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Plumber · State and local

How to get a plumber license in Maryland

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

Journeyman level 7,500 hours on the job + state exam What's a journeyman?

Maryland licenses plumbers at three levels: apprentice, journey and master plumber/gas fitter. The State Board of Plumbing issues them everywhere except Baltimore County and the parts of Montgomery and Prince George's counties served by WSSC Water, which issue their own licenses and have their own plumbing code. You can get an apprentice license at 16. A journey license takes at least 4 years as a licensed apprentice, 7,500 hours of training under a master plumber, a 32-hour backflow course and a passing exam score. [1][2][3][4][5]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in Maryland

In Maryland you need a state apprentice plumber license before you help on any plumbing or gas job. You can apply online at 16, and the license costs $18.50. Then go to work under a licensed master plumber, either by getting hired by a plumbing contractor or through a union (UA Local 486) or open-shop (ABC) apprenticeship that adds classes to your paid work. In Baltimore County and the WSSC Water area you need that agency's apprentice license instead. [1][3][6][9][10][13][23][26]

  • High school diploma or GED

    Not required by the state: the Board's only listed requirement for an apprentice license is being at least 16. Programs set their own rules: UA Local 486 (the union plumbers and steamfitters program in the Baltimore area) requires a high school diploma or GED and asks for your transcript or GED scores ABC Greater Baltimore's application checklist asks you to upload your high school diploma or GED. [2][3][22][23][26][28]

  • Minimum age

    16 for a state apprentice plumber/gas fitter license, and 16 for a WSSC Water apprentice license. ABC Greater Baltimore asks for proof of age Registered apprenticeships in Maryland can take youth as early as 16. [2][3][9][26][29]

  • Get licensed before you start work

    State law says you must be licensed before you assist in providing plumbing services, so a plumber's helper needs the apprentice license. Apply online on the Board's application page. Apprentices must be supervised by a master or journey licensee present on the job site and can't do plumbing or gas work alone. [3][6][8]

  • Renew or move up

    The apprentice license lasts 2 years. State law limits renewals to three consecutive terms unless you have taken or registered for the journey exam (one more 2-year term for each failed exam) The Board's fee page says two cycles. Ask the Board which applies to you. [13][14][21]

  • Math, drug test and transportation

    UA Local 486 requires a math test, a physical and a drug screening, your own transportation, a valid driver's license or learner's permit, and eligibility to work in the U.S. The application fee is $25. [22][28]

  • Applying

    As of October 2026, UA Local 486 takes applications for its 2027-2028 school year from November 2 through November 30, 2026, at getpiping.com. ABC Greater Baltimore's application asks for your employer and job information As of October 2026 its page says applications for the fall 2026-27 year closed August 14 and applications for classes starting in January are reviewed after September 7. [22][26]

  • Pay while you learn

    Registered apprenticeships are jobs from day one. UA Local 486 says its apprentices' wages and benefits start at $60,216 a year and rise each year, with tuition covered by an apprentice scholarship (you buy your books). [22][23][27]

  • Credit for school

    The Board may count up to 1,500 hours of accredited, approved school study toward the 7,500 hours for a journey license. [4][12]

  • Still in high school?

    You can hold a state apprentice license at 16. Maryland's School-to-Apprenticeship option lets 16- and 17-year-olds start a registered apprenticeship while in high school and keep full credit for that time after graduation. The Apprenticeship Maryland Program (AMP) puts juniors and seniors in participating public school systems into paid part-time apprenticeships of at least 450 hours, for high school credit Construction and Development is one of its career clusters. Ask your school's career and technical education (CTE) office whether it runs AMP. The Maryland State Department of Education publishes statewide CTE program of study standards, including a Plumbing program in its Construction cluster. [3][29][30][31]

Where to apply in MarylandHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office Maryland State Board of Plumbing (Maryland Department of Labor) · (410) 230-6379 [1]

Maryland plumbing license at a glance

Who issues licenses
Maryland State Board of Plumbing Baltimore County and WSSC Water license plumbers in their own areas [1][5]
Apprentice license
Required to help on plumbing or gas work Minimum age 16; $18.50 [3][6][13]
Journey experience
4 years as a licensed apprentice and 7,500 hours under a master plumber, plus 32 hours of backflow training [2][4]
Journey exam
PSI, 100 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass, open book $65 [12]
Master experience
2 years as a journey plumber and 3,750 hours under a master plumber, plus the exam [2][4]
License fees
Master $87.50, journey $43.50, apprentice $18.50 [13]
Renewal and CE
Every 2 years No continuing education for plumbers (only for plumbing inspectors) [3][14]
Insurance
A master plumber who contracts needs $300,000 bodily injury and $100,000 property damage coverage [15][16]
Reciprocity
Master: Delaware. Master and journey: WSSC and Baltimore County licenses D.C. on one Board page [3][17]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Who needs a license in Maryland
  5. Baltimore County and the WSSC Water area
  6. The license ladder
  7. The exam
  8. Fees, insurance and renewal
  9. If you're licensed somewhere else
  10. Steps to get licensed
  11. Where to get the hours
  12. Licensed in another state?
  13. Questions people ask

