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Plumber · State license

How to become a licensed plumber in Connecticut

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 11, 2026

Journeyman level 8,000 hours on the job + state exam What's a journeyman?

Connecticut licenses plumbers statewide through the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). You start as a registered apprentice with the Department of Labor, hired by an employer that sponsors apprentices. The unlimited plumbing journeyperson license (P-2) takes a registered apprenticeship of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training over at least four years plus 576 classroom hours, and a passing score on a PSI exam. After two years as a journeyperson you can test for the P-1 unlimited contractor license. [1][2][3][4][5]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in Connecticut

In Connecticut you can't do plumbing work as an unregistered helper: you need to be a registered apprentice. The usual first step is to get hired by a plumbing contractor that sponsors apprentices (the Department of Labor publishes a list) or to apply to the union program, UA Local 777's JATC; your employer then registers you with the Department of Labor. You work under licensed plumbers and take 576 hours of related classes over the apprenticeship. [2][4][5][11][13]

  • High school diploma or GED

    Not required by the state to register as an apprentice: the Department of Labor's apprenticeship standards ask only for "the basic education necessary for entry-level training" and let each sponsor set a minimum. The license law itself asks for proof of an eighth-grade education or its equivalent. UA Local 777's JATC requires a high school diploma or equivalency (GED) certificate and official transcripts. [2][12][13]

  • Minimum age

    16 to be registered as an apprentice under the Department of Labor's standards 18 to get a license. UA Local 777 requires you to be at least 18 when accepted. [2][12][13]

  • Register before you start work

    State law bars anyone from doing licensed work without a license or a Department of Labor registration card. You can't register yourself: you must be hired by an apprentice employer, which registers you after hire through the state's e-Apprenticeship system. The registration fee set by law is $50, renewed every year. [2][5][10][19]

  • Helper jobs

    Apprentices may work only under the supervision of a licensed contractor or journeyperson, and contractors can only add apprentices within the state's hiring ratios (one licensee per apprentice for the first three apprentices, then more). Hours you work before you're registered don't count toward the apprenticeship. [2][6][12]

  • Math test, driver's license and drug test

    UA Local 777 requires a mathematical assessment and information session and an interview. If you're selected, you must show a valid driver's license, birth certificate and Social Security card and pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check. [13]

  • Application dates

    As of October 2026, UA Local 777's JATC takes applications in person at 450 Murdock Ave., Meriden, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on October 22, November 19 and December 17, 2026. It warns that waits can be 2-4 hours. [13]

  • Pay while you learn

    Apprentices are paid on a rising scale set as a percentage of the journeyperson rate. UA Local 777 says all of its training is free except books. [12][14]

  • Credit for school or military

    The Department of Labor can credit approved prior schooling: its credit listing (dated February 2012) gives up to 1,500 on-the-job hours to graduates of a Connecticut technical high school in a related trade. Service members, National Guard members and veterans (within two years of discharge) can apply for a military training evaluation that may shorten the apprenticeship or allow them to sit for the exam. [10][12][20]

  • Still in high school?

    Connecticut's technical high schools (CTECS) offer plumbing and heating programs. Through Work-Based Learning, juniors and seniors who are at least 16 can work for a paid employer during trade time, and state law lets these students work in hazardous trades. CTECS also teaches apprentice classes in the evening Students under 18 need a parent's permission. The state education department lists Architecture and Construction among its career and technical education clusters. Hours count only after you're a registered apprentice, though tech-school graduates can get the credit above. [12][18][20][21][22][23]

Where to apply in ConnecticutHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), Occupational and Professional Licensing Division; Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board [1][2]

Connecticut plumbing license at a glance

Who issues licenses
Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Apprentices register with the Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship Training [1][2][11]
Apprentice registration
Required before you do plumbing work Your employer registers you after it hires you; $50 a year paid to the Department of Labor [2][5][10]
Journeyman experience (P-2)
Registered apprenticeship: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, at least 4 years [2][3][4]
Classroom hours (P-2)
576 hours of related instruction [3][4][7]
Journeyman exam
PSI, 70 questions, 2.5 hours, 70% to pass, $59 Open book (International Plumbing Code and gas codes) [8]
Contractor license (P-1)
Two years as a licensed journeyperson plus a trade exam and a business and law exam [1][2][8]
Fees
$90 journeyperson application, $120 license $150 contractor application, $150 license [1][2]
Renewal and CE
Every year by October 31 ($120 journeyperson, $150 contractor) 5 hours of continuing education every two years for P-1 and P-2 [1][9]
Reciprocity
None: DCP says Connecticut has no reciprocal agreements Out-of-state licensees can apply as equivalent but still take the exam [1][15]
Minimum age
16 to register as an apprentice 18 for a license [2][12]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Who needs a license in Connecticut
  5. The license ladder: apprentice to contractor
  6. The exam
  7. Fees, renewal and continuing education
  8. Apprenticeships in Connecticut
  9. If you're licensed in another state
  10. Career changers: age, background and timing
  11. Steps to get licensed
  12. Where to get the hours
  13. Licensed in another state?
  14. Questions people ask

