Quick answer: Indiana licenses plumbers statewide. You cannot work as a journeyman plumber or plumbing contractor without a license from the Indiana Plumbing Commission. Local governments may require registration and enforce building codes, but they cannot impose a second licensing scheme on a state licensee.
Who regulates plumbing licenses in Indiana
The Indiana Plumbing Commission, administered by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA), issues every plumbing credential in the state. State preemption comes from IC 25-28.5-1-33.
The license tiers
- Plumbing Apprentice. Minimum age 17, registered in an approved apprenticeship program.
- Journeyman Plumber. Minimum age 18, plus either 4 years in an approved apprenticeship program or a current out-of-state plumbing license showing 4 years in the trade.
- Plumbing Contractor. Minimum age 18, plus 4 years in an apprenticeship program, or an out-of-state license with 4 years’ experience, or 4 years in the plumbing business under a licensed plumbing contractor.
- Temporary Plumbing Contractor, Plumbing Corporation, and Plumbing Apprenticeship School credentials also exist.
Apprentices working through a school take a practical exam within the first four years, building assemblies in copper, cast iron and plastic pipe. You need 70% minimum on each project (860 IAC 2-1-7.1), with up to seven attempts.
The exam
Exams are administered by Prov, Inc. after the Commission approves your application.
- Journeyman Plumber: 90 questions, 3 hours, $75 exam fee to Prov.
- Plumbing Contractor: 90 questions, 3 hours, $100 exam fee to Prov.
Prov reports results as pass or fail only and does not publish a numeric cut score. You get up to seven attempts within a 2-year eligibility period, and you must sit the first attempt within one year of approval.
One thing to watch: the PLA page names Prov in its application instructions but an older FAQ on the same page still references ICC. Prov’s current bulletin confirms Prov is the vendor.
Fees and renewal
| Credential | Application | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Apprentice | $10 | $10 |
| Journeyman Plumber | $30 | $30 |
| Plumbing Contractor | $50 | $100 |
| Temporary Plumbing Contractor | $25 | $25 per 6-month extension, 2-year max |
| Plumbing Corporation | $50 | $100 |
Renewal dates: apprentice licenses expire October 1 of every even year. Journeyman, contractor and corporation licenses expire December 31 of every odd year, a two-year cycle. Late fees run $15 before March 1 and jump sharply after.
Continuing education: the PLA lists no CE requirement in its plumbing renewal instructions.
Bond and insurance: the PLA’s official application instructions and fee schedule list no state bond or insurance requirement for plumbing credentials. Third-party sites claim otherwise, so trust the agency, and check your local jurisdiction separately.
Reciprocity
The PLA states that reciprocity is not available for journeyman and contractor plumbers. Moving in from another state still means applying, appearing before the Commission and passing the exam. If you let a license lapse 3 or more years, reinstatement also requires a work history and a personal appearance.
Once you are licensed
Getting the card is step one. Our guide on how to start a plumbing business covers the rest: forming the entity, insurance, setting your hourly rate and landing the first calls.
Verify before you apply
Confirm all of this with the Indiana Plumbing Commission before you pay any fee. See the full plumbing license by state index, or check Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.
