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Washington Plumbing Exams

The Washington Plumbing License Exam covers many topics including: Vents & Venting; Administrative Procedures; Fixtures; Drainage Systems and more.  Whether you live in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started:

Need of a License:  Journeyman and residential specialty plumbers need a license to work in Washington. 

Who Grants a License:  Plumbing licenses are issued by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

Procedures for Getting a License:   Candidates for the journeyman and residential specialty plumbers license must take and pass an exam to qualify for the license.

Qualifications to take the Exam and receive a License:  A candidate for journeyman plumber  must have 8,000 hours of experience, with a minimum of 4,000 hours in commercial plumbing.  A candidate for residential specialty must have 6,000 hours of experience in residential or commercial plumbing.  All experience must be under a registered contractor and under supervision of a certified plumber.

Candidates must complete a 16 hour continuing education program, with a 4 hour minimum requirement on industry related electrical, prior to taking the journeyman and residential specialty exams.

Test Content:   The exam is in 3 parts consisting of Uniform Plumbing Code questions, a waste and vent pipe sizing drawing and a water pipe sizing drawing.   The exam generally covers the following areas:

     1.   General knowledge of technical information and practical procedures which are a necessary part of the trade; and

     2.   Specific knowledge of the requirements of the Uniform Plumbing Code.

A candidate must receive a score of 70% or better to pass the exam.  The journeyman exam will have drawings of one, two and more story buildings.  

How to Apply for the Test:  You can access the application online at Application.   Application documents can be sent to:

     Department of Labor and Industries
     PO Box 44470
     Olympia, WA  98504-4470

Applications must be received by the Olympia office at least 2 weeks before the requested examination date.

Fees:  There are fees to take the test.

License renewal:  Licenses must be renewed every two years.  Plumbers must complete a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education to renew a license.

Applicable Code:    Washington's local municipalities have adopted the International Plumbing Code (IPC) or the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)..

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For more information on licensing and exam preparation, go to Tests.com's

Journeyman Plumbing Test Guide

Master Plumbing Test Guide

And take Tests.com's Plumbing Practice Test.