Colorado to Wisconsin: master plumber license reciprocity
Wisconsin has no reciprocity agreement with Colorado. Your Colorado experience counts toward eligibility, but you must pass the Wisconsin exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Out-of-state master plumber (no reciprocity; exam required, journeyman experience credited toward eligibility)
Nothing is waived, but your documented out-of-state hours count toward eligibility to sit the exam.
DSPS publishes no plumbing reciprocity partners and no exam-waiver route for out-of-state master plumbers, so a master licensed in another state applies through LicensE under Form 3129 like a first-time candidate and must pass the Wisconsin master plumber examination. Wisconsin's master qualification is a period of experience as a licensed journeyman plumber, documented on the Form 3129T experience table; an out-of-state applicant documents that journeyman-level experience and licence history to become eligible to sit the exam. Wisconsin has no separate law or business exam for individual plumbers. Fees are calculated in LicensE.
SPS 305.91 requires at least 1,000 hours of plumbing work per year for 3 years as a licensed journeyman plumber, or an approved engineering degree. Restricted master is a separate DSPS credential. Fee amounts are in SPS 305.02 Table 305.02 (PDF), not on the DSPS plumber pages: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/MasterPlumber/Default.aspx
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- You must document at least 1,000 hours of qualifying work experience.At least 1,000 hours of plumbing work per year (SPS 305.91).
- You must have held your Colorado license for at least 3 years.Those 1,000 hours per year for 3 years as a licensed journeyman plumber, or an approved engineering degree in lieu of that experience (SPS 305.91).
What you'll do to get licensed in Wisconsin
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee. Application fee calculated in LicensE when you file Form 3129. Dollar amounts are in SPS 305.02 Table 305.02 (PDF), not on the DSPS plumber pages: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/MasterPlumber/Default.aspx.
- 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee. Examination fee calculated in LicensE. Dollar amounts are in SPS 305.02 Table 305.02 (PDF), not on the DSPS plumber pages..
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Wisconsin Master Plumber examination (open book on Wis. Stat. ch. 145, SPS 305 and the SPS 381-387 plumbing code; given at DSPS or Pearson locations).
- 4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee. License fee calculated in LicensE after you pass. Dollar amounts are in SPS 305.02 Table 305.02 (PDF), not on the DSPS plumber pages..
- 5Other. Form 3129T experience table and copy of the journeyman plumber licence(s) relied on, uploaded to LicensE.
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.
- Exam fee
- Trade exam
How Wisconsin licenses master plumbers
Wisconsin master plumber · “Master Plumber”
Statewide license
Issued by Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
Wisconsin issues a statewide, person-held Master Plumber license through DSPS under Wis. Stat. ch. 145; no person may work at plumbing without a DSPS license (Wis. Stat. 145.06), and under SPS 305.91 a master plumber responsible for an installation must use appropriately credentialed persons to do the work. A new applicant files Form 3129 (with the Form 3129T experience table) in the LicensE portal, is made eligible to test, and must pass the DSPS master plumber examination, an open-book exam on Wis. Stat. ch. 145, SPS 305 and the SPS 381-387 plumbing code (the updated code applies to exams from October 1, 2026). DSPS's plumber pages name no reciprocity states.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Wisconsin master plumber exam if I'm licensed in Colorado?
- Yes. Wisconsin requires the trade exam on this path.
- How long do I need to have held my Colorado license?
- At least 3 years before applying.
- Do my Colorado work hours count in Wisconsin?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Wisconsin's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Wisconsin to Colorado?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Wisconsin to Colorado, the mechanism is endorsement.
Sources
- Wisconsin DSPS Form 3129 - Master Plumber License Application Information (including Form 3129T) · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- Wisconsin DSPS - Journeyman Plumber Exam Information · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Wisconsin DSPS - Master Plumber · Wis. Stat. 145.06; Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.91 · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 305 - Licenses, Certifications and Registrations (Table 305.02 fees; Subch. VII Plumbing; SPS 305.91, 305.93) · Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.02 Table 305.02; SPS 305.60-305.66; SPS 305.91; SPS 305.93 · Wisconsin Legislature · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- Wis. Stat. 145.06 - Licenses and registration (plumbing) · Wis. Stat. 145.06 · Wisconsin Legislature · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.