The license pathway in Maryland

  1. 1

    Apprentice plumber/gas fitter

    • $18.50 license; $18.50 renewal
    • Every 2 years; renewal limits apply if you don't take the journey exam

    Minimum age 16, no exam. Lets you assist in plumbing work under the direction and control of a master plumber, with a master or journey licensee present on the job site. [2][3][8][10][13][21]

  2. 2

    Journey plumber/gas fitter

    • 7,500 hours on the job
    • 4 years of experience
    • 32 hours of backflow prevention device testing training
    • Yes, PSI: 100 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass, open book
    • $43.50 license; $65 PSI exam
    • Every 2 years; no CE

    Requires an apprentice license held for at least 4 years, at least 7,500 hours of training under a licensed master plumber (up to 1,500 hours of approved school study may count), the backflow course and the exam. Lets you do plumbing work under the direction and control of a master plumber. [2][3][4][10][12][13]

  3. 3

    Master plumber/gas fitter

    • 3,750 hours on the job
    • 2 years of experience
    • 32 hours of backflow prevention device testing training
    • Yes, PSI: 100 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass, open book
    • $87.50 license; $65 PSI exam
    • Every 2 years; no CE

    Requires a journey license held for at least 2 years, 3,750 hours of training as a journey plumber under a master plumber, the backflow training and the exam. Only an insured master may contract for plumbing or gas work. [2][4][8][12][13][15]

Who needs a license in Maryland

State law says you must be licensed by the Board before you provide, or assist in providing, plumbing services, propane gas services or natural gas services. Plumbing services include installing, servicing and replacing gas piping and equipment.

A homeowner may do plumbing in their own home but may not make the final connection to a public or private water or sewer system. The Board warns that working without a license can bring a fine of up to $100 a day or up to six months in jail, or up to $5,000 per violation. [6][7][8]

Baltimore County and the WSSC Water area

The state plumbing law does not apply in Baltimore County or in the parts of Montgomery and Prince George's counties under the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water). The Board says these two jurisdictions issue their own licenses and have their own plumbing code.

WSSC Water issues apprentice licenses from age 16. To take its journeyman plumber exam you need at least 7,500 hours under a WSSC-licensed master plumber and a current backflow certification; its master exam needs 3,750 hours as a journeyman. Its exams are given by PSI. For Baltimore County, call its licensing office at (410) 887-3620. [1][3][5][9]

The license ladder

The Board also licenses natural gas fitters who aren't plumbers. A journeyman natural gas fitter needs 3,750 working hours as an apprentice natural gas fitter over at least 2 years, an approved training course and an exam. [2][3][4][8][10]

The exam

PSI gives the master, journey and natural gas fitter exams; you apply online (mail, fax and email applications ended March 31, 2025) and upload proof of hours, your backflow certification and a copy of your driver's license. The Board lists PSI test centers in Baltimore, College Park, Hagerstown, Lanham and Salisbury.

Per PSI's bulletin (updated September 1, 2024), the journey and master plumber/gas fitter exams each have 100 questions, 240 minutes and a 70% passing score. They are open book: you may bring the listed references, including the 2018 International Plumbing Code and 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, indexed or highlighted but not written in. Gas questions make up 40 of the 100 items. The exam fee is $65 ($25 for the journey natural gas fitter exam). [11][12]

Fees, insurance and renewal

License fees are $87.50 for a master, $43.50 for a journey and $18.50 for an apprentice plumber/gas fitter, and renewals cost the same. Licenses expire two years from the date of issue. If you let a license lapse for more than four years, you must reapply and pass the exam again. Plumbers have no continuing education requirement; plumbing inspectors need eight hours a year.

