Do I Need a Plumbing License? Rules in Six States

Can you do plumbing without a license?

Washington: no, inside buildings. Connections outside a building, such as to a city water main or sewer, don't need certification, except pump and irrigation work.
Texas: only as a registered apprentice, with a licensed plumber on site the whole time.
California: jobs under $1,000 in total, with no permit and no employees, don't need a contractor license, and a bigger job can't be split to get under the limit.
Tennessee: the Limited Licensed Plumber license is needed only in towns that use the state fire prevention division for permits, and general maintenance under $500 is exempt. Other towns may have their own rules.
Virginia: a tradesman license for the trade, and a contractor license for any job over $1,000.

Do you need a plumbing license to clean drains?

In Texas, yes, in a lighter form: drain cleaners hold a Drain Cleaner or Drain Cleaner-Restricted registration, added to an apprentice registration, and take 6 hours of continuing education to renew. Other states set their own rules.

What happens if you work without a license?

In California, a first offense is usually a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail and/or a $500 fine, plus an administrative fine of $200 to $15,000. A second conviction brings at least 90 days in jail. In Illinois, letting someone use your license number can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine.