- For the Master Plumber exam: hold a Journeyman Plumber license for at least two years, or one year plus a U.S. Department of Labor approved training program. A Journeyman needs 8,000 hours of plumbing experience and a 48-hour approved course or an approved apprenticeship program.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Licenses renew every year. All licensees need six hours of continuing professional education to renew. A license expired more than two years cannot be renewed and must be reinstated by starting over.
Do you need a state license in Texas?
Texas licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Texas license types for plumbing work
Texas splits the work into 5 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 |
|---|---|
| Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) | Designation on a Master Plumber license. Supervises plumbing work done under contracts secured on that license, pulls permits, and can be the RMP for only one company at a time |
| Master Plumber | Installs, changes, repairs, services or renovates plumbing under the supervision of an RMP |
| Journeyman Plumber | Plumbing work under the supervision of an RMP |
| Tradesman Plumber-Limited | Entry license type listed by the board |
| Plumber's Apprentice | Registration, not a license |
Steps to get licensed in Texas
- Register as a Plumber's Apprentice and build 8,000 hours of plumbing experience.
- Finish a 48-hour approved course or an approved apprenticeship, then pass the Journeyman Plumber exam.
- Hold the Journeyman license for two years (or one year with an approved program).
- Apply to the board, submit fingerprints, and pass the Master Plumber exam with Pearson VUE.
- Pay the $75 license fee for your Master Plumber license.
- Buy at least $300,000 of commercial general liability insurance and apply for the RMP designation for $225.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. For the Master Plumber exam: hold a Journeyman Plumber license for at least two years, or one year plus a U.S. Department of Labor approved training program. A Journeyman needs 8,000 hours of plumbing experience and a 48-hour approved course or an approved apprenticeship program.
The license to apply for. Master Plumber with Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) designation.
Texas plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. Pass the Master Plumber Examination. The exam fee of $128.50 is paid to Pearson VUE on exam day.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Texas
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 |
|---|---|
| Master exam processing fee | $25 |
| Master exam fee (Pearson VUE) | $128.50 |
| Master initial license | $75 |
| Master renewal | $75 |
| RMP designation initial application | $225 |
| RMP renewal | $300 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. A Responsible Master Plumber must keep at least $300,000 of commercial general liability insurance and file a certificate of insurance.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Licenses renew every year. All licensees need six hours of continuing professional education to renew. A license expired more than two years cannot be renewed and must be reinstated by starting over.
Reciprocity. A Master Plumber licensed in another state can qualify for the exam if they held a Journeyman Plumber license for at least two years, or one year plus an approved training program.
Good to know in Texas
- All applicants must submit fingerprints once.
- An RMP must make sure service vehicles show the company name and the RMP license number.
- Endorsements are available for medical gas piping, multipurpose residential fire sprinklers and water supply protection.
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 Texas State Board 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.