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How to become a plumber in Washington, DC

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

The short answer

Get a DC Apprentice Plumber/Gasfitter license (no experience needed, just employment or school enrollment), qualify for the Journeyman license with 4 years/8,000 work hours and the exam, then the Master license with 8 years/16,000 hours and the exam; licenses run up to two years and expire March 31 of even-numbered years.

The steps in Washington, DC

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    DC issues an Apprentice Plumber/Gasfitter license that requires no prior experience, only proof of employment or school enrollment.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    The Journeyman Plumber/Gasfitter license requires 4 years (8,000 work hours) of experience, documented with tax records and an employment verification letter (an apprenticeship completion certificate can be used instead), and passing an open-book exam on the International Plumbing Code and International Fuel Gas Code.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    The Master Plumber/Gasfitter license requires 8 years (16,000 hours) of experience, documented with tax records and an employment verification letter, plus the exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    DC plumbing and gasfitting licenses expire on March 31 of even-numbered years; no continuing education hours were stated.

Who licenses plumbers in Washington, DC

DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Board of Industrial Trades. License types we found: Apprentice Plumber/Gasfitter, Journeyman Plumber/Gasfitter, Master Plumber/Gasfitter, Plumbing Contractor.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on govservices.dcra.dc.gov.

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 Washington, DC?

4 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in Washington, DC.

Sources

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

  1. dlcp.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/DLCP/publication/attachments/Pl
  2. dlcp.dc.gov/page/board-industrial-trades-0
  3. dlcp.dc.gov/node/1634406
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  5. 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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