There is no statewide Wyoming plumbing license. Wyoming does not have a state plumbing board, so plumbers are licensed by the city or county where they work, and each local building department sets its own license types, experience rules, exams, and fees.
Who issues the license
In Wyoming, plumbing licenses come from local government. In most places that means the city building division or a local contractor licensing board. If you work in Cheyenne, it’s the City of Cheyenne Contractor Licensing Board. In Casper, it’s the City of Casper Building and Inspections Division. Other towns and counties run their own programs.
This trips people up because Wyoming does license electricians at the state level. That’s handled by the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, and its electrical licensing pages don’t cover plumbing. Cheyenne’s rules even require a state license for electricians but not for plumbers.
The one big statewide piece is a 2024 law, W.S. 16-6-1101 (Senate File 114), which makes Wyoming cities, towns, and counties recognize contractor licenses issued by other Wyoming jurisdictions. More on that under Reciprocity.
Requirements change, so always confirm with your city or county building department before you apply. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice.
License types
Names vary by jurisdiction. Here’s what the two largest cities publish:
- Apprentice plumber. Works under a licensed journeyman or master. Casper issues the apprentice license to the plumbing contractor in the apprentice’s name, and it’s only good while you work for that contractor.
- Journeyman plumber. Can do plumbing work as an employee.
- Master plumber. The top individual license. In Cheyenne, a plumbing contractor must employ someone who holds a master or qualified supervisor license in the trade.
- Plumbing contractor. The business license to run a plumbing company. Cheyenne calls it a Class C1 license for plumbing and pipe fitting systems (fire sprinklers are excluded). Casper’s plumbing contractor license also covers installing steam or water boilers.
Cheyenne also requires every employee on a plumbing job site to hold a master, journeyman, or apprentice license or be a qualified supervisor.
How to become a plumber in Wyoming
The path is apprentice, journeyman, then master, but the hours depend on the city:
- Step 1: Apprentice. Get hired by a licensed plumbing contractor and get your apprentice license from the city. Cheyenne sets supervision levels by year: 100% in year one, 75% in year two, 50% in year three, and 25% in year four. It also caps it at 3 plumbing or mechanical apprentices per journeyman or master.
- Step 2: Journeyman. Cheyenne requires 4 years with 8,000 documented hours as a licensed apprentice (or certified equivalent training) plus a passing exam. Casper requires a certificate from a federally recognized plumbing apprenticeship, or the equivalent of 4 years in a Casper-licensed shop, plus an exam.
- Step 2 (alternate): Residential journeyman in Cheyenne. 2 years with 4,000 documented hours as a licensed apprentice and a passing journeyman exam.
- Step 3: Master. Cheyenne requires the 4 years and 8,000 hours as an apprentice plus 3 years with 6,000 documented hours as a journeyman and a passing exam. Casper’s page lists an apprenticeship certificate or the equivalent of 4 years in a Casper-licensed shop, and 5 years as a journeyman or master in a Casper-licensed shop. Ask Casper how it counts your time.
- Step 4: Contractor. With a master on staff, apply for the contractor license and show proof of insurance.
Exams
Wyoming cities lean on International Code Council (ICC) exams rather than writing their own. Cheyenne’s rules say exams are given by the ICC, NICET, NASCLA, or another testing agency the board approves, and you apply and pay the testing agency directly. Casper lists ICC exam G27-N or equivalent for master plumbers and G27-N, G28-N, or equivalent for journeymen.
Neither city publishes a passing score, question count, or exam fee. Check with ICC once your city tells you which exam you need.
One Cheyenne rule to know: if your license lapses more than 30 days, you have to show proof of passing a current published exam again to get it back.
Cost and fees
Fees are set locally:
- Cheyenne master. $50 application, $50 initial, $25 renewal.
- Cheyenne journeyman. $50 application, $30 initial, $15 renewal.
- Cheyenne apprentice. $10 application, $10 initial, $5 renewal.
- Cheyenne Class C1 contractor. $50 application, $200 initial, $75 renewal.
