Texas Plumber / Pipefitter License: Requirements, Cost & Timeline
Texas requires a state license for this trade. Here is every step, fee and hour it takes — and what it pays once you are licensed.
Do you need a license?
Yes. The credential is the Journeyman Plumber License, issued by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). Working without it is a violation in Texas and can carry fines or a stop-work order, so the sequence below matters: training first, then the exam, then the application.
Steps to get licensed
- Register as a Plumber's Apprentice with TSBPE ($15) — hours worked before registration do not count.
- Accumulate at least 8,000 hours of experience working in the plumbing trade.
- Complete the TSBPE 48-hour journeyman training course (or a U.S. DOL Office of Apprenticeship program).
- Submit the Journeyman Plumber Examination application with Employer Certification Form(s) and the $40 fee.
- Pass the TSBPE examination and pay the $40 license fee to receive the certificate of licensure and pocket card.
What it costs
The figures below are what the state charges. Training is separate and quotes vary by provider — a community-college programme and a private trade school can differ by thousands for the same licence.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $40 |
| Exam fee | $40 |
| License / certification fee | $40 |
| Renewal fee | $40 |
| Total state fees | $120 |
Full cost breakdown for Texas →
How long it takes
The state requires 8,000 hours of training or supervised work before you can sit the exam. At 40 hours a week that is about 46.2 months of full-time work — most people take longer because they train part-time while earning.
Keeping it valid
The licence renews every year and the renewal fee is $40. No license-by-recognition. A current out-of-state Journeyman or Master Plumber may sit the Texas exam without the 48-hour training course, and current out-of-state licensure satisfies the apprentice/tradesman prerequisite. Exam still required.
What it pays in Texas
Median annual wage for Plumber / Pipefitter in Texas: $56,890 ($27.35/hour), across 41,890 jobs. That is the midpoint — half of people in this trade earn more, half less.
Pay detail for Texas, and how it compares →
Other states
| State | State fees | Time | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $650 | — | $75,300 |
| Florida | $535 | — | $51,830 |
Common questions
Do you need a license to be a Plumber / Pipefitter in Texas?
Journeyman Plumber License. Yes — issued by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE).
How much does a Plumber / Pipefitter license cost in Texas?
$120 in state fees. Exam retakes cost extra.
How long does it take to get a Plumber / Pipefitter license in Texas?
About 46.2 months of full-time work: the state requires 8,000 hours of training or supervised experience before the exam.
What does a Plumber / Pipefitter make in Texas?
The median is $56,890 a year ($27.35 an hour) statewide, per BLS OEWS May 2024.
Sources
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/“you have at least 8,000 hours of experience working in the plumbing trade; and”
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/“you have completed a 48-hour training course* approved by the TSBPE”
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/“you must submit a completed application with all supporting documentation, your Employer Certification Form(s), and a $40 fee to the TSBPE”
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/“Once you have successfully passed the exam, you must submit a $40 fee to obtain your certificate of licensure and pocket card.”
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/“Fees Exam Fee: $40”
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/“Renewal Fee: $40*”
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/journeyman/“If you hold a Journeyman or Master Plumber License issued to you by another state, you do not have to complete the 48-hour training program.”
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/“To obtain a license, you must meet all eligibility requirements, take and pass an examination, and pay a fee. Licenses renew annually.”
- https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/apprentice/“You MUST register as a Plumber’s Apprentice before you can start counting the hours of experience you have working in the plumbing trade.”