Washington to Virginia: master plumber license reciprocity
Washington does not issue a statewide master plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Virginia'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.
Universal License Recognition or exam eligibility for out-of-state masters (no named origin states)
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
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 three years, 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 younger than three years, 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 fee printed on the ULR form is $130; the 2026 exam/license form charges $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. WSSC examination-reciprocity, if still in force, is unpublished and is not coded as origin MD.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
- Typical processing
- About 30 days
What you must already have
- You must have held your Washington license for at least 3 years.ULR route only: current out-of-state master plumber license held at least three years
- Your Washington license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- Your Washington 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 ($130). Tradesman Universal License Recognition application fee as printed on form A501-2710ULR (2023); non-refundable. 18VAC50-30-90 original without examination $150; 2026 Exam & License Application $171.75 including the technology fee..
- 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 $290, 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 three years 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.
Why Washington has nothing to transfer
Washington master plumber
No individual license at this level
Issued by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Plumber Certification Program
Washington has no master plumber license. WAC 296-400A-010 lists every certificate the state issues (journey level PL01, residential PL02, residential service PL04, pump and irrigation PL03, domestic well PL03A, backflow PL30, and trainee), and the Journey Level Plumber certificate is the highest credential an individual can hold; the only add-on is the Medical Gas Piping Installer endorsement (MG01), which is a specialty, not a supervisory tier. Since July 1, 2021 a business that advertises, bids or performs plumbing work must hold a Plumbing Contractor license under RCW 18.106.400, but that is a business registration rather than a person-held trade license: the firm registers with the Department of Revenue, files a $6,000 surety bond, carries $250,000 combined (or $200,000/$50,000) liability insurance, pays a $148.10 license fee plus $53.20 to designate a Washington-certified plumber who works for the firm full time, and renews every two years; no exam is taken by the owner. An out-of-state master plumber therefore has nothing to transfer to at this level. To work as a plumber they obtain the journey level (PL01) certificate through the journeyman path (Idaho reciprocity or license review plus the Washington exam), and to contract they form a business and license it as a plumbing contractor with themselves or an employee as the designated certified plumber.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Virginia master plumber exam if I'm licensed in Washington?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path.
- How long do I need to have held my Washington license?
- At least 3 years before applying.
- What does it cost to get a Virginia master plumber license from Washington?
- Published fees on this path total $290, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Washington work hours count in Virginia?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Virginia's eligibility requirements.
- How long does the application take?
- The board's published or typical processing time is about 30 days.
- Does it work the other way, from Virginia to Washington?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Virginia to Washington, the mechanism is not applicable.
Sources
- 18VAC50-30-100 - Examination fees · 18VAC50-30-100 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-120 - Renewal · 18VAC50-30-120; Va. Code § 54.1-1133 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 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 16, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-90 - Fees for licensure and certification · 18VAC50-30-90 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- Virginia Board for Contractors - Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Agreement Document · verified September 16, 2026
- Form A501-2710EXLIC - Tradesman Exam & License Application (v8, 07/01/2026) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- Form A501-2710ULR - Tradesman Universal License Recognition Application (v2, 08/14/2023) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- DPOR Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- DPOR - Universal License Recognition · Va. Code 54.1-204, 54.1-205 · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.