Home › Plumber license by state › Kansas

How to get a plumber license in Kansas

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Kansas plumbing licenses, pulled from official KS sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: No statewide plumber board: cities and counties license plumbers under K.S.A. 12-1508 to 12-1510 (largest metro example: Wichita / Sedgwick County MABCD)
  • State journeyman license: No (Kansas has no state-issued plumber license. Cities/counties that require licensure issue local certificates; statute sets exam standards, experience floors, CE floors and statewide portability for designated-exam certificates.)
  • Plumber certificate (local): Statute floor before a jurisdiction issues a journeyman certificate: document at least 2 years field experience (work under a valid journeyman/master or trade-related schooling; schooling may cover at most 1 year and needs ≥930 program hours). Master: valid journeyman for 2 years or 4 years field experience. Local offices may state equivalent paths (e.g. MABCD: 1 year field + 1 year trade school OR 2 years field).
  • Exam: see below, via ICC, IAPMO or Prometric (designated) — or a local non-designated exam limited to that city/county
  • Code edition: Local boards use designated ICC, IAPMO or Prometric exams (K.S.A. 12-1508). MABCD (Wichita/Sedgwick) accepts listed ICC plumbing-with-gas exams or IAPMO exams at 75%+.

Requirements by license

Plumber certificate (local)

ExperienceStatute floor before a jurisdiction issues a journeyman certificate: document at least 2 years field experience (work under a valid journeyman/master or trade-related schooling; schooling may cover at most 1 year and needs ≥930 program hours). Master: valid journeyman for 2 years or 4 years field experience. Local offices may state equivalent paths (e.g. MABCD: 1 year field + 1 year trade school OR 2 years field).Source: ksrevisor.gov · as of · MABCD plumbing path: sedgwick.gov
ExamICC, IAPMO or Prometric (designated) — or a local non-designated exam limited to that city/county. Passing score at least 75% on a designated exam (K.S.A. 12-1509). Designated-exam certificates are portable statewide to other licensing cities/counties. Non-designated local exams are valid only in that jurisdiction unless a reciprocal agreement exists (K.S.A. 12-1510).Source: ksrevisor.gov · as of
FeesSet locally / not listedSource: ksrevisor.gov · as of · Each city/county sets a uniform fee. MABCD trade certificate application/renewal is $35 on its Master & Journeyman page.
RenewalSet locally (statute CE is annual or biennial). Local governing body requires not less than 12 hours CE biennially or 6 hours annually (at least half code education). MABCD certificates: renewals for the posted cycle started Sept 1, 2025; 12 CEUs by expiration (3 trade-specific + 3 general each year).Source: ksrevisor.gov · as of · MABCD renewals: sedgwick.gov
CE to renew12 hours per biennial (or 6 annual) — statutory minimum where local licensure is required
  • Code education (at least 6 biennial or 3 annual)
  • Construction, maintenance and code update training
K.S.A. 12-1509. MABCD: 12 CEUs per 2-year certificate (6 trade-specific + 6 general). CEUs must be completed by expiration.
Source: ksrevisor.gov · as of

License types in Kansas

  • No statewide plumber license
  • Local journeyman / master plumber certificates (city/county)
  • Local plumbing contractor licenses as required
Source: ksrevisor.gov · as of

Local plumber certificates (by city/county)

Kansas has no state plumber license. Below is Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) for Wichita and Sedgwick County. Elsewhere, ask the city or county that requires plumber licensure. A certificate of competency from a designated ICC/IAPMO/Prometric exam travels to other KS licensing jurisdictions without retest.

City of Wichita / Sedgwick County (MABCD)

Office: Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD)
Licenses journeymen?Yes
ExperienceJourneyman plumbing: 1 year field experience + 1 year plumbing trade school OR 2 years field experience, then 75%+ on an approved ICC plumbing-with-gas exam (K9R or 560) or IAPMO exam. Master: plumbing journeyman + 2 years as journeyman OR 4 years field, then approved master plumbing-with-gas / IAPMO exam.
ExamICC or IAPMO (MABCD-listed). MABCD does not reciprocate with “state testing”; only its listed exams count. Bring official pass letter, experience proof, optional transcripts; pay $35
FeesTrade certificate application or renewal: $35
Renewal2 years (per MABCD CE description). Renewals for the current cycle started September 1, 2025. 12 CEUs by expiration (3 trade-specific + 3 general each year). Grace/penalty hours apply after expiration per MABCD table
CE12 hours · Provide original CEU certificates from providers; MABCD does not receive copies from providers.
Source: sedgwick.gov · as of

Contact the city or county building/plumbing office for the job location.

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

Within Kansas: certificate of competency from a designated ICC/IAPMO/Prometric exam is accepted for licensure without additional exam in any city/county that requires plumber licensure (K.S.A. 12-1509). Non-designated local exams do not travel unless the jurisdictions have a reciprocal agreement (K.S.A. 12-1510). MABCD states it does not reciprocate with state testing outside its listed exams.Source: ksrevisor.gov · as of

What we couldn't confirm yet

We only publish what we can tie to an official source. These items aren't published anywhere we could verify, so ask the office listed:

FAQ

Does Kansas issue a statewide plumber license?

No. Cities and counties license plumbers. K.S.A. 12-1508–12-1510 sets designated exams, experience floors, CE floors and portability for designated-exam certificates.

What is the statutory journey experience floor?

At least 2 years field experience (schooling may cover at most 1 year with ≥930 hours) before a local journeyman certificate.

Already licensed? See Kansas plumber license renewal & CE requirements.

Other states

Compare every state side by side: license requirements by state · renewal & CE by state.