Plumbing Contractor License 2026: Rules in Six States

Plumbing contractor license requirements in six states

State	License	What it takes
California	C-36 Plumbing Contractor	4 years at journey level, Law and Business plus trade exams, $25,000 bond, $450 application
North Carolina	Plumbing contractor, Class I or II	4,000 hours, an open-book exam at $150, a background report
Tennessee	Plumbing (CMC-A), from $25,000 a job	Pre-approval ($50), Business and Law plus trade exams, a CPA-reviewed financial statement, $250 application
Virginia	Contractor license, for work over $1,000	Separate from the tradesman plumbing license; ask the Board for Contractors
Illinois	Plumbing contractor registration	Registered every year with IDPH, with liability and workers' compensation insurance
Iowa	Contractor license	$250 plus a $150 registration for the 3-year period

Tennessee also has a Limited Licensed Plumber license for jobs under $25,000, needed only where the municipality uses the state fire prevention division for permits. Its board tells plumbers to check first with their local government.

California C-36 →North Carolina →

Plumbing business license or contractor license?

They're different things. The contractor license above comes from the state and is about competence and money: experience, exams, bonds or financial statements. A local business license or registration is set by your city or county, so ask there as well.

The plumbing contractor exam

California and Tennessee add a business and law exam to the trade exam. California's Law and Business exam covers business management and construction law. Tennessee's exams are open book and, from July 1, 2026, run by Prov.

The C-36 trade exam is closed book and weighted toward planning and estimating and underground and rough systems, 22% each.

Plumbing study guide →