Get Into the TradesYour first steps into a skilled trade

Plumber · State license

How to get a plumbing license in California

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 10, 2026

California's state plumbing license is a contractor license: the C-36 Plumbing Contractor license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The CSLB doesn't issue a journeyman card. A journey-level worker, in its words, "does not have a license." Working as a paid employee doesn't require a license. To contract on your own, you need four years of journey-level experience and must pass two exams. [1][2][3][4][5]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in California

California doesn't license plumbing workers: a paid employee who doesn't direct the work is exempt from CSLB licensing, so you can start by getting hired by a plumbing contractor or accepted into a state-approved apprenticeship. Programs set their own entry rules, usually a diploma or GED and age 17 or 18. The state's apprenticeship search shows each program's requirements and how to apply. [3][17][18][19]

  • High school diploma or GED

    Set by programs. CSLB has no education requirement for a contractor license, and DAS says apprenticeship education requirements vary (some programs have none). UA Local 38 (San Francisco) requires a high school diploma or GED plus transcripts ABC Northern California and ABC Southern California require a diploma or GED. [4][12][17][18][19]

  • Minimum age

    Set by programs: 18 at UA Local 38 17 at ABC Northern California; 17 and a half at ABC Southern California (a parent signs if you're under 18). The CSLB contractor license itself requires age 18. [3][12][18][19]

  • Register before you start work

    No state worker card. Wage-paid employees who don't direct the work or decide its final results are exempt from CSLB licensing. In a state-approved apprenticeship, your apprentice agreement is registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. [3][20]

  • Tests and interview

    UA Local 38 gives a written general-knowledge exam every two years, then an interview with its joint apprenticeship committee (JATC). ABC Northern California's process may include a written exam and drug screening ABC Southern California gives two tries at its aptitude test. [12][18][19]

  • Driver's license and documents

    UA Local 38 asks for a birth certificate or valid California driver's license. ABC Southern California asks for copies of your driver's license and Social Security card. [12][18]

  • Application windows

    As of October 2026, UA Local 38 lists its next application date as June 2027, with forms to be posted on its website in May. ABC Northern California accepts applications year-round. [18][19]

  • Pay while you learn

    State rule (Title 8, section 208): registered construction apprentices on private jobs start at no less than 40% of the local journeyworker prevailing wage package (wages plus benefits), with equal raises each period to at least 80% in the final period. On public works jobs, apprentices get the state-set apprentice prevailing wage. [21]

  • Credit toward the contractor license

    A Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship can count for up to 3 of the 4 years of experience needed for the C-36 license. CSLB also offers veterans expedited processing and staff trained to evaluate military training and experience. [4][22]

  • Still in high school?

    California's Division of Apprenticeship Standards says it is working on a statewide youth apprenticeship system and lists programs in the building trades Its youth committee recommends programs for ages 16-24, but DAS notes those recommendations are not yet state policy. In high school, the Department of Education's CTE standards include a Building and Construction Trades sector, and California's 74 Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCPs) teach career courses to students 16 and older. College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnerships let high school students take community college classes for dual enrollment. CSLB gives no credit for high school coursework toward contractor experience. [23][24][25][26][27]

Where to apply in CaliforniaHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office Contractors State License Board (CSLB) [1]

California plumbing license at a glance

Who issues licenses
Contractors State License Board (CSLB): C-36 Plumbing Contractor [1]
Journeyman license
None from the state Journey-level status is experience, not a license [2]
Experience for C-36
4 years at journey level (or as foreman or supervisor) within the last 10 years [3][4]
Credit for training
Up to 3 years for an apprenticeship certificate or schooling At least 1 year must be hands-on [4]
Exams
Law and Business exam plus C-36 trade exam, 3.5 hours each, at PSI test centers [5][6]
Fees
$450 application $200 initial license (sole owner) or $350 (other businesses) [8]
Bond
$25,000 contractor's bond [9]
Renewal
Every 2 years $450 active renewal for a sole owner, $700 for other businesses [8][9]
Minimum age
18 [3]
Reciprocity
Arizona plumbing contractors may get the trade exam waived [14][15]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Does California license journeyman plumbers?
  5. What the C-36 plumbing license covers
  6. Experience: what counts toward the four years
  7. The exams
  8. Fees, bond and renewal
  9. Union and open-shop apprenticeships in California
  10. If you're licensed in another state
  11. Steps to get licensed
  12. Where to get the hours
  13. Licensed in another state?
  14. Questions people ask

The license pathway in California

  1. 1

    Apprentice (no state license)

