If you live in Idaho and have decided that you want to pursue a career as a plumber in the state, then to take up and perform any plumbing jobs legally in Idaho, you should be licensed through the state.
And, if you’re wondering how to go about getting a plumber license in Idaho, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll give you the complete information of all that is required to become a licensed plumber in Idaho.
Types of Plumbing Licenses in Idaho
There are 3 types of plumber licenses in Idaho:
- Apprentice registration
- Journeyman plumber license
- Plumbing contractor license
If you want to pursue a career in plumbing and get a plumber license in Idaho, the first step is to register as an apprentice plumber. The time you spend working as an apprentice counts towards the number of years of experience required to get a journeyman and contractor license.
You can apply for a journeyman plumber license after completing 8,000 hours or 4 years of work as an apprentice under a licensed journeyman plumber. After 2.5 years of getting the journeyman’s license and working as one, you can apply for a plumbing contractor license.
Idaho also has 3 specialty plumbing categories that need lesser experience; however, the scope of work of these categories are narrower. These specialty categories include:
- Specialty apprentice plumber registration
- Specialty journeyman plumber license
- Specialty plumbing contractor license
Requirements to Be a Plumber in Idaho
To be a licensed plumber (apprentice, journeyman or contractor), there are certain requirements mandated by the state, which you must fulfill. The requirements include:
Apprentice
To a plumbing apprentice, you must:
- Be 16 years old at least
- Have a Social Security Number
- Provide a legal ID such as passport, driver’s license or military ID
- Submit a notarized application
- Enroll or complete a board-approved training program with classroom instruction of at least 144 hours of every school year and get a minimum of 70% marks
- Work for at least 8,000 hours or 4 years supervised by a journeyman plumber while being employed with a plumbing contractor
- Pay a fee of $50 for license registration
- Renew the apprentice plumber registration by paying a renewal fee of $50 for 4 years until the apprenticeship is completed
Journeyman Plumber
To be a licensed journeyman plumber in Idaho, you must:
- Have a Social Security Number
- Provide a legal ID such as passport, driver’s license or military ID
- Submit a notarized application along with a registration fee
- Complete the 4-year apprenticeship of a minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience that has been approved by the board and classroom instruction of 576 hours, making on-the-job installations while being supervised by a licensed journeyman plumber
Plumbing Contractor
To get a plumbing contractor license in Idaho, you must:
- Have a Social Security Number
- Provide a legal ID such as passport, driver’s license or military ID
- Submit a notarized application
- Get a compliance bond for an amount of $2,000 that is effective for the period of contractor licensing
- Provide proof of acting as a journeyman plumber for a minimum of 30 months (2.5 years)
- Pass the plumber license exam
Cost
To get a plumber license under any category, you must pay fees for registration, application, exam and license renewal. Here are the fee details:
Apprentice Plumber
- Registration Fee: $50
- Registration Renewal Fee: $50 per year
Journeyman Plumber
- Application Fee: $22.50
- Examination Fee: $75
- License Renewal Fee: $21.60 (every year)
Plumbing Contractor
- Application Fee: $22.50
- Examination Fee: $75
- License Renewal Fee: $108 (every year)
Specialty Apprentice Plumber
- Registration Fee: $30
- Registration Renewal Fee: $30 per year
Specialty Journeyman Plumber
- Application Fee: $22.50
- Examination Fee: $75
- License Renewal Fee: $30 (every year)
Specialty Plumbing Contractor
- Application Fee: $22.50
- Examination Fee: $75
- License Renewal Fee: $108 (every year)
Application Process
To become an apprentice plumber in Idaho, you must complete the application form, get it notarized and submit the form to the Division of Building Safety along with an application fee of $50.
To get a journeyman plumber license, you must submit the completed, notarized application form to the Division of Building Safety along with an application fee of $22.50. You will receive an examination registration form when your application is approved by the Division, which you must complete and send to the testing service.
