- Master plumber exam: at least five years of experience. Journeyman exam: at least four years of experience or its equivalent.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Master, journeyman and apprentice licenses expire December 31 and must be renewed by February 1. Renewal includes continuing education hours.
Do you need a state license in Arkansas?
Arkansas licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (Committee of Plumbing Examiners). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Arkansas license types for plumbing work
Arkansas splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Master Plumber | Plans, supervises and installs plumbing; a licensed master must be in charge of installations |
| Journeyman Plumber | Does the practical installation of plumbing |
| Apprentice Plumber | Registered under a master plumber and enrolled in the apprentice training program |
| Restricted licenses | Limited licenses such as gas fitter and water and sewer service line installation |
Steps to get licensed in Arkansas
- Register as an apprentice plumber under an Arkansas master plumber.
- Build at least four years of experience and pass the journeyman exam.
- Reach at least five years of experience.
- Send the master plumber application with the $125 fee and employer affidavits if needed.
- Pass the master exam and pay the $200 license fee.
- Renew every year by February 1.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master plumber exam: at least five years of experience. Journeyman exam: at least four years of experience or its equivalent.
The license to apply for. Master Plumber license.
Arkansas plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The master plumber exam has four sections (drawings, code questions, venting and combustion air, and gas pipe sizing).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Arkansas
The board lists 5 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master plumber application fee | $125 |
| Master plumber license, yearly | $200 |
| Journeyman application fee | $75 |
| Journeyman license, yearly | $75 |
| Retest after failing or missing an exam | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Master, journeyman and apprentice licenses expire December 31 and must be renewed by February 1. Renewal includes continuing education hours.
Reciprocity. The Committee of Plumbing Examiners may approve an exam applicant who holds a master or journeyman license from another state that uses a national model code and a national exam.
Good to know in Arkansas
- A licensed master or restricted plumber must be in charge of any plumbing installation at all times.
- A licensed plumber may not let others use his or her license to get local permits.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a plumber near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (Committee of Plumbing Examiners) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how plumbing companies run on Koira.