    You learn on the job as a wage-paid employee. The CSLB says a plumbing apprenticeship is normally five years. Approved programs are listed by the state Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS). [2][3][13]

  2. 2

    Journey-level plumber (no state license)

    A fully qualified, experienced worker, for example someone who has finished an apprenticeship. There's no state card at this level. You can't contract for jobs that need a permit or total $1,000 or more. [2][4]

  3. 3

    C-36 Plumbing Contractor

    • 4 years of experience
    • Law and Business exam plus C-36 trade exam; multiple choice, 3.5 hours each, at PSI
    • $450 application; $200 initial license (sole owner) or $350 (non-sole owner)
    • Every 2 years; $450 (sole owner) or $700 (non-sole owner) active renewal

    Lets you bid and contract plumbing work yourself. You need four years of journey-level experience, the two exams, fingerprints, a $25,000 bond and workers' compensation coverage (or an exemption if you have no employees). [4][5][6][8][9]

Does California license journeyman plumbers?

No. The CSLB describes a journey-level worker as an experienced worker who "does not have a license." The state plumbing license is the C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification.

You can work as a plumber without your own license if you're an employee paid wages and you don't run the work or decide the final results. You need a CSLB license to contract for work that needs a building permit, uses other workers, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. A larger job can't be split into smaller contracts to stay under $1,000. [1][2][3]

What the C-36 plumbing license covers

The C-36 classification covers supplying "safe water, ample in volume and of suitable temperature" and removing fluid waste. Its scope includes:

[1]

Experience: what counts toward the four years

You need at least four years of experience in plumbing to take the exam. It must be at the level of a journeyman, foreman or supervisor, within the ten years before you apply. The CSLB defines a journeyman as "a fully qualified, experienced worker," as opposed to a trainee, helper or apprentice.

You can get credit for up to three years from training or school, but at least one year must be practical experience. A Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship from an accredited program can earn up to three years. An A.A. degree in building or construction management can earn up to 1½ years.

The CSLB's FAQ notes that a plumbing apprenticeship "is normally five (5) years." You then add journey-level time. Being sent on basic jobs after a short training course does not make you a journeyman. The CSLB can ask for proof such as invoices, tax records and contracts. [2][3][4]

The exams

You take two exams: the Law and Business exam and the C-36 trade exam. Each one is multiple choice on a computer, with 3.5 hours to finish, at PSI test sites around the state. You schedule and pay PSI directly after you get your Notice to Schedule.

The C-36 trade exam is closed book. Its sections are planning and estimating (22%), underground and rough systems (22%), finish plumbing (20%), service, repair and remodel (19%) and safety (17%). The study guide lists the 2025 California Plumbing Code among its references. The CSLB posts a free C-36 study guide.

If you fail an exam, wait 21 calendar days before retaking it. If you pass one and fail the other, you only retake the one you failed, within five years. All exams must be passed within 18 months of your application being accepted. [5][6][7]

Fees, bond and renewal

You must also show proof of workers' compensation insurance, or file an exemption if you have no employees. A license is issued for two years. Active licenses renew every two years and inactive ones every four. [8][9]

Union and open-shop apprenticeships in California

An apprenticeship completion certificate can count for up to three of the four years the CSLB requires. [4][10][11][12][13]

If you're licensed in another state

The CSLB has formal reciprocity agreements with Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and North Carolina. Only Arizona's plumbing classifications map to the C-36, including Arizona's C-37, K-37 and L-37 plumbing licenses.

To qualify, you must have held an active Arizona license in good standing for the previous five years. The CSLB may waive the trade exam but can still require it. You still take the California Law and Business exam and meet every other requirement. [14][15]

Steps to get licensed in California

  1. Get hired and learn the trade

    Join an apprenticeship or work for a licensed plumbing contractor. Wage-paid employees don't need their own license. Search approved programs with the DAS apprenticeship search. [3][13]

  2. Build four years of journey-level experience

    You need four full years at journey level, or as a foreman or supervisor, within the last ten years. An apprenticeship completion certificate can count for up to three of those years. [3][4]

  3. Apply to the CSLB

    Submit the original exam application with the $450 fee. Someone with firsthand knowledge of your work must certify your experience. [4][8]

  4. Get fingerprinted and schedule your exams

    After your application is accepted, you get a Live Scan fingerprint packet and a Notice to Schedule. Book and pay for the Law and Business and C-36 exams directly with PSI. [5]

  5. Pass both exams within 18 months

    Each exam is multiple choice and takes up to 3.5 hours. If you fail one, you can retake it after 21 days. Your application is void if you don't pass within 18 months. [5][6]

  6. File your bond and insurance, then get licensed

    File a $25,000 contractor's bond and proof of workers' compensation (or an exemption). Pay the initial license fee: $200 for a sole owner. Renew every two years. [8][9]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train plumbers in or for California, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

Licensed in another state?

