Louisiana Plumbing License: How to Become a Certified Plumber
Obtaining your Louisiana plumbing license is a smart choice if you’re seeking a stable career path in a thriving industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana employed more than 9,000 plumbers in 2022—and with employment rates expected to grow 2% nationally over the next decade—you couldn’t be in a better place to get started.
The average plumber’s salary in Louisiana is about $49,000 annually, but with more experience under your belt, you can expect to see that figure rise to $60,000. Plus, you stand to earn even more money if you start your own plumbing business.
In this licensing guide, we’ve broken down everything you’ll need to know to get licensed as a plumber in Louisiana,
If you’re serious about getting your Louisiana plumbing license, bookmark this page and check out our other free plumbing business resources for guides, templates, and advice to set yourself up for success.
Do you need a plumbing license in Louisiana?
Yes, in order to install, repair, and maintain plumbing and natural gas systems in Louisiana, licensure is required. Licenses are issued by the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA).
In addition to getting licensed by the SPBLA, Master Plumbers working on jobs with a value of $10,000 or more will also require a commercial plumbing license issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC).
Types of plumbing licenses in Louisiana
The SPBLA outlines the different types of registrations and licenses you can obtain in Louisiana for a career in the plumbing industry:
| License Registration/ Type | Description |
| Apprentice Plumber | Registration holders can work on both natural gas and plumbing tasks while under the direct and constant supervision of a licensed Master Plumber or gas fitter as they work towards completing their on-the-job training program. |
| Tradesman Plumber | License holders can independently repair existing plumbing in one- or two-family homes at the direction of a licensed Master Plumber. |
| Journeyman Plumber | License holders can install, repair, and maintain new and existing plumbing systems under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed Master Plumber. |
| Master Plumber | License holders can install, repair, and maintain new and existing plumbing systems and can employ/mentor registered Apprentice plumbers and licensed Journeyman plumbers. |
| Journeyman Natural Gas Fitter | License holders can install, repair, and modify natural gas systems under the direct supervision of a licensed Master natural gas fitter. |
| Master Natural Gas Fitter | License holders can install, repair, and modify natural gas systems and can employ/mentor registered Apprentice plumbers and licensed Journeyman natural gas fitters. |
| Commercial Plumbing License | Licensed Master Plumbers, also licensed as commercial contractors by the LSLBC, can contract for plumbing jobs with a value of $10,000 or more (including labor and materials) |
Louisiana plumbing license requirements
To get your registration or license as a plumber or natural gas fitter, you’ll need to meet the requirements set out by the SPBLA:
| License Registration/ Type | Requirements |
| Apprentice Plumber | To become an Apprentice plumber, all applicants must register with the SPBLA and fall into one of these categories: • An indentured Apprentice plumber must be enrolled in an approved Apprenticeship Program regulated by the Louisiana Workforce Commission • An unindentured Apprentice plumber must be completing on-the-job training with a licensed Master Plumber |
| Tradesman Plumber | To become a licensed Tradesman plumber: • An indentured Apprentice plumber must be enrolled in an Apprenticeship Program and complete 3,000 hours of plumbing work under the supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber • An unindentured Apprentice plumber must complete 4,000 hours of plumbing work under the supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber • All applicants must pass a written and practical Tradesman exam |
| Journeyman Plumber | To become a licensed Journeyman plumber, all applicants must: • Complete or be in the final year of an Apprenticeship Program OR • Complete five years or 8,000 hours of plumbing work under the supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber • Pass a written and practical Journeyman plumber exam |
