So you need to know about becoming a licensed plumber in Alaska, huh? Stay right where you are and keep reading. This article will tell you everything you need to know. First off, what is the difference between a regular plumber and one who is licensed? Licensed means they're professional. They know what they're doing and have all the information on the latest technology and policies, so they're the ones best equipped to handle your plumbing needs. If you're going to hire one, you want to make sure to hire one who is licensed. The best part about it is that if you hire a plumber who is licensed, then they have insurance that will protect your household if something goes wrong with the plumbing after you call them. Step 1: Make sure you have an Alaskan plumbing license They won't let anyone work as a plumber unless your license is specifically for Alaska. You will also need to become an apprentice to a plumber in Alaska to gain the experience that they want you to have. From there, you can become a journeyman, which will basically testify that you know what you're doing. Step 2: Register with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development This step is highly important because if you don't register, you will not be able to do any plumbing work in the state at all. To register with them, a fee must be paid if your license has expired up to 90 days ago and it will cost you $50. You can call them at: (907) 269-4925 to learn more. Step 3: Get your Journeyman license You will need to apply to get this license and in order to be accepted, you must have eight thousand verified hours experience plumbing subject to the UPC. You'll need to have a notarized application that verifies your work experience and it only counts if its verified from an Alaskan based union. The Journeyman Exam will cover topics such as: plumbing in general, appliance vent, gas piping and waste vent drawing and water pipe drawing. Step 4: Get your gas license For gas license, you need to have four thousand hours of experience subject to the Uniform Plumbing Code and a minimum of two thousand of those hours where you installed fuel and gas piping. Just like before, you'll have to have a notarized application to verify this through an Alaskan based union. This one will cost you $50 just to take the test and another $200 if you pass. Step 5: Get your utility license You'll need this license to install water and sewage pipes and storm drains. For this, you'll have to have a thousand hours of experience and you'll need to get it notarized just like before. You'll need $50 to take the test and $200 if you pass and you'll also have to have at least 70% of the Certification of Fitness PU exam passed. Bonus step: To go it alone, then you'll need a contractor certification for yourself, specifically a Mechanical Contractor License. You'll need to have the application completed, and be sure you have $10,000 surety bond, a certification of insurance for at least $20,00 property damage and $50,000 if someone is injured or killed, ($100,000 for multiple people), $100 application fee and a $200 license fee. And if you have workers that work for you directly, you also need to have workers compensations given to you by an insurance company with an Alaskan license. Requirements for Plumbing License in Alaska: • Certificate of Fitness • Fitness • Fitness • Plumbing Contracting License • , document of all your experience) Even though Alaska is the state that pays construction and extraction jobs, it also means that the state will put you through a more rigorous process when trying to get your Alaska plumbing license. Unlike other states, Alaska doesn't allow any plumbers to practice if their license is from another state, so you need to make sure you have your license and that you meet all the requirements for it.

How To Become A Licensed Plumber in Alaska

How to Become a Plumber

There are two ways to become a licensed plumber in Alaska, one is by licensure, which requires you to apply and take an exam administered by the state department of Commerce.  The second way, is by Credentials, which means that you were previously licensed in another state as a plumber.  Alaska will review your prior issued license and credentials from another state and assign you a license if approved.

What types of plumbing licenses are there?

There are licenses for commercial and residential plumbers.  They are Unlimited Commercial and Industrial Plumbing (UCIP) for commercial plumbers and Residential Plumbing and Hydronic Heating (RPHH) for residential plumbers.

How much does it cost to get a license?

The cost to obtain a plumbing license in Alaska consists of registration fees for the application and exam, which is $150 and $200 for the license itself.  The fees are the same whether you are applying for a licnese via licensure or via credentials.

What are the requirements to apply for a license by licensure?

  • You must complete and submit a resume detailing education and experience.
  • Submit a Certificate in Support of Applicant’s Experience and Qualifications” from three persons who are employed in the mechanical industry in any state in the category for which you are applying. Individuals completing the form must have personal knowledge of your work experience and qualifications.
  • Provide official transcripts from a college, university, or trade school sent directly to the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing by the school (if using education to qualify).

Examination results are valid for one year. Mechanical administrator license examinations are currently being conducted by PSI Exams. Once approved, contact PSI Exams for examination scheduling information. A list of reference materials for the examination is available in the Candidate Information Bulletin which can be obtained by contacting PSI Exams.

What are the requirements to apply for a license by credentials?

  • Complete and submit a resume detailing education and experience in the license category for which you are applying.
  • Submi a Certificate in Support of Applicant’s experience and Qualifications” from three persons who are employed in the mechanical industry in any state in the category for which you are applying. Individuals completing the form must have personal knowledge of your work experience and qualifications.
  • Provide official transcripts from a college, university, or trade school sent directly to the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing by the school (if using education to qualify).
  • Verification of a current, active license from another state, sent directly to the division by that state, that identifies any relevant license category.
  • Verification of an examination passed in another state, sent directly to the division by that state. The verification must include the examination content outline.

