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How to become a plumber in Utah

The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) licenses plumbers in Utah.

See your steps Find an apprenticeship

Your ladder

Dates if you start in Nov 2026 and work 40 hours a week.

  1. Apprentice PlumberStart here · $110, no exam
  2. Journeyman Plumber8,000 hours on the job
  3. Master PlumberThe next license up
  4. P200 General Plumbing ContractorRun your own business

First: start as an apprentice.

Find an apprenticeship

Dates are estimates, worked out from the hours on the job each license requires and the hours a week you pick.

Your steps

Steps for: New to the trade. The dates follow your ladder. Change where you are, your start month or your hours a week at the top of the page.

  1. Step 1, Start here

    Start as an apprentice

    An apprenticeship is a paid job with training. You work for an employer and you learn the trade on the job. Utah has 46 registered plumber apprenticeship programs. The median wage is $22.25 an hour at the start and $37.70 an hour at the end.

    The programs with the most active apprentices

    See all 46 programs

  2. Step 2,

    Get your Apprentice Plumber license

    Apply to DOPL for the Apprentice Plumber license.

    You name the person who will supervise your apprenticeship, and your employer fills in and signs a Verification of Supervision form.

    What this license lets you do: “Learning the plumbing trade under the immediate supervision of a master, residential master, journeyman or residential journeyman plumber. From the fourth year of training, you may work without supervision for up to 8 hours in any 24-hour period.”

    The application fee is $110.

    You don't need to take an exam for the Apprentice Plumber license.

    You renew the Apprentice Plumber license every 2 years. The renewal costs $68. You need 12 hours of continuing education for each renewal.

  3. Step 3,

    Complete 8,000 hours on the job

    To qualify for the Journeyman Plumber license, you need 8,000 hours on the job and 576 classroom hours.

  4. Step 4,

    Apply for your Journeyman Plumber license

    Apply to DOPL for the Journeyman Plumber license. You must pass the Utah Journeyman Plumber Written Exam and the Utah Plumber Practical Exam. Prov, Inc. gives the exam.

    Hours on the job
    8,000
    Exam
    $156
    Fee
    $110

    Either a plumber's apprenticeship education program (576 classroom hours) plus 8,000 hours of licensed plumbing experience under a licensed journeyman or master plumber, or 16,000 hours of licensed plumber experience under a licensed journeyman or master plumber. A program student may sit the exams after the first semester of the fourth year and 6,000 hours.

    What this license lets you do: “to engage in the plumbing trade”

    How to apply: “Please do not submit your application for licensure until you have passed all required exams and have met all other licensing requirements. ... Apply Online ... Apply manually or in person”

    About the exam: “Utah Plumbing Theory 240 minutes · 100 questions · 70% to pass · open book · exam fee $78.00 CBT / $85.00 Paper · offered in English ... Utah Plumber Practical 150 minutes · 70% to pass · exam fee $78.00 CBT / $85.00 Paper · offered in English ... Utah Plumber Practical Exam Number of Projects 2 Time allowed (hours) 2.5 ... This exam can be taken remotely from home or any location in the U.S. (written) ... This exam requires in-person attendance and must be taken at an approved Utah Prov testing center. (practical)”

    The application fee is $110.

    You must pass the Utah Journeyman Plumber Written Exam and the Utah Plumber Practical Exam. The exam costs $156.

    You renew the Journeyman Plumber license every 2 years. The renewal costs $68. You need 12 hours of continuing education for each renewal.

    The $156 covers 2 exams taken by computer: $78 for the written exam and $78 for the practical exam. On paper, each exam costs $85, so $170. You pay Prov, the testing company.

    Without an apprenticeship school program, you need 16,000 hours on the job instead of 8,000.

  5. Step 5,

    Renew your license

    You renew the Journeyman Plumber license every 2 years.

