LicensebyState

Wyoming to Colorado: journeyman plumber license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 16, 2026· 7 sources

Wyoming does not issue a statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Colorado's standard path for out-of-state applicants.

Your origin state does not issue a statewide license at this level, so there is no license to transfer. The destination's standard out-of-state path is shown; expect to meet it in full.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Licensure by endorsement (all other states; no reciprocal agreements)

Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.

Every out-of-state journeyman applies under the same endorsement rule, because the Colorado Plumbing Board has no reciprocal agreements (the word does not appear in 3 CCR 720-1 or on the DPO plumbing pages). Under Rule 1.4(B)(1)(a) and the DPO Licensure Requirements, the applicant must hold an active journeyman-level license issued and regulated by a state (not a city or county) for at least six months, must have obtained it by passing a comparable state plumbing exam based on the current or previous edition of the plumbing code adopted by the Board (the 2021 IPC; DPO's Licensing Guide phrases this as 'the current or previous version of the International Plumbing Code'), and must have completed a state or federally approved apprenticeship or the four years (6,800 hours) of experience Colorado requires, documented on the Board's Affidavit of Experience forms signed by employers (self-verification is not accepted). The issuing state board completes DPO's Verification of State Licensure form. An applicant who satisfies these conditions is licensed without taking the Colorado exam; anyone who does not (for example a licence gained without an exam, on a non-IPC code, or held under six months) applies by examination, where out-of-state hours still count toward the 6,800-hour requirement.

Wording differences between official sources: the DPO Applications page says the comparable exam must be 'based on the currently adopted Colorado Code', while Rule 1.4(B)(1)(a)(2) and the Licensing Guide accept the current OR previous edition of the adopted plumbing code (IPC). The six-month holding period appears on the DPO Applications page but not in the rule text. Rule 1.4(A)(1) says candidates 'must pass the required examination(s) before submitting an application', whereas the Applications page describes DPO approving the application first and then issuing PSI scheduling instructions; exam-route applicants should confirm the current order of operations with DPO. The $120 application fee is quoted as 'currently' in the DPO Licensing Guide; the PSI exam fee is set in PSI's candidate handbook and was not published on the DPO pages reviewed. C.R.S.

At a glance

Trade exam
Waived
Law / code exam
Not required
Out-of-state hours
Count toward eligibility

What you must already have

  • Your Wyoming license must be active and in good standing.
  • You must have held your Wyoming license for at least 6 months.DPO Applications page: 'currently held state (not city or county) issued license which you have held for a minimum of six (6) months'.
  • Your Wyoming license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
  • Completion of a state or federally approved or registered apprenticeship program, or the required years and type of experience for the comparable Colorado license
  • You must document at least 6,800 hours of qualifying work experience.Four years of practical experience (one full-time month = 163 hours), documented on Board Affidavit of Experience forms signed by the plumbing contractor or employer; out-of-state experience is accepted on the same forms. Not separately required if the applicant completed a state or federally approved apprenticeship.

What you'll do to get licensed in Colorado

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($120). Journeyworker Plumber initial application fee (DPO Licensing Guide: 'currently $120'), paid in DPO Online Services; non-refundable, application expires after one year if incomplete.
  2. 2Other. Plumbing - Verification of State Licensure form completed by the issuing state board.
  3. 3Other. Plumbing - Affidavit of Experience form(s) from current and former plumbing contractor employers, or apprenticeship completion documentation.
  4. 4Other. Proof of citizenship or lawful presence, general and criminal-history screening questions, and Felony Conviction Form if applicable.
  5. 5Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam (if applicable). Colorado Journeyworker Plumber exam (PSI; 100 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass) - only if the origin licence does not meet the endorsement criteria.
  6. 6Continuing education. Complete continuing education. After the first renewal: 8 hours of CE per licence year (16 per two-year cycle), at least 4 hours code-related, no more than 2 hours safety.

Published fees on this path total $120, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

What you'll need to buy or arrange

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 · if applicable

Continuing education

Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.