What prerequisites or qualifications that a person needs to have for each license type?

The qualifications for persons applying for an industrial plumbing license, are the following:

  1. practical experience as a journeyman plumber for at least four of the six years immediately before the date of the application;
  2. management experience in plumbing work as a field superintendent or similar position for at least four of the six years immediately before
    the date of application;
  3. a degree in mechanical engineering from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university plus practical experience as a
    journeyman plumber or field engineer for at least one of the three years immediately before the date of application; or
  4. a registration in the state as a professional mechanical engineer plus management experience in the mechanical contracting industry as
    a field engineer or similar engineering position for at least one of the three years immediately before the date of application.

The following outlines the scope of work for the industrial plumbing licensee:

The holder of a mechanical administrator license in the unlimited commercial and industrial plumbing category may
supervise, in accordance with AS 08.40.400, all plumbing work described in (b) of this section;

  1. the work defined under the heating, cooling, and process piping category in 12 AAC 39.232(b);
  2. the work defined under the mechanical systems temperature control category in 12 AAC 39.292; and
  3. the work defined under the residential plumbing and hydronic heating category in 12 AAC 39.312(b).
  4. Plumbing work includes the installation, alteration, or retrofitting of plumbing, fixtures, fixture traps, and domestic water, waste, storm, and vent pipes, including all of their devices, appurtenances, and connections, that extend no more than five feet horizontally outside the building or structure that they serve, and through which domestic water, waste, sewage, oil, drainage, and air are carried; piping, fixtures, or equipment that is an integral part of a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub filter or heating system, or solar energy system;
  5. fuel oil and gas piping and appliances, and their appurtenances either within the property lines of the building or structure to be served by
    the fuel oil and gas, or to the point of connection with the utility system; and
  6. lawn sprinkler systems that are connected to a potable water supply, including excavation and backfilling as necessary for proper
    installation of the system.  In this section “fixtures” includes water closets, lavatories, bathtubs, showers, kitchen sinks, laundry trays, hot water tanks, softeners, urinals, bidets, service sinks, shower pans, drink fountains, water pumps, water conditioners, water coolers, and other similar fixtures used in water
    systems.
  7. A mechanical administrator licensed in the unlimited commercial and industrial plumbing category may supervise, in accordance with
    AS 08.40.400, the installation or retrofitting of all pneumatic or electric controls, and may supervise, in accordance with AS 08.40.400, the
    retrofitting of all control wiring of 48 volts or less, necessary for the operation of plumbing or water conditioning equipment so long as those
    modifications do not alter the electrical characteristics of the mechanical system or controls. The original installation of control wiring, or the
    alteration or retrofitting of controls and control wiring that alters the electrical characteristics of the mechanical system, must be supervised by an
    electrical administrator licensed in the appropriate category under 12 AAC 32.

 

The qualifications for persons applying for a residential lumbing license, are the following:

  1. An applicant for a mechanical administrator license in the residential plumbing and hydronic heating category shall furnish proof satisfactory to the department that the applicant has practical experience as a journeyman in residential plumbing and hydronic heating work for at least two of the four years immediately preceding the date of the application.

The following outlines the scope of work for the residential plumbing licensee:

The holder of a mechanical administrator license in the residential plumbing and hydronic heating category may supervise, in accordance with AS 08.40.400, all work described in this section for a single-family dwelling, or a duplex dwelling not exceeding three stories.

Residential plumbing and hydronic heating work includes the installation, alteration, or retrofitting of ) plumbing, fixtures, and water conditioners for a single-family dwelling or a duplex dwelling not exceeding three stories;

  1. hot water heating systems not exceeding 50 P.S.I. working pressure for a single family dwelling, or a duplex dwelling not exceeding three stories;
  2. existing plumbing systems, including fixtures, softener installation, and accessories;
  3. fuel gas piping downstream of the gas meter, or fuel tank and fuel oil piping for a single-family dwelling or a duplex dwelling not exceeding three stories; and
  4. lawn sprinkler systems that are connected to a potable water supply, including excavation and backfilling as necessary for proper installation of the system.
  5. A mechanical administrator licensed in the residential plumbing and hydronic heating category may supervise, in accordance with AS 08.40.400, the installation or retrofitting of all plug-in type electrical control panels and apparatus and the retrofitting of all control wiring of 48 volts or less, in a residential single-family dwelling or a duplex dwelling not exceeding three stories so long as those modifications do not alter the electrical characteristics of the mechanical system or controls. The original installation of control wiring, or the alteration or retrofitting of controls and control wiring that alters the electrical characteristics of the mechanical system, must be supervised by an electrical administrator licensed in the appropriate category under 12 AAC 32.

Nothing in this section prohibits a mechanical administrator licensed in the unlimited commercial and industrial plumbing category, as described in 12 AAC 39.212, or in the heating, cooling, and process piping category, as described in 12 AAC 39.232, from performing or supervising mechanical work on a residential dwelling.

We hope this information has been useful.  To obtain more information and apply for a plumbing license in the state of Alaska please follow this link.

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