Earning your plumbing contractor license is quite a bit different from earning a general contractor license or electrician license in Indiana. Unlike general contractors and electricians, which can have apprentice, journeyman, and master levels, plumbing has apprentice, journeyman, and contractor levels. Effectively, plumbers are skipping the master level in favor of a “contractor” level.
The contractor level is the highest, and is generally reserved for the person in charge of the job. Journeyman and apprentice plumbers work underneath the contractor.
Indiana Plumbing License Reciprocity
There is currently no reciprocity for journeyman or contractor plumbers from other states wishing to become licensed in Indiana. Instead, you will need to present an application to Indiana Plumbing Commission board, and, if approved, you will need to pass an exam.
Indiana Plumbing Contractor License Requirements
There is no master plumber in Indiana; instead, there is the plumbing contractor, one step above journeyman. Indiana defines a plumbing contractor as “any person who, for compensation, undertakes to, or submits a bid to, or does himself or by others, construct, repair, alter, remodel, add to, subtract from, or improve plumbing and who is responsible for substantially all the plumbing within the entire project, or one who fabricates units or plumbing substantially completed and ready for installation.” In other words, the contractor is responsible for the project, while a journeyman would work under the contractor.
To become a plumbing contractor in Indiana, you will need to:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Have at least 4 years plumbing apprenticeship experience;
- Be a licensed plumber in another state; OR
- Have at least 4 years plumbing experience under the direction of a licensed plumbing contractor;
- Submit an original passport-sized photograph;
- Pay the application fee (check or money order made payable to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency);
- Submit an approved school sponsor signature and current/active plumbing license;
- Complete the Personal Background Section of the application;
- Submit the Application Affirmation Section, signed and dated.
The application fees for a contractor license consist of:
- $50 for the exam;
- $50 for an odd year issuance;
- $100 for an even year issuance;
- $50 renewal fee every 2 years.
A temporary contractor’s license can be obtained for $25 instead.
Plumbing Contractor Exam
The contractor exam consists of 90 questions and a 3-hour time limit.
- Developed Length/Isometric Analysis: 10 questions;
- Fixtures: 10 questions;
- General Requirements: 9 questions;
- Indiana Business: 14 questions;
- Sanitary Drainage: 13 questions;
- Storm Water Systems: 4 questions;
- Vents: 13 questions;
- Water Heaters: 5 questions;
- Water Supply and Distribution: 12 questions.
Payment can be made via AMEX, Visa, Mastercard or Discover cards; or via cashier’s check, certified check, or money order mailed to:
Prov, Inc.
200 Association Drive, Suite 190
Charleston, WV 25311
Registration forms paid by credit card can be mailed to the address above, or faxed toll-free to:
(877) 228-3926
The exam can be taken at the following testing locations:
- Evansville;
- Fort Wayne;
- Hammond;
- Indianapolis;
- Lafayette;
- Muncie;
- New Albany;
- South Bend;
- Terre Haute.
Each location’s seats are limited, and registration must be received at least a week before the exam. Candidates can retake the exam up to six more times every 2-year period, and must wait 10 days after failing the test to reschedule. The test is open book, with the following references allowed:
- 2006 International Plumbing Code, 2nd printing, Indiana Edition;
- 2012 Indiana Amendments (675 IAC 16-1.4);
- Indiana Business and Law Study Guide for Contractors.
Indiana Plumbing Journeyman License Requirements
A journeyman license has very similar requirements to a contractor’s license. A journeyman is defined in Indiana as a “person who engages or offers to engage in, as an occupation or trade, the construction, installation, alteration, maintenance, repair, remodeling, or removal and replacement of plumbing under the supervision, direction, and responsibility of a licensed plumbing contractor.” A journeyman works under a licensed plumbing contractor and is not in charge of projects. The requirements for becoming a journeyman plumber are:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Have at least 4 years plumbing apprenticeship experience; OR
- Be a licensed plumber in another state;
- Submit an original passport-sized photograph;
- Pay the application fee (check or money order made payable to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency);
- Submit an approved school sponsor signature and current/active plumbing license;
- Complete the Personal Background Section of the application;
- Submit the Application Affirmation Section, signed and dated.
