Completing your high school education

In order to be eligible for even the lowest tier plumbing license in Massachusetts, you will need to have a high school diploma. If you did not graduate high school, you will need to complete the GED to gain your diploma.

Vocational Training

Part of the path to becoming a licensed plumber is vocational training, otherwise known as apprentice training. This is educational training in a classroom setting. You will also need on-the-job hours logged in order to qualify for licensure.

Obtaining a license

Once you have your prerequisites of a high school diploma (or GED), and you have logged the appropriate amount of hours in both the classroom and on-the-job training, you will need to apply for a license. Massachusetts offers three tiers of licensing for plumbers: Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. Apprentice licenses have the least requirements, followed by Journeyman licenses. Master licenses are the most time consuming, but also create the most opportunity for income and autonomy as a plumber. Each license has a pre-requisite of obtaining the license below it in the path to competency.

Licensing requirements in the state of Massachusetts

Obtaining an Apprentice Plumbing License

The Apprentice plumbing license is the easiest to get in Massachusetts. It allows you to work as a plumber in order to gain the experience needed for a Journeyman plumbing license. As an apprentice plumber, you will be required to work under the supervision of a Master Plumber. For this reason, a “Statement of Employing Master Plumber” form will also be required when applying for an Apprentice plumbing license. Finally, you will be required to provide a notarized “Criminal Offender Record Information” form (CORI) and submit it with your application.

Obtaining a Journeyman Plumbing License

The Journeyman license requires a high school diploma or a GED. When applying, you’ll need to provide an education verification form to prove the educational requirements of the license have been met. You also need 550 hours of educational training in a classroom setting, and 8,500 hours of work experience as an Apprentice plumber in order to qualify to be a Journeyman plumber. You need to provide a Statement of Experience form at the time of application to prove that you have the required hours as an Apprentice. The final document you need to submit is the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form along with a passport-sized photo of yourself.

Once your application is submitted and accepted, you will be allowed to register to take the exam. You will need to pay the fee for the exam, and then a licensing fee if you pass. The exam is offered in-person, or online. After the exam, you will immediately receive your test results; If you don’t pass you will be able to take it again within 6 months of the date your application was approved.

Obtaining a Master Plumbing license

The Master plumbing license requires that you first obtain the Journeyman license. You will need to provide your journeyman license number on your Statement of Experience and Education Verification form to become a Master plumber. You will also need to submit a CORI form, and a passport-sized photo to include with your application.

After your application is accepted you will register to take the exam, which you can take online. If you fail, you can retake the exam within 12 months of the application approval. Once you pass, you can obtain your license by submitting your license fee.

How to apply for a plumbing license in the state of Massachusetts

Where to apply

Apprentice Plumbing license application: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/05/31/Shortened%20Application%20for%20Apprentice%20Plumber.pdf

Journeyman Plumbing license application: https://elicensing.mass.gov/CitizenAccess/

Journeyman Plumbing exam registration:

Master Plumbing license application: https://elicensing.mass.gov/CitizenAccess/

Master Plumbing exam registration:

Cost of obtaining a plumbing license in Massachusetts

Application and License fee for an Apprentice Plumber License: $14

Application fee for Journeyman Plumber License: $31

License fee for Journeyman Plumber License: $52

Application fee for Master Plumber License: $31

License fee for Master Plumber License: $78

Massachusetts Plumbing Courses and Classes

Here are a few vocational trade schools that provide training in the plumbing trade, and are authorized by the Massachusetts Plumbing and Gas Fitting Board:

Assabet Valley Regional Technical School

215 Fitchburg St.

Marlboro, MA 01752

508-485-9430

Website: http://assabet.org/technical_programs/construction_cluster/plumbing

Bay Path Regional Vocational High School

57 Old Muggett Hill Road

Charlton, MA 01507

508-248-5971

Website: http://www.baypath.net/bay-path-at-night/

Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

41 Berkeley St.

Boston, MA 02116

1-877-400-2348

Website: https://www.bfit.edu/

Motoring Technical Training Institute (MTTI)

1241 Fall River Ave

Seekonk, MA 02771

508-336-6611

Website: https://www.mtti.edu/

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How to become a licensed plumber in the state of Massachusetts