  • Continuing education

How Colorado licenses journeyman plumbers

Colorado journeyman plumber · “Journeyworker Plumber

Statewide license

Verified September 16, 2026· 5 sources

Issued by Colorado State Plumbing Board (DORA Division of Professions and Occupations)

Colorado issues a statewide Journeyworker Plumber license (its name for the journeyman level) through the State Plumbing Board in DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations; the Board also licenses Residential Plumbers (two years / 3,400 hours) and Master Plumbers, registers apprentices, and registers Plumbing Contractors, which must hold or employ a licensed master plumber. By examination a journeyworker needs four years (6,800 hours) of documented practical experience verified on Affidavit of Experience forms by plumbing contractors or employers, a $120 application fee, and a passing score of 70% on the PSI-administered Colorado journeyworker exam (100 multiple-choice questions, 240 minutes) based on the 2021 IPC/IRC as adopted in 3 CCR 720-1. Out-of-state licensees who meet Board Rule 1.4(B)(1)(a) may instead be licensed by endorsement without the Colorado exam; the Board publishes no reciprocal agreements with any state. Licenses expire on the last day of February of odd-numbered years, and renewal requires eight hours of continuing education per licence year (waived until after the first renewal for new exam licensees).

Moving to ColoradoLeaving Colorado

Why Wyoming has nothing to transfer

Wyoming journeyman plumber

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 16, 2026· 12 sources

Wyoming has no statewide plumber license at any level. The only state construction-trade licensing program is the State Fire Marshal's electrician program, which lists no plumbing or mechanical credential, so a journeyman plumber license exists only where a city ordinance creates one. Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette and Sheridan each license journeyman plumbers (and apprentices) individually, all requiring four years or a completed apprenticeship plus an ICC National Standard plumbing exam (G28-N journeyman or G27-N master), while Jackson has stopped issuing journeyman cards altogether and Rock Springs only registers contractors. No city accepts another state's journeyman license: Casper, Gillette and Jackson reciprocate only with other Wyoming jurisdictions, Sheridan expressly refuses licenses from other cities or states, Cheyenne's Board keeps discretion but cites a state statute limiting reciprocity to Wyoming jurisdictions, and Laramie's building official may waive the exam for a certificate from any governmental agency whose exam is judged at least equal. An out-of-state journeyman should expect to document their hours, present or sit the ICC exam through Pearson VUE, and apply separately in each city where they will work.

How local licensing works in Wyoming

How local licensing works. Wyoming licenses electricians through the State Fire Marshal but has no plumbing board, so plumber licensing is entirely a matter of city ordinance and each city sets its own classes, hours, exam and fees. The reciprocity statute the cities cite reaches only licenses issued by other Wyoming jurisdictions; none of the cities below publishes a path that recognizes another state's plumber license.

Cheyenne. The Contractor Licensing Board licenses Plumbing (Class C1, tested) contractors and requires every employee on a plumbing job site to hold a master, journeyman or apprentice license. A journeyman (12.1.9) documents 4 years/8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice (or certified equivalent training) and passes a current ICC, NICET or NASCLA exam from the Board's list, paid to the testing agency; a Residential Plumbing Journeyman (12.1.11) needs 2 years/4,000 hours and may work only on IRC residential structures at a 1:1 apprentice ratio. Fees: $50 application plus $30 initial and $15 renewal (apprentice $25 + $25, $15 renewal); licenses expire annually. Up to three apprentices may work under one journeyman or master. Trade employees registered for the exam can get a one-time 30-day temporary work authorization (60 days maximum). Reciprocity (3.3.2): the Board 'may grant reciprocity with other State jurisdictions and agencies as the Board determines appropriate', notes that Wyoming's statute allows reciprocity for Wyoming jurisdictions only, evaluates even those case by case, and may accept a test exceeding its published exams from someone holding a current equivalent license elsewhere - no partner list is published.