  • Plumbing contractor (C-36): AZ

    If you've held an active Arizona plumbing contractor license in good standing for the previous five years, the CSLB may waive the C-36 trade exam. You still take the Law and Business exam. [14][15]

Also listed by: Alaska, New Hampshire, Nevada (their own boards list California as a partner; check both sides before you move).

Open the reciprocity map · How reciprocity works

AlaskaAK MaineME VermontVT New HampshireNH WashingtonWA IdahoID MontanaMT North DakotaND MinnesotaMN IllinoisIL WisconsinWI MichiganMI New YorkNY Rhode IslandRI MassachusettsMA OregonOR NevadaNV WyomingWY South DakotaSD IowaIA IndianaIN OhioOH PennsylvaniaPA New JerseyNJ ConnecticutCT CaliforniaCA UtahUT ColoradoCO NebraskaNE MissouriMO KentuckyKY West VirginiaWV VirginiaVA MarylandMD DelawareDE ArizonaAZ New MexicoNM KansasKS ArkansasAR TennesseeTN North CarolinaNC South CarolinaSC District of ColumbiaDC OklahomaOK LouisianaLA MississippiMS AlabamaAL GeorgiaGA HawaiiHI TexasTX FloridaFL
CA Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists CA

Questions people ask

Do you need a license to be a plumber in California?

Not as an employee. Wage-paid employees who don't direct the work are exempt. You need a CSLB C-36 license to contract for plumbing work that needs a permit or totals $1,000 or more. [3]

How long does it take to get a plumbing license in California?

The C-36 requires four years of journey-level experience within the last ten years. The CSLB notes a plumbing apprenticeship is normally five years, and an apprenticeship certificate can count for up to three of the four years. [2][3][4]

How much does a California plumbing contractor license cost?

The application is $450. The initial license is $200 for a sole owner or $350 for other businesses. Renewal every two years is $450 or $700. You also need a $25,000 bond. Exam fees are paid separately to PSI. [5][8][9]

Is the C-36 exam open book?

No. The CSLB study guide says the C-36 exam is closed book, with no reference materials allowed. It's multiple choice with four answers per question, and a calculator is provided. [7]

Does California accept out-of-state plumbing licenses?

Only Arizona plumbing contractor licenses are on the CSLB's reciprocal list for the C-36. Five years of active licensure can get the trade exam waived; the Law and Business exam is still required. [14][15]

Sources (27)
  1. C-36 - Plumbing Contractor (Licensing Classifications), Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  2. Frequently Asked Questions About Journey-level Experience, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  3. Step 1: Before Applying for the Examination, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  4. Step 3: Qualifying Experience, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  5. Step 5: My Original Exam Application was Accepted, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  6. CSLB Examinations Frequently Asked Questions, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  7. License Examination Study Guide: Plumbing (C-36), Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  8. List of All CSLB Fees, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  9. Step 8: Issuing My License, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  10. Find a Local Union, United Association (UA). Accessed October 10, 2026.
  11. Apprenticeship, United Association (UA). Accessed October 10, 2026.
  12. Apprenticeship Program, Associated Builders and Contractors, Southern California Chapter. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  13. Division of Apprenticeship Standards, California Department of Industrial Relations. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  14. Journeymen Reciprocity, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  15. Reciprocal Classifications List, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  16. Apprenticeship Finder, U.S. Department of Labor. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  17. How to Become an Apprentice, California Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  18. Apprenticeship Program Qualifications and Application Process, UA Local 38 Training Department. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  19. Apprentices, Associated Builders and Contractors, Northern California Chapter. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  20. 8 CCR 205 Definitions (apprenticeship), California Department of Industrial Relations. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. 8 CCR 208 Wages, Employee Benefits, and Other Compensation for Apprentices, California Department of Industrial Relations. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. Military Application Assistance Programs, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. California Youth Apprenticeship, California Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  24. CTE Model Curriculum Standards, California Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  25. Regional Occupational Centers and Programs, California Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  26. Dual Enrollment Strategies, California Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  27. Get Licensed to Build: A Guide to Becoming a Licensed Contractor, Contractors State License Board. Accessed October 11, 2026.