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How to become a plumber in Colorado

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

The short answer

Register as a plumbing apprentice with the State Plumbing Board, then qualify for a Residential Plumber license with 2 years (3,400 hours), a Journeyworker license with up to 4 years (6,800 hours), or a Master license with 5 years (8,500 hours) of practical experience, each with a PSI exam.

The steps in Colorado

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    Plumbing apprentices must be registered with the State Plumbing Board (employers register them within 30 days of hire) and must be directly supervised by a licensed Colorado plumber.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    A Journeyworker Plumber license requires up to 4 years (6,800 hours) of practical experience and passing a written exam given by PSI with a score of at least 70%.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    A Master Plumber license requires five full-time years (8,500 hours) of practical experience and passing the PSI master exam with a score of at least 75%.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Licenses run on a two-year period, and active residential, journeyworker and master plumbers must complete at least 8 hours of continuing education every license year (March 1 to February 28), with at least four hours per 24 months on codes.

Who licenses plumbers in Colorado

Colorado State Plumbing Board (Division of Professions and Occupations, Department of Regulatory Agencies). License types we found: Master Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber, Residential Plumber, Plumbing Apprentice (registration).

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on apps2.colorado.gov.

Licensed in another state?

Colorado offers licensure by endorsement for plumbers who passed a comparable state exam and have held a state-issued (not city or county) license for at least six months.

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 Colorado?

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

Sources

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

  1. dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing/ApprenticeInfo
  2. dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing/Applications
  3. dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing/CE
  4. dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing
  5. content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024A/bills/2024a
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  7. 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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