Moving to Iowa as a master plumber: every state's rule

Iowa's highest person-held plumbing credential is the statewide Master Plumber license issued by the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (DIAL); a master plans and superintends plumbing work, may perform all journeyperson duties, and serves as master of record for a licensed contractor (one contractor per discipline at a time without board approval). A new applicant must be 18, disclose criminal convictions, and pass the Iowa master plumbing exam; to sit for it the applicant must hold either a master plumbing license in another jurisdiction or a journeyperson license with two years of journey-level experience. The exam is approved by the board ($35 application) and administered by Kirkwood Community College ($119 per attempt, 75% to pass). Iowa's only reciprocity agreement is with South Dakota for plumbers licensed by written exam; masters from all other states are admitted directly to the Iowa master exam on the strength of their license. The separate Contractor license ($250 plus $150 registration per three-year term, with $500,000 liability insurance and a $5,000 bond) is required to contract for plumbing work as a business. Licenses run three years (current period ends June 30, 2029) with a full-term fee of $240 and eight hours of continuing education per term.