Plumbing careers

How to become a plumber in Virginia

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

The short answer

In Virginia you qualify for the journeyman plumber exam with a mix of vocational training and experience (for example 240 training hours plus four years of experience, or eight years of experience alone), pass the PSI-administered exam, and can test for master plumber after holding the journeyman license for at least one year.

The steps in Virginia

1
Start as an apprentice
The official pages we checked do not set out a separate apprentice registration in Virginia. Most plumbers still start in an apprenticeship – see below. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.
2
Earn your journeyman (first independent) license
Journeyman plumber exam candidates must meet one of several training-plus-experience standards, ranging from 240 hours of formal vocational training with four years of practical experience to eight years of experience with no formal training; the exam is administered by PSI.
3
Master or contractor license
Master plumber exam candidates qualify by holding a valid journeyman plumber license for at least one year (other routes include three years as a residential plumber tradesman or nine years of practical experience).
4
Keep your license current
Tradesman licenses run on a two-year term, and plumbers need 3 hours of continuing education on the International Plumbing Code from a board-approved provider each term.

Who licenses plumbers in Virginia

Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors. License types we found: Residential Plumber (tradesman), Journeyman Plumber (tradesman), Master Plumber (tradesman), Class A / B / C Contractor with Plumbing (PLB) specialty.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on dpor.virginia.gov.

Licensed in another state?

Virginia lists no state reciprocity for plumbers; its only plumbing agreement is an exam agreement with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) for journeyman and master plumbers, and out-of-state credential holders can apply under Universal License Recognition.

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).

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 Virginia?

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

Sources

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

General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides

How to become a plumber in Virginia

The steps in Virginia

Start as an apprentice

Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

Master or contractor license

Keep your license current