LicensebyState

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

Michigan has reciprocity agreements with 0 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: experience credit.

Michigan journeyman plumber · “Journey Plumber”

Statewide license

Verified September 16, 2026· 6 sources

Issued by Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes, State Plumbing Board

Michigan issues a statewide Journey Plumber license through LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes under Article 11 of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (2016 PA 407, MCL 339.6101 et seq.), which replaced the Michigan Plumbing Act of 2002. Local licensing is preempted: MCL 339.6125(1) says a governmental subdivision 'may not engage in or require local licensing,' so there is no separate Detroit or other city plumber license. A new applicant must be at least 18, document at least 6,000 hours over at least three years as a registered apprentice plumber under a master plumber with notarized employer letters, pay the $40 license fee with Form BCC-329A, be approved by LARA, then pass both the PSI written exam (125 questions, 180 minutes, 75% to pass, open book on the 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code; $100 fee) and LARA's hands-on practical skills exam, both on a single one-year application. The license renews annually for $40, and renewal requires a board-approved code-update course within 12 months after each state construction code change. Michigan has no reciprocity with any state; out-of-state journeymen must pass the Michigan exams, but their out-of-state experience may be credited toward eligibility after State Plumbing Board review.

Every origin state

Experience credit 32No credit 18
Every state's path into Michigan
StateMechanismNoteVerified
AlabamaExperience credit2026-09-16
AlaskaExperience credit2026-09-16
ArizonaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
ArkansasExperience credit2026-09-16
CaliforniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
ColoradoExperience credit2026-09-16
ConnecticutExperience credit2026-09-16
DelawareNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
District of ColumbiaExperience credit2026-09-16
FloridaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
GeorgiaExperience credit2026-09-16
HawaiiExperience credit2026-09-16
IdahoExperience credit2026-09-16
IllinoisNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
IndianaExperience credit2026-09-16
IowaExperience credit2026-09-16
KansasNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
KentuckyExperience credit2026-09-16
LouisianaExperience credit2026-09-16
MaineExperience credit2026-09-16
MarylandExperience credit2026-09-16
MassachusettsExperience credit2026-09-16
MinnesotaExperience credit2026-09-16
MississippiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
MissouriNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
MontanaExperience credit2026-09-16
NebraskaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
NevadaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
New HampshireExperience credit2026-09-16
New JerseyNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
New MexicoExperience credit2026-09-16
New YorkNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
North CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
North DakotaExperience credit2026-09-16
OhioNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
OklahomaExperience credit2026-09-16
OregonExperience credit2026-09-16
PennsylvaniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
Rhode IslandExperience credit2026-09-16
South CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
South DakotaExperience credit2026-09-16
TennesseeNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16
TexasExperience credit2026-09-16
UtahExperience credit2026-09-16
VermontExperience credit2026-09-16
VirginiaExperience credit2026-09-16
WashingtonExperience credit2026-09-16
West VirginiaExperience credit2026-09-16
WisconsinExperience credit2026-09-16
WyomingNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-16

Getting licensed in Michigan from scratch

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

Verified September 23, 2026· 8 sources

Journey Plumber license by examination

LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes issues the Journey Plumber license to an applicant who is at least 18 and has at least 6,000 hours of experience, gained over at least three years as a registered apprentice plumber installing plumbing under the supervision of a licensed plumber. Apprentices must register with LARA within 30 days of starting work and keep the registration renewed, because time without an active registration does not count. You apply on Form BCC-329A with the $40 license fee and a notarized experience affidavit from each employer; once LARA approves the application, you must pass two exams on that same application within one year: PSI's open-book written exam and LARA's hands-on practical skills exam. Michigan has no separate law or business exam for journey plumbers.