Other plumber licenses

Residential Journeyman Plumber

Hours on the job
6,000
Exam
$163
Fee
$110

Either a 3-year (at least 432 classroom hours) approved apprentice plumber education program plus 6,000 hours as a licensed apprentice plumber under a licensed journeyman or master plumber, or 12,000 hours of full-time work experience in a maintenance or repair trade, at least 9,000 of them directly in the plumbing trade, documented on a DOPL form.

What this license lets you do: “to engage in the plumbing trade as limited to the plumbing of residential buildings”

How to apply: “Please do not submit your application for licensure until you have passed all required exams and have met all other licensing requirements. ... Apply Online”

About the exam: “Utah Residential Plumbing Theory 240 minutes · 90 questions · 70% to pass · open book · exam fee $85.00 · offered in English ... Utah Plumber Practical 150 minutes · 70% to pass · exam fee $78.00 CBT / $85.00 Paper · offered in English ... Utah Plumber Practical Exam Number of Projects 2 Time allowed (hours) 2.5”

The application fee is $110.

You must pass the Utah Residential Journeyman Plumber Written Exam and the Utah Plumber Practical Exam. The exam costs $163.

You renew the Residential Journeyman Plumber license every 2 years. The renewal costs $68. You need 12 hours of continuing education for each renewal.

The $163 covers 2 exams: $85 for the written exam and $78 for the practical exam by computer. You pay Prov, the testing company.

Without an apprenticeship school program, you need 12,000 hours of work in a maintenance or repair trade instead. At least 9,000 of them must be plumbing work.

Master Plumber

Hours on the job
4,000
Exam
$78
Fee
$110

Either 4,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed Journeyman Plumber, or an associate of applied science (or similar) degree from a CHEA-recognized institution plus 2,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed Journeyman Plumber.

What this license lets you do: “to properly plan and layout projects and supervise persons in the plumbing trade”

How to apply: “The following requirements must be met before applying for a license ... Apply Online”

About the exam: “Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule 120 minutes · 40 questions · 75% to pass · open book · exam fee $78.00 CBT / $85.00 Paper · offered in English”

The application fee is $110.

You must pass the Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule Exam. The exam costs $78.

You renew the Master Plumber license every 2 years. The renewal costs $68. You need 12 hours of continuing education for each renewal.

The 4,000 hours are hours supervising as a licensed Journeyman Plumber. DOPL's rule also lists 4,000 hours of plumbing work, but DOPL counts those hours at the same time as your supervising hours, so you need 4,000 hours, not 8,000.

If you got your journeyman license in Utah, you already passed the practical exam, so you don't take it again for the Master Plumber license.

Residential Master Plumber

Hours on the job
4,000
Exam
$78
Fee
$110

Either 4,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed Residential Journeyman Plumber, or an associate of applied science (or similar) degree from a CHEA-recognized institution plus 2,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed Residential Journeyman Plumber.

What this license lets you do: “to properly plan and layout projects and supervise persons in the plumbing trade as limited to the plumbing of residential buildings”

How to apply: “Apply Online”

About the exam: “Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule 120 minutes · 40 questions · 75% to pass · open book · exam fee $78.00 CBT / $85.00 Paper · offered in English ... Utah Plumber Practical 150 minutes · 70% to pass · exam fee $78.00 CBT / $85.00 Paper · offered in English ... Utah Plumber Practical Exam Number of Projects 2 Time allowed (hours) 2.5”

The application fee is $110.

You must pass the Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule Exam. The exam costs $78.

You renew the Residential Master Plumber license every 2 years. The renewal costs $68. You need 12 hours of continuing education for each renewal.

The 4,000 hours are hours supervising as a licensed Residential Journeyman Plumber. DOPL's rule also lists 4,000 hours of plumbing work, but DOPL counts those hours at the same time as your supervising hours, so you need 4,000 hours, not 8,000. If you have an associate of applied science degree, you need 2,000 hours supervising instead.

DOPL says a Residential Master Plumber candidate takes the Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule Exam. Prov's exam bulletin lists the Utah Residential Plumbing Theory exam under this license, but that exam is for the residential journeyman license.