- Casper. Plumbing contractor $300 new and $150 renewal, master $75 and $37.50, journeyman $25 and $15, apprentice $3 and $3.
Add your ICC exam fee on top.
Renewal and continuing education
Cheyenne licenses expire every year, one year from the date they were issued. The city sends a notice about 60 days ahead, but renewing on time is on you. If you miss the deadline, the license expires and you have to apply as new, and working on an expired license counts as working unlicensed.
Casper publishes renewal fees but not a renewal date on its plumbing page, so ask the building division when your license expires.
Neither Cheyenne’s rules nor Casper’s plumbing page lists a continuing education requirement for plumbers.
Bond, insurance, and business registration
- Insurance in Cheyenne. A Class C1 subcontractor needs commercial general liability of at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate, with the City of Cheyenne named as certificate holder.
- Insurance in Casper. Plumbing contractors need public liability of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per incident, plus $250,000 property damage.
- Workers’ comp. Cheyenne requires Wyoming workers’ compensation coverage when state law requires it.
- Bonds. Cheyenne and Casper don’t list a license bond for plumbers on the pages we reviewed, but some smaller towns may. Ask your city.
For the business side, you’ll set up your company with the Wyoming Secretary of State and check contractor tax registration with the Wyoming Department of Revenue Excise Tax Division. If you bid public jobs, the Department of Workforce Services offers a resident contractor certification that comes with a 5% bid preference on state-funded construction projects.
Reciprocity
Inside Wyoming, reciprocity is now the law. Under W.S. 16-6-1101, which took effect July 1, 2024, a county, city, or town that licenses contractors has to recognize a license issued by another Wyoming jurisdiction if:
- Good standing. Your license is active and in good standing where it was issued.
- Exam proof. You show you passed the ICC plumbing exam (or another appropriate exam or an equivalent). With that proof, the new jurisdiction can’t make you retest.
- Financial assurance. You provide any insurance or other financial proof the new jurisdiction requires.
A city can still refuse if it previously revoked or suspended your license, and it doesn’t have to give you privileges beyond the type of license you already hold.
Out-of-state reciprocity is a different story. There’s no state plumbing board to sign agreements, so it’s up to each city. Cheyenne says its board may grant reciprocity with other jurisdictions as it sees fit, and it may accept tests that exceed its published exams if you hold an equivalent license elsewhere.
How to apply
- Find your jurisdiction. Call the building department for the city or county where the job is.
- Get the application. Ask which license class fits you and what documents they want.
- Document your hours. Gather apprenticeship certificates and signed employer letters covering your years and hours.
- Pass the exam. Register and pay the testing agency (usually ICC) directly.
- Add insurance if you’re a contractor. Get a certificate of insurance and workers’ comp proof lined up.
- Pay and submit. Turn in the application, exam results, and fees, then put your renewal date on the calendar.
FAQ
Does Wyoming have a state plumbing license?
No. Wyoming has a state electrical license but no state plumbing license. Plumbers are licensed by cities and counties, so the rules depend on where you work.
Is my Cheyenne license good in Casper?
Not automatically, but Casper has to recognize it under W.S. 16-6-1101 if your license is active, you passed the ICC plumbing exam or an equivalent, and you meet Casper’s insurance rules. You’ll still file a reciprocal application.
How many hours do I need to be a journeyman?
In Cheyenne it’s 4 years with 8,000 documented hours as a licensed apprentice. Casper takes a federally recognized apprenticeship certificate or the equivalent of 4 years in a Casper-licensed shop. Other cities set their own numbers.
Do I need continuing education to renew?
Cheyenne’s rules and Casper’s plumbing page don’t list any. Check with your own city.
Next steps
Start by calling the building department where you plan to work and asking which plumbing license class fits your experience. Then line up your ICC exam and your hour records. To see how Wyoming stacks up, check our plumbing license by state page and the full plumbing license guide. If you’re near the northern border, the Montana plumbing license page covers a state that works very differently from Wyoming. Ready to run your own shop? Read how to start a plumbing business.
