Plumber license requirements in Louisiana.
Louisiana licenses plumbers statewide through the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, on a three-tier ladder. The gap between journeyman and master is unusually long here — five years holding the journeyman license before you can sit the master exam.
What Louisiana requires.
Apprentice Plumber
Entry level from age 16, working under licensed plumbers. The apprenticeship runs up to 8,000 hours of work experience plus 144 hours of classroom instruction across three to four years.
Journeyman Plumber
Requires a minimum of 8,000 hours of experience as an apprentice under a licensed plumber, then the SPBLA journeyman exam.
Master Plumber
Requires holding a journeyman license for at least five years, then passing the three-part master exam.
Getting the Apprentice Plumber
- Apprentice: be at least 16 and enroll in an approved program or work under a licensed plumber
- Journeyman: accumulate a minimum of 8,000 hours as an apprentice, then pass the journeyman exam — 80 multiple-choice questions covering plumbing knowledge, permits, and regulations
- Master: hold the journeyman license for at least five years, then pass the three-part open-book master exam
- Master exam parts: 80 questions on the International Plumbing Code and Louisiana Title 17; 25 questions on the Title 51 Public Health Sanitary Code and practical drainage and water supply topics; 40 questions on business and law
The official board
State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA)
La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LV-306 (master plumber exam requirements)
Visit the boardVerified 2026-08 against the sources below. Licensing rules change — confirm with the board before relying on this page.
Louisiana plumbing licensing FAQ.
Do you need a license to do plumbing work in Louisiana?
Yes. The State Plumbing Board of Louisiana licenses apprentice, journeyman, and master plumbers statewide. Even apprentices are licensed, starting from age 16 under the supervision of licensed plumbers.
How many hours do you need for a journeyman plumber license in Louisiana?
A minimum of 8,000 hours of experience as an apprentice under a licensed plumber, then passing the SPBLA journeyman exam — 80 multiple-choice questions covering plumbing knowledge, permits, and regulations.
How long does it take to become a master plumber in Louisiana?
You must hold the journeyman license for at least five years before sitting the master exam — one of the longer waits in the country. The master exam itself is a three-part open-book test.
What is on the Louisiana master plumber exam?
Three parts, all open book: 80 questions on the International Plumbing Code and Louisiana Title 17; 25 questions on the Title 51 Public Health Sanitary Code plus practical drainage and water supply topics; and 40 questions on business and law.
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