A master plumber who contracts for plumbing work must carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage. Apprentices and journey plumbers don't need their own. [3][13][14][15][16]

If you're licensed somewhere else

The Board's FAQ says it reciprocates only with Delaware (master plumber/gas fitter only), WSSC Water and Baltimore County. Its reciprocal licensing page also lists the District of Columbia for master and journey licenses, and says WSSC and Baltimore County licenses qualify only if you hold both the plumbing and gas portions and got the license by exam. Confirm with the Board before you apply. See our guide to license reciprocity. [3][17][18]

Steps to get licensed in Maryland

  1. Get your apprentice license

    At 16 or older, apply online for an apprentice plumber/gas fitter license through the Board's application page ($18.50). In Baltimore County or the WSSC Water area, get that agency's apprentice license. [1][3][9][13]

  2. Train for at least 4 years and 7,500 hours

    Work under the direction and control of a licensed master plumber while holding your apprentice license for at least 4 years and logging at least 7,500 hours. Up to 1,500 hours of accredited school study may count. [2][4]

  3. Take a 32-hour backflow course

    Complete 32 hours of training in testing backflow prevention devices with a Board-approved provider. You don't need a license to enroll. [4][19]

  4. Pass the PSI journey exam

    Apply online with PSI, uploading proof of hours, your backflow certificate and your driver's license. The exam fee is $65. [11][12]

  5. Apply for your journey license

    After you pass, apply for the original license on the Board's application page and pay the $43.50 license fee. Renew every 2 years. [13][14][20]

Where to get the hours

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

Licensed in another state?

  • Master plumber/gas fitter: DE

    The Board reciprocates with Delaware for the master plumber/gas fitter license only. You need a verification letter from Delaware, backflow certification, a copy of your license, photo ID and a certificate of insurance. [3][17]

  • Master and journey plumber/gas fitter: DC

    The Board's reciprocal licensing page lists the District of Columbia, but its FAQ says the Board reciprocates only with Delaware, WSSC Water and Baltimore County. Confirm with the Board before applying. [3][17]

Also listed by: Alaska, District of Columbia, Delaware, New Hampshire, Utah (their own boards list Maryland 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
MD Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists MD

Questions people ask

How old do you have to be to be a plumber's apprentice in Maryland?
  1. You can apply online for a state apprentice plumber/gas fitter license at 16; WSSC Water's apprentice license also starts at 16.

[3][9]

How many hours to become a journeyman plumber in Maryland?

At least 7,500 hours of training under a licensed master plumber, over at least 4 years as a licensed apprentice, plus 32 hours of backflow training and the PSI exam. [2][4]

Is the Maryland plumbing exam open book?

Yes. PSI's bulletin says you may bring the listed reference books, including the 2018 International Plumbing Code, indexed but not written in. You need 70% to pass. [12]

Does a state plumbing license work in Montgomery and Prince George's counties?

Not in the WSSC Water service area, or in Baltimore County. The Board says those jurisdictions issue their own licenses and have their own plumbing code. [1][5]

Sources (31)
  1. Maryland State Board of Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  2. License Requirements - Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  3. Licensing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  4. Business Occupations and Professions 12-302, Qualifications of applicants, Maryland General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  5. Business Occupations and Professions 12-103, Scope of title, Maryland General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  6. Business Occupations and Professions 12-301, License required, Maryland General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  7. Business Occupations and Professions 12-101, Definitions, Maryland General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  8. Doing Plumbing Work in Maryland Without A License or Insurance? Worth Going to Jail?, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  9. Plumber Information and Licenses, WSSC Water. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  10. Business Occupations and Professions 12-307, Scope of licenses, Maryland General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  11. Taking the Exam - Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  12. Maryland State Board of Plumbing Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 9/1/2024), PSI Services LLC. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  13. Forms and Fees - Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  14. Renew Your License - Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  15. Business Occupations and Professions 12-501, Insurance, Maryland General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  16. Insurance Requirements - Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  17. Reciprocal Licensing - Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  18. Business Occupations and Professions 12-305, Waivers, Maryland General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  19. Approved Backflow/Cross Connection Courses - Plumbers, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  20. Apply for Original License - Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. Business Occupations and Professions 12-308.1, Apprentice license renewal limit, Maryland General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. UA Local 486 Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship, UA Local 486 Apprenticeship. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. Apprenticeship F.A.Q.'s, UA Local 486. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  24. Apprenticeship Home, UA Local 486. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  25. Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union No. 486 - Maryland Apprenticeship Ambassador Program, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  26. Apprenticeship, Associated Builders and Contractors, Greater Baltimore Chapter. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  27. Become an Apprentice - Office of Apprenticeship, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  28. Maryland Apprenticeship Applications, UA Local 486. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  29. Exploring Youth Apprenticeship - Office of Apprenticeship, Maryland Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  30. Policy Issuance 2022-12: Youth Apprenticeship, Maryland Department of Labor and Maryland State Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  31. Content Standards for CTE Programs of Study, Maryland State Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.