- Journeyman: 4 years or 8,000 work hours. Master: 8 years or 16,000 hours. Experience letters must be signed off by a master.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Plumbing and gasfitting bonds of $5,000 for the company and $5,000 for the designated master.
- Every two years. Plumbing and gasfitting licenses expire March 31 of even numbered years.
Do you need a state license in the District of Columbia?
the District of Columbia licenses plumbing work at the state level through the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
the District of Columbia license types for plumbing work
the District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | Learning the trade, no experience needed |
| Journeyman | Plumbing, gasfitting, or both combined |
| Master | Plumbing, gasfitting, or both combined, and can serve as a contractor designated master |
| Contractor | The business license, which needs a DC licensed designated master and company and master bonds |
Steps to get licensed in the District of Columbia
- Build 4 years of experience for journeyman, or finish a nationally certified apprenticeship.
- Build 8 years or 16,000 hours of experience for master, with letters signed off by a master.
- Apply online with DLCP and pay the $65 application fee.
- Schedule and pass the open book PSI exam.
- For your own business, register the company, name a designated master, and file the $5,000 company and master bonds with the contractor application.
- Renew by March 31 of each even numbered year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Journeyman: 4 years or 8,000 work hours. Master: 8 years or 16,000 hours. Experience letters must be signed off by a master.
The license to apply for. Master Plumber (and a Plumbing/Gasfitting trade contractor license for the business).
the District of Columbia plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. Journeyman and master exams are open book, based on the International Plumbing Code and International Fuel Gas Code, and scheduled through PSI. Finishing a nationally certified apprenticeship can waive the journeyman exam.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in the District of Columbia
The board lists 6 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 |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $65 |
| Master license, up to 2 years | $120 |
| Contractor license, up to 2 years | $120 |
| Master renewal | $155 |
| Contractor renewal | $180 |
| Late renewal fee | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. Plumbing and gasfitting bonds of $5,000 for the company and $5,000 for the designated master.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. Plumbing and gasfitting licenses expire March 31 of even numbered years.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in the District of Columbia
- The contractor license needs a designated DC licensed master who supervises the work.
- There is no exam for the contractor license itself.
- The company must register with the DLCP Corporations Division and be in good standing before applying for a contractor license.
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 DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades 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.