Texas plumbing credentials are issued and regulated statewide by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), established in 1947 under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1301. All individuals performing plumbing work in Texas must either hold a current TSBPE credential or work under the direct supervision of someone who does, with the level of supervision required varying by credential type.
Licenses & Credentials
| Credential | Type | Exam | Application | Exam Fee | Initial | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber's Apprentice | registration | No | $15 | — | — | $15 / 1 yr |
| Tradesman Plumber-Limited | license | Yes (TSBPE) | $36 | — | $35 | $35 / 1 yr |
| Journeyman Plumber | license | Yes (TSBPE) | $40 | — | $40 | $40 / 1 yr |
| Master Plumber | license | Yes (Pearson VUE) | $25 (TSBPE) | $128.50 (Pearson VUE (payable on the day of the exam)) | $75 | $75 / 1 yr |
| Plumbing Inspector | license | Yes (TSBPE) | $55 | — | $55 | $55 / 1 yr |
| Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) | designation | No | $225 | — | — | $300 / 1 yr |
Plumber's Apprentice (registration)
Entry-level registration that enables a person to begin accumulating experience hours toward a plumbing license. Hours worked before registration are not counted.
- Standard. Must be at least 16 years old and eligible to work in Texas.
A Plumber's Apprentice may assist with plumbing work only under the direct on-site supervision of a licensed plumber. The registration does not authorise independent work.
Tradesman Plumber-Limited (license)
Permits plumbing work on one and two-family dwellings under Responsible Master Plumber supervision. Work on other structure types requires direct on-site supervision by a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber.
- Standard (apprentice route). Prerequisite: Plumber's Apprentice (registered) Experience: 4,000 hours working in the plumbing trade as a registered apprentice Training: 24-hour TSBPE-approved training course
- Out-of-state Journeyman or Master holder. Prerequisite: Current Journeyman or Master Plumber license issued in another state Experience: 4,000 hours working in the plumbing trade Training: 24-hour training course not required
Exam application fee ($36) and initial license fee ($35) are separate payments. Fingerprint data required (one-time requirement across all TSBPE applications).
Journeyman Plumber (license)
Permits plumbing work on all structure types under Responsible Master Plumber supervision. A Journeyman may directly supervise apprentices on all job sites and Tradesman Plumber-Limited licensees on non-residential sites.
- Standard (apprentice or Tradesman route). Prerequisite: Plumber's Apprentice (registered) or Tradesman Plumber-Limited (licensed in Texas) Experience: 8,000 hours working in the plumbing trade Training: 48-hour TSBPE-approved training course
- Out-of-state Journeyman or Master holder. Prerequisite: Current Journeyman or Master Plumber license issued in another state Experience: 8,000 hours working in the plumbing trade Training: 48-hour training course not required
If a licensee holds both Journeyman and Master Plumber licenses, only the Master renewal fee is payable at renewal. Exam application fee and initial license fee are separate $40 payments.
Master Plumber (license)
Permits plumbing work on all structure types under Responsible Master Plumber supervision. A Master Plumber may supervise apprentices and Tradesman Plumber-Limited licensees. Required prerequisite for the Responsible Master Plumber designation.
- Standard (Texas Journeyman route). Prerequisite: Journeyman Plumber (licensed in Texas) Experience: Journeyman license held for at least two years
- DOL-approved apprenticeship programme. Prerequisite: Journeyman Plumber (licensed in Texas or another state) Experience: Journeyman license held for at least one year Training: Completion of a US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship-approved training programme
- Out-of-state Master holder. Prerequisite: Master Plumber license issued in another state Experience: Previously held a Journeyman Plumber license for at least two years (or one year if DOL-approved programme completed)
The Master exam is delivered by Pearson VUE; the exam fee ($128.50) is payable directly to Pearson VUE on the day of the exam, separate from the TSBPE processing fee ($25). Applications submitted online are processed significantly faster than those sent via US Mail.