| Master Plumber | To become a licensed Master Plumber, all applicants must: • Have a current Journeyman plumbing license or engineering license issued by the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board • Pass a written Master Plumber exam |
| Journeyman Natural Gas Fitter | To become a licensed Journeyman natural gas fitter, all applicants must: • Be registered as an Apprentice plumber and have two years of supervised gas fitting experience under a Master natural gas fitter OR • Hold a current Louisiana plumber license and have two years of supervised gas fitting experience under a Master natural gas fitter • Pass a written and practical natural gas fitter exam |
| Master Natural Gas Fitter | To become a licensed Master natural gas fitter, all applicants must: • Hold a current Louisiana natural gas fitter license OR • Hold a current Mechanical (Statewide) Work license from the LSLBC OR • Hold a current Professional Engineer license from the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board Pass a written Master natural gas fitter exam |
| Commercial Plumbing License | To become a licensed commercial plumber via the LSLBC, all applicants must: • Provide a financial statement proving a minimum net worth of at least $10,000 • Designate a qualifying party to represent the company and pass the Business & Law exam • Provide a copy of your Plumbing Certificate from the SPBLA to exempt you from sitting for a trade exam |
How do I get a plumbing license in Louisiana? (steps)
To get your full plumbing or natural gas fitter license in Louisiana, you’ll need to pass through each of the preparatory license stages outlined by the SPBLA to advance to Master. The full process can take five years or more and includes the following steps:
| License Registration/ Type | Steps to Apply / Register |
| Apprentice Plumber | 1. Complete a notarized Apprentice application 2. Submit application and processing fees to the SPBLA 3. Enroll in an Apprenticeship Program (indentured) or find a licensed Master Plumber for mentorship (unindentured) |
| Tradesman Plumber | 1. Complete a notarized Tradesman application* 2. Provide documentation required for 3,000 hours (indentured) or 4,000 hours (unindentured) of supervised plumbing work 3. Complete a Tradesman Permit form and submit a permit fee 4. Submit all documents and exam and processing fees to the SPBLA 5. Sit for the exam |
| Journeyman Plumber | 1. Complete a notarized Journeyman application* 2. Provide a certificate of completion of an Apprenticeship 3. Program issued by the Louisiana Workforce Commission or documentation required for 5,000 hours of supervised plumbing work 4. Complete a Journeyman Permit form and submit a permit fee 5. Submit all documents and exam and processing fees to the SPBLA 6. Sit for the exam |
| Master Plumber | 1. Complete a notarized Master application* 2. Submit application and exam and processing fees to the SPBLA 3. Sit for the exam |
| Journeyman Natural Gas Fitter | 1. Complete a notarized Journeyman natural gas fitter application* 2. Provide documentation required for two years of supervised natural gas fitting work 3. Complete a Natural Gas Fitter Permit form and submit a permit fee 4. Submit all documents and exam and processing fees to the SPBLA 5. Sit for the exam |
| Master Natural Gas Fitter | 1. Complete a notarized Master natural gas fitter application* 2. Submit application and exam and processing fees to the SPBLA 3. Sit for the exam |
| Commercial Plumbing License | 1. Complete an online application 2. Obtain liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance, if applicable 3. Submit any required documentation to be uploaded at the end of the application process 4. Pay all applicable fees to the LSLBC 5. Sit for the Business & Law exam |
SPBLA exam and processing fees can be submitted by either check or money order and made out to the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, located at:
11304 Cloverland Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
*All SPBLA applications must be submitted no later than 30 days before your scheduled exams.
Louisiana plumbing license exam
To get your full plumbing or natural gas fitter license in Louisiana, you’ll need to pass the written and/or practical exams administered by the SPBLA for each licensing stage.
Once your application is approved, the State Plumbing Board will send you an admission letter that contains detailed information about your exam date, time, and location. Exam results will be mailed to you within two weeks.
