Prospective plumbers wanting to work in California must register as a journeyman or meet the CA State contractor’s license requirements.
It allows them to work inside California on jobs with a value of $500 or less in labor and materials. Any works that are above that limit require a contractor’s license.
Can licensed plumbers from other states work in California?
California allows licensed plumbers from four other states to work as a plumber. The state has license reciprocity with the states of Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah.
If a plumber has a contractor’s license from any of these states, they don’t get the entitlement to qualify as a contractor.
However, they can get an entitlement to skip the trade skills portion of the examination required to get a C-36 license.
How to get a plumbing license in California?
There are several levels of plumbing licenses in California. However, every plumber should begin from the apprentice plumbing license and move forward.
Apprentice plumbing license
The California Department of Industrial Relations has partnerships with various colleges and companies to provide accredited apprenticeship programs.
Any prospective plumber that wants to become an apprentice must start with these partners. These are the best option for apprentices at working toward a plumbing license in California.
There are various requirements for apprentice plumbers to get accepted into an apprentice program. Among those, some of the things that prospective plumbers need include the following:
- Have graduated from high school or passed the GED exam.
- Be 18 years old or more.
- Get accepted into a state-approved apprenticeship program.
An apprentice plumbing license is relatively straightforward to get. It allows prospective plumbers to work towards obtaining a journeyman plumbing license. Similarly, apprentice plumbers can only work in the supervision of a journeyman or registered plumber.
Journeyman plumbing license
The state of California does not have varying levels of license for contractors. A journeyman plumber can contract on jobs costing $500 or lower.
However, anyone who wishes to do business as a plumbing contractor must acquire a C-36 license. The state recognizes individuals that have completed an approved apprenticeship program or have significant work experience as a journeyman.
Journeyman plumbers don’t need any supervision to perform plumber jobs. Similarly, journeyman plumbers working under another contractor don’t need to comply with the $500 limit.
Only those that want to start their own business must fulfil the requirement. Apprentice plumbers need to satisfy the following requirements to become a journeyman plumber:
- Have four years of relevant experience within the last ten years.
- The experience must be verifiable and certified with individuals who have knowledge of the experience.
- Fill the application to become a journeyman plumber.
- Pay a $300 non-refundable application fee.
- Take and pass the C-36 exam.
Contractor’s license
Plumbers that want to work as a contractor can also apply to get a contractor’s license. The contractor’s license allows plumbers to work on contracts above $500. However, they must first take and pass the business and law exam.
They must also schedule a time to show their trade skills to a Contractors State License Board (CSLB) proctor. Once they pass the exam, they must pay a $180 license fee.
Similarly, contractors need to submit proof that they have a working capital of $2,500 or more. It can come as a letter from the bank that certifies the plumber has access to the money.
They must also file a $10,000 surety bond with the CSLB or a private bond company. The contractor’s license is only valid for two years. Therefore, every contractor must reapply for the license every two years.
Summary
Given below is a summary of the steps that plumbers need to follow to work in California.
Journeyman
- Graduate from high school or get a passing grade on the GED exam.
- Apply for a state-recognized plumbing apprenticeship program.
- Complete the coursework and pass all exams during the apprenticeship.
- Complete at least four years of relevant experience within the last ten years.
Contractor/Plumber
- Work as a journeyman for four years or more.
- Submit the original contractor license application.
- Submit the application with a $300 non-refundable application fee.
- Take and pass the business and law exam.
- Pass the trade exam after passing the written exam.
- Pay an additional $180 initial license fee to the CSLB after passing the exam.
- Submit proof of having $2,500 or more working capital.
- File a $10,000 surety bond with the CSLB or a private bond company.
- Reapply for contractor’s license every two years with the CSLB.