Illinois to Utah: master plumber license reciprocity
Utah has no reciprocity agreement with Illinois. Your Illinois experience counts toward eligibility, but you must pass the Utah exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Out-of-state applicants without an equivalent master license (standard route with out-of-state experience credit)
Nothing is waived, but your documented out-of-state hours count toward eligibility to sit the exam.
Applicants whose origin jurisdiction is gray on DOPL's Endorsement to Utah: Master Plumber map (Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York and Alaska on the 7/27/2020 map) meet Utah's standard master qualifications: 4,000 hours of licensed journeyman plumber experience as a supervisor, or 2,000 supervisory hours plus an associate of applied science or similar degree from a CHEA-recognized institution (transcripts may verify 2,000 hours). Journeyman hours earned in another state count when documented on the Verification of Supervisory Plumbing Experience for Master Level Applicants form by the employer, with official verification of the applicant's license from the jurisdiction where the hours were obtained. The applicant then passes the Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule Examination (75% or greater) through Prov and submits the DOPL application with the $116 fee. Jurisdictions shown in light blue (Idaho, South Dakota, California C-36, Nevada C-1D, Arizona CR-37, New Mexico MM-1, Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee CMC-A, North Carolina Plumbing Class 1 and Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor) issue contractor licenses with similar scope; an applicant who was the responsible individual who met the licensing requirements on behalf of that contractor may instead qualify for endorsement.
Rule R156-55c-302b requires master applicants to pass only the Utah Plumber Law and Rule Exam, with a score of at least 75%. DOPL's Exam Information page also lists the Utah Plumber Practical Exam for master candidates, except those who already passed it for a Utah journeyman license. The qualifications box on DOPL's 2020 endorsement map, which lists the theory and practical exams, predates the current rule. Out-of-state journeyman supervisory hours count when the employer documents them on the Division's form and the applicant includes official verification of the license from the state where they were earned.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- You must document at least 4,000 hours of qualifying work experience.At least 4,000 hours of work experience and 4,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed journeyman plumber, (R156-55c-302a), which Prov's candidate bulletin says may be earned at the same time; reduced to 2,000 supervisory hours with an associate of applied science or similar degree from a CHEA-recognized institution. At least 2,000 and no more than 3,000 hours may be credited per 12-month period.
- Hours obtained outside Utah must be supported by official verification of the applicant's license from the jurisdiction where they were obtained, in addition to the employer-completed Verification of Supervisory Plumbing Experience form.
What you'll do to get licensed in Utah
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($116). Non-refundable DOPL application-processing fee (application v20260420).
- 2Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule Examination, 75% or greater, administered by Prov; exam fee paid to Prov; pass before submitting the DOPL application.
- 3Other. Verification of Supervisory Plumbing Experience for Master Level Applicants form(s), degree transcripts if using the 2,000-hour route, and official out-of-state license verification.
- 4Continuing education. Complete continuing education. 12 hours of approved CE per licensing cycle (8 core, 4 core or professional) to renew.
Published fees on this path total $116, 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.
- Law / code exam
Continuing education
Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.
- Continuing education
How Utah licenses master plumbers
Utah master plumber · “Master Plumber”
Statewide license
Issued by Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)
Utah issues a statewide Master Plumber license through DOPL under Utah Code 58-55 and Rule R156-55c, alongside a Residential Master Plumber license limited to residential work. A new master needs 4,000 hours of licensed journeyman plumber experience as a supervisor (or an associate of applied science or similar CHEA-recognized degree plus 2,000 supervisory hours) and must pass the Prov-administered Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule Examination with at least 75%; the DOPL application fee is $116. Utah has no master-level reciprocity agreements. Out-of-state masters whose license is green on DOPL's Endorsement to Utah: Master Plumber map apply by endorsement under Utah Code 58-1-302 after holding the license at least one year, active and in good standing, but 'All applicants will be required to pass the Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule exam.' Several states issue only a plumbing contractor license (light blue on the map); DOPL may endorse the individual who qualified as that contractor's responsible person. Applicants without an equivalent license use verified out-of-state journeyman supervisory hours toward the standard route. Renewal requires 12 hours of approved CE per licensing cycle.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Utah master plumber exam if I'm licensed in Illinois?
- The trade exam is waived, but Utah requires a law or code exam.
- What does it cost to get a Utah master plumber license from Illinois?
- Published fees on this path total $116, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Illinois work hours count in Utah?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Utah's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Utah to Illinois?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Utah to Illinois, the mechanism is endorsement.
Sources
- Utah Code 58-55-302 - Qualifications for licensure · Utah Code 58-55-302(1)(c)(ii), (1)(e)(ii), (1)(e)(iii), (1)(e)(iv), (1)(e)(vii), (2)(b) · Utah State Legislature · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Utah DOPL - Plumbing Exam Information · Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Apply for a Master Plumber License (DOPL) · Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Utah DOPL - Plumbing licensing home page · Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Utah DOPL - Plumbing Continuing Education · Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Endorsement to Utah: Master Plumber (state-by-state equivalency map) · Utah Code 58-55; 58-1-302 · Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) · Other · verified September 16, 2026
- Utah Plumber Application (JP / RJP / MP / RMP) with Verification of Plumbing Experience forms, checklist and instructions · Utah Admin. Code R156-1-301 (cited on the form) · Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Utah Admin. Code R156-55c - Plumber Licensing Act Rule · Utah Admin. Code R156-55c · Utah Office of Administrative Rules · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.