Rest of the US · 4 trades verified · checked 2026-10-21
Iowa trade licenses
Electrician, Plumber, HVAC and General contractor credentials in Iowa, from the issuing board's page or the statute: who issues each one, the levels, the time it takes and the exam.
- 1Electrician 1 year
- 2Plumber 4 years
- 3HVAC 4 years
- 4General contractor registration
| Trade | Issued by | Top credential | Time to top | Exam | Fees printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | Iowa Department of Inspections | Class A master electrician | 1 year after the prior level | Yes | No |
| Plumber | Iowa Department of Inspections | Contractor (plumbing) | 4 years after the prior level | Yes | No |
| HVAC | Iowa Department of Inspections | Contractor (HVAC) | 4 years after the prior level | Yes | No |
| General contractor | Iowa Department of Inspections | Contractor registration | registration | No | No |
Electrician in Iowa
Statewide Class A journeyman and master electrician licenses under Iowa Code chapter 103. Class A master electrician: 1 year of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Class A journeyman electrician — time not stated, exam. Class A master electrician — 1 year after the prior level, exam. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: At least one year of experience acceptable to the board as a licensed Class A or Class B journeyman electrician, then an exam based on the most recent National Electrical Code and electrical theory.
Iowa electrician details · Electrician in every state
Plumber in Iowa
Statewide journeyperson, master and contractor licenses in the plumbing discipline under Iowa Code chapter 105, which covers plumbing and mechanical systems (HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal and hydronic). Contractor (plumbing): 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Journeyperson (plumbing) — 4 years, exam. Master (plumbing) — 4 years after the prior level, exam. Contractor (plumbing) — 4 years after the prior level. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: Hold a master license in the discipline or employ at least one master license holder, and maintain a permanent place of business. The statute names no exam or experience of its own for the contractor license.
Iowa plumber details · Plumber in every state
HVAC in Iowa
Statewide journeyperson, master and contractor licenses in the HVAC discipline under Iowa Code chapter 105, which covers plumbing and mechanical systems (HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal and hydronic). Contractor (HVAC): 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Journeyperson (HVAC) — 4 years, exam. Master (HVAC) — 4 years after the prior level, exam. Contractor (HVAC) — 4 years after the prior level. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: Hold a master license in the discipline or employ at least one master license holder, and maintain a permanent place of business. The statute names no exam or experience of its own for the contractor license.
Iowa HVAC details · HVAC in every state
General contractor in Iowa
Iowa registers contractors with DIAL under Iowa Code chapter 91C. A contractor is a person in the business of construction; a person earning less than $2,000 a year from it, or working on their own property, is not. Iowa uses a contractor registration for general contractors, not a skills license.
Contractor registration — registration. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: Register with the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing if you are in the business of construction and earn $2,000 or more a year from it. The section read sets no exam or experience requirement.
Iowa general contractor details · General contractor in every state
Moving to or from Iowa
Electrician: no route is named in the source, and New Hampshire, Texas and Arkansas list Iowa in return. Plumber: no route is named in the source. HVAC: no route is named in the source. General contractor: no route is named in the source. Conditions differ by board, so read the state page for each trade before relying on a partner list.
Nearby and comparable: Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Delaware. Guides: how long each state takes · license or registration.
General information from the Iowa sources on 2026-10-21, not legal advice. Each board is the authority; confirm before applying.