Contractors or workers working in each state must abide by its rules. Usually, all states require them to have a license to perform their duties. Each state’s requirements for working as a specific worker are different.
Similarly, some fees may be involved, and workers must sit exams. Since plumbers come under the category, they must also obtain a plumbing license.
Like any other type of trade professional or general contractor, Arkansas requires plumbers to have a plumbing license.
Prospective plumbers can apply with the state showing the relevant proof to get it. They must also pass an exam. For Arkansas, plumbers need to renew their licenses each year.
Can licensed plumbers from other states work in Arkansas?
The state of Arkansas allows licensed plumbers from other states to work in it without obtaining a license.
Arkansas does not have license reciprocity with other states. Therefore, it does not have specific requirements for licensed plumbers to come from a specific state. Instead, it processes the applications on an individual basis.
How to get a plumbing license in Arkansas?
There are three levels of plumbing licenses in Arkansas. Prospective plumbers must go through each step individually to progress through to the next level. These three levels are the apprentice, journeyman, and master levels.
Apprentice plumbing license
Getting a journeyman or master license in Arkansas requires plumbers to be an apprentice first. For the state, anyone involved in learning and assisting in the installation of plumbing and drainage and enrolled in a state-approved apprentice program will be considered an apprentice.
Apprentice-level plumbers can only work in the supervision of a journeyman or master license plumbers.
Therefore, apprentice plumbers must submit an apprenticeship application and get accepted into a state-approved apprenticeship program. The fee to get started as an apprentice is $25 per year.
Journeyman plumbing license
The next level of license for an apprentice is the journeyman license. Arkansas state considers anyone engaged in the practical installation of plumbing but not a master plumber as a journeyman plumber.
Apprentice plumbers looking for the journeyman plumbing license must fulfil the following requirements:
- Have four years of relevant in-field experience.
- Complete an approved apprenticeship program.
- Submit a journeyman plumber application to the state of Arkansas.
- A $75 application fee.
- Pass the state exam.
The journeyman exam has 100 questions and last 3 hours. It’s an open book exam. Apprentice plumbers must obtain 70% or more to pass the exam.
For contractors on projects over $20,000, the state also requires a business and law exam. The exam is 50 questions and lasts 2 hours.
Master plumbing license
The Arkansas state government considers a master plumber as an individual skilled in planning, superintending and the practical installation of plumbing.
It also requires masters to be someone familiar with the laws, rules and regulations governing these aspects. Only journeyman level plumbers can apply for the master plumbing license.
Journeyman plumbers looking to get the master plumbing license must fulfil the following requirements.
- Have five years of relevant in-field experience.
- Hold a journeyman license for at least one year.
- Submit a master plumber license application to the state of Arkansas.
- $125 application fee.
- Pass the state exam.
The master plumbing license exam also consists of 100 questions and takes 3 hours. Journeyman plumbers looking to get the master license must get at least 70% or more on the test to pass.
Like the journeyman license, contractors on projects over $20,000 must also take and pass a business and law exam. The requirements for the exam are similar to above.
The master plumbing license exam is also an open book. However, the state requires plumbers to read the plumbing code book for both exams before taking them.
Fees
As mentioned, each exam requires a specific fee. For the master exam, the exam fee is $125. On the other hand, the journeyman exam costs $75. Since there are no exams for the apprentice license, there are no costs related to exams.
However, each level has a license fee that they must pay to the state. For each exam, plumbers need to have a pre-approval from the board before sitting for it.
For the apprentice plumbing license, plumbers must pay $25 per year. For the journeyman license, the fee is $75 per year.
Lastly, the fee for the master plumbing license is $200 per year. The expiration for each license is on December 31 each year.
Summary
The summary of requirements for each license level is as below.
Apprentice
- Submit an apprenticeship program.
- $25 license fee.
- Get accepted into a state-approved apprenticeship program.
Journeyman
- Have four years of relevant in-field experience.
- Complete of an approved apprenticeship program.
- Submit a journeyman plumber application to the state of Arkansas.
- Pay a $75 application fee and a $75 license fee.
- Pass the state exam.
Master
- Have five years of relevant in-field experience.
- Hold a journeyman license for at least one year.
- Submit a master plumber license application to the state of Arkansas.
- Pay $125 application fee and $200 license fee.
- Pass the state exam.