To run a plumbing business

These are the licenses for running a plumbing business.

P200 General Plumbing Contractor

Hours on the job
4,000
Exam
$85
Fee
$175

At least 4,000 hours (2 years) of paid work in the construction industry, which you certify yourself. Instead, you can show 2 years as the qualifier on a Utah contractor license, a construction management degree, a Utah professional engineer license, or a passed NASCLA commercial general building exam. You also need a 30-hour pre-licensure course and a qualifier who holds a master plumber license. The business also needs liability insurance, workers compensation coverage or a waiver, and its business registrations.

What this license lets you do: “the fabrication or installation of material and fixtures to create and maintain sanitary conditions in a building by providing permanent means for a supply of safe and pure water, a means for the timely and complete removal from the premises of all used or contaminated water, fluid and semi-fluid organic wastes and other impurities incidental to life and the occupation of such premises, a safe and adequate supply of gases for lighting, heating, and industrial purposes, or other work the division authorizes by rule”

How to apply: “Apply Online ... Apply manually ... Contractor Application”

About the exam: “120 minutes · 60 questions · 70% to pass · open book · exam fee $85.00 · offered in English, Español ... The exam is administered in-person at one of 21 ProV testing centers or online through Examroom AI.”

The application fee is $175.

You must pass the Utah Contractor Business and Law Examination. The exam costs $85.

You renew the P200 General Plumbing Contractor license every 2 years. The renewal costs $128. You need 6 hours of continuing education for each renewal.

P201 Residential Plumbing Contractor

Hours on the job
4,000
Exam
$85
Fee
$175

At least 4,000 hours (2 years) of paid work in the construction industry, which you certify yourself. Instead, you can show 2 years as the qualifier on a Utah contractor license, a construction management degree, a Utah professional engineer license, or a passed NASCLA commercial general building exam. You also need a 30-hour pre-licensure course and a qualifier who holds a master plumber or residential master plumber license. The business also needs liability insurance, workers compensation coverage or a waiver, and its business registrations.

What this license lets you do: “the fabrication or installation of material and fixtures to create and maintain sanitary conditions in residential buildings by providing permanent means for a supply of safe and pure water, a means for the timely and complete removal from the premises of all used or contaminated water, fluid and semi-fluid organic wastes and other impurities incidental to life and the occupation of such premises, a safe and adequate supply of gases for lighting, heating, and residential purposes, or any other work the division authorizes by rule”

How to apply: “Apply Online ... Apply manually ... Contractor Application”

About the exam: “120 minutes · 60 questions · 70% to pass · open book · exam fee $85.00 · offered in English, Español ... The exam is administered in-person at one of 21 ProV testing centers or online through Examroom AI.”

The application fee is $175.

You must pass the Utah Contractor Business and Law Examination. The exam costs $85.

You renew the P201 Residential Plumbing Contractor license every 2 years. The renewal costs $128. You need 6 hours of continuing education for each renewal.

Take the exam

LicenseExam
Journeyman PlumberUtah Journeyman Plumber Written Exam and the Utah Plumber Practical ExamProv, Inc. gives the exam.
Residential Journeyman PlumberUtah Residential Journeyman Plumber Written Exam and the Utah Plumber Practical ExamProv, Inc. gives the exam.
Master PlumberUtah Master Plumber Law and Rule ExamProv, Inc. gives the exam.
Residential Master PlumberUtah Master Plumber Law and Rule ExamProv, Inc. gives the exam.
P200 General Plumbing ContractorUtah Contractor Business and Law ExaminationProv, Inc. gives the exam.
P201 Residential Plumbing ContractorUtah Contractor Business and Law ExaminationProv, Inc. gives the exam.

You take the exam for the license you apply for.

What plumbers earn in Utah

$29.76an hour

$61,900 a year, full time

Half of the plumbers on a payroll in Utah earn more than $29.76 an hour, and half earn less. The federal wage survey puts the yearly figure at $61,900.

