In order to be a plumber in North Dakota, one has to hold both a plumber’s license and a general contractor license issued by the state. Three types of plumbing licenses are available, as are four types of general contractor licenses. Which type of license a person can or should receive depends on their experience level and what type of work they intend to do.
The four types of general contracting licenses are Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D. The value of the contract work being done determines which is necessary. The maximum value allowed for any single contracting project is as follows with each license:
- Class D- $100,000
- Class C- $300,000
- Class B- $500,000
- Class A- Unlimited
Meanwhile, the licenses available for plumbing specifically are Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. Each successive level gives the plumber more independence to work with less or no supervision.
North Dakota Plumbing License Reciprocity
North Dakota has reciprocal licensing agreements in the plumbing field with Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota. A licensed plumber from these states will need to present both a copy of their license, and a Certificate of Endorsement from the state that issued their license in order to apply for a North Dakota license
A licensed Journeyman from Minnesota can apply for the equivalent license in North Dakota if they are a resident of Minnesota and their existing license is up-to-date; the same is true of a Master license. An examination is not required.
A licensed Journeyman or Master from Montana can apply for a Journeyman license in North Dakota. An examination is not required.A licensed Journeyman or Master from Montana can apply for a Journeyman license in North Dakota. An examination is not required.
Licensed plumbers from other states can be considered for application in North Dakota if they meet the necessary requirements.
North Dakota Master Plumber License Requirements
The North Dakota State Plumbing Board defines a “Master plumber” as “a person skilled in the planning, supervision, and the practical installation, alteration, and repair of plumbing, and familiar with the laws, rules, and regulations governing the same.” A Master plumber in North Dakota must work as a Journeyman for a required period of time before they can apply for a Master license. The prerequisites are as follows:
- 21 years of age;
- Four credit hours of “Continuing Education” which requires:
- Approval of courses by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board;
- Completion within two years;
- $30.00 pre-paid fee.
- At least two years of experience as a Journeyman plumber (3400 hours);
- An application sent to the North Dakota State Plumbing Board which:
- Will expire within six months if the applicant does not complete their examination within that time period, and;
- Requires a $200.00 fee.
North Dakota Journeyman Plumber License Requirements
According to the North Dakota State Plumbing Board, a “Journeyman plumber” is defined as “any person, other than a master plumber, who, as the person’s principal occupation, is engaged in the practical installation, alteration, and repair of plumbing.” A Journeyman plumber is required to have a general contractor license in addition to the Journeyman license for their specific field. Journeyman plumbers must fulfill the following prerequisites for a license:
- Four credit hours of “Continuing Education”:
- Completed within two years;
- Through a course approved by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board.
- $30.00 pre-paid fee;
- At least four years of apprenticeship and 7600 work hours under a licensed Master plumber:
- Plumbers with at least five years of plumbing experience in an area where a license is not required may apply to participate in the Journeyman plumber examination if they can provide four affidavits that support their claims of experience in the field.
- An application sent to the North Dakota State Plumbing Board:
- The application will expire within six months if the applicant does not complete their examination within that time period;
- $100.00 fee.
Journeyman and Master Plumber Exams
In order to receive a Journeyman or Master license, an applicant must pass the state’s Journeyman or Master exam. The exam portion costs $25.00 for Journeymen and $35.00 for Masters, but that is included in the application fee. An applicant who fails the exam must wait for at least six months before they are eligible to re-take the exam.
There is a $75.00 fee for the Journeyman license and $165.00 for the Master license, but that is also included in the application fee.
Plumber’s Apprentice Requirements
The North Dakota State Plumbing Board defines a plumber’s apprentice as:
“…any person other than a journeyman or a master plumber, who, as the person’s principal occupation, is engaged in learning and assisting in the installation, alteration, and repair of plumbing and drainage, under the immediate and personal supervision of either a Master or a Journeyman plumber.”
Except in the case of an Apprentice plumber who is in a school-work program, a plumber entering an apprenticeship is required to submit an application form to the state plumbing board within 30 days of beginning their apprenticeship. This also acts as their license application. This license will expire on the thirty-first of December the same year it was issued. A renewal application must be submitted within 30 days. Fees for application scale up over time:
- 1st year- Up to $20.00 (dependent on the time of year);
- 2nd year- $30.00;
- 3rd year- $40.00;
- 4th year- $50.00;
- 5th year and beyond- $75.00.
Four years of their experience must be under a Master plumber in order to progress to Journeyman licensure.
North Dakota Plumbing Apprentice Jobs
As with most jobs in the modern day, one of the best ways to find a plumbing apprenticeship is by searching online job boards. A few examples are listed below:
- https://www.jobsnd.com/individuals/apprenticeships
- https://www.indeed.com/q-Apprentice-l-North-Dakota-jobs.html
- https://www.indeed.com/q-Plumbing-l-North-Dakota-jobs.html
Plumbing Trade Schools in North Dakota
Trade schools or other colleges that offer vocational courses in plumbing are a great option for some aspiring plumbers. There are two schools that offer plumbing programs in North Dakota:
North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND:
- Institution: Public
- Tuition (in-state): $5,184.81
- Contact Info: Various email addresses | (800) 342-4325
- Address: 800 6th St N, Wahpeton, ND 58076
Turtle Mountain Community College within the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Reservation:
- Institution: Private
- Tuition: Approximately $1,000 for 12 credits (the plumbing program is 17 credits)
- Contact Info: (701) 477-7862
- Address: 10145 BIA Rd 7, Belcourt, ND 58316
North Dakota Professional License Search
The North Dakota State Plumbing Board provides a current listing of the state’s licensed plumbers of all levels and license types on their website.
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 North Dakota, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
Call Us