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How to become a plumber in Pennsylvania

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

The short answer

Pennsylvania has no statewide plumber license – plumbers are licensed locally; in Philadelphia you register as an apprentice plumber, become eligible for the Journeyman Plumber license after four years as a registered apprentice and passing the ICC-administered exam, then qualify for the Master Plumber license after one year as a journeyman and passing the master exam, with annual renewal.

Note: Pennsylvania does not issue a statewide plumber license; cities or counties do. The steps below describe the largest local program we could confirm – check the rules where you will work.

The steps in Pennsylvania

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    In Philadelphia, apprentice plumbers register with the city, and four years of registration as an apprentice is the main route to the journeyman license.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    A Philadelphia Journeyman Plumber license requires at least four years as a registered Philadelphia apprentice (or an equivalent license from another jurisdiction) and passing the Journeyman Plumber Examination administered by the International Code Council.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    A Philadelphia Master Plumber license requires at least one year as a registered Philadelphia journeyman plumber and passing the Philadelphia Master Plumber Examination administered by the International Code Council.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Philadelphia journeyman and master plumber licenses must be renewed every year; no continuing education requirement was stated.

Who licenses plumbers in Pennsylvania

the local licensing office. License types we found: see the agency.

Official application page

Licensed in another state?

Philadelphia accepts, in place of the apprentice experience, a similar authorization from another state or local jurisdiction with equal or greater qualification requirements; the ICC exam is still required.

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 Pennsylvania?

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

Sources

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

  1. phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-license/trade-licen
  2. phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-license/trade-licen
  3. attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/home-improvement-contractor-registr
  4. alleghenycounty.us/Services/Health-Department/Plumbing-Program/Licensing
  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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