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How to get a plumber license in Ohio

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

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Division of Industrial Compliance
  • State journeyman license: No (Ohio licenses plumbing contractors for commercial work; it has no statewide journeyman plumber license. Local building departments may add requirements for residential work.)
  • Plumbing contractor (OCILB): At least 18; U.S. citizen or legal alien. At least 5 years as a tradesperson in plumbing immediately before the application, or a currently registered Ohio engineer with 3 years of construction-industry business experience in the trade. Pass the trade exam, carry at least $500,000 contractor liability insurance, and complete required background checks after Board approval.
  • Exam: see below, via PSI (OCILB contract)
  • Code edition: OCILB plumbing contractor exams use the references in the current PSI/OCILB candidate bulletin for the plumbing trade; confirm before you schedule.

Requirements by license

Plumbing contractor (OCILB)

ExperienceAt least 18; U.S. citizen or legal alien. At least 5 years as a tradesperson in plumbing immediately before the application, or a currently registered Ohio engineer with 3 years of construction-industry business experience in the trade. Pass the trade exam, carry at least $500,000 contractor liability insurance, and complete required background checks after Board approval.Source: com.ohio.gov · as of · R.C. Chapter 4740: codes.ohio.gov
ExamPSI (OCILB contract). After OCILB approval and background checks, schedule the plumbing contractor exam with PSI. Confirm format and references in the current candidate bulletin.Source: com.ohio.gov · as of
Fees
  • Application for examination: $25
  • Issuance of license: $25
  • Annual renewal: $60
  • Triennial renewal: $180
  • Late fee (up to): $120
Source: codes.ohio.gov · as of
RenewalEvery year (or every 3 years if you choose triennial). Renew with fee, proof of $500,000 liability insurance, and required CE. Missed renewals suspend automatically; reactivate within 1 year with renewal + late fee + CE/insurance. Expired more than 1 year: reapply and retest.Source: codes.ohio.gov · as of
CE to renew10 hours per year
  • Courses approved by any OCILB specialty section (plumbing licensees)
OAC 4101:16-2-08: 10 classroom hours each year (50+ minutes each); max 10 hours credit per calendar day; excess hours do not carry over. Triennial renewals still need the yearly hours across the period. OCILB's contractor web page also discusses online CE caps for 1-year vs 3-year renewals — confirm current online limits with OCILB.
Source: codes.ohio.gov · as of

License types in Ohio

  • Plumbing contractor (OCILB commercial)
  • No state journeyman plumber license
  • Local city licenses where required
Source: com.ohio.gov · as of

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

OCILB has paths for out-of-state contractors (see the Licensed Out-of-State Contractor application materials). There is no blanket plumber reciprocity; experience and exam rules still apply unless a published waiver fits.Source: com.ohio.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 Ohio have a state journeyman plumber license?

No. OCILB licenses commercial plumbing contractors. Some cities may add local requirements.

How much experience does an Ohio plumbing contractor need?

Generally 5 years as a plumbing tradesperson immediately before applying (or an Ohio PE path with 3 years construction business experience).

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

Other states

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