No, Pennsylvania doesn’t license plumbers at the state level. A plumbing license in Pennsylvania comes from the city or county where you work, and the two biggest programs are Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections and the Allegheny County Health Department, which covers Pittsburgh. On top of that, most contractors doing home jobs have to register with the Attorney General, but that registration is not a plumbing license.
Who issues the license
There’s no state plumbing board. Here is who actually controls plumbing work in Pennsylvania’s biggest markets:
- Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) issues apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber licenses for work inside city limits.
- Allegheny County, including Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Program licenses plumbers and handles plumbing permits and inspections under its plumbing code, Article XV. The City of Pittsburgh’s permit office says plumbing permits go through the county health department, not the city.
- Everywhere else. Some towns and counties run their own plumber licensing, and many don’t. Call the local code office before you bid work.
Separately, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General runs Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The state Department of Labor & Industry handles the Uniform Construction Code, which sets building standards but doesn’t license plumbers.
What about a statewide license? Bills keep coming up. In the 2025 to 2026 session, Senate Bill 395 and House Bill 2012 would create a State Board of Plumbing Contractors. As of October 2026, the General Assembly’s site shows both still sitting in committee. Neither has passed.
Requirements change, so always confirm with Philadelphia L&I, the Allegheny County Health Department, or your local code office before you apply. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice.
License types
In Philadelphia:
- Apprentice Plumber. For people employed by a licensed master plumber. Your employer signs an employment statement on company letterhead.
- Journeyman Plumber. Does plumbing work as an employee, after 4 years as a registered Philadelphia apprentice and passing the exam.
- Master Plumber. Can run the business and pull plumbing permits in the city. Requires 1 year as a Philadelphia journeyman, an exam, and insurance.
In Allegheny County:
- Apprentice Plumber card. Issued once you register at an accredited apprenticeship program. Article XV says apprentices register with the department within 30 days of starting. Cards expire September 30 each year.
- Journeyman Plumber. Works for a licensed master plumber.
- Master Plumber. Can run the shop. Article XV says once you’re a master, you can’t go back to journeyman.
How to become a plumber in Pennsylvania
Pick where you’ll work first, then follow its ladder.
- Philadelphia, step 1. Get hired by a licensed master plumber and get your Apprentice Plumber license from L&I.
- Philadelphia, step 2. After at least 4 years registered as an apprentice in Philadelphia, pass the ICC Journeyman Plumber exam and apply for your journeyman license.
- Philadelphia, step 3. After at least 1 year as a Philadelphia journeyman, pass the Philadelphia Master Plumber exam and apply for the master license.
- Allegheny County, step 1. Register at an accredited apprenticeship program and get your apprentice card.
- Allegheny County, step 2. Finish 576 hours of schooling and 4 years of employment with a registered master plumber. Article XV puts that at 8,000 hours. Then pass the journeyman exam.
- Allegheny County, step 3. Work 2 full years as a licensed journeyman, then pass the master exam.
Outside those two areas, ask the local code office whether it licenses plumbers at all, and what experience it wants to see.
Exams
Philadelphia. The International Code Council (ICC) gives both the Journeyman Plumber exam and the Philadelphia Master Plumber exam. The exam has to be based on the current Philadelphia Code, or you have to apply within 12 months of passing. ICC sets its own exam fee, so check with ICC when you book.
Allegheny County. The county gives its own exams twice a year, in spring and fall, based on the 2022 version of Article XV. The journeyman exam costs $133 and the master exam costs $265. Exam dates and application deadlines are posted on the Plumbing Program page. For passing score and retake rules, call the Plumbing Program at 412-578-8036.
Renewal
- Philadelphia. Plumber licenses renew every year through eCLIPSE. Renew more than 60 days late and L&I adds a 1.5% surcharge for each month. Apprentices renew with tax records and an updated employment statement.
- Allegheny County. Journeyman and master licenses renew every year on your birthday. Apprentice cards run out September 30.
