How to Verify a Plumber's License

Quick answer

First determine whether your state licenses plumbers at the state level or delegates to local jurisdictions. In state-licensed states (Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina, etc.), search the state plumbing board or contractor licensing portal. In locally licensed jurisdictions (New York City, Chicago, etc.), search the local licensing authority. There is no national plumber license database.

Plumbing license types

License tiers vary by state but generally follow this progression. Not all states issue all tiers — some states issue only master and contractor licenses, with journeyman status tracked through apprenticeship programs.

License Type	Scope and Requirements
Apprentice Plumber	Works under direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or master plumber; registered with state apprenticeship program; cannot work unsupervised
Journeyman Plumber	Can perform plumbing work independently; typically requires 4–5 years of apprenticeship and a written exam; cannot pull permits in most states
Master Plumber	Full scope of plumbing work; can supervise journeymen and apprentices; typically required to pull permits; requires additional experience and a more rigorous exam
Plumbing Contractor	Business license for operating a plumbing company; typically requires a licensed master plumber as the qualifying individual on record
Residential Plumber	Restricted to residential work; some states issue this as a separate, lower-scope license

State licensing vs. local licensing

Unlike nursing or engineering, plumber licensing authority in the U.S. has not been fully consolidated at the state level. The breakdown:

State-licensed: Texas (TSBPE), California (CSLB for plumbing contractors), Florida (CILB/DBPR), Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, Arizona, and many others issue statewide licenses with central online lookups.
Primarily local: Illinois, New York (outside NYC has state licensing, but NYC has its own system), Massachusetts, and some other states rely primarily on city and county licensing boards. A license issued by the City of Chicago does not authorize work in Evanston.
No statewide licensing: Kansas and a small number of other states have no statewide plumbing license requirement, delegating entirely to municipalities.

The license number format often indicates the issuing authority. Ask the plumber directly which agency issued the license before attempting to verify.

State plumbing board lookup portals

State plumber license lookups (selected)

Texas: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) — tsbpe.texas.gov; License Lookup
California: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — cslb.ca.gov; License Check; search C-36 Plumbing contractors
Florida: Florida DBPR — myfloridalicense.com; search Plumbing Contractor
North Carolina: NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors — ncbephfsc.com; License Search
Oregon: Oregon Building Codes Division — oregon.gov/bcd; Plumbing License Lookup
Washington: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries — verify.lni.wa.gov; Plumbing License
Arizona: Arizona Registrar of Contractors — roc.az.gov; License Search; search Plumbing

Local license portals (selected)

New York City: NYC Department of Buildings — a.bldgs.nyc.gov/bisweb; Master/Licensed Plumber Search
Chicago: City of Chicago Department of Buildings — chicago.gov; Plumbing Contractor License Search
Boston: City of Boston Inspectional Services — boston.gov; Plumber License Lookup

PHCC membership vs. licensure

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) is the primary trade association for plumbing and HVAC contractors. PHCC membership indicates industry participation but does not confirm active licensure.

Similarly, UA (United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters) membership indicates union standing but is separate from and does not substitute for a state or local plumbing license.

Contractor license and insurance verification

When hiring a plumbing contractor rather than an individual plumber, also verify:

Contractor's license: The business entity must hold a plumbing contractor license in states that issue them separately from individual plumber licenses. The qualifying individual (master plumber) must still hold a current individual license.
General liability insurance: Request a certificate of insurance (COI). Standard minimums are $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate. Request to be added as additional insured.
Workers' compensation insurance: Required for contractors with employees. Verify active coverage through the insurer or state workers' comp board.
Surety bond: Many states require licensed plumbing contractors to maintain a surety bond. Bond amount and status are often listed on the contractor license record.

Permit-pulling authority

In most jurisdictions, only a licensed master plumber or licensed plumbing contractor can pull