Plumbing Inspector (license)
Authorises the holder to inspect plumbing work within the jurisdiction of any political subdivision with which they are affiliated. A distinct credential from the tradesperson pathway; may be held alongside a Journeyman or Master Plumber license but not the RMP designation.
- Licensed tradesperson or professional route. Prerequisite: Current Texas license as Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Professional Engineer, or Architect; or Plumbing Inspector license in another state with substantially equivalent requirements High school diploma or GED required.
- Training and experience route. Experience: 500 hours of training and experience in the plumbing industry High school diploma or GED required. Hours must be verified via Plumbing Inspector Employer Certification Form.
The exam application fee ($55) and initial license fee ($55) are separate payments. After passing the exam, a pocket card is not issued until the applicant submits proof of affiliation with a political subdivision. Until that affiliation is confirmed, the license shows as current but 'unaffiliated' on the TSBPE public search. An affiliated Plumbing Inspector may not hold a financial or advisory interest in any plumbing company. License renews annually in January regardless of when it was first issued.
Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) (designation)
A designation added to an active Texas Master Plumber license. Authorises the holder to contract directly with customers, obtain permits, and take legal responsibility for all plumbing work performed under their supervision. Required to operate a plumbing contracting business in Texas.
- Standard. Prerequisite: Master Plumber (licensed in Texas, in good standing) Must provide proof of minimum $300,000 commercial general liability insurance. Cannot hold this designation concurrently with a Plumbing Inspector license.
Other fees: Relinquish RMP designation — $10 (TSBPE)
An RMP may act as RMP of record for only one company at a time. If the RMP designation is applied for during the 90-day renewal window, only the $300 renewal fee applies (the $225 initial application fee is waived).
Continuing Education
Continuing education is required to renew:
- 6 hours per 1-year cycle — Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber, Plumbing Inspector, and most registrations
- 2 hours per 3-year cycle — Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement
The TSBPE maintains a list of approved CPE providers at tsbpe.texas.gov/training-and-education/cpe-providers/. CPE must be completed before a license is eligible for renewal.
Reciprocity
Interstate reciprocity — formal agreements with:
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
Texas has formal reciprocal licensing agreements with Louisiana and Arkansas. Holders of qualifying plumbing licenses in those states may apply for a Texas license through the reciprocal process without sitting the standard TSBPE examination. Plumbers licensed in any other state must use the Out-of-State Examination Request process and sit the Texas exam. Confirm current reciprocity status directly with the TSBPE before applying, as agreements may change.
Bond & Insurance
Bond: No statewide requirement.
Insurance: Required. Minimum $300,000 commercial general liability insurance is required only for the Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) designation, not for individual Tradesman, Journeyman, or Master Plumber licenses. Insurance must be maintained continuously while the RMP designation is active.
Official Sources
Always verify current requirements directly with the official licensing authority — requirements and fees change.
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners — The state licensing authority for all plumbing credentials in Texas
- License Types Overview — All TSBPE license types, registrations, designations, and endorsements
- Public License Search — Verify the current status of any Texas plumbing license or registration
- Apply or Renew Online — Online system for submitting applications and renewals
- Printable Forms — Downloadable application forms including exam applications, employer certification, and reciprocal verification
- Law and Rules — Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1301 and TSBPE board rules
The Texas credential structure
Texas uses a tiered system of licenses, registrations, and a contractor designation. The path for most plumbers runs from Apprentice registration through Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman Plumber, and Master Plumber. The Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) designation sits above the Master license and is required to operate a plumbing contracting business or contract directly with customers. The Plumbing Inspector license is a separate credential outside the tradesperson pathway.
Plumber's Apprentice registration
Before any hours can count toward a plumbing license, a person must register as a Plumber's Apprentice with the TSBPE. Hours worked before the registration is active do not count. The registration costs $15, requires applicants to be at least 16 years old, and renews annually. A registered apprentice may assist with plumbing work under the direct on-site supervision of a licensed plumber.
