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How to become a plumber in Vermont

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

The short answer

Complete a Vermont State Apprenticeship Council program (or documented training including at least 12,000 hours on the job) and pass the exam for a Journeyman license, then hold the Vermont journeyman license at least 12 months before applying for Master.

The steps in Vermont

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    The official pages we checked do not set out a separate apprentice registration in Vermont. 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

    A journeyman plumber license requires a Vermont State Apprenticeship Council completion certificate, or board-accepted documentation of instruction, training and at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training, plus passing the state exam.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    A master plumber license requires holding a Vermont journeyman license for at least 12 months (or board-accepted training and experience totaling at least 14,000 hours) and passing the master exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Vermont plumbing licenses are valid for two years, and renewal requires eight hours of board-approved training within the previous 24 months.

Who licenses plumbers in Vermont

Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety. License types we found: Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Limited Licensure Specialist.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on data.vermont.gov.

Licensed in another state?

Plumbers licensed in another state at an equivalent level can get a Vermont universal license with a certified letter of licensure, proof of schooling and experience (8,000 hours for journeyman, 12,000 for master), and a 2-hour Vermont code course.

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 Vermont?

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

Sources

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

  1. firesafety.vermont.gov/sites/firesafety/files/documents/dfs_plumbing_lic
  2. legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/26/039
  3. firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing/plumbing
  4. legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/26/039
  5. sos.vermont.gov/residential-contractors/residential-contractor-faqs
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  7. 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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