State Plumbing Board of Louisiana · checked 2026-10-21
Louisiana Plumber License Requirements
Statewide journeyman and master plumber licenses issued by the State Plumbing Board. Under Act 908 of the 2026 session, plumbing licensing moves to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, fully effective January 1, 2027. Master plumber: 3.5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1JP · Journeyman plumber 3.5 years
- 2MP · Master plumber 3.5 years
License levels in Louisiana
The Louisiana path has 2 steps on this page: Journeyman plumber and Master plumber. The source counts experience in hours; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP Journeyman plumber | 7,000 hours | — | 3.5 years | Yes | Application and exam $135; Initial license $50 |
| MP Master plumber | none stated | — | 3.5 years | Yes | Application $110; Initial license (active) $190 |
Journeyman plumber (JP)
7,000 hours of supervised manual plumbing labor as an indentured apprentice in an approved training program (8,000 hours if not indentured). Written exam of 80 questions in three hours on the 2021 IPC and IRC, plus a one-hour practical. Source: State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, License types.
Master plumber (MP)
A current journeyman plumbing license (or a current professional engineer license), then a three-part written exam (80, 25 and 40 questions) with no practical. The page states no added experience time. Source: State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, License types.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journeyman plumber and Master plumber. The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees
- Journeyman plumber: application and exam $135, initial license $50 ($185 together).
- Master plumber: application $110, initial license (active) $190 ($300 together).
The $135 journeyman application fee is a $125 exam fee plus $10 processing. An inactive master license is $40.
Reciprocity
The Louisiana source names 1 partner state for plumber licenses: Texas. The board has a Louisiana and Texas reciprocal route for the journeyman plumber and natural gas license; its eligibility conditions were not printed on the page read. Source: State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, LA–TX reciprocation.
How Louisiana compares
Among the 25 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top plumber credential, Louisiana ranks 4 of 25 from shortest (2 years) to longest (9 years). No other state here sets exactly 3.5 years.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Texas · Florida · Illinois · Ohio. All states side by side: Plumber license requirements by state.
Other trades in Louisiana
- Electrician: Commercial license, electrical classification: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Commercial license, mechanical classification: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Commercial license (building construction): the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Louisiana trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · Trade license reciprocity between states.
Questions
Who issues the plumber license in Louisiana?
State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (moving to the LSLBC under Act 908 of 2026). Statewide journeyman and master plumber licenses issued by the State Plumbing Board. Under Act 908 of the 2026 session, plumbing licensing moves to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, fully effective January 1, 2027.
How long does it take to qualify for the Master plumber in Louisiana?
3.5 years by this site's count. A current journeyman plumbing license (or a current professional engineer license), then a three-part written exam (80, 25 and 40 questions) with no practical. The page states no added experience time.
Does Louisiana have plumber license reciprocity?
Yes, with Texas. The board has a Louisiana and Texas reciprocal route for the journeyman plumber and natural gas license; its eligibility conditions were not printed on the page read.
What are the Louisiana plumber license fees?
Journeyman plumber: application and exam $135, initial license $50. Master plumber: application $110, initial license (active) $190.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (moving to the LSLBC under Act 908 of 2026) | 2026-10-21 |
| JP requirements | State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, License types | 2026-10-21 |
| MP requirements | State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, License types | 2026-10-21 |
| Law cited | La. R.S. 37:1361 et seq. (board page; statute not read) | 2026-10-21 |
This page summarises what the Louisiana source said on 2026-10-21. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with State Plumbing Board of Louisiana before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.