Louisiana to Virginia: master plumber license reciprocity
Virginia has no reciprocity agreement with Louisiana. A Louisiana master plumber applies by endorsement.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Universal License Recognition or exam eligibility for out-of-state masters (no named origin states)
The board reviews your out-of-state credentials case by case. Some exam is usually still required, often only a law or code exam.
A master plumber or individually licensed plumbing contractor from any state without a DPOR-named plumbing reciprocity partner applies on the Tradesman Universal License Recognition form (A501-2710ULR) for a Licensed Master Plumbing (PLB) license, which DPOR issues without the Virginia trade examination when the current out-of-state license has been held for at least one year, was obtained by examination in a jurisdiction that also required education, training or experience, and there are no unresolved complaints or pending investigations; every board that has licensed the applicant must send a Certification of Licensure/Letter of Good Standing dated within 90 days directly to the Tradesmen Program, and DPOR reserves the right to require an exam specific to Virginia law (Va. Code 54.1-205). An applicant whose license is less than a year old, or was not obtained by exam, instead files the Tradesman Exam & License Application ($171.75): a current out-of-state journeyman or master plumber license is one of the listed qualifications to sit the PSI master exam ($125), so no years of experience need be documented. The ULR application fee is also $171.75, including the technology fee. A state contractor license issued only to a business may not satisfy ULR's personal-license-by-exam requirement; the qualifying individual should confirm with DPOR.
No agreements[] rows: DPOR does not name an origin state for plumbing reciprocity. DPOR lists an examination agreement with WSSC for journeyman and master plumbers, but its terms are not published; it is not coded as origin MD. A Tennessee CMC, North Carolina plumbing contractor, or similar business credential may need the exam route rather than ULR.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- You must have held your Louisiana license for at least 1 year.ULR route only: current out-of-state master plumber license held at least one year
- Your Louisiana license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- Your Louisiana license must be active and in good standing.
- You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.
What you'll do to get licensed in Virginia
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($171.75). Tradesman Universal License Recognition application fee (form A501-2710ULR): the $150 license fee in 18VAC50-30-90 plus the technology fee; the Tradesman Exam & License Application costs the same; non-refundable.
- 2Other. Certification of Licensure/Letter of Good Standing from each board where licensed, sent directly to the Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program and dated within 90 days.
- 3Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam (if applicable). DPOR may require an examination specific to Virginia law under Va. Code 54.1-205.
- 4Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam (if applicable). Only for applicants who do not meet the ULR criteria: PSI Virginia master plumbing exam (published $125; cap $225 under 18VAC50-30-100) via the Tradesman Exam & License Application ($171.75), for which an out-of-state journeyman or master plumber license is itself the qualification.
- 5Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($125) (if applicable). PSI master tradesman exam fee published on the Tradesmen program page; paid to the exam vendor when the exam is required..
- 6Continuing education. Complete continuing education. Three hours of board-approved continuing education relating to applicable plumbing building-code changes each three-year renewal cycle (18VAC50-30-120(C)).
- 7License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($160). Tradesman license renewal fee (18VAC50-30-120(G)); licenses expire three years from the last day of the month of issuance; non-refundable.
- 8Contractor license. Hold or obtain a contractor license (if applicable). Class A, B or C Virginia contractor license from the Board for Contractors if contracting for work over $1,000; contractor exams are not waived by tradesman ULR.
Published fees on this path total $331.75, 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 · if applicable
- Trade exam · if applicable
Continuing education
Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.
- Continuing education
Business registration
If you plan to contract in your own name, budget for a business license or entity registration on top of the trade license.
- Contractor license · if applicable
How Virginia licenses master plumbers
Virginia master plumber · “Master Plumbing Tradesman (PLB)”
Statewide license
Issued by Virginia Board for Contractors, Tradesmen Program (DPOR)
Virginia issues a statewide Master Plumbing tradesman license to individuals through the Board for Contractors' Tradesmen Program at DPOR. Under 18VAC50-30-39(D) a first-time applicant qualifies for the PSI master exam with one year as a licensed journeyman in the trade, three years holding a valid Virginia residential plumber tradesman license, or nine years of verified practical experience; the application fee on the 2026 form is $171.75 including the technology fee, and the PSI master exam fee published on the Tradesmen page is $125 (regulatory cap $225). A current journeyman or master plumber license from another governing body outside Virginia is itself an accepted qualification to sit the master exam, and a licensee who has held an out-of-state license for at least one year may apply through Universal License Recognition and receive the master license without the Virginia trade exam. DPOR does not publish a plumbing reciprocity agreement with any origin state; the only plumbing-related partner on the Board list is WSSC. The master tradesman license is a personal qualification; contracting for work over $1,000 requires a separate Class A, B or C contractor business license. Licenses expire three years from the last day of the month of issuance; renewal is $160 plus three hours of board-approved plumbing code continuing education per designation.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Virginia master plumber exam if I'm licensed in Louisiana?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path.
- How long do I need to have held my Louisiana license?
- At least 1 year before applying.
- What does it cost to get a Virginia master plumber license from Louisiana?
- Published fees on this path total $331.75, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Louisiana work hours count in Virginia?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Virginia's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Virginia to Louisiana?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Virginia to Louisiana, the mechanism is no credit.
Sources
- 18VAC50-30-100 - Examination fees · 18VAC50-30-100 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-120 - Renewal · 18VAC50-30-120; Va. Code § 54.1-1133 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-39 - Qualifications for examination approval for a tradesman license · 18VAC50-30-39 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-90 - Fees for licensure and certification · 18VAC50-30-90 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- Virginia Board for Contractors - Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Agreement Document · verified September 17, 2026
- Form A501-2710EXLIC - Tradesman Exam & License Application (v8, 07/01/2026) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Form A501-2710ULR - Tradesman Universal License Recognition Application (v4, 07/01/2026) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- DPOR Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Universal License Recognition - Virginia DPOR · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.