Plumber license requirements in Colorado.
Colorado licenses plumbers statewide through the State Plumbing Board, part of the Division of Professions and Occupations at DORA. It runs a four-tier system — apprentice, residential, journeyman, master — built on documented hours, and every licensed tier carries an annual continuing-education requirement.
What Colorado requires.
Apprentice (registration)
Register with DORA within 30 days of taking a plumbing job. No exam, but you must be enrolled in or have completed a board-approved apprenticeship program — typically four years and roughly 8,000 hours with related technical instruction.
Residential Plumber
A licensed tier limited to residential work.
Journeyman Plumber
Requires 3,400 hours of plumbing work under the supervision of a master plumber, plus the journeyman exam.
Master Plumber
Requires 9,780 hours of plumbing experience overall, including at least two years (roughly 4,000 hours) of documented journeyman-level work after journeyman licensure, plus the master exam.
Getting the Apprentice
- Apprentice: register with DORA within 30 days of starting plumbing work ($30) and enroll in a board-approved apprenticeship
- Journeyman: 3,400 hours under a master plumber, pass the journeyman exam, submit proof of experience (application fee $120)
- Master: 9,780 hours total experience with at least two years of journeyman-level work after licensure, verified by employer attestation, plus the master exam (application fee $140)
Renewal: Licensed residential, journeyworker, and master plumbers must complete at least 8 hours of continuing education during each year (March 1 through February 28) of the two-year license period.
The official board
Colorado State Plumbing Board — Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA)
Visit the boardVerified 2026-08 against the sources below. Licensing rules change — confirm with the board before relying on this page.
Colorado plumbing licensing FAQ.
Do you need a license to do plumbing work in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado licenses plumbers statewide through the State Plumbing Board at DORA. Even apprentices must register — within 30 days of taking a plumbing job — and the residential, journeyman, and master tiers each require an exam.
How many hours do you need for a journeyman plumber license in Colorado?
3,400 hours of plumbing work under the supervision of a master plumber, then passing the journeyman exam and submitting proof of experience.
How do you become a master plumber in Colorado?
9,780 hours of plumbing experience in total, including at least two years — roughly 4,000 hours — of documented journeyman-level work accumulated after you get your journeyman license. That experience is verified through employer attestation to DORA, and you must pass the master exam.
What continuing education do Colorado plumbers need?
At least 8 hours each year of the two-year license period, running March 1 through February 28. It applies to licensed residential, journeyworker, and master plumbers.
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