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How to become a plumber in Mississippi

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

The short answer

Mississippi has no statewide journeyman or master plumber license; plumbing contractors and residential plumbing subcontractors get a license from the State Board of Contractors by passing the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam plus the plumbing trade exam, and renew it every year.

The steps in Mississippi

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    The official pages we checked do not set out a separate apprentice registration in Mississippi. Most plumbers still start in an apprenticeship – see below. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    The official pages we checked do not describe a statewide journeyman license in Mississippi. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    Plumbing contractors on commercial jobs over $50,000, and residential plumbing subcontractors, must hold a State Board of Contractors license in the Plumbing or Residential Plumbing classification, which requires passing the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam and a trade exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    A Board of Contractors license is valid for one year and must be renewed annually; no continuing education hour requirement was confirmed.

Who licenses plumbers in Mississippi

Mississippi State Board of Contractors. License types we found: Plumbing (commercial classification), Residential Plumbing, Residential Mechanical.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on search.msboc.us.

Licensed in another state?

The Board has reciprocity agreements with various states, but reciprocity only covers trade exams; you still apply and meet all other requirements.

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 Mississippi?

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

Sources

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

  1. msboc.us/?page_id=13
  2. msboc.us/
  3. msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/HB-1163-FACT-SHEET57.pdf
  4. msboc.us/classifications/
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  6. 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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