- Master: hold a journeyperson plumber license for at least one year while employed by a licensed master. Journeyperson: four years as a registered apprentice with 8,000 hours of on the job training and 576 hours of related instruction.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every two years, on your birthday.
Do you need a state license in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Professional Regulation. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Rhode Island license types for plumbing work
Rhode Island splits the work into 3 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 | Run a plumbing business, employ plumbers and contract for plumbing work |
| Journeyperson Plumber | Does plumbing work as an employee |
| Contractor Master Plumber | Business license used with a contractor's license; does not allow the holder to do the work personally |
Steps to get licensed in Rhode Island
- Register as an apprentice plumber and complete 8,000 hours of on the job training and 576 hours of instruction.
- Apply with the $75 fee and pass the journeyperson plumber exam.
- Work at least one year as a licensed journeyperson for a licensed master.
- Apply with the $75 fee and pass the master plumber exam.
- Renew every two years on your birthday.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master: hold a journeyperson plumber license for at least one year while employed by a licensed master. Journeyperson: four years as a registered apprentice with 8,000 hours of on the job training and 576 hours of related instruction.
The license to apply for. Master Plumber license.
Rhode Island plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. State exams for journeyperson and master plumber.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Rhode Island
The board lists 4 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 | $75 |
| Journeyperson application | $75 |
| Master plumber biennial renewal | $240 |
| Journeyperson biennial renewal | $72 |
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 two years, on your birthday.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Rhode Island
- Carry your license while working and put your license number on contracts, bids and permits.
- The Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board sends plumbing questions to the Department of Labor and Training.
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 Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Professional Regulation 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.