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How to become a plumber in Alabama

The license steps in Alabama, from apprentice to master or contractor, taken from the official licensing pages – plus pay, apprenticeships and where to apply.

The short answer

Register with the board as an apprentice, work at least two years (or a board-approved apprentice program equal to two years) to sit for the journeyman exam, then hold the journeyman certificate at least one year before taking the master exam.

The steps in Alabama

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    Apprentice plumbers must register with the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, hold a current annual certificate, and work under the supervision of a journeyman or master.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    To qualify for the journeyman plumber exam you need at least two years as an apprentice (or a board-approved apprentice training program plus registered apprentice time equal to two years), and you must pass the board's exam.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    A master plumber applicant must have held a journeyman plumber certificate for at least one year and pass the master exam; since January 1, 2026 master applicants must also pass a business law exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Journeyman and master certificate holders must complete 4 hours of continuing education each year, submitted by October 31, to renew.

Who licenses plumbers in Alabama

Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board. License types we found: Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Apprentice Plumber, Master Gas Fitter, Journeyman Gas Fitter, Apprentice Gas Fitter, Medical Gas Piping Fitter.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on alpgfb.igovsolution.net.

Licensed in another state?

Holders of a Mississippi Board of Contractors license can apply for an Alabama Master Plumber license through the board's reciprocation form.

Finding an apprenticeship

Most plumbers learn the trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus classroom instruction, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeships are paid jobs with progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential; programs are approved by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Search programs at apprenticeship.gov, or ask local plumbing contractors and union locals.

Pay and job outlook

$63,800

Median yearly pay for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025 (BLS).

7%

Projected job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year (BLS).

4-5 years

Typical apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year (BLS).

National figures from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; pay varies by state and city.

Already a plumber in Alabama?

71 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in Alabama.

Sources

Requirements come from Alabama’s official licensing pages and statutes, checked October 2026. Rules change – confirm with the licensing office before you apply.

  1. pgfb.alabama.gov/applicants/how-do-i-become-licensed/
  2. pgfb.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/LICENSEE-QA-CE.pdf
  3. pgfb.alabama.gov/applicants/reciprocation/
  4. pgfb.alabama.gov/
  5. pgfb.alabama.gov/consumers/hiring-a-plumbing-and-or-gas-fitting-contract
  6. pgfb.alabama.gov/licensees/law/
  7. pgfb.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PGFB-Law-from-Legislature-20
  8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  9. U.S. Department of Labor – Apprenticeship.gov for career seekers

General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides

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