These figures cover everyone on a payroll as a plumber in Utah, from apprentices to people with decades in the trade, so they aren't a starting wage. The survey counts 7,030 jobs. The figures don't include self-employed plumbers.

The yearly figure is for full-time work all year, which is 2,080 hours.

Use a license from another state

DOPL doesn't keep a list of the states it accepts by name. If you have held an equivalent license in another state for at least 1 year, you can apply by endorsement, and DOPL decides whether your license counts as equivalent. For a journeyman or residential journeyman license, you don't take an exam or verify your experience and education. Master Plumber and Residential Master Plumber applicants must pass the Utah Master Plumber Law and Rule Exam, even when they apply by endorsement.

If you have at least 1 year of licensed experience in another state doing the same kind of work, you can apply to DOPL by endorsement. That license must be active and in good standing. Your experience takes the place of the Business and Law exam.

Questions

How long does it take to become a plumber in Utah?

If you work full time, you reach the 8,000 hours for the Journeyman Plumber license in about 4 years.

Can you become a plumber with no experience?

Yes. You can start as an apprentice and learn the trade on the job.

Utah plumber apprenticeships

How much do most plumbers earn in Utah?

Half of the plumbers on a payroll in Utah earn between $23.62 and $37.23 an hour. These figures don't include overtime pay.

Can a plumber earn $100,000 a year in Utah?

The highest-paid 10% of plumbers on a payroll in Utah earn more than $83,120 a year before overtime, so most plumbers earn less than $100,000 a year from regular hours.

Contact the licensing office

Utah Division of Professional Licensingcommerce.utah.gov/dopl/plumbing

Words to know

Apprentice
Someone who learns the trade on the job, working under a licensed worker.
Journeyman
The license level after apprentice. Some states write journeyperson, journeyworker or journey level.
Master
A higher license level, for a worker with more years in the trade. It often lets you supervise others.
JATC
A Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, an apprenticeship program run together by a union and contractors.
Continuing education
Classes you take to keep your license.
Endorsement
Applying with a license you already hold in another state.
Prov
A company that runs licensing exams for state and city offices.
NASCLA
The National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies, which gives a contractor exam that some states accept.
Qualifier
The licensed person a business names as responsible for its work.
Median
The middle figure. Half of the workers earn more, and half earn less.

Sources

26
  1. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licensing, the licensing office
  2. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licensing, the licensing office (second page)
  3. Utah Legislature, Utah Code 58-55-301(1)(a), "License required -- License classifications -- Scope."
  4. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licensing, the licensing office (third page)
  5. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licenses, experience
  6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
  7. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licensing, license names
  8. Utah Legislature, Utah Code 58-55-102(9), "Definitions."
  9. Utah Legislature, Utah Code 58-55-302(1)(d), "Qualifications for licensure."
  10. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licenses, fees
  11. Utah Office of Administrative Rules, Utah Admin. Code R156-1-308a, Table 1 "Renewal Dates"
  12. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Journeyman Plumber, experience
  13. Utah Office of Administrative Rules, Utah Admin. Code R156-55c-302b(5), "Qualifications for Licensure - Examination Requirements"
  14. Prov, plumber licenses, exam and fees
  15. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licensing, license names (second page)
  16. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Master Plumber, experience
  17. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Residential Master Plumber, exam
  18. Utah Office of Administrative Rules, Utah Admin. Code R156-55a-302b(2)(a), "Qualifications for Licensure - Experience Requirements"
  19. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licenses, experience (second page)
  20. Prov, plumber licenses, exam and fees (second page)
  21. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licensing
  22. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licensing (second page)
  23. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, email replies about licenses from other states and master plumber hours
  24. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, plumber licensing (third page)
  25. Utah Division of Professional Licensing, email reply about the plumbing exams, the wait to retake one and the practical exam
  26. U.S. Department of Labor national apprenticeship data, extract of August 17, 2026

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