- HIC registration. Good for 2 years, then you renew.
Neither Philadelphia nor Allegheny County lists a continuing education requirement for plumbers on its licensing pages. Ask when you renew.
Cost
- Philadelphia apprentice: $25, which includes a $20 non-refundable application fee. Renewal is $25 a year.
- Philadelphia journeyman: $126, which includes a $25 non-refundable application fee. Renewal is $126 a year.
- Philadelphia master: $303, with a $50 non-refundable application fee applied to it. Renewal is $253 a year.
- Allegheny County journeyman: $133 exam, then $125 a year. The first year is prorated to your birthday.
- Allegheny County master: $265 exam, then $375 a year.
- HIC registration: $100 every 2 years. The Commonwealth Fiscal Code raised it to that amount.
A Philadelphia master plumber also needs insurance: general liability of $500,000 per occurrence, auto liability of $300,000, and workers’ comp of $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee, and $500,000 policy limit. You also need a Business Income and Receipts Tax account and a Commercial Activity License, and you have to be current on city taxes.
HIC registration: what it is and isn’t
If you do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year, you have to register with the Attorney General. That includes plumbers working in people’s homes. You need at least $50,000 of personal injury liability coverage and $50,000 of property damage coverage. Registration lasts 2 years, and you apply through the online system at hic.attorneygeneral.gov or by mail.
The catch: HIC registration is not a competency license. The Attorney General says it’s not an endorsement of your skill, and nobody tests you for it. It doesn’t replace a local plumber license. The AG’s FAQ also says the law leaves room for local trade licensing, like plumbing.
Reciprocity
Pennsylvania has no statewide plumbing license, so there’s no statewide reciprocity. Licensing is local, and a license from one area doesn’t automatically work in another. For the bigger picture, see our plumbing license reciprocity guide.
- Philadelphia. For journeyman and master, L&I lets you submit proof of a similar license from another state or local jurisdiction with equal or greater requirements, instead of the Philadelphia experience. L&I has to approve it. You still need the ICC exam.
- Allegheny County. Article XV lets licensed plumbers from other places either take the county exam or ask for a temporary reciprocal license for specific work, if their home jurisdiction’s standards hold up. Fees apply. Call the county to see how it works today.
A Philadelphia license doesn’t carry over to Allegheny County, or the reverse.
How to apply
- Philadelphia. Apply online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Online applications are reviewed within 5 business days. Bring a 2″ x 2″ color photo, your ICC exam results, and for masters, your insurance certificate and tax account info. Questions go to 311 or 215-686-8686.
- Allegheny County. Apply online only, through the county’s Accela Citizen Access Portal. Upload a notarized work statement listing each master plumber you worked for, their license number, and your dates and hours.
- HIC. Register with the Attorney General before you take home improvement jobs. The AG’s help line is 1-888-520-6680.
FAQ
Does Pennsylvania have a statewide plumbing license?
No. Licensing is local. Bills to create a state plumbing board were introduced in 2025, but as of October 2026 they haven’t passed.
How long does it take to become a master plumber in Philadelphia?
At least 5 years: 4 years as a registered apprentice, then 1 year as a journeyman, plus passing both ICC exams.
Is HIC registration the same as a plumbing license?
No. It’s a $100 registration with insurance proof, good for 2 years. It doesn’t test your skills and doesn’t let you work where a local plumber license is required.
Can I use my New Jersey or Ohio license in Pennsylvania?
Not automatically. Philadelphia may accept an equivalent license in place of its experience rules if L&I approves it, and Allegheny County has a temporary reciprocal license option. Call the office where you plan to work.
Next steps
Decide where you’ll work and get that office’s current forms. Register for HIC before you take home jobs. To see how other states do it, check our plumbing license by state page and the full plumbing license guide. If you work near Philly, read the New Jersey plumbing license page too. Ready to run your own shop? Read how to start a plumbing business.
