Ohio Plumbing License: How to Become a Certified Plumber in OH

Do plumbers need to be licensed in Ohio?

Yes, you need to hold a contractor license in order to perform commercial plumbing work in Ohio. Commercial contractor licenses are issued by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). 

There’s no state-wide licensing requirement for residential plumbing but some municipalities require general contractor licenses to perform residential plumbing work. Check with your city’s governance for any local licensing regulations.

Types of plumbing licenses in Ohio

Ohio only has one state-wide license: the commercial contractor license. This license permits plumbers to work on commercial buildings or projects. The state does not offer any license classifications such as journeyman plumber or master plumber level.

Some municipalities offer various plumber license types such as a journeyman, master, or general contractor license that allow plumbers to perform repairs and adjustments to residential systems.

Additional licenses, certification or registration is required in the following cities:

• Cincinnati: You’re required to register with the city and your state license needs to be valid in order to perform plumbing services 
• Columbus: Another jurisdiction that requires registration and a valid state license before you can start providing plumbing services.
• Dayton: A city-issued license is required in Dayton and can be earned by passing another exam or if you have a license from another city in Ohio.
• Toledo: Like Dayton, Toledo also requires a passing grade on a local plumbing contractor exam in order to acquire a license and work on any plumbing jobs.

READ MORE: Plumbing industry statistics and trends to know for 2024 (and beyond)

Ohio plumbing license requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for their state contractor license:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a United States citizen or provide documentation authorizing work in the United States
• Fulfill the necessary education and training requirements
• No convictions of a disqualifying offense
• Carry a minimum of $500,000 contractor liability coverage
• Pay any applicable fees
• Pass the required exam(s)

READ MORE: Types of plumbers: 6 different plumbers,services, and salaries

How do I get an Ohio plumbing license?

It takes around five to seven years to earn a contractor license. The length of the process depends on the path plumbers take to meet the required experience. The process is as follows:

1. Gain the necessary experience: Applicants must have at least five years of experience to be eligible for a license, which they can get by working with a tradesman license for at least five years or as a state-registered engineer with three years of plumbing experience in the construction industry. 
2. Submit a background check: Once the board has approved an applicant’s experience, applicants must undergo a background check prior to taking their exam. 
3. Pass the exams: After passing the background check, applicants must pass both a contractor exam and a Business and Law examination. Exams are administered through PSI Exams and both tests require a score of 70% or higher to pass.
4. Submit an application: Once an applicant has completed the above steps, they can fill out an application to receive their license. Applications must be notarized to be considered valid. When submitting an application, applicants must also include a copy of their exam results as well as proof of experience as a working plumber and $500,000 contractor liability insurance. 

Applications can be sent to:

Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
6606 Tussing Road
PO Box 4009
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-9009

Ohio plumbing training and education programs

Ohio has a number of credible schools that offer plumbing programs and courses to help you learn more about subjects like Ohio plumbing code, as well as prepare for on-the-job experience and eventually your license exams and application. Tuition for a certificate plumbing program ranges from $1,250 to $3,000, while online plumbing training can cost between $800 to $1,000. 

You can also find apprentice plumber programs through the government of Ohio’s website. Contracting companies are always looking for new plumbers to join their team and begin to get the experience needed to achieve a full license.

Ohio plumbing license test

Applicants will need to take a contractor exam as well as a Business and Law exam, which are administered through PSI exams. Eligible applicants will be sent a Candidate Information Bulletin with information on how to schedule their exam. The contractor exam is 100 questions long and must be completed within four hours, while the Business and Law exam is 50 questions long and must be completed within two hours.

The contractor exam covers the following topics:

• General Knowledge and Requirements
• General Regulations
• Plumbing Fixtures
• Water Supply Systems
• Drainage, Waste, and Sanitary Vents
• Indirect Wastes
• Roof Drain Piping
• Specialty Plumbing
• Isometric Analysis

The Business and Law exam covers the following topics:

• Business Org
• Licensing
• Estimating and Bidding
• Contract Management
• Project Management
• Insurance and Bonding
• OSHA Record Keeping and Safety
• Personnel Regulations
• Financial Management
• Tax Laws
• Lien Laws

Both exams are open book and applicants will need a score of 70% or higher to pass.

Does my Ohio plumbing license work in any other states?

Some states have reciprocity agreements in place that allow one state license to be valid in another state. Ohio currently has reciprocity agreements for plumbing with the following states:

• South Carolina
• West Virginia
• Tennessee

Individuals within these states are eligible for reciprocity if they have taken their state’s licensing exam. Those who were grandfathered in (meaning they earned their license but did not take the state exam) will need to take additional steps to become certified before their license will be valid in Ohio.

READ MORE: How to price plumbing jobs: Easy formula for fast estimates

Ohio plumbing license costs

There are a few costs associated with earning a plumbing license. In total, you can expect to pay between $200–250 to get your license. 

EXAMINATION

• Contractor exam fee: $69
• Business and Law exam fee: $69

APPLICATION

• Background check: varies based on provider (between $32–50)
• Application fee: $25

RENEWAL

• One year renewal: $60
• Three year renewal: $180

Ohio plumbing license renewal 

Contractor licenses need to be renewed annually in order to remain active, though plumbers have the option to pay upfront and renew on a three-year basis. To check the status of your license, you can use the license lookup tool.

To be eligible for renewal, contractors must complete eight hours of board-approved continuing education courses for a 1-year renewal and 24 hours for a 3-year renewal. Half of these hours must be completed during in-person classroom training and the other half can be completed online at your own pace. Approved courses can be found on the OCILB website.

What happens if my plumbing license expires? 

If your plumbing license expires, it’s important that you stop any plumbing work immediately to avoid fines or penalties. First use the license lookup tool to see the current status of your license. If your license has expired, pay the late fee and complete the renewal process as soon as you can to reactivate your license.

If your license is expired for more than a year, you have to start the process from the beginning, including all associated applications, exams, and fees.

Requirements for business owners

If you’re looking to start a plumbing business, you’ll need to take a few additional steps beyond receiving your license. ​​Only those with contractor licenses will be able to operate a plumbing business. 

When starting a business, you’ll first need to establish the structure in which you’ll operate. You can choose from business structures such as an LLC, sole proprietorship, or partnership. Once you decide on your business structure, you’ll need to choose a name and register your business with your local government. 

You’ll need to meet the following requirements to start your business:

• Get the necessary insurance: Business owners are required to obtain general liability, worker’s compensation, and commercial automobile insurance. The minimum coverage amount required depends on the monetary limit of your contractor license. This monetary amount is based on your financial statement.
• Obtain the necessary permits: The specific permits you need will depend on the local jurisdiction of the location where the project will take place. Check with your local Building and Codes office to determine the specific permits you’ll need.

On average, it costs around $10,000 to get all the tools, equipment, and insurance needed to start a plumbing business. If needed, you can apply for a small business loan to help cover the initial costs. You can also check with your local government to see if any small business grants are available. 

Does a plumbing license in Ohio increase your earning potential?

A plumbing license is not only required for plumbing work — it also helps increase your earning potential as you gain more experience. After just three years of experience, plumbers in Ohio see a 24% increase in salary. That’s an additional $9,761 in your pocket! 

Your salary continues to rise the more experienced a plumbing contractor you become. Our Essential Plumber Salary Guide helps you as you grow in your plumbing career. Learn how your or your employees’ salaries can increase based on experience level, get tips on how to start your own plumbing business, and get more resources to help build your plumbing career.

Originally published in December 2022. Last updated on September 13, 2024.