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How to become a plumber in Indiana

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

The short answer

In Indiana you register as a plumbing apprentice (age 17+, in an approved apprenticeship program), then qualify for the Journeyman Plumber exam by completing an approved apprenticeship or showing 4 years' trade experience, and the Plumbing Contractor license uses the same apprenticeship or 4-year experience routes plus a Commission-approved exam given through PROV.

The steps in Indiana

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    Plumbing apprentices register with the Indiana Plumbing Commission; applicants must be at least 17 and sponsored by an approved apprenticeship program.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    To qualify for the Journeyman Plumber exam you need a completed approved apprenticeship, an out-of-state plumbing license, or proof of 4 years' experience in the trade; the exam application must be approved by the Plumbing Commission before you register with the exam vendor (PROV).

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    The Plumbing Contractor license also requires a completed apprenticeship, an out-of-state license, or at least four years of plumbing trade experience, plus passing the Commission-approved exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Journeyman Plumber and Plumbing Contractor licenses expire December 31 of every odd-numbered year (a two-year cycle); no continuing education requirement was stated on the licensing page.

Who licenses plumbers in Indiana

Indiana Plumbing Commission (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency). License types we found: Plumbing Contractor, Journeyman Plumber, Plumbing Apprentice, Plumbing Corporation, Temporary Plumbing Contractor.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on mylicense.in.gov.

Licensed in another state?

Indiana does not offer reciprocity for journeyman or contractor plumbers; out-of-state plumbers must apply and pay the fee (an out-of-state license can count toward exam eligibility).

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 Indiana?

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

Sources

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

  1. secure.in.gov/pla/professions/plumbing-home/plumbing-licensing-informati
  2. in.gov/pla/professions/indiana-plumbing-commission/
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  4. 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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