Tradesman Plumber-Limited
After accumulating 4,000 registered hours in the trade and completing a TSBPE-approved 24-hour training course, an apprentice may apply to sit the Tradesman exam. A Tradesman Plumber-Limited license permits work on one and two-family dwellings under Responsible Master Plumber supervision. Working on other structure types requires direct on-site supervision from a Journeyman or Master Plumber. Out-of-state Journeyman or Master holders applying for this license are not required to complete the 24-hour training course.
Journeyman Plumber
The Journeyman license requires 8,000 hours of registered experience and a TSBPE-approved 48-hour training course. A Journeyman may work on all structure types under RMP supervision and may directly supervise apprentices on all job sites and Tradesman Plumbers on commercial or multi-family sites. Out-of-state Journeyman or Master holders are not required to complete the 48-hour training course.
Master Plumber
The Master Plumber license requires a Journeyman license held for at least two years — or one year for applicants who have completed a US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship-approved training programme. The Master exam is delivered by Pearson VUE; the exam fee is payable directly to Pearson VUE on the day of the exam, in addition to a TSBPE processing fee. A Master Plumber may perform the same scope of work as a Journeyman and is eligible to apply for the Responsible Master Plumber designation.
Responsible Master Plumber (RMP)
The RMP designation is not a separate license — it is an additional designation applied to an active Texas Master Plumber license. An RMP can contract directly with customers, obtain permits, and takes legal responsibility for all plumbing work performed under their license. Operating a plumbing contracting company in Texas requires at least one RMP. The designation requires proof of a minimum of $300,000 in commercial general liability insurance, which must be maintained continuously. An RMP may hold the designation for only one company at a time.
Plumbing Inspector
The Plumbing Inspector license is a distinct credential from the tradesperson pathway and authorises the holder to inspect plumbing installations for code compliance. It can be held in addition to a Journeyman or Master Plumber license, but cannot be held concurrently with the Responsible Master Plumber designation. The Plumbing Inspector license renews annually in January regardless of when it was first issued. Verify current eligibility requirements and fees directly with the TSBPE.
Continuing education
All licensees must complete 6 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) each year to renew their license. The Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement carries a separate CE obligation of 2 hours every three years. The TSBPE maintains a list of approved CPE providers on its website.
Reciprocity
Texas has formal reciprocal licensing agreements with Louisiana and Arkansas. Holders of qualifying plumbing licenses in those states may apply for a Texas license through the reciprocal process without sitting the standard TSBPE examination. Plumbers licensed in any other state must use the Out-of-State Examination Request process and sit the Texas exam. Confirm current reciprocity arrangements directly with the TSBPE before applying, as agreements can change.
Insurance
Commercial general liability insurance of at least $300,000 is required only for the Responsible Master Plumber designation. Individual Tradesman, Journeyman, and Master Plumber licenses do not carry a standalone insurance requirement, though RMPs must ensure all licensed work performed under their supervision meets applicable code and permit requirements.
Endorsements
Journeyman Plumbers, Master Plumbers, and Plumbing Inspectors who meet the eligibility requirements may add specialist endorsements to their license. Each endorsement requires a separate TSBPE examination and completion of a 24-hour TSBPE-approved training course beforehand. Available endorsements include:
- Medical Gas Piping Installation — required for work on medical gas systems; Plumbing Inspectors with this endorsement may also inspect medical gas installations
- Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist — for residential sprinkler installation in one and two-family dwellings
- Water Supply Protection Specialist — for cross-connection control, backflow prevention, and rainwater supply plumbing
Endorsements renew every three years. Verify current renewal fees and requirements directly with the TSBPE, as the fees differ depending on which underlying license type the endorsement is held on.
Verifying a Texas plumber
The TSBPE's Public License Search tool allows anyone to verify the current status of a Texas plumbing credential by name or license number. For work requiring a contractor, confirming that the RMP designation is current — in addition to the underlying Master Plumber license — is advisable.
Important: Plumbing licensing requirements change. The information on this page was verified against official sources on the date shown above. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam details directly with the relevant licensing authority before applying or hiring.