Connecticut licenses plumbers at the state level, and it uses a letter and number code system that confuses almost everyone the first time. P-1, P-2, J-3, SP-1 and so on. Once you know which code covers the work you want to do, the rest falls into place.
Here are the real codes, the hours behind them, and two things Connecticut does differently from most states.
Who runs plumbing licensing in Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) issues the licenses, working with the Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board. Licenses are issued under Chapter 393 of the General Statutes, and the P-1 scope is defined in CGS Sec. 20-330.
Start here: CT DCP plumbing and pipefitting licensing
Everything runs through elicense.ct.gov.
The license codes that actually exist
| Code | What it is |
|---|---|
| P-1 | Unlimited Plumbing Contractor |
| P-2 | Unlimited Journeyperson Plumber (must be employed by a licensed contractor) |
| P-6 | Limited Sewer, Storm and Water Journeyperson |
| P-7 | Limited Sewer, Storm and Water Contractor |
| P-8 | Limited Gasoline Tank, Piping and Pump Journeyperson |
| P-9 | Limited Gasoline Tank, Piping and Pump Contractor |
| J-1 | Limited Contractor, domestic water pumps and water conditioning |
| J-2 | Limited Well Pumps and Piping Journeyperson |
| J-3 | Limited Lawn Sprinkler Contractor |
| J-4 | Limited Lawn Sprinkler Journeyperson |
| PP-1 / PP-2 | Limited Process Piping Contractor / Journeyperson |
| SP-1 / SP-2 | Limited Spa and Pool Contractor / Journeyperson |
Note what is missing: there is no P-3, P-4 or P-5. The official list jumps from P-2 straight to P-6. Older documents floating around online still reference those codes, and they are not current.
Journeyperson codes only let you work while employed by a licensed contractor. Contractor codes let you contract.
Gas piping is inside the P-1 and P-2 scope. Connecticut has no standalone gas fitter code in the plumbing family. Medical gas and vacuum systems are the exception and need a separate certificate under CGS Sec. 20-334a.
The hours behind each license
The normal route is completing a registered apprenticeship for a journeyperson code, then two years as a licensed journeyperson for the matching contractor code.
If you are coming in on experience instead, DCP publishes hour requirements. For the two main codes:
- P-2 (unlimited journeyperson): 8,000 hours on the job plus 576 classroom hours
- P-1 (unlimited contractor): 12,000 hours on the job plus 576 classroom hours
Classroom hours have to match DCP’s “Exhibit A” required course list. Continuing education certificates and manufacturer certificates are not accepted, and on-the-job hours cannot substitute for classroom hours. Employer letters must be notarized, and DCP rejects W-2s, payroll records and tax returns as proof.
One caution: DCP’s out-of-state equivalency page states 720 classroom hours in its prose while its own table on that page, and both other DCP pages, say 576. If you are close to the line, call DCP rather than relying on any number you read online, including this one.
Exams are administered by PSI under contract with DCP. Every individual applicant tests. DCP does not accept company applications and does not pre-approve applications. Contractor applicants use the NASCLA Connecticut Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management as the required text.
DCP does not publish a passing score or an exam fee for plumbing, so treat any specific figure you see elsewhere as unverified.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Contractor application (P-1, P-7, P-9, J-1, J-3, PP-1, SP-1) | $150 |
| Journeyperson application | $90 |
| Contractor renewal | $150 |
| Journeyperson renewal | $120 |
| Medical gas and vacuum certificate renewal | $50 |
All application fees are non-refundable.
No state bond or insurance requirement
Connecticut does not require insurance or a surety bond for a plumbing license. The contractor application asks about identity, prior licensure, felony history and military status. It does not ask for a certificate of insurance or a bond.
The “$20,000 general liability” figure you will find on plenty of sites belongs to Connecticut’s Home Improvement Contractor registration, which is a separate DCP program. It is not a plumbing license requirement. Do not budget for it as one.
Continuing education
Connecticut does require CE, on a two-year cycle:
- Unlimited contractor: 5 credit hours
- Limited contractor: 5 credit hours
- Unlimited journeyperson: 5 credit hours
- Limited journeyperson: 3 credit hours
- P-6, P-7, PP-1 and PP-2: none currently, because no approved courses exist for them
The cycles are staggered. Contractors run August 1 of an even year through July 31 two years later. Journeypersons run August 1 of an odd year through July 31 two years later.
Your CE deadline is July 31, three months before the renewal deadline. CE is not required before your first renewal. You attest at renewal and keep your certificates for four years in case of audit.
Renewal
All plumbing and pipefitting licenses expire annually on October 31. Medical gas certificates run on the same date. Well drilling registrations are April 30, so do not mix them up.
If you let it lapse, you can reinstate within three years of expiration by filing the reinstatement form and fees. Past three years you have to reapply and retest from scratch.
Reciprocity: none
DCP states it plainly. “Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction.”
What exists instead is an equivalency review. You submit one out-of-state license, a copy of it, license verification, the laws and regulations showing what it took to earn it, and its scope of work. DCP evaluates whether it matches a Connecticut code.
Military and veteran applicants can request a training evaluation from the Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training to get credit for on-the-job and classroom time before applying.
Common questions
What is the difference between P-1 and P-2?
Same scope of work. P-2 can only do it while employed by a licensed contractor. P-1 can contract.
Is there a P-3 or P-4 license?
Not currently. The official list goes P-1, P-2, then P-6.
Do I need a gas fitter license for gas piping?
Gas piping falls inside the P-1 and P-2 scope. Medical gas is separate.
Does Connecticut have reciprocity with New York or Massachusetts?
No. Connecticut has no reciprocity with any state. You go through equivalency review.
Do I need insurance to get licensed?
Not for the license itself. Your customers or a job may require it, and Home Improvement Contractor registration is a different program with its own rules.
Requirements change. Confirm anything here with DCP before you apply. This is general information, not legal advice.
Next steps
New to all of this? Start with how to start a plumbing business for the licensing, insurance and setup sequence, or read the plumbing license guide for how tiers work across the country.
Licensing in another state? See the full plumbing license by state index.