Here is some important information you should know about each exam:
| Exam | Details |
| Tradesman Plumber Exam Part 1 (Written) | 80 questions 3 hours to write 70% required to pass Study Materials: • 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) • Louisiana Title 17, Construction (December 2019) • Louisiana Title 46, Professional and Occupational Standards, Part LV. Plumbers (October 2018) Topics (% of Exam): • Definitions and General Regulations (35%) • General Health and Safety Knowledge (2.5%) • General Plumbing Repair and Service Trade Knowledge (18.75%) • Plumbing Fixtures and Fixtures Fittings (10%) • Sanitary Drainage and Vents (10%) • Traps and Indirect Waste (2.5%) • Water Supply and Distribution Systems (21.25%) |
| Tradesman Plumber Exam Part 2 (Practical) | 30 minutes Description: • Screw pipe project • Copper project |
| Journeyman Plumber Exam Part 1 (Written) | 70 questions 3 hours to write 70% required to pass Study Materials: • 2015 International Plumbing Code (IPC) • 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) • Louisiana Title 17, Construction (December 2019) Topics (% of Exam): • Definitions and General Regulations (46.25%) • Plumbing Fixtures and Fixture Fittings (17.5%) • Safety, Environmental, and OSHA (3.75%) • Sanitary Drainage and Vents (18.75%) • Storm Drainage (5%) • Water Supply and Distribution (8.75%) |
| Journeyman Plumber Exam Part 2 (Practical) | 1 hour Description: • Floor plan project • Screw pip project • Copper project |
| Master Plumber Exam Part 1 (Written) | 80 questions 3 hours to write 70% required to pass Study Materials: • 2015 International Plumbing Code (IPC) • 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) • Louisiana Title 17, Construction (December 2019) Topics (% of Exam): • Definitions and General Regulations (21.25%) • Plumbing Fixtures and Fixture Fittings (11.25%) • Safety, Environmental, and OSHA (1.25%) • Sanitary Drainage and Vents (33.75%) • Storm Drainage (8.75%) • Water Supply and Distribution (23.75%) |
| Master Plumber Exam Part 2 (Written) | 30 questions 2 hours to write 70% required to pass Study Materials: • Title 51, Public Health—Sanitary Code, Part XIII Topics (% of Exam): • Definitions and General Regulations (20%) • Sewage System Construction and Design (52%) • Sewage System Installation and Maintenance (28%) |
| Master Plumber Exam part 3 (Written) | 40 questions 2 hours to write 70% required to pass Study Materials: • NASCLA Louisiana Master Plumbers and Master Natural Gas Fitters Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management, 2nd Edition Topics (% of Exam): • Business Structure and Strategies (5%) • Contracts and Estimating (32.5%) • Definitions and General Regulations (15%) • Financial Management (10%) • Human Resources (2.5%) • Project Management and Customer Relations (12.5%) • Risk Management (7.5%) • Safety, Environmental, and OSHA (15%) |
| Journeyman Natural Gas Fitter Exam Part 1 (Written) | 80 questions 3 hours to write 70% required to pass Study Materials: • 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) • Louisiana Title 17, Construction (December 2019) Topics (% of Exam): • Definitions, General Regulations, and Trade Knowledge (43.75%) • Fuel Gas Appliance and Venting Code Knowledge (26.25%) • Piping Installation Code Knowledge (27.5%) • Safety and Environmental Code Knowledge (2%) |
| Journeyman Natural Gas Fitter Exam Part 2 (Practical) | 30 minutes Description: • Screw pipe project |
| Master Natural Gas Fitter Exam Part 1 (Written) | 80 questions 3 hours to write 70% required to pass Study Materials: • 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) • Louisiana Title 17, Construction (December 2019) • NASCLA Louisiana Master Plumbers and Master Natural Gas Fitters Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management, 2nd Edition Topics (% of Exam): • Definitions, General Regulations, and Trade Knowledge (35%) • Fuel Gas Appliance and Venting Code Knowledge (27.5%) • Piping Installation Code Knowledge (32.5%) • Safety and Environmental Code Knowledge (5%) |
| Master Natural Gas Fitter Exam Part 2 (Written) | 40 questions 2 hours to write 70% required to pass Study Materials: • 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) • Louisiana Title 17, Construction (December 2019) • NASCLA Louisiana Master Plumbers and Master Natural Gas Fitters Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management, 2nd Edition Topics (% of Exam): • Definitions, General Regulations, and Trade Knowledge (35%) • Fuel Gas Appliance and Venting Code Knowledge (27.5%) • Piping Installation Code Knowledge (32.5%) • Safety and Environmental Code Knowledge (5%) |
Does Louisiana reciprocate plumbing licenses?
