Plumber license requirements in Virginia.
Virginia licenses plumbers at the state level through the Board for Contractors at the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. There are two individual tradesman credentials — journeyman and master plumber — plus a separate business contractor license (Class A, B, or C) with the plumbing specialty designation if you contract the work.
What Virginia requires.
Journeyman Plumber (tradesman license)
The individual working license, issued by DPOR after experience plus vocational training and the exam.
Master Plumber (tradesman license)
The senior individual credential — one year as a licensed Virginia journeyman, or ten years of verified practical experience.
Contractor license (Class A, B, or C) with PLB specialty
The business license that lets a company contract plumbing work. Class depends on project and annual volume limits.
Getting the Journeyman Plumber
- Journeyman: four years of practical experience plus 240 hours of formal vocational training — or two years of practical experience with an associate degree or certificate from an accredited program
- Master: be at least 18, and hold one year of experience as a licensed Virginia journeyman plumber or ten years of verified practical experience in the trade
- Contracting as a business additionally requires a Class A, B, or C contractor license with the plumbing (PLB) specialty
Renewal: Tradesman licenses renew every three years, with three hours of DPOR-approved continuing education.
- · Apprentices are not licensed directly by DPOR — apprenticeship runs through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s registered apprenticeship framework.
The official board
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Board for Contractors
(804) 367-8511
Visit the boardVerified 2026-08 against the sources below. Licensing rules change — confirm with the board before relying on this page.
Virginia plumbing licensing FAQ.
Do you need a license to do plumbing work in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia requires a tradesman license — journeyman or master plumber — from DPOR’s Board for Contractors. If you contract the work as a business, you also need a Class A, B, or C contractor license with the plumbing specialty.
How do you get a journeyman plumber license in Virginia?
The standard route is four years of practical experience plus 240 hours of formal vocational training, then the exam. If you hold an associate degree or a certificate from an accredited program, two years of practical experience can be enough.
How do you become a master plumber in Virginia?
Be at least 18 and have either one year of experience as a licensed Virginia journeyman plumber or ten years of verified practical experience in the trade, then pass the master exam.
How often do Virginia plumbing licenses renew?
Every three years, and renewal requires three hours of DPOR-approved continuing education.
Are plumbing apprentices licensed in Virginia?
Not by DPOR directly. Apprentices work under Virginia’s registered apprenticeship framework administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, and that experience counts toward the journeyman license.
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