The PSI written exam has 125 questions in 180 minutes and covers drainage, venting, fixtures, water distribution, backflow prevention, special waste systems, testing and inspection, and reading an isometric drawing. It is taken in person at a PSI test center; online testing is not offered for this exam. Allowed references are the 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code (chapter tabs only), the State Construction Code Act (1972 PA 230) and the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (2016 PA 407), bound and unmarked. The practical exam is held about once a month from February to November in Lansing, Mason, Cadillac or St. Ignace; request a date by e-mailing your name and applicant ID to [email protected] at least 30 days ahead, as dates fill up. Passing scores do not carry over to a new application. Apprentice registration expires after five years unless the apprentice has applied for the journey exam, and on the job an apprentice must work under the direct, on-site supervision of a journey or master plumber, with no more than two apprentices per plumber. Service members, veterans and their dependents who already hold an active plumbing license in another state may ask LARA to waive the exam, and the license fee is waived for them with proof of service. Questions: LARA Licensing Section, 517-241-9316.

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Exam given by
PSI (written); LARA Bureau of Construction Codes (practical)
Exam format
Open book
Passing score
75%
Renewal
Every year

Who can apply

  • You must document at least 6,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Gained over at least three years as a registered apprentice plumber in the practical installation of plumbing under the supervision of a licensed master or journey plumber (MCL 339.6115(1)(d)(i)), documented on a notarized Plumbing Experience Affidavit (BCC-3926) from each employer.
  • Be at least 18 years old.

Other ways to qualify

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

Military plumbing experience

An applicant who served as a plumber or in an equivalent job in the armed forces and was honorably discharged within the year before applying may qualify with an affidavit from a commanding officer, supervisor or military superior stating at least 6,000 hours of entry-level experience in, and basic knowledge of, plumbing terminology and calculations, drainage, fixtures, water and backflow protection, storm and special waste disposal, testing and inspection, and venting. With fewer hours, LARA may grant partial credit toward the 6,000 hours. Both exams are still required.

  • You must document at least 6,000 hours of qualifying work experience.
  • Honorably discharged from military service within the one year before the application is filed
  • Be at least 18 years old.

Steps to get licensed

  1. 1License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($40). Journey Plumber license fee, paid with Form BCC-329A when you apply (online through LARA's Accela portal or by mail); waived for active service members, honorably discharged veterans and their dependents with proof.
  2. 2Other. Notarized Plumbing Experience Affidavit (Form BCC-3926) from each current and former employer, showing the supervising master of record, exact dates and hours worked.
  3. 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Michigan Journey Plumber written exam administered by PSI: 125 questions, 180 minutes, open book, 75% to pass; in person at a PSI test center only.
  4. 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($100). PSI written exam fee, paid to PSI when scheduling after LARA approves the application; non-refundable, valid for one year, and paid again for each attempt.
  5. 5Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. LARA hands-on practical skills exam, held about monthly from February to November; must be passed along with the written exam on the same application, which is valid for one year. No separate fee for the practical is listed..

Published fees on this path total $140, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

Keeping it active

Every year and a $40 renewal fee.

No continuing education is due in most years. In the year after Michigan adopts a new plumbing code, you must complete a board-approved code-update course within 12 months of the change; keep proof in case of audit. The course length is not stated on LARA's renewal page.

Renews every year by April 30. A lapse of more than 60 days restarts the two years of journey experience needed for the master license.

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 · $100
  • Trade exam

Sources for this section

  1. Michigan LARA Form BCC-329A - Application for Journey Plumber Examination & License (Rev. 11/21) · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  2. Michigan LARA Form BCC-3926 - Work Experience Report / Plumbing Experience Affidavit (1/2025) · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  3. Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes - Plumbing Examination, Licensing/Registration & Application Information · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  4. Michigan LARA BCC - Obtaining a Plumbing Master License in the State of Michigan (licensure pathway map); companion Plumbing Journeyperson map at Licensing-Requirements/Plumbing-JP.pdf · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  5. Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes - PSI Examinations · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  6. Michigan LARA BCC - License/Registration Renewals (Residential Builders section) · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  7. Michigan Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407, Article 11 - Plumbers (MCL 339.6101 to 339.6133) · MCL 339.6107, 339.6109, 339.6111, 339.6113, 339.6115, 339.6117, 339.6119, 339.6121, 339.6125 · Michigan Legislature · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  8. PSI - Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes Plumbing Candidate Information Bulletin (Journey Plumber, Master Plumber, Plumbing Contractor), effective 4/29/2026 · PSI Services LLC for Michigan LARA · Other · verified September 23, 2026

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