The application fees for a journeyman license consist of:
- $30 for the exam;
- $15 for an odd year issuance;
- $30 for an even year issuance;
- $30 renewal fee every 2 years.
Plumbing Journeyman Exam
The journeyman exam, with a 3-hour time limit, consists of 90 questions:
- Developed Length/Isometric Analysis: 8 questions;
- Fixtures: 10 questions;
- General Requirements: 7 questions;
- Indiana Business: 6 questions;
- Sanitary Drainage: 15 questions;
- Storm Water Systems: 6 questions;
- Vents: 17 questions;
- Water Heaters: 7 questions;
- Water Supply and Distribution: 14 questions.
Payment can be made via AMEX, Visa, Mastercard or Discover cards; or via cashier’s check, certified check, or money order mailed to:
Prov, Inc.
200 Association Drive, Suite 190
Charleston, WV 25311
Registration forms paid by credit card can be mailed to the address above, or faxed toll-free to:
(877) 228-3926
The exam can be taken at the following testing locations:
- Evansville;
- Fort Wayne;
- Hammond;
- Indianapolis;
- Lafayette;
- Muncie;
- New Albany;
- South Bend;
- Terre Haute.
Each location’s seats are limited, and registration must be received at least a week before the exam. Candidates can retake the exam up to six more times every 2-year period, and must wait 10 days after failing the test to reschedule. The test is open book, with the following references allowed:
- 2006 International Plumbing Code, 2nd printing, Indiana Edition;
- 2012 Indiana Amendments (675 IAC 16-1.4);
- Indiana Business and Law Study Guide for Contractors.
Plumbing Apprenticeship Requirements
The state of Indiana defines a plumbing apprentice as “an individual that:
- is learning the plumbing trade; and
- is under the direction and immediate supervision of a licensed plumbing contractor or a licensed journeyman plumber.”
To become an apprentice plumber, you must be at least 17 years old. Additionally, the national standard for becoming an apprentice includes:
- 7,600 hours of on-the-job training;
- At least 1,900 per year for a four-year period;
- 576 hours of school-related training;
- 144 hours per year for a four-year period.
There is a $10 application fee and a $10 renewal fee to become an apprentice.
Plumbing Apprenticeship Programs in Indiana
The following are accepted apprenticeship programs in Indiana:
ABC of Indiana Apprenticeship Trust
(Associated Builders & Contractors)
5001 N. Shadeland Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46226
Contact: Lisa V.
Telephone: 317-596-4950
Evansville Plumbers & Pipefitters Training
4301 N. St. Joseph Ave.
Evansville, IN 47720
Contact: Jason Blondin
Telephone: 812-424-5212/ fax 812-424-5249
Indianapolis Plumbers & Steam Fitters Local 440 JATC
3747 S. High School Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46241
Contact: James M. Johnson/ David L. Posey
Telephone: 317-856-6426/ fax 317-856-0591
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 166 JATC
Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee of Local 166
Ft. Wayne Plumbers & Steam Fitters JAC
2930 West Ludwig Road
Ft. Wayne, IN 46818
Contact: Bret Finch
Telephone: 260-490-5690/ fax 260-490-5691
Mechanical Skills, Inc.
3535 E. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46201
Contact: Susie McFarland
Telephone: 317-352-1189/fax 317-352-1867
Email: mechanicalskills@mechanicalskills.org
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 210
2901 E. 83rd Place
Merrillville, IN 46411-1931
Contact: Lee Culver
Telephone: 219-942-7224
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 661 JAC
4401 S. Eaton Ave.
Muncie, IN 47302
Contact: Jack Neal, Jr.
Telephone: 765-282-7344
S.E.P.H.C.C. School at Processer School of Tech.
