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How to become a plumber in Iowa

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

The short answer

Get an apprentice license while enrolled in a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship (age 18, high school diploma or GED), complete four years of apprenticeship and pass the journeyperson exam, then work two years as a journeyperson and pass the master exam.

The steps in Iowa

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    Plumbing apprentices must be licensed with the state board and enrolled in a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program, and must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or GED.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    A journeyperson license requires at least four years of practical experience as an apprentice in a registered apprenticeship program and passing the Iowa journeyperson exam, given through Kirkwood Community College.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    A master license requires a journeyperson license with two years of work experience and passing the state master licensing exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Plumbing licenses run on a three-year licensing period, and Iowa requires at least 8 hours of classroom continuing education during each three-year term.

Who licenses plumbers in Iowa

Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing). License types we found: Master (plumbing), Journeyperson (plumbing), Apprentice, Contractor.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on dphregprograms.iowa.gov.

Licensed in another state?

Plumbers who earned a South Dakota license by written exam and live outside Iowa can apply for an Iowa license by reciprocity without retesting.

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 Iowa?

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

Sources

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

  1. dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure/a
  2. dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure-2
  3. dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure/m
  4. dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure
  5. dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure/c
  6. legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/105.18.pdf
  7. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  8. 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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