Reciprocal licensing agreements allow skilled trades workers with an out-of-state license to apply directly for the equivalent version in another state.
Currently, Louisiana does not have reciprocity agreements for plumbers or natural gas fitters.
However, if you have a valid plumbing or natural gas fitter license from out of state, you may use it to qualify for the Journeyman plumber exam or the Journeyman natural gas fitter exam. Refer to the relevant application documents for more details.
How much is a plumbing license in Louisiana?
To get your full plumbing or natural gas fitter license in Louisiana, you should expect to pay $600–1,000 for the initial licensing process. Here is a list of the main fees for each stage of the licensing process:
| Licensing Stage | Fees |
| Apprentice plumber | • Apprenticeship Program: Varies • Registration: $20 • Renewal: $20 • Late renewal: $35/$50 |
| Tradesman Plumber | • Exam: $135 • Permit: $75 • Initial license: $40 • Renewal: $40 • Late renewal: $55/$70 |
| Journeyman Plumber | • Exam: $135 • Permit: $75 • Initial license: $50 • Renewal: $50 • Late renewal: $65/$80 |
| Master Plumber | • Exam: $110 • Initial license: $190 • Renewal: $190 • Late renewal: $250/$310 |
| Journeyman Natural Gas Fitter | • Exam: $135 • Permit: $75 • Initial license: $50 • Renewal: $50 • Late renewal: $65/$80 |
| Master Natural Gas Fitter | • Exam: $110 • Initial license: $190 • Renewal: $190 • Late renewal: $250/$310 |
| Commercial Plumbing | • Plumbing classification: $100 • Administration/transaction fee for plumbing classification: $120 • Business & Law exam: $120 • Background financial investigation/processing: $60 |
Keep in mind that there are also costs associated with getting the necessary insurance coverage in order to work as plumber.
Louisiana plumbing license renewal
After securing your license, there are a few things to keep in mind. Ensure you take annual continuing education through an approved provider. Both Journeyman and Master Plumbers are responsible for continuing education upon the yearly renewal of their licenses. For the required number of hours, contact the SPBLA office.
Also, don’t forget to renew your license with the State Plumbing Board by December 31st of each year to avoid any extra fees—renewals can take up to two weeks to process.
What happens if my plumbing license expires?
If you think your Louisiana plumbing license may have expired, you need to stop all work immediately. The SPBLA might apply special enforcement fees if you are caught working with an expired license.
You can check on the status of your license by signing into the LSLBC’s online contractor portal. If your license has expired, fill out the renewal form as soon as possible and pay any late fees that apply.
How to start a plumbing business in Louisiana
After you have secured your Master Plumber or natural gas fitter license and built up some work experience, you’re ready to take the next step in your career: starting your own plumbing business.
The Louisiana Secretary of State operates geauxBIZ, an online portal where you can reserve your plumbing business name, register your business, and file reports in Louisiana. This site will generate a checklist that outlines all the information you need to get your business off the ground (including permits, tax information, and so on).
There are also some practical considerations to starting your own plumbing business, including:
- marketing and selling your services
- pricing your plumbing services
- hiring the right types of plumbers
- choosing the best plumbing apps
- getting plumbing business software
For a complete look at plumbing specifics, check out our How to Start a Plumbing Business Guide. And once you’re ready, try our free plumbing estimate template to give your business that extra boost of professionalism.
Does a plumbing license in Louisiana increase your earning potential?
Yes, holding a Louisiana plumbing license not only enhances your job prospects but also leads to increased earnings in a regulated industry.
When you first get your Journeyman license, you can expect to earn around $50,000 per year, but after building up a good deal of experience, you can bring in up to $60,000. And remember—running your own plumbing business offers even more earning potential.