4202 Charlestown Road
New Albany, IN 47150
Contact: Anthony Phillips/Wendy
Telephone: 812-949-4266/812-633-4252
Email: email@acphillpsplumbing.com
South Bend & Vicinity Plumbers & Pipefitters JATC-Local 172
4172 Ralph Jones Court
South Bend, IN 46628-9793
Contact: Broc Buczolich
Telephone: 547-273-0500/fax 547-273-1300
Terre Haute Plumbers & Steam Fitters JAC Local 157
8707 E. Milner Ave.
Terre Haute, IN 47803-9796
Contact: Rich Cheever Telephone: 812-877-1736 /812-877-4552
Local 392 JATC
1300 Century Circle
Cincinnati, OH 45246
Contact: Jerry Beck
Telephone: 513-671-5282/ fax 513-671-5233
Email: jerry@jatc392.com
The Indiana Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, which offers state-accredited programs, maintains an updated list of available apprenticeship programs it offers.
Ft. Wayne Area
4-year Plumbing
Held: Sept thru May 2 nights a week
Sept 10th for 1st and 3rd year; Sept 12th for 2nd and 4th year
Cost: $1260 for year (PHCC members);
$2520 for year (non-members)
Books, first aid courses included
School starts September 2018
Contact: Sherry Elward
PO Box 8414
Ft. Wayne, IN 46898
(260) 410-5163
fwaphcc@gmail.com
South Central Chapter
(Jasper & Surrounding Area)
4-year Plumbing
Held: November – February
Cost: $350/semester (members)
$700/semester (non-members)
Books not included
Classes start November 2018
Contact: Beth Gudorf
602 E 16th St
Jasper, IN 47546
(812) 630-1729
gudie@psci.net
Mechanical Skills Inc.
(Indianapolis & Surrounding Area)
4-year Plumbing
Held: Aug. thru May 1 night a week
Classes begin August 13, 2018
Cost: $725/semester (member)
$1125/semester (non-member)
Cost includes book fees, registration fees, apprentice license and shop fees
Contact:
Mechanical Skills
3535 E Michigan St
Indianapolis, IN 46201
(317) 352-1189
mechanicalskills@mechanicalskills.org
Southeastern Chapter
(New Albany/Charlestown/Jeffersonville Area)
4-year Plumbing
Held: Aug. thru May 2 nights a week
Classes start August 7, 2018
Prosser School of Technology, New Albany
Cost: $250/semester (member); Book & Shop fees extra
$450/semester (non-member); Book & shop fees extra
Contact: Tony Phillips
A.C. Phillips Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
PO Box 158
129 W Main St
Milltown, IN 47145
(812) 633-4252
info@acphillipsplumbing.com
North Central Chapter
(South Bend/Elkhart & Surrounding Area)
4-year Plumbing and HVAC
Held: Aug thru May 1 night a week
Classes begin Thursday, August 23, 2018
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Plumbing – $1200/year (member) $1970/year (non-member)
HVAC – Offered by the Elkhart Career Center
Contact: Nickey Shively
PHCC-NCIA
PO Box 474
Plymouth, IN 46563
(574) 941-4473
phcc@phcc-ncia.com
Southwestern Chapter
(Evansville & Surrounding Area)
4 year Plumbing and HVAC
Classes start Sept. 4, 2018
Cost: $1200/semester (non-active member);
$375/semester (active member)
Excludes book fees
Contact: Becky Kamp
PO Box 3554 (47734)
14621 McCutchan Rd (47725)
Evansville, IN
(812) 459-4536
rlkamp2010@aol.com
Northwest Chapter
(Highland/Merrillville & Surrounding Area)
Type: 4-year Plumbing
Held: August thru May, 1 night a week
Classes begin week of August 20th, 2018
Cost: $800/semester
Cost includes book fees
Contact: Clint Mann
Northwest IN PHCC Chapter
9478 Calumet Ave
Munster, IN 46321
(219)677-6965
mmp10974@gmail.com
St. Joe Valley
(South Bend & Surrounding Area)
Type: 5-year Commercial and Residential
Plumbing and Pipefitting (Union Shop)
Held: Aug. thru May 2 nights a week
Cost: No cost for class; book charge varies by class
Contact: Broc Buczolich
Apprentice Coordinator
bbuczolich@ua172.org
website link: www.UA172.org
(219) 273-0500
Indiana Professional License Search
The State of Indiana maintains a searchable database of all licenses, including plumbing.
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become a Plumbing Contractor in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in Indiana, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
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