- Four years in an apprenticeship program, a plumbing license from another state, or four years in the plumbing business under a licensed plumbing contractor.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Plumbing contractor licenses expire December 31 of every odd year. Renewal is $100.
Do you need a state license in Indiana?
Indiana licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Indiana Plumbing Commission, Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Indiana license types for plumbing work
Indiana 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 |
|---|---|
| Plumbing contractor | The license for a plumbing business owner. |
| Plumbing corporation | For a corporation in the plumbing business. Requires a licensed plumbing contractor. |
| Journeyman plumber | Individual plumber license. |
| Plumbing apprentice | For apprentices in an approved Indiana apprenticeship program. |
Steps to get licensed in Indiana
- Complete four years in an approved apprenticeship, or four years in a plumbing business under a licensed contractor, or hold another state's license.
- Apply online to the Plumbing Commission for the contractor exam and pay the $50 application fee.
- After approval, register with PROV and pass the exam.
- Pay the license issuance fee and get your plumbing contractor license.
- Renew by December 31 of every odd year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Four years in an apprenticeship program, a plumbing license from another state, or four years in the plumbing business under a licensed plumbing contractor.
The license to apply for. Plumbing Contractor license.
Indiana plumbing exams
Trade exam. Indiana plumbing exam from PROV. The Plumbing Commission must approve your application before you register at provexam.com.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Indiana
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 |
|---|---|
| Plumbing contractor application | $50 |
| Plumbing contractor license issued in an even year | $100 |
| Plumbing contractor license issued in an odd year | $50 |
| Plumbing contractor renewal | $100 |
| Journeyman plumber application | $30 |
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. Plumbing contractor licenses expire December 31 of every odd year. Renewal is $100.
Reciprocity. No reciprocity for journeyman or contractor plumbers. You apply, and if approved you take the exam.
Good to know in Indiana
- You can take the exam seven times within a two-year period.
- A plumbing business with an assumed business name must register its name, address and phone with the commission.
- PROV publishes a Candidate Information Bulletin for the Indiana plumbing exams.
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 Indiana Plumbing Commission, Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) 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.