Plumbing license basics | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

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The information below will help you complete the application or renewal successfully.

You can perform plumbing work in Minnesota if you are:

At least 18 years old
Licensed with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) or registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber, or enrolled in a DLI-registered apprenticeship program.
A W-2 employee of a licensed plumbing contractor or registered plumbing employer.
A licensed owner or officer of a licensed plumbing contractor or restricted plumbing contractor.

You can perform plumbing work without a license only if:

You are registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber or enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program.
Your work falls under the scope of the work your employer is authorized to perform.
Your work is directly supervised at all times by a licensed journeyworker or master plumber.

To renew your registration:

Complete two hours of DLI-approved continuing education. View information about how to look up your continuing education status.
Pay a $19 renewal fee.
Submit a completed work experience verification form. When you apply online you will be able to upload any work experience forms you have not yet submitted. View information about how to look up your current work experience hours.

Journeyworker plumber license

You must pass a written exam before you can apply for a journeyworker plumber license. To take the journeyworker exam you must:

Have completed a registered plumbing apprenticeship program or hold a restricted master plumber license and show five years of verifiable experience as a plumbing contractor, or
Provide evidence of sufficient plumbing work experience as a registered unlicensed plumber (view minimum work experience requirements), or
Have a current plumber’s license from another state where the licensing jurisdiction requires at least four years of practical plumbing experience and an examination to qualify for licensure.

Credit for work experience will be granted if you:

Were actively registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber while working in Minnesota.
Were employed by a company licensed by DLI as a plumbing contractor or registered with DLI as a registered plumbing employer while you worked for them.

Master plumber license

You must pass a written exam before you can apply for a master plumber license. To take the master plumber exam you must:

Have been licensed as a journeyworker plumber for at least one year; or
A current master plumber license from another state where the requirements of the licensing jurisdiction are equivalent to those of Minnesota as determined by DLI; or
A current Minnesota restricted master plumber license and five years of verifiable experience in business as a plumbing contractor in Minnesota.

Apply online to take the exam and pay the $50 exam fee.
Once approved you will receive instructions about how to schedule the exam. View more information about exams. If you do not pass the exam you must wait 30 days before reapplying
Once you have passed the exam you will be given instructions on how to pay for your license.

Journeyworker and plumber licenses expire on Dec. 31 of odd-numbered years.

To renew your license:

Complete 16 hours of DLI-approved continuing education (at least eight hours must relate to the State Plumbing Code). View information about how to look up your continuing education status.
The journeyworker renewal fee is $53 (late fee of $20 added for late renewals).
The master plumber renewal fee is $93 (late fee of $40 added for late renewals).