The license pathway in Connecticut

  1. 1

    Registered apprentice

    • 576 hours over the apprenticeship
    • $50 registration with the Department of Labor
    • Yearly, $50

    Your entry status. An employer that sponsors apprentices hires you and registers you with the Department of Labor; you then work under a licensed contractor or journeyperson and attend related classes. You must be at least 16. [2][4][5][10][12]

  2. 2

    P-2 Unlimited Plumbing and Piping Journeyperson

    • 8,000 hours on the job
    • 4 years of experience
    • 576 hours
    • Yes: PSI, 70 questions, 2.5 hours, 70% to pass, open book, $59
    • $90 application, $120 license
    • Yearly by October 31, $120; 5 hours CE every two years

    Lets you do all plumbing and piping work while employed by a licensed contractor. You qualify by finishing a registered apprenticeship (8,000 hours over at least four years plus 576 classroom hours) or by proving equivalent experience and classroom training, then passing the exam. [1][2][3][4][7][8][9]

  3. 3

    P-1 Unlimited Plumbing and Piping Contractor

    • 2 years of experience
    • Yes: trade exam plus a business and law exam, $59 per part
    • $150 application, $150 license
    • Yearly by October 31, $150; 5 hours CE every two years

    The license to run a plumbing business and contract with customers. You need two years as a licensed journeyperson (or equivalent experience and education), must pass both exams, and must show you'll meet workers' compensation and unemployment insurance requirements. [1][2][8][9]

Who needs a license in Connecticut

State law says no one may do, or offer to do, plumbing and piping work in Connecticut without a license from DCP or a registration card from the Department of Labor (the apprentice route). Plumbing and piping work covers gas and water piping and fixtures, drainage inside buildings, storm and sanitary lines out to the mains, process piping, swimming pools and backflow connections, but not septic systems.

The law has exemptions, such as homeowners working on a single-family home they own and live in (with inspection) and government employees. Check the full list in section 20-340 before relying on one. [2][6]

The license ladder: apprentice to contractor

Connecticut also has limited plumbing licenses with shorter training, for example J-2 water pumps and water conditioning (4,000 hours), J-4 lawn sprinklers (2,000 hours) and P-6 limited plumbing (2,000 hours). See journeyman vs. master for how this compares with other states. [1][2][3][4][7]

The exam

DCP's exam vendor is PSI. Every applicant must take an exam, and the exam fee is paid to PSI separately ($59 per part). The P-2 exam has 70 questions in 2.5 hours, and you need 70% to pass. It's open book: you bring the International Plumbing Code (2015, 2018 or 2021 edition), the National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) and the LP-Gas Code (NFPA 58), among other allowed references. You can't write in them during the exam.

Contractors (P-1) also take a business and law exam. Your eligibility to test lasts one year from DCP's approval, and you can retest without limit during that time. Schedule at PSI's Connecticut site or (855) 746-8171. [1][8]

Fees, renewal and continuing education

DCP's application fee is $90 for a journeyperson and $150 for a contractor; neither is refundable. After you pass the exam, the license fee set by law is $120 for a journeyperson and $150 for a contractor.

All plumbing and pipefitting licenses expire every year on October 31. Renewal costs $120 for a journeyperson and $150 for a contractor. Unlimited contractors and journeypersons need 5 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years (limited journeypersons need 3), from courses approved by the Plumbing Board; CE isn't required before your first renewal.

Apprentices pay the Department of Labor a $50 registration fee and $50 a year to renew. [1][2][9][10]

Apprenticeships in Connecticut

To become an apprentice you must be hired by an apprentice employer; the Department of Labor publishes a list of sponsors and regional contacts on its apprenticeship page. Classes are usually provided by the technical high school system's evening program, an open-shop association school, a union JATC school or an approved private school.

Union (UA Local 777): the statewide plumbers and pipefitters JATC in Meriden takes applications on set days, requires a high school diploma or GED, a math assessment and an interview, and makes offers to applicants 18 and older who pass a drug screen and background check. Apprentices attend day classes a week at a time.

