Master Plumbing License 2026: Requirements and Exams

What do you need for a master plumbing license?

Where	What you need first
Texas	2 years as a licensed journeyman, or 1 year plus a registered apprenticeship
Virginia	1 year as a licensed journeyman, 3 years as a Virginia residential plumber, or 9 years of verified experience
Iowa	A journeyperson license and 2 years of work experience
New York City	7 years in the last 10 under a licensed master plumber, 2 of them as a registered journeyman

In Texas the master license page and the August 2025 candidate handbook disagree: the handbook still says 4 years as a journeyman. Ask the TSBPE before you apply.

Texas →New York City →

What's on the master plumbing exam?

Where	Exam
Texas	308 written questions in 360 minutes, plus an optional 30-minute break. No practical. $128.50 to Pearson VUE.
Iowa	125 questions in 6 hours, open book, 75% to pass
Virginia	The same 80-item plumbing portion as journeyman, open book, $125 to PSI
New York City	100 written questions in 4 hours at 70%, then a 4-hour practical: a black steel piping assembly and a copper sweat assembly

What a master plumber can do

It depends on the state. In Texas, a master can directly supervise an apprentice on any job site, and a tradesman on jobs other than one- and two-family homes. In New York City, getting the master license also means showing insurance and a business location in the city.

Running a plumbing business can need a separate contractor license, as in California, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Plumbing contractor license →

Preparing for the master exam

Texas's master exam covers the plumbing law and board rules plus your chosen code; New York City's is weighted toward gas piping, with 29 of its 100 questions. Start from your bulletin's outline.

Plumbing study guide →Practice questions →

Sources: TSBPE · Pearson VUE · Virginia DPOR and 8 more. Checked October 2026.