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Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)

The organization in charge of granting licenses, endorsements, and registrations to plumbers in Texas is the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), whose primary goal is to ensure that its inhabitants' drinking water, air, and medicinal gasses are free from contaminants so that they can live and work in a secure environment. On the other hand, the licensing process ensures that Plumbing Professionals are educated about technical advancements in the field, updated on changes to Plumbing Codes, and actively seeking to advance their craft through ongoing education. In addition, the industry's expansion depends on registering Plumber Apprentices since it establishes a clear path for getting a license by providing the requirements for qualifications for four types of Plumber Licenses.

Plumbing Licenses and Registrations

The candidate must fulfill all eligibility conditions, take and pass an exam, and pay a fee to be granted a License (Registration does not require an exam). The License is renewed yearly, and when it is received for the first time, a random expiration date will be given, which might be anywhere between 6 and 18 months from the day the licensing exam was completed. Each license holder is required to complete six hours of CPE (Continuing Professional Education) before they can renew.

Some endorsements can be added to a Journeyman, Master, or Plumbing Inspector License, which will serve as an optional certification. To obtain one, the candidate must fulfill all eligibility conditions, take and pass an exam, and pay a fee. Once every three years, endorsements are renewed. An expiration date that coincides with the license you added the endorsement to is automatically allocated when you receive it for the first time.

The three types of Texas Endorsements are:

  • Medical Gas Piping Installation
  • Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist
  • Water Supply Protection Specialist

Before beginning to record the number of hours worked in the plumbing industry, the candidate must register as a Plumber’s Apprentice. The hours needed to pass the Journeyman Plumber or Tradesman Plumber - Limited exams do not include said criteria for registering as an Apprentice.

Official List of Plumbing Trades

  • Journeyman Plumber
  • Master Plumber
  • Plumber Apprentice Registration
  • Plumbing Inspector
  • Tradesman Plumber - Limited

How to Get a Plumber Apprentice Registration in Texas?

  1. Meet the following Eligibility Requirements:
    • Be at least 16 years old
    • Be a citizen or a national of the United States, or an alien or non-immigrant
  2. Submit an Apprentice Registration to the Board with the following documents:
  3. Send the Fingerprint Information (this is a one-time requirement, there is no need to resubmit if done in the past)
  4. Pay the corresponding registration fee to the TSBPE through their Online Licensing System platform

How to Get a Journeyman Plumber License in Texas?

  1. Fulfill the following Eligibility Requirements:
    • Be listed as a Journeyman or Master Plumber in another State or as a Plumber's Apprentice or Limited Tradesman in Texas, a minimum of 8,000 hours of experience is required
    • Be a citizen or a national of the United States, or an alien or non-immigrant
    • Unless licensed as a Journeyman or Master Plumber in another State, you must be enrolled in or have finished a Training Program certified by the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor or have completed a 48-hour Training Course approved by the TSBPE
  2. Decide how to send the Journeyman Plumber application:
    • Online: Create a user (log-in if already created) on the Online Licensing System of the TSBPE to apply online for the Journeyman Plumber Examination:
      1. Click “choose an application” in the Manage Your License Information section and then select the exam to be taken from the drop-down menu
      2. Confirm all the personal information
      3. Receive a notice of authorization to test
      • Note: submitted online are processed and approved considerably faster than those sent via US Mail
    • Paper: Send a Journeyman Plumber License Application to the Board for the Examination process with the following documents:
  3. Submit the Fingerprint Information (this is a one-time requirement, there is no need to resubmit if done in the past)
  4. Provide the corresponding license fee to the TSBPE
  • If the candidate holds both a Journeyman and a Master Plumber License, only have to pay the renewal fee for the Master License

How to Get a Master Plumber License in Texas?

  1. Comply with the following Eligibility Requirements:
    • Be a citizen or a national of the United States, or an alien or non-immigrant
    • Own a High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
    • Meet the licensing qualification(s):
      • Have minimum four years of experience, and hold a Journeyman Plumber License in Texas or another State
      • Keep a Journeyman Plumber License for at least a year and complete an approved Training Course in Texas or another State
      • Possess a Journeyman License for at least four years, and be a Master Plumber in another State
      • Complete an approved Training Course approved by the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, be a Master Plumber in another State, and hold a Journeyman License for at least a year
  2. Choose how to send the application:
    • Online: Create a user (log-in if already created) on the Online Licensing System of the TSBPE to apply online for the Master Plumber Examination:
      1. Click “choose an application” in the Manage Your License Information section and then select the exam to be taken from the drop-down menu
      2. Confirm all the personal information
      3. Receive a notice of authorization to test
      • Note: submitted online are processed and approved considerably faster than those sent via US Mail
    • Paper: Send a Master Plumber License Application to the Board for the Examination process with the following documents:
      • Send the Fingerprint Information (this is a one-time requirement, there is no need to resubmit if done in the past)
      • Pay the corresponding license fee to the TSBPE
        • If the candidate holds both a Journeyman and a Master Plumber License, they only have to pay the renewal fee for the Master License

How to Get a Plumbing Inspector License in Texas?

  1. Meet with the following Eligibility Requirements:
    • Be a citizen or a national of the United States, or an alien or non-immigrant
    • Own a High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
    • Be previously licensed as:
      • Architect in Texas
      • Journeyman Plumber in Texas
      • Master Plumber in Texas
      • Professional Engineer in Texas
      • Plumbing Inspector in another State that has licensing requirements substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements of the TSBPE
  2. Send the corresponding form through one of the three options :
    • Online: Create a user (log-in if already created) on the Online Licensing System of the TSBPE to apply online for Plumber Inspector Examination:
      1. Click “choose an application” in the Manage Your License Information section and then select the exam to be taken from the drop-down menu
      2. Confirm all the personal information
      3. Receive a notice of authorization to test
      • Note: Applications submitted online are processed and approved considerably faster than those sent via US Mail
    • Paper: Submit a Plumber Inspector License Application to the Board for the Examination process with the following documents:
      • Present the Fingerprint Information (this is a one-time requirement, there is no need to resubmit if done in the past)
      • Pay the corresponding license fee to the TSBPE

How to Get a Tradesman Plumber - Limited License in Texas?

  1. Comply with the following Eligibility Requirements:
    • Be a citizen or a national of the United States, or an alien or non-immigrant
    • Hold a Journeyman Plumber or Master Plumber License issued by another State, or be registered as a Plumber's Apprentice in Texas
    • Have 4,000 hours of experience in the plumbing industry as a minimum and complete a 24-hour Training Course recognized by the TSBPE
      • Note: If the candidate holds a Journeyman or Master Plumber License issued in another state, there is no need to complete the 24-hour Training Program
  2. Determine how to send the application for the Tradesman Plumber - Limited License:
    • Online: Create a user (log-in if already created) on the Online Licensing System of the TSBPE to apply online for the Tradesman Plumber - Limited Examination:
      1. Click “choose an application” in the Manage Your License Information section and then select the exam to be taken from the drop-down menu
      2. Confirm all the personal information
      3. Receive a notice of authorization to test
      • Note: Applications submitted online are processed and approved considerably faster than those sent via US Mail
    • Paper: Send a Tradesman Plumber - Limited License Application to the Board for the Examination process with the following documents:
      • Submit the Fingerprint Information (this is a one-time requirement, there is no need to resubmit if done in the past)
      • Pay the corresponding license fee to the TSBPE

Links and Information for Plumbing Candidates

Informative and Useful Documents

Relevant Contact Information

Official TSBPE Website
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(512) 936-5200
(512) 936-5210
(512) 302-5090
929 East 41st Street, Austin, Texas 78751

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Written by Aengels G.