How to Get Your Kansas Plumbing License?

Kansas doesn’t have a state-wide governing authority for providing plumbing licenses. Instead, you need to get your Kansas plumbing license for the city or county you want to serve.

So to keep things simple, we will cover the most popular cities in Kansas – Wichita, Topeka, and Overland Park – and show you how you can get your plumbing license there. Before we talk about the steps and requirements to get a Kansas plumbing license, check out the types.

Types of Plumbing Licenses in Kansas

These are 4 types of plumbing licenses, including

1. Apprentice

2. Journeyman

3. Master

4. Master Contractor

Basically, each license suggests the stage of a plumber in Kansas. If you are starting your own plumbing business in Kansas, you will need a plumbing contractor license. However, there is no state licensing board. If you are new to the plumbing trade, start as an apprentice to become a journeyman, master, and so on.

Wichita Plumbing License

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas, but not its capital. Here, the governing authority for providing plumbing licenses is MABCD which stands for Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department. Here are its contact details:

Address: 271 W 3rd St N, Wichita, KS 67202, United States

Phone: +1 316-660-1840

1. Wichita apprenticeship license

Here are the requirements to get an apprenticeship plumbing license in Wichita:

1. High school diploma or GED

2. Photo ID

3. Driver’s license

You can join an apprentice plumbing program offered by any local company, union, or Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training of Kansas.

There is no registration fee or required testing to become an apprentice plumber.

2. Wichita journeyman license

To be eligible for a plumbing journeyman license requirements, you need to have:

• A year of field experience and a year in plumbing trade school (total 2 years),
  OR
• Two years of plumbing experience and a minimum of 75% score in the approved International Code Council or IAPMO exam.

The journeyman licensing exam in Wichita is an open-book exam comprising 100 multiple-choice questions with a duration of 3 hours.

You need to pay an exam fee of $125. Once you pass the exam, you need to apply for a license and pay a $35 license fee.

3. Wichita master license

To be eligible for a master license, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Minimum 2 years of experience as a licensed journeyman plumber,
  OR
• 4 years of experience and a minimum of 75% score in the approved International Code Council or IAPMO exam.

The master licensing exam in Wichita is an open-book exam comprising 125 multiple-choice questions with a duration of 4 hours.

The exam fee for a master plumber is $125. Once you pass the exam, you need to apply for a license and pay a $35 license fee.

4. Wichita contractor license

The following are the requirements to get your contractor license in Wichita:

1. Appropriately filled contractor application with a license fee of $360

2. Trade certificate application for master/qualified person

3. Liability insurance of a minimum of $300k in general liability with MABCD as the certificate holder

4. Worker’s compensation insurance

5. Auto insurance on fleet vehicles

6. Certificate of good standing from the secretary of the state

Also, you need to renew your contractor license every odd year with a renewal fee of $360.

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Topeka Plumbing License

Topeka is the capital and the second-largest city in Kansas. The governing plumbing authority here is The City of Topeka Development Services Division (DSD).

1. Topeka apprenticeship license

To get an apprenticeship license, Topeka plumbing contractors must

• Submit an appropriately filled license application
• Pay a $33 license fee

As an apprentice in Topeka; you can join an apprenticeship plumbing program offered by any local company, union, or Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training of Kansas.

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2. Topeka journeyman license

Once you get your apprenticeship license, you will have to meet the following requirements to be eligible for the journeyman exam:

• 2 years of plumbing experience
• At least 930 hours of classroom training

After being eligible for the journeyman exam, you need to apply for it with an application fee of $50. If you clear the exam (minimum 75% score), you will have to pay another $53 as a license fee.

3. Topeka master license

Now that you have been a licensed journeyman, the next step is to move to the master level. To be eligible for the master plumber exam, you will have to:

• Get 2 years of plumbing work experience as a licensed journeyman,
  OR
• Get 4 years of plumbing experience under a licensed master plumber

Got the prerequisites? Now apply for the master exam and pass it with a minimum 75% score. Once you are through it, apply for the master license with a $103 license fee.

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Overland Park Plumbing License

Overland Park is located in the Johnson County of Kansas. Here, the plumbing license is provided by the county administration. Here are its details: 

• Official website: Click here
• Address: 111 S. Cherry St., Olathe, KS 66061
• Phone: 913-715-5000

Overland Park plumbing contractor license

To get a plumbing contractor license in Overland Park, here are the requirements:

• A business entity (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC, or Corporation)
• Completed application form with a one-time application fee of $100 and a license fee of $180.
• General liability and worker’s compensation insurance
• Qualifying party (discussed ahead)
• Government-issued photo IDs of the qualifying party and company owner
• A digital photo of the qualifying party
• Evidence that the entity is in good standing

A qualifying party is an individual who has:

• A Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Science, or Construction Management from an ABET or ACCE accredited program

  OR,

  A test score of 75% or higher on the examination as approved by the Contractor License Review Board.
• Minimum 2 years of experience as a licensed journeyman or 4 years of field experience.

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Mean Wage for a Plumber in Kansas

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the annual mean wage for plumbers in Kansas at $49,260. T

Type of Plumber	Per Hour	Per Year
Apprentice	$17.98	$41,960
Journeyman	$27.05	$54,107

The salary for plumbers may differ with the years of experience each of them has, the city in which you work, and many other important factors, including education, certifications, and various additional skills.

Top Plumbing Trade Schools in Kansas

There are various plumbing trade schools and colleges offering a wide range of training opportunities all over Kansas state for aspiring licensed plumbing contractors. 

Some of them are mentioned here:

• Plumbing and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training of Kansas
• North Central Kansas Technical College
• Butler Community College
• Johnson County Community College

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After Licensing: Take Your Plumbing Business to the Next Level

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Licensing demonstrates a commitment to providing safe and high-quality plumbing services. And, a leading estimating and invoicing software like InvoiceOwl can be your great assistance in taking one step forward toward this commitment. You can streamline your plumbing business invoicing operations using InvoiceOwl which is capable of:

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• Effectively tracking payment status and automated payment reminders to get paid faster without any overdue.

Conclusion

So that’s it. You are loaded with the information and steps you need to get yourself licensed in Kansas and start your career as a plumber. Commence with visiting your local plumbing authority, as each city in Kansas has different regulations.