Exam
The exam for obtaining a plumbing license in Idaho is administered by the Idaho Division of Building Safety, which also issues the licenses. All exams for Idaho plumbing licenses are open book and you can schedule the exam 2 days before you want to take it. The duration of the exams are:
- Journeyman Plumber: 100 questions, 4 hours
- Plumbing Contractor: 100 questions, 4 hours
If you want to get a specialty plumbing license under the other categories, there are exams for those too, which vary in terms of the duration, the number of questions and topics covered. You can get more information about the same from the Examination Handbook.
You must get 75% of the answers correct to pass the exam and you will receive a letter from the Board if you have passed or failed. If you score less than 75%, then you can reapply to retake the exam by paying the examination fees.
Training Courses and Plumbing Programs in Idaho
If you want to become a licensed plumber in Idaho, you must complete your education, as well as training requirements. There are many institutions and schools that offer trade and apprentice programs in the state and you can choose to complete the program in either online mode or attend a regular college. Below are some colleges offering apprenticeship and plumbing trade and apprenticeship programs:
Apprenticeship Programs
- Idaho State University
- College of Western Idaho
- Treasure Valley Community College
- College of Eastern Idaho
- Lewis Clark State College
You can also check out plumbing apprentice opportunities via postings on sites such as Zip Recruiter, Indeed and other job boards. You can also find a union apprenticeship or get one via the Idaho Department of Labor Apprenticeship website.
Plumbing Trade Programs
Salary Expectations in Idaho
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in Idaho, the average per annum salary for a plumber is around $48,840. The average per hour wage for an apprentice is around $17.70 and overtime of around $5,429 per annum. The average per hour wage for a journeyman plumber is around $29.01 and overtime of around $10,331 per annum.
Useful Plumbing Organizations to Know
If you are a licensed plumber in Idaho and have your own plumbing company or are employed by a plumbing company, then being updated about the latest happenings in the plumbing industry is very important.
Here is a list of plumbing trade associations that offer you access to resources that will help you to network with other professionals in the industry, grow your skills and your business too.
- TVMPA
- Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association of America
- American Society of Plumbing Engineers
- American Supply Association
- United Association
- Mechanical Contractors Association of America
- Association of Independent Manufacturers/Representatives
- American Backflow Prevention Association
How long will it take for me to get my plumber license in Idaho?
You will take a minimum of 4 years to be eligible to take the exam for the journeyman plumber license and another 2.5 years to be eligible to take the exam for the plumbing contractor license. However, to qualify for the specialty journeyman plumber and specialty plumbing contractor license, the time to qualify is much lesser.
Does Idaho have reciprocal licensing with other states?
Yes, Montana, Oregon and Washington have reciprocal licensing agreements with Idaho.
- Oregon: You should be licensed for at least 6 months
- Montana: You should be licensed for at least 1 year
- Washington: You must live in Washington currently
In addition to the above, you should have taken the exam to get your current license in the above states and also show proof of schooling and on-the-job training of 4 years.
Do I need to renew my plumber license in Idaho and what are the fees for renewal?
Yes, plumbing licenses must be renewed once every 3 years in Idaho and will expire if they are not renewed. The renewal fees for plumbing licenses include:
- Apprentice Plumbing Licence: $50
- Specialty Apprentice Plumbing Licence: $30
- Journeyman/ Specialty Journeyman Plumbing Licence: $21.60
- Plumbing Contractor/ Specialty Plumbing Contactor Plumbing Licence: $108
Are there any continuing education requirements in Idaho?
Yes, both journeyman plumbers, as well as plumbing contractors require continuing education to renew their plumbing license in Idaho.
- Journeyman Plumbers: Must complete 8 hours of CE every 3-year license cycle where 4 hours should comprise plumbing code update and 4 should be industry-related subjects. A journeyman plumber having a valid license can take up the CEU examination that is administered by the Division of Building Safety and the cost of the examination is $50.
- Plumbing Contractors: Must complete 16 hours of CE every 3-year license cycle. The hours that have been accrued for the journeyman plumber CE can be applied to the requirements for a plumbing contractor.
The plumbing industry is growing by leaps and bounds and so is the demand for licensed plumbers. And, if you plan to pursue a career in plumbing in Idaho but don’t know how to go about the process of getting a license, then we’re sure that after reading our in-depth guide of how to become a plumber in Idaho, you will have all the information you need to get started. So, good luck!