The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses plumbing businesses in California. Whether you need a license of your own depends on the city or county where you work.
To work as a plumber, the Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division issues the Journeyman Plumber license.
To work as a plumber, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety issues the Journey-Level Plumber license.
Ask the building department in the city or county where you will work which license you need.
To run a business, you need the C-36 - Plumbing Contractor license from the Contractors State License Board. What the business needs
Each city or county sets its own rules.
Step 1, Start here
Only some cities and counties license plumbers, and each one sets its own rules. Ask the building department in the city or county where you will work.
Step 2,
Each office sets the experience you need and the exam you must pass.
Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division issues the Journeyman Plumber license.
You need at least 4 years of experience. A licensed plumber must sign a notarized letter on company letterhead that confirms the 4 years.
The application fee is $75.50.
You must pass an exam. The Board of Examiners, Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division gives the exam.
You renew the Journeyman Plumber license every 2 years. The renewal costs $75.50.
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety issues the Journey-Level Plumber license.
The application fee is $54.50.
You must pass an exam. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, License Section gives the exam.
Journey-Level Plumber“At least four years of experience as a Journey-level Plumber, or four years experience as an apprentice or helper.”
Step 3,
Apply to the office that issues the license, and pay its fees when you apply.
This is the license for running a plumbing business.
The application fee is $450. The C-36 - Plumbing Contractor license costs $200.
You must pass the Law and Business examination and the C-36, Plumbing trade examination. The exam costs $51.43.
The renewal for the C-36 - Plumbing Contractor license depends on who holds it.
The $200 fee is for an individual owner. A partnership, corporation, limited liability company or joint venture pays $350. Veterans who weren't dishonorably discharged pay half.
You take 2 exams for this license, the Law and Business exam and the C-36 trade exam, and you pay the $51.43 fee for each.
C-36 - Plumbing Contractor“You must have at least four (4) years of experience, in the class you are applying for, to qualify to take the examination. Credit for experience is given only for experience at a journey level or as a foreman, supervising employee, contractor, or owner-builder.”
| License | Exam |
|---|---|
| C-36 - Plumbing Contractor | Law and Business examination and the C-36, Plumbing trade examinationPSI Exams gives the exam. |
You take this exam for the C-36 - Plumbing Contractor license.
$35.01an hour
$72,830 a year, full time
Half of the plumbers on a payroll in California earn more than $35.01 an hour, and half earn less. The federal wage survey puts the yearly figure at $72,830.
These figures cover everyone on a payroll as a plumber in California, from apprentices to people with decades in the trade, so they aren't a starting wage. The survey counts 47,660 jobs. The figures don't include self-employed plumbers.
The yearly figure is for full-time work all year, which is 2,080 hours.
If you hold a license from one of the states listed for a license, you may be able to use your license to qualify in California.
CSLB recognizes a license from some states for the C-36 - Plumbing Contractor license. If your state is listed, you may be able to use your license to qualify in California.
Ask CSLB which requirements your license meets.
| California license | Recognized from |
|---|---|
| C-36 - Plumbing Contractor license | Arizona |
Yes. You can start as an apprentice and learn the trade on the job.
Half of the plumbers on a payroll in California earn between $28.36 and $48.17 an hour. These figures don't include overtime pay.
Yes. The highest-paid 10% of plumbers on a payroll in California earn more than $131,100 a year before overtime.
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Alerts for: Plumber in California