Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training · checked 2026-10-20
Rhode Island Plumber License Requirements
Statewide journeyperson and master plumber licenses under R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 5-20; apprentices hold a registration certificate from the Department of Labor and Training. Master Plumber: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1J · Journeyperson Plumber 4 years
- 2M · Master Plumber 5 years
License levels in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island path has 2 steps on this page: Journeyperson Plumber and Master Plumber. The source counts experience in hours and classroom instruction separately; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Journeyperson Plumber | 8,000 hours | 576 h | 4 years | Yes | Application $75 |
| M Master Plumber | 1 year at the prior level | — | 5 years | Yes | Application $75 |
Journeyperson Plumber (J)
Registered as an apprentice for at least four years, 8,000 hours of on-the-job training during a five-year period and 576 hours of related instruction (up to 144 classroom hours may be credited). § 5-20-17. Other routes include two years of plumbing or sanitary engineering study, or a valid out-of-state journeyperson license with equivalent requirements. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20-17.
Master Plumber (M)
A journeyperson plumber license in force for a minimum of one year, with an affidavit of employment by a licensed master plumber during that period; file at least 30 days before the exam. § 5-20-16. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20-16.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journeyperson Plumber and Master Plumber. The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees
- Journeyperson Plumber: application $75.
- Master Plumber: application $75.
Reciprocity
§ 5-20-17 accepts a valid journeyperson license from another state with equivalent requirements as a route to sit the Rhode Island exam. No partner states are named. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20-17.
How Rhode Island compares
Among the 11 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top plumber credential, Rhode Island ranks 7 of 11 from shortest (3 years) to longest (6 years). Massachusetts, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan set the same 5 years. The classroom requirement here peaks at 576 hours.
Same trade elsewhere: Connecticut · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Maine · Vermont. All states side by side: Plumber license requirements by state.
Other trades in Rhode Island
- Electrician: Electrical Contractor (Certificate A): the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Rhode Island uses a contractor registration for general contractors, not a skills license.
All covered trades on one page: Rhode Island trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · What the license fees add up to.
Questions
Who issues the plumber license in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (Board of Examiners of Plumbers). Statewide journeyperson and master plumber licenses under R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 5-20; apprentices hold a registration certificate from the Department of Labor and Training.
How long does it take to qualify for the Master Plumber in Rhode Island?
5 years by this site's count. A journeyperson plumber license in force for a minimum of one year, with an affidavit of employment by a licensed master plumber during that period; file at least 30 days before the exam. § 5-20-16.
Does Rhode Island have plumber license reciprocity?
§ 5-20-17 accepts a valid journeyperson license from another state with equivalent requirements as a route to sit the Rhode Island exam. No partner states are named.
What are the Rhode Island plumber license fees?
Journeyperson Plumber: application $75. Master Plumber: application $75.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (Board of Examiners of Plumbers) | 2026-10-20 |
| J requirements | R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20-17 | 2026-10-20 |
| M requirements | R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20-16 | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 5-20-16, 5-20-17 | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the Rhode Island source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.