To work as a plumber in Missouri, you may need a license from the city or county where you work. Missouri doesn't issue a statewide license to individual plumbers, and only some cities and counties license them.
To work as a plumber, the St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Board of Plumbing Examiners issues the Apprentice Plumber Registration.
To work as a plumber, the St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Board of Plumbing Examiners issues the Journeyman Plumber License.
An apprenticeship is a paid job with training. You work for an employer and you learn the trade on the job. Missouri has 17 registered plumber apprenticeship programs. The median wage is $22.17 an hour at the start and $45.10 an hour at the end.
Find the office that licenses plumbers where you will work
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.
3
Step 3,
Check what that license requires
Each office sets the experience you need and the exam you must pass.
Journeyman Plumber Certificate of Qualification
City of Kansas City, Missouri
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division issues the Journeyman Plumber Certificate of Qualification.
What this license lets you do: “Labor at the trade of plumbing as an employee of a licensed plumbing contractor”
The application fee is $60.
You must pass the Journeyman plumbing with gas (30615) examination administered by Prometric or journeyman plumber with gas (675) examination administered by ICC.
You renew the Journeyman Plumber Certificate of Qualification every 4 years. The renewal costs $181.
The official wording of the requirement
Journeyman Plumber Certificate of Qualification (City of Kansas City, Missouri)“At least two years of experience in the installation of plumbing, verified by notarized reference letters from at least two companies engaged in the plumbing trade.”
Master Plumber Certificate of Qualification
City of Kansas City, Missouri
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division issues the Master Plumber Certificate of Qualification.
The application fee is $60.
You must pass the Master plumbing with gas (30315) examination administered by Prometric.
You renew the Master Plumber Certificate of Qualification every 4 years. The renewal costs $181.
The official wording of the requirement
Master Plumber Certificate of Qualification (City of Kansas City, Missouri)“Three years experience at the trade of plumbing, full-time, including one year as a certified journeyman plumber.”
Journeyman Plumbing License
City of Jefferson
The City of Jefferson, Planning and Protective Services, Building Regulations issues the Journeyman Plumbing License.
The Journeyman Plumbing License costs $110.
You must pass the exam named "G28 - Journeyman Plumber with Gas".
Apprentice Plumber Registration
St. Louis County
The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Board of Plumbing Examiners issues the Apprentice Plumber Registration. The Apprentice Plumber Registration requires 500 classroom hours.
The application fee is $10.
The 500 classroom hours are for the individual training program. If you are in an approved apprenticeship program, you take the classroom hours that program sets.
The official wording of the requirement
Apprentice Plumber Registration (St. Louis County)“Be associated with or employed by a licensed Master Plumber and be currently receiving on the job training under the personal direction and supervision of a St. Louis County, Missouri licensed Master or Journeyman Plumber.”
Journeyman Plumber License
St. Louis County
Exam
$140
Fee
$30
The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Board of Plumbing Examiners issues the Journeyman Plumber License.
The application fee is $30. The Journeyman Plumber License costs $45.
You must pass an exam. The St. Louis County Board of Plumbing Examiners, or a testing company it authorizes, gives the exam. The exam costs $140.
You renew the Journeyman Plumber License every 3 years. The renewal costs $45. You need 24 hours of continuing education for each renewal.
The $140 fee is the price when St. Louis County gives the exam itself. The county can also send you to a testing company for the exam.
The official wording of the requirement
Journeyman Plumber License (St. Louis County)“At least five (5) years of experience as an apprentice plumber under the direction and supervision of a master or journeyman plumber licensed under the rules and regulations of this code, and proof of apprenticeship training as required in Section P-154 par. 5, or equivalent training and experience: a civil or mechanical engineering degree and three (3) years of experience, or a three-year course in practical plumbing and five (5) years as an apprentice plumber.”
4
Step 4,
Apply to that office
Apply to the office that issues the license, and pay its fees when you apply.
To run a plumbing business
These are the licenses for running a plumbing business.
Plumbing Contractor (City of Kansas City, Missouri)
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division issues the Plumbing Contractor license.
The application fee is $60. The Plumbing Contractor license costs $181.
You renew the Plumbing Contractor license every 4 years. The renewal costs $181.
The official wording of the requirement
Plumbing Contractor (City of Kansas City, Missouri)“Every contractor must employ a full-time, qualified supervisor to oversee tradeswork. All work shall be performed by or under the supervision of the holder of a master plumber certificate of qualification.”
Master Plumber License (St. Louis County)
Exam
$140
Fee
$30
The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Board of Plumbing Examiners issues the Master Plumber License.
The application fee is $30. The Master Plumber License costs $150.
You must pass an exam. The St. Louis County Board of Plumbing Examiners, or a testing company it authorizes, gives the exam. The exam costs $140.
You renew the Master Plumber License every 3 years. The renewal costs $150. You need 24 hours of continuing education for each renewal.
The $140 fee is the price when St. Louis County gives the exam itself. The county can also send you to a testing company for the exam.
The official wording of the requirement
Master Plumber License (St. Louis County)“At least five (5) years of experience as a journeyman plumber licensed under this Code, in addition to fulfilling the requirements of the journeyman plumber license, or under laws and regulations requiring similar qualifications. The applicant for master plumber shall have at least ten (10) years of practical experience in the design, planning, installation and supervision of plumbing systems, or equivalent experience or training.”
Take the exam
License
Exam
Journeyman Plumber Certificate of Qualification (City of Kansas City, Missouri)
Journeyman plumbing with gas (30615) examination administered by Prometric or journeyman plumber with gas (675) examination administered by ICCPrometric or the International Code Council (ICC) gives the exam.
Master Plumber Certificate of Qualification (City of Kansas City, Missouri)
Master plumbing with gas (30315) examination administered by PrometricPrometric gives the exam.
Journeyman Plumbing License (City of Jefferson)
G28 - Journeyman Plumber with GasThe International Code Council (ICC) gives the exam.
You take the exam for the license you apply for.
What plumbers earn in Missouri
$32.11an hour
$66,790 a year, full time
Half of the plumbers on a payroll in Missouri earn more than $32.11 an hour, and half earn less. The federal wage survey puts the yearly figure at $66,790.
These figures cover everyone on a payroll as a plumber in Missouri, from apprentices to people with decades in the trade, so they aren't a starting wage. The survey counts 8,310 jobs. The figures don't include self-employed plumbers.
The yearly figure is for full-time work all year, which is 2,080 hours.