Plumber license requirements in Alabama.
Alabama licenses plumbing statewide through the Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, which handles both trades together. The ladder is journeyman then master, and both exams are open book — though the master level added a business law requirement effective January 1, 2026.
What Alabama requires.
Journeyman Plumber
Requires two years of work experience under a licensed journeyman or master plumber, or completion of a board-approved apprentice training program.
Master Plumber
Requires at least one year certified as a journeyman plumber before you can sit the master exam.
Getting the Journeyman Plumber
- Journeyman: two years of experience supervised by a licensed journeyman or master plumber, or a board-approved apprentice training program
- Journeyman exam: 70 questions, three hours, open book — application fee $110
- Master: hold journeyman certification for at least one year
- Master exam: 100 questions, four hours, open book. Effective January 1, 2026, master applicants must also pass a business law exam alongside the plumbing and/or gas fitting exam
- · The same board covers plumbing and gas fitting, so many Alabama contractors carry credentials in both.
Verified 2026-08 against the sources below. Licensing rules change — confirm with the board before relying on this page.
Alabama plumbing licensing FAQ.
Do you need a license to do plumbing work in Alabama?
Yes. Alabama licenses plumbers statewide through the Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, which issues journeyman and master plumber licenses.
How do you become a journeyman plumber in Alabama?
Get two years of work experience under a licensed journeyman or master plumber, or complete a board-approved apprentice training program, then apply and pass the exam — 70 questions, three hours, open book, with a $110 application fee.
How do you become a master plumber in Alabama?
Hold journeyman certification for at least one year, then pass the master exam — 100 questions over four hours, open book. As of January 1, 2026, master applicants must also pass a business law exam.
Are Alabama plumbing exams open book?
Yes. Both the journeyman and master plumbing exams are open book. The journeyman exam runs 70 questions in three hours; the master exam is 100 questions in four hours.
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