-1, 1-3-1.1, 1-3-2, 1-5-7 · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  2. 860 IAC 2 - Indiana Plumbing Commission, Apprentice Plumber (registration, program approval, practical examination) · 860 IAC 2-1-1, 2-1-2, 2-1-6, 2-1-7, 2-1-7.1 · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  3. Indiana Code Title 25, Article 28.5 (Plumbers), Chapter 1 - Regulation of Plumbers; Creation of Commission; Licensing · IC 25-28.5-1-12, -13, -15, -16, -17, -18.1, -18.3, -18.5, -19, -20, -22, -23, -32, -33 · Indiana General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  4. Certificate for Completion for Plumbing Apprenticeship (part of State Form 56009) · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  5. Section 4 - Experience in a Plumbing Business, and Employer Affidavit of Experience in Plumbing Trade (part of State Form 27522) · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  6. Indiana Professional Licensing Agency - Plumbing Home (Indiana Plumbing Commission) · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  7. Indiana Professional Licensing Agency - Plumbing Licensing Information (application instructions, renewal, fee schedule) · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  8. Prov - Indiana Plumbing Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin (IPC_CIB 2026.06.24) · Prov, Inc. (for the Indiana Plumbing Commission) · Form · verified September 23, 2026

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