More on choosing: union vs. non-union, helper jobs and the aptitude test. [5][11][12][13][14]

If you're licensed in another state

DCP says Connecticut has no reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction, and every applicant must take an exam. You can apply with an "equivalent out of state license": your license must have required the same classroom hours and curriculum and on-the-job hours as the Connecticut license (for the P-2, 576 classroom hours and 8,000 hours). Connecticut's general law for people licensed in other states (section 21a-11b of the General Statutes), which helps new residents and military spouses, doesn't cover these trade licenses: it lists other DCP license chapters, not chapter 393. See our reciprocity guide. [1][15][16]

Career changers: age, background and timing

You must be 18 to get a license, and the apprenticeship takes at least four years. DCP won't accept work experience in place of the required classes, and it rejects continuing education and manufacturer certificates as substitutes.

If you have a criminal record, you can ask DCP at any time whether a conviction would disqualify you from a license; DCP must answer within 30 days of a complete request. [2][3]

Steps to get licensed in Connecticut

  1. Get hired as a registered apprentice

    Find an employer on the Department of Labor's apprenticeship sponsor list or apply to UA Local 777. Your employer registers you after hire; registration costs $50 a year. [5][10][11][13]

  2. Work under licensed plumbers and attend classes

    Complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training over at least four years, plus 576 classroom hours. Keep monthly work records signed by you and your employer. [4][12]

  3. Apply for the P-2 exam within 30 days of finishing

    State law says you must apply for the licensure exam within 30 days of completing your apprenticeship. Apply online through eLicense ($90). [1][6]

  4. Pass the PSI exam and pay the license fee

    Schedule with PSI ($59); you have one year from DCP's approval to test. After you pass, send DCP the $120 license fee. [2][8]

  5. Renew every year and keep going

    Renew by October 31 each year and complete 5 hours of continuing education every two years (not needed before your first renewal). After two years as a journeyperson you can apply for the P-1 contractor license. [1][2][9]

Where to get the hours

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

Licensed in another state?

We didn't find a reciprocity agreement published by the licensing office for this license. Ask the office how it treats an out-of-state license or experience before you apply.

Also listed by: Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, Utah (their own boards list Connecticut 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
CT Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists CT

Questions people ask

How long does it take to become a journeyman plumber in Connecticut?

At least four years. The P-2 journeyperson license requires a registered apprenticeship of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (the work schedule sets a minimum of four years) plus 576 classroom hours, then a passing score on the PSI exam. [3][4][8]

Can I work as a plumber's helper in Connecticut without a license?

Not on plumbing work. State law requires a license or a Department of Labor registration card, so helpers doing the trade must be registered apprentices. Your employer registers you after hiring you. [2][5]

When does UA Local 777 take apprentice applications?

As of October 2026, the remaining 2026 application days are October 22, November 19 and December 17, in person in Meriden from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. [13]

Does Connecticut accept out-of-state plumbing licenses?

DCP says Connecticut has no reciprocal agreements. You can apply with an equivalent out-of-state license that required the same hours and classes, but you still take the Connecticut exam. [1][15]

Sources (23)
  1. Plumbing and Pipefitting Work, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  2. Chapter 393: Electricians, Plumbers, Solar, Heating, Piping and Cooling Contractors and Journeymen... (revised to January 1, 2025), Connecticut General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  3. Plumbing Journeyperson - Equivalent Experience and Training, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  4. Work Schedule: Plumbing Mechanic (P-2), Connecticut Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship Training. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  5. How do I become a Registered Apprentice?, Connecticut Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  6. Chapter 393, 2026 Supplement (revised to January 1, 2026), Connecticut General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  7. Careers in the Trades License Types, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  8. Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Occupational Licensing: Plumbing Trades Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 2/4/2026), PSI Services LLC. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  9. Plumber - Continuing Education, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  10. Chapter 557: Employment Regulation (sections 31-22m to 31-22v, apprenticeship), Connecticut General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  11. Office of Apprenticeship Training, Connecticut Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  12. Apprentice Handbook & Progress Report, Connecticut Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship Training. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  13. 2026 - Apprentice Applications - UA Local 777 JATC, UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 777 JATC. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  14. Training, UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 777. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  15. Plumbing Journeyperson - Equivalent Out of State License, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  16. Chapter 416, section 21a-11b: Licenses for persons licensed in another United States jurisdiction, Connecticut General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  17. Connecticut Building Construction Trades Apprenticeship Programs (JATDCC directory), Connecticut Department of Labor (hosted); Joint Apprenticeship Training Directors Committee of Connecticut. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  18. Apprenticeship and Extension, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  19. Welcome to E-Apprenticeship, Connecticut Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  20. Apprenticeship Credit Listing: On-the-Job Training Credit Only (February 2012), Connecticut Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship Training. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. Construction Cluster, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. Work-based Learning, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. Career Clusters, Career Pathways, Programs of Study, Connecticut State Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.