Casper. The Community Development Department issues Journeyman Plumber licenses ($25 new, $15 renewal) to applicants with a federally recognized plumbing apprenticeship or the equivalent of four years in a Casper-licensed plumbing shop plus proof of passing ICC G27-N or G28-N (or equivalent); apprentice licenses ($3) are issued to the contractor in the apprentice's name. Reciprocal Plumbing Master/Journeyman licenses ($50/$25) exist only for holders of a current, good-standing license from another Wyoming jurisdiction with comparable testing.

Laramie. A journeyman plumbing certificate of qualification requires four years' employment with a licensed plumbing contractor (Table 15.24.020-1) and the building official's examination; the application fee is $5 per exam attempt, and a failed exam bars retesting for 30 days (six months after a second failure). In lieu of the exam, the building official may issue the certificate to anyone presenting a valid certificate from 'any other governmental agency giving an examination' that the board of examiners considers at least equal - the only Wyoming city whose rule is not limited to Wyoming jurisdictions. Journeymen work only under a certified master, each journeyman or master may supervise two apprentices, certificates expire December 31 (renew by January 31), and applications go through the Civic Access portal.

Gillette. Journeyman Plumber ($25 new, $25 renewal) requires four years of approved experience and passing ICC examination results (5-III-21/22); the ICC computer-based exam is taken through Pearson VUE. Apprentices ($5) qualify after 30 days with a Gillette-licensed plumbing contractor, and one master or journeyman supervises up to three apprentices. Reciprocity (5-III-1(d), effective July 1, 2024) is granted without fee only to active, good-standing licenses of a similar class from another Wyoming city, county or town, with testing waived on proof of the ICC plumbing exam.

Sheridan. Journeyman Plumber ($50 new, $50 annual renewal) requires four years of journeyman plumber experience (Form JP) or a completed approved four-year apprenticeship and the 2018 ICC G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas exam; one licensed contractor or journeyman is required per three apprentices. The City's FAQ states it 'does not accept licensing from other cities, towns, counties, or states as a means to obtain licensing locally'. Applications go through the OpenGov portal.

Jackson. The Town no longer issues or requires Apprentice or Journeyman Certificate of Qualification cards; only Master COQ cards are issued. A journeyman-level plumber works in Jackson as an employee of a Town-licensed plumbing contractor whose Master of Record holds a Master COQ, and needs no individual Town card.

Rock Springs. The Building Inspection Office registers contractors ($125 fee plus a certificate of insurance) and licenses no individual plumbers; no exam or hours are required.

Moving to WyomingLeaving Wyoming

Common questions

Do I have to take the Colorado journeyman plumber exam if I'm licensed in Wyoming?
No. The trade exam is waived on this path.
How long do I need to have held my Wyoming license?
At least 6 months before applying.
What does it cost to get a Colorado journeyman plumber license from Wyoming?
Published fees on this path total $120, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Wyoming work hours count in Colorado?
Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Colorado's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Colorado to Wyoming?
Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Colorado to Wyoming, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

  1. 3 CCR 720-1 - Plumbing Rules and Regulations (State Plumbing Board) · 3 CCR 720-1, Rule 1.4 (Applications and Licensing); Rule 1.2 (Standards) · Colorado Secretary of State (Code of Colorado Regulations) · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
  2. Colorado SOS eDocket - Tracking Number 2025-00532 (3 CCR 720-1 permanent rule adopted 2025-12-17) · Colorado Secretary of State (Code of Colorado Regulations eDocket) · Other · verified September 16, 2026
  3. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 12, Article 155 - Plumbers · C.R.S. §§ 12-155-112, 12-155-116, 12-155-118 · Colorado General Assembly · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
  4. Colorado Plumbing Applications and Forms - Plumbing Licensure Requirements (Examination and Endorsement) · Colorado DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
  5. Colorado Plumbing Continuing Education · Colorado DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
  6. Colorado Plumbing Homepage - State Plumbing Board · Colorado DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
  7. DPO Plumbing Licensing Guide (PDF linked from the Plumbing Applications page) · Colorado DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations · Form · verified September 16, 2026

Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.

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