How to Get Your
Indiana Plumbing License
Your complete guide to becoming a licensed plumber in Indiana. Learn about requirements, exams, costs, and the step-by-step process to launch your plumbing career.
Indiana Plumbing License Quick Facts
Minimum Age
18 years
Experience Required
4 years apprentice
License Fee
$10 - $100
Licensing Body
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
Renewal Period
Every 2 years (even years)
Training Hours
144 hrs/year school + 1900 hrs/year on-job
Who Provides Licenses to Plumbers in Indiana?
Indiana Licensing Authority
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
IPLAIssues all plumbing licenses in Indiana
What Types of Plumbing Licenses Does Indiana Have?
License Types Available
Choose Your License Path
Apprentice Plumber License
Entry-level license where you start your plumbing journey. Work under supervision of a journeyman or contractor and learn the trade.
Key Requirements
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Submit Bureau of Apprenticeship Training agreement
- Have approved school sponsor
Journeyman Plumber License
Mid-level license allowing you to provide plumbing services independently, but not take contracts.
Key Requirements
- 4 years apprentice experience
- 144 hours school + 1900 hours on-job per year
- Pass journeyman examination
Plumbing Contractor License
Highest level license enabling you to start your own plumbing business and take contracts from clients.
Key Requirements
- Licensed as journeyman plumber
- Pass contractor examination
- Pay $100 application fee
What are the Requirements to Obtain an Indiana Plumbing License?
IPLA Requirements
Indiana Plumbing License Requirements
1Apprentice Plumber
Entry-level requirements
Apprentice Plumber
Entry-level requirements
- Have 18 years of age
- Submit a completed application online or mail a paper application
- Pay a $10 application fee
- Submit a Bureau of Apprenticeship Training agreement form from the Department of Labor
- Provide approved school sponsor signature and license number
- Provide name and license number of your supervising journeyman or contractor
2Journeyman Plumber
For licensed apprentice plumbers
Journeyman Plumber
For licensed apprentice plumbers
- Have 18 years of age
- Submit a completed application online or mail a paper application
- Pay a $30 application fee ($15 if applying in odd year)
- Submit an approved apprenticeship school section completed with sponsor's signature and current/active plumbing license
- Complete 4 years of apprentice experience (144 hours school + 1900 hours on-job per year)
- Pass the journeyman plumbing examination
3Plumbing Contractor
For business owners
Plumbing Contractor
For business owners
- Have 18 years of age
- Submit a completed application online or mail a paper application
- Pay a $50 application fee ($100 if applying in even year)
- Submit an approved apprenticeship school section completed with sponsor's signature and current/active plumbing license
- Pass the plumbing contractor examination
- Include explanation or supporting documents for any 'Yes' answers in the application
You can pay your application fees with a debit/credit card if submitted online. If you are going with a paper application, you can include a check or money order payable to Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
What are the Costs Involved in Getting a Plumbing License in Indiana?
IPLA Fees
Indiana Plumbing License Fees
| License Type | Exam Fee | License Fee | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | — | $10 | $10 |
| Journeyman (Odd Year) | $75 | $15 | $30 |
| Journeyman (Even Year) | $75 | $30 | $30 |
| Contractor (Odd Year) | $100 | $50 | $100 |
| Contractor (Even Year) | $100 | $100 | $100 |
Source: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
In addition to licensing fees, you will need to pay for apprentice training programs. Online programs can cost around $1,000 per year but do not include field training. Traditional schools can cost around $3,000 per year. However, you can start earning as an apprentice from the beginning to bear this cost.
You need to renew your license every even year, giving you a validity of 2 years.
Indiana Plumbing Exams
Provexam conducts all plumbing exams in Indiana. There is no exam required to become an apprentice, but journeyman and contractor licenses require passing examinations.
Indiana Journeyman Plumber Exam
Journeyman Exam Structure
Indiana Journeyman Plumber Examination
17 questions on venting systems
15 questions on drainage systems
14 questions on water systems
10 questions on plumbing fixtures
8 questions on technical drawings
7 questions on code requirements
7 questions on water heating
6 questions on storm drainage
6 questions on Indiana business law
Indiana Plumbing Contractor Exam
Contractor Exam Structure
Indiana Plumbing Contractor Examination
14 questions on Indiana business law and regulations
13 questions on venting systems
13 questions on drainage systems
12 questions on water systems
10 questions on technical drawings
10 questions on plumbing fixtures
9 questions on code requirements
5 questions on water heating
4 questions on storm drainage
The result for your exam will be given immediately as soon as you complete it. It will also be automatically transferred to the Indiana Plumbing Commission.
Steps to Get Your License For Plumbing in Indiana
Step-by-Step Guide
Your Path to Becoming a Licensed Plumber
Meet Minimum Age Requirement
Be at least 18 years of age and register yourself for an approved apprentice program.
View Approved Apprenticeship ProgramsApply for Apprentice License
Submit your apprentice license application online or via mail with the required documents and $10 fee.
Apply OnlineComplete Apprentice Training
Gather a minimum of 4 years of experience as an apprentice. Each year, you must complete 144 hours of school training and 1,900 hours of on-job training.
Apply for Journeyman License
Submit your journeyman license application with required documents and fees, and wait for approval (4-6 weeks review period).
Check Application StatusPass the Journeyman Exam
Once your application is approved, schedule and pass the 90-question journeyman exam administered by Provexam ($75 exam fee).
Congratulations! You're a Licensed Journeyman!
You are now a licensed journeyman plumber in Indiana and can provide plumbing services independently.
Apply for Contractor License (Optional)
If you want to start your own plumbing business, apply for the contractor license along with the required documents and fees.
Pass the Contractor Exam
After approval, schedule and pass the 90-question contractor exam administered by Provexam ($100 exam fee).
Congratulations! You're a Licensed Contractor!
You can now legally operate a plumbing business and take contracts from clients in Indiana.
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Start Your FREE TrialFrequently Asked Questions
No. There is no reciprocity agreement between Indiana and any other US state. You must complete Indiana's full licensing process regardless of licenses held in other states.
It takes 4-6 weeks to review any application for a plumbing license. Upon review, you will be notified of errors via email. You can log on to the IPLA portal to check on updates.
No, you cannot. You will need a license to provide any kind of plumbing services in Indiana. It is mandatory to be properly licensed for all plumbing work.
Plumbers in Indiana can earn on average $25.91 per hour according to Indeed. This translates to approximately $53,892 annually for full-time work, making it a rewarding career path.
Yes. Indiana offers online applications through their mylicense.in.gov portal. Alternatively, you can mail a paper application to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. Online applications allow for credit/debit card payment.
Conclusion
With this complete guide, you are ready to start your plumbing journey in Indiana. Remember that you can, on average, earn $25.91 an hour while providing plumbing services in Indiana. The path from apprentice to licensed contractor takes dedication and commitment, but the rewards are worth it.
Aim to become a plumbing contractor and start your own plumbing business to maximize your earning potential. As a contractor, you can hire apprentices and journeymen, take on larger projects, and significantly increase your income beyond the average hourly rate.
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