Types of plumbing licensure in Arkansas
Apprentice Plumber
An apprentice plumber is someone who is working under the guidance of a journeyman or master plumber but does not hold a license as a journeyman or master plumber. Any work done as an apprentice must be overseen by a licensed journeyman or master plumber. An apprentice plumber must be enrolled in the “Apprentice Plumber” training program according to Arkansas Code Ann. 17-31-401 et seq.
Journeyman Plumber
A journeyman plumber is “any person other than a master plumber who is engaged in the practical installation of plumbing,” according to the Arkansas “Rules pertaining to the plumber’s license fee, expiration, renewal for Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber, and Restricted PLumber qualifications” document.
Master Plumber
A master plumber, according to the aforementioned rules document, is “any person skilled in the planning, superintending and the practical installation of plumbing and who is familiar with the laws, and rules governing the same.”
Restricted Lifetime Master Plumber
A restricted lifetime master plumber license is available only to those who have held a master plumbing license fr at least 12 years, are at least 65 years of age, and hold either a current or deferred master plumber license. The restricted lifetime master plumber license is valid for the life of the older unless revoked or suspended by the state licensing board.
License qualification requirements in the state of Arkansas
Journeyman Plumber License Requirements
An applicant for a journeyman plumber license needs to have a minimum of four years of experience as a plumber, or the equivalent of four years of experience as a plumber. The most effective way to obtain this experience is to become a licensed apprentice plumber employed by a company to do plumbing work under the direction of a journeyman or master plumber. An apprentice plumber is also required to be registered in the apprentice plumbing program by the state.
Master plumber license requirements
An applicant for a master plumber license in Arkansas needs to have at least five years of experience in plumbing. Unlike many states, Arkansas does not require that a master plumber applicant hold a journeyman plumber license.
Obtaining plumbing licenses in the state of Arkansas
Obtaining an apprentice license
An apprentice license is the easiest plumbing license to obtain because there is no experience required. You simply need to fill out the application for an apprenticeship. You must be hired as a plumber by an accredited business that qualifies for the state apprenticeship program. The employer must sign off on the application for an apprenticeship.
Obtaining a journeyman license
To obtain your journeyman license, you must first meet the aforementioned qualifications in this article. Once those qualifications are met, you will need to fill out the application for a journeyman plumber. You must provide any and all relevant work history and experience, and a photocopy of any license issued by another state as part of the application. You must also provide the name and license number of the master plumber under which you are working as a journeyman plumber. You must then take and pass your examination, after which you will be issued your journeyman license. The exam fee for a journeyman plumber exam is $75.
The exam for a journeyman license is open book. It is a timed test, with a four-hour time limit and 50 questions to complete. There are four sections to the test: drawings, multiple-choice questions, code illustrations, and matching items with descriptions. The exam is provided once per month, and the exam schedule can be found at https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/plumbing-natural-gas.
Obtaining a master license
To obtain your master plumbing license, you must first meet the aforementioned qualifications in this article. Once those qualifications are met, you will need to fill out the application for a master plumber. You must provide any and all relevant work history and experience for your five years’ experience in plumbing. You also need to submit a photocopy of any license issued by another state as part of the application. You must then take and pass your master plumber examination, after which you will be issued your master plumbing license. The exam fee for a master plumber exam is $75.
The exam for a master plumbing license is open book. It is a timed test, with a four-hour time limit and 50 questions to complete. There are four sections to the test: drawings, multiple-choice questions, appliance venting, and gas pipe sizing. The exam is provided once per month, and the exam schedule can be found at https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/plumbing-natural-gas.
Obtaining a lifetime restricted master license
To obtain a lifetime restricted master license, you must meet the qualifications mentioned earlier in this article. Then simply fill out the application and, if the application is accepted, your license will be issued to you.
Helpful Links
Exam instructions: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/INSTRUCTIONS_for_Plumber_Exam_Applications.pdf
Apprentice plumbing license application: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/APPRENTICE_PLUMBER_APPLICATION.PDF
Journeyman plumbing license application: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/JOURNEYMAN_PLUMBER_APPLICATION.PDF
Master plumbing license application: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/MASTER_PLUMBER_APPLICATION.PDF
Lifetime restricted master plumbing license: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/APPLICATION_LIFETIME_PLUMBING_LICENSE_8-5-20.pdf
Plumbing schools and programs in the state of Arkansas
Arkansas Rural Water ASSN
240 Dee Dee Lane Lonoke, AR 72086
Phone: (501)676-2255
Email: cjfarwa@arwa.net
Ozarks Technical Community College
614 N Washington Avenue Springfield, MO. 65806
Phone: (417)447-8918
Email: lansdowe@otc.edu
Plumbers & Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training of Arkansas
4501 Hoffman Road
Little Rock, AR 72209
Phone: (501)562-4482
Email: rgage@ppata .com
Southern Arkansas University Tech
Arkansas Environmental Academy SAU Tech Station
Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870)574-4590
Email: rharper@sautech.edu
Arkansas State University-Newport
7648 Victory Blvd
Newport, Arkansas 72112
Website: http://www.asun.edu/
Arkansas Construction Education Foundation
648 W. Johnson Ave.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Phone: (501) 372-1590
Website: https://myacef.org/
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