- None stated. There is no dollar exemption. Owners doing their own work in an owner-occupied single family home, and a few other listed cases, are exempt.
- Master: hold a Vermont journeyman license for at least 12 months, or show equivalent training and experience acceptable to the board (the application lists at least 14,000 hours for that path).
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Licenses are valid for two years. You need eight hours of board-approved training in the previous 24 months to renew, plus the Vermont Energy Goals education module.
Do you need a state license in Vermont?
Vermont licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety, Plumber's Examining Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
None stated. There is no dollar exemption. Owners doing their own work in an owner-occupied single family home, and a few other listed cases, are exempt.
Some towns run their own plumbing inspections and may set their own inspection fees.
Vermont license types for plumbing work
Vermont 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 |
|---|---|
| PM | Plumbing master |
| PJ | Plumbing journeyman |
| PS | Plumbing specialist (limited license, such as P1, P2 and P3 fields) |
Steps to get licensed in Vermont
- Finish a Vermont apprenticeship and get your journeyman plumber license.
- Hold the journeyman license for at least 12 months.
- Complete the Vermont Energy Goals education module.
- Send the notarized master application and $120 fee to the Division of Fire Safety at least two weeks before a board meeting.
- Pass the master plumber exam.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master: hold a Vermont journeyman license for at least 12 months, or show equivalent training and experience acceptable to the board (the application lists at least 14,000 hours for that path).
The license to apply for. Master Plumber (PM).
Vermont plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The master plumber exam is written and covers plumbing theory and practice and Vermont law and rules. The board points to the International Code Council (ICC) for plumbing testing.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Vermont
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 license | $120 |
| Master renewal | $120 |
| Journeyman license | $90 |
| Specialist license | $50 |
| Reinstatement within 90 days, plus renewal fee | $15 |
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. Licenses are valid for two years. You need eight hours of board-approved training in the previous 24 months to renew, plus the Vermont Energy Goals education module.
Reciprocity. The application lists a universal license path for out-of-state masters with a certified letter, proof of schooling and 12,000 hours, plus a 2-hour Vermont code course. Ask the board for details.
Good to know in Vermont
- A work notice must be filed and validated before plumbing work starts on installations covered by the board's rules.
- Doing plumbing work without the right license can bring a fine of up to $1,000 per offense.
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 Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety, Plumber's Examining Board 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.