Quick answer: a plumbing license in Wisconsin is a statewide credential from the Department of Safety and Professional Services. There is no separate plumbing board. Everything runs through the DSPS LicensE portal, the exams are open book with a 70% pass mark, and both journeyman and master licenses carry a 24-hour continuing education requirement.
Who licenses plumbers in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), under Wis. Stat. 145.06. Unlike most states there is no standalone plumbing board. DSPS administers the credentials directly, and all applications go through the LicensE system at license.wi.gov.
The license tiers
- Plumbing Apprentice. A registration, not a license. You have to be indentured under Wis. Stat. ch. 106 and work under a master plumber (SPS 305.95).
- Journeyman Plumber. Works under the general supervision of a master plumber or utility contractor (SPS 305.93). Restricted Service and Restricted Appliance versions also exist.
- Master Plumber. The contracting license. Restricted Service and Restricted Appliance versions exist here too.
- Pipe Layer and Utility Contractor credentials for underground and municipal work.
- Inspector credentials for the code enforcement side.
Getting to journeyman
The standard path is finishing a recognized Wisconsin apprenticeship, then passing the journeyman exam.
Coming from out of state, there are two routes:
- Show a 5-year apprenticeship that included at least 576 hours of classroom instruction.
- Or use the comity path: an apprenticeship, plus the other state journeyman exam, plus 5 or more years practicing with no disciplinary history.
Getting to master
Two qualifying routes:
- 1,000 hours per year for 3 years as a licensed Wisconsin journeyman plumber, or
- An engineering degree in a curriculum related to plumbing. Watch this one: an engineering technology degree does not qualify.
There is also an out-of-state comity route that includes a path requiring not less than 8 years of experience.
The exam
DSPS administers the exams through Pearson VUE and DSPS test sites. Both the journeyman and the master exam are:
- Two-part
- Open book, with nine permitted reference items
- 70% to pass
New code editions get tested starting three months after their effective date, so if a code cycle just changed, check which edition your exam covers before you schedule it.
Fees and renewal terms
Credential fees as revised January 4, 2024:
- Apprentice: 1-year term, $15, renewing on the issue date
- Journeyman: 4-year term, $180, renewing March 31
- Master: 4-year term, $500, renewing March 31
- Pipe Layer: 4-year term, $180
- Utility Contractor: 4-year term, $500
- Reinstatement: $200 for all of them
Initial application and exam fees are calculated inside LicensE when you apply, so confirm your total there rather than assuming.
Continuing education
Renewal is contingent on CE. Under SPS 305.91 (master) and SPS 305.93 (journeyman), you need at least 24 hours of acceptable continuing education before the license expiration date. Restricted Service and Restricted Appliance credentials carry their own, smaller requirement, so verify yours in LicensE. Late CE carries a $25 fee. DSPS can waive CE for prolonged illness or disability, case by case.
What is new in 2026
DSPS moved its forms onto the AccessGov platform at the end of June 2026, so bookmarks to older form URLs may not work. Wisconsin Act 240 credentialing changes for DACA recipients are also being implemented, including SAVE registration. If you are applying right now, start from the DSPS profession page rather than an old saved link.
How to get licensed in Wisconsin, step by step
- Get indentured as an apprentice under ch. 106 and register with DSPS.
- Complete the apprenticeship under a master plumber.
- Apply and sit the journeyman exam through LicensE. Open book, 70% to pass.
- Work 1,000 hours a year for 3 years as a licensed journeyman.
- Sit the master exam and pay the $500 four-year credential fee.
- Track your 24 CE hours so the March 31 renewal is never a scramble.
FAQ
Does Wisconsin have a statewide plumbing license? Yes. DSPS issues it under Wis. Stat. 145.06 and it is good across the state.
Is the Wisconsin plumbing exam open book? Yes. Both the journeyman and master exams are two-part, open book, with nine permitted references, and you need 70% to pass.
How much does a Wisconsin master plumber license cost? $500 for a 4-year term, renewing March 31, plus application and exam fees calculated in LicensE.
How many CE hours do I need? At least 24 hours before your license expires, for both journeyman and master.
Requirements change. Always confirm with Wisconsin DSPS before you apply. This page is general information, not legal advice.
More: our plumbing license guide covers licensing nationally, and the plumbing license by state hub lists every state we have written up. On the business side, see how to start a plumbing business and what plumbers charge per hour.
