Plumbing license basics

Navigate To ...

For workers and the public >
Plumbers >
Plumbing license basics

You can perform plumbing work in Minnesota if you are:

At least 18 years old or a high school graduate. 16- and 17-year-olds who have not graduated from high school may only perform plumbing work if they are employed and supervised by a parent (and registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber).
Licensed with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) or registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber, or enrolled in a DLI-registered apprenticeship program.
A W-2 employee of a licensed plumbing contractor or registered plumbing employer.
Licensed owner or officer of a licensed plumbing contractor or restricted plumbing contractor.

You can perform plumbing work without a license if:

You are registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber or enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program.
You are employed by a licensed plumbing contractor or a registered plumbing employer and your work falls under the scope of the work your employer is authorized to perform.
Your work is always directly supervised by a licensed journeyworker or master plumber who is employed by the same employer for whom you are working.

Registered unlicensed plumber

Apply online or submit the application forms and $14 application fee.
You will be assigned a registration number beginning with the letters "PA."
Registrations expire June 30 each year.

Registration renewal

Complete two hours of DLI-approved continuing education.
Pay a $19 renewal fee.
Submit a work experience verification form.

Journeyworker plumber exam and license

You must pass an exam to apply for a journeyworker plumber license. To take the journeyworker exam, you must:

Complete a registered plumbing apprenticeship program, or
Hold a restricted journeyworker plumber license or restricted master plumber license and at least two years of practical plumbing experience gained while holding the restricted plumber license,
Provide DLI with evidence of sufficient plumbing work experience as a registered unlicensed plumber; or
Have a current plumber’s license from another state where the licensing jurisdiction requires at least four years of practical plumbing experience and an examination to qualify for licensure.

Credit for work experience will be granted if you:

Were registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber while working in Minnesota.
Were employed by a company that was licensed by DLI as a plumbing contractor or registered with DLI as a registered plumbing employer.

The exam

Submit an application to take the license exam along with the exam fee.
When approved you will receive instructions about how to schedule your exam.

If you do not pass the exam you must wait 30 days before reapplying. When you pass the exam you will receive instructions about how to pay for your license.

License renewal

Licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years. To renew your license:

Complete 16 hours of DLI-approved continuing education (at least eight hours must relate to the State Plumbing Code).
Submit the $43 renewal fee. A late fee of $15 is added for late renewals.
Renew online or submit a paper application.

Master plumber exam and license

You must pass an exam to apply for a master plumber license. To take the master plumber exam, you must:

Be licensed as a journeyworker plumber for at least one year; or
Be a currently licensed master plumber from another state where the requirements of the licensing jurisdiction are equivalent to those of Minnesota as determined by DLI; or
Be a current Minnesota restricted master plumber with five years of verifiable experience in business as a plumbing contractor in Minnesota.