Getting a Rhode Island plumbing license starts long before the exam. If you are not a registered apprentice with the RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT), your hours do not build toward a journeyperson license. State law requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training as a registered apprentice plumber in Rhode Island, plus classroom time. Working as an unregistered helper, even for years, can leave you starting over. Register first, then start counting.
Who issues the Rhode Island plumbing license
Plumbing licenses in Rhode Island are statewide. They are issued by the DLT Professional Regulation Unit with the help of the Rhode Island Board of Examiners of Plumbers. The rules come from Rhode Island General Laws chapter 5-20 and the DLT regulation “Licensing of Plumbers, Irrigators and Water System Installers” (260-RICR-30-15-9).
Cities and towns do not issue plumbing licenses, but state law lets them hire plumbing inspectors, require permits, and charge permit fees. So you get your license from the state and your permits from the local building or plumbing office.
Requirements change, so always confirm with the Rhode Island Board of Examiners of Plumbers before you apply. This page is general info, not legal advice.
Rhode Island plumbing license types
Rhode Island uses these plumbing classifications:
- Apprentice plumber. A registered apprentice working under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyperson or master plumber. You must carry your registration card while working.
- Journeyperson plumber. An employee who installs, maintains, and repairs plumbing while working for a licensed master.
- Master plumber. The license you need to run a plumbing business, bid or contract for work, advertise as a plumber, or employ journeypersons and apprentices.
- Contractor master plumber. A special license that lets someone qualify a plumbing company. It does not, on its own, let the holder do hands-on plumbing work.
Companies need their own license too. A corporation or firm can only do plumbing if a licensed master is an officer or principal who supervises the work, or if the firm holds a plumbing contractor license and keeps a licensed master employed. Rhode Island also licenses irrigators and commercial water filtration installers under the same chapter, but those are separate licenses.
Hours and classroom training
Journeyperson. Under state law you need to:
- Hold apprentice registration with DLT for at least four years before you apply.
- Log 8,000 hours of on-the-job training as an apprentice plumber in Rhode Island within a five year period.
- Complete 576 hours of related classroom instruction at a DLT-recognized program. A 2024 law sets this at 144 hours for each 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning.
Some approved career and technical or trade school classroom time can count toward the 576 hours, and the law also allows an associate degree in plumbing plus 4,000 hours of on-the-job learning. Credit for prior learning needs written approval from the board. Your employer and you are both responsible for keeping records of your hours.
Master. You need at least one year as a licensed journeyperson, working for a Rhode Island licensed master, backed by an employer affidavit. The DLT application packet also asks master applicants to verify at least five years of experience in the trade.
Contractor master. The DLT regulation calls for a bachelor of science degree (in plumbing or engineering, or in business administration) plus at least four years of relevant plumbing experience, along with affidavits, character references, and the company’s workers’ comp and liability policies.
The exams
DLT runs the plumbing exams itself, with the board’s help, at least three times a year. Seats are first come, first served. According to the current DLT application packet:
- The exam is 50 multiple choice questions.
- It is based on the 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC).
- A score of 70 or higher passes.
DLT posts recommended study material on its website. If you fail, you can retest by paying the fee again. You can also appeal in writing to the board within 30 days of being told you failed.
Fees and renewal
These fees come from the DLT fee schedule and state law:
- Application fee: $75, nonrefundable, for journeyperson, master, and contractor master.
- Master license: $240 for two years.
- Journeyperson license: $72 for two years.
- Plumbing contractor (company) license: same fees as a master license.
You get billed for the license fee after you pass. Licenses renew every two years and expire on your birthday (odd or even years, matching your birth year). If you miss renewal, you can reinstate within two years by paying the renewal fee, any past due fees, and $12 for each month you were late. After two years, the license is forfeited and you have to test again.
Continuing education
This is new. The DLT regulation requires master and journeyperson plumbers to complete 7 hours of board-approved continuing education every two year license cycle. DLT’s August 2025 notice says enforcement starts in January 2027. Courses have to come from a board-approved provider, and you get a certificate when you finish.
You are exempt if your age plus your years as a licensed master or journeyperson add up to 80 or more. The regulation also exempts approved CE instructors, current Rhode Island plumbing inspectors, assistant plumbing inspectors, and local building officials, and current state inspectors or investigators. Check the DLT site for the current approved provider list.
Insurance, bonds, and contractor registration
Most Rhode Island contractors register with the Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board (CRB). Licensed plumbing businesses working within their DLT license are exempt from CRB registration, with one exception: the CRB insurance rule still applies. That means:
- At least $500,000 combined single limit liability insurance (bodily injury and property damage).
- Workers’ compensation as required by state law.
State law says a valid certificate of insurance must be maintained with the licensing agency as a condition of the license. None of the official sources we checked requires a surety bond for a plumbing license.
One more business trap: a company that does plumbing cannot form or register with the Rhode Island Secretary of State until DLT confirms that all required plumbing licenses are issued and in good standing.
Reciprocity for out-of-state plumbers
Rhode Island does not publish a list of reciprocal states. Instead, a plumber licensed by exam in another state may be licensed here if that state’s requirements are the same as Rhode Island’s. You’ll need a copy of your current license, a statement or letter of good standing from each state board that licensed you, and an affidavit that you passed a written exam for the same license class. Call DLT before applying, because “the same requirements” is decided case by case.
How to apply
- Rhode Island apprentices: When you finish your registered apprenticeship, use DLT’s “Apprentice Completion and Application for Examination” form. Mail it with your $75 fee, a copy of your photo ID, and proof you completed the classroom work. DLT mails your exam date.
- Masters and out-of-state applicants: Use the Plumbers and Irrigators application. It must be notarized and include your ID, the $75 fee, and a notarized experience letter on company letterhead from your employer.
- Timing: File at least 15 days before the exam date. State law sets 30 days for master applications, so give yourself extra time.
- Track your application and verify licenses on DLT’s online lookup.
FAQ
Do I need a Rhode Island plumbing license from my town?
No. The license is statewide from DLT. Your town may still require permits and inspections for each job.
How long does it take to become a journeyperson plumber in Rhode Island?
Plan on at least four years. You need four years of apprentice registration, 8,000 on-the-job hours in Rhode Island, and 576 classroom hours before you can test.
What code is the Rhode Island plumbing exam based on?
The current DLT application packet says the exam is 50 multiple choice questions based on the 2018 International Plumbing Code, and a 70 passes.
Can a journeyperson work on their own?
No. A journeyperson must work for a licensed master. You need a master license to contract, advertise, or hire help.
Next steps
Compare Rhode Island with other states on our plumbing license by state page, or start with the basics in our plumbing license guide. Working near the border? See the Connecticut plumbing license page. Once you hold a master license, read how to start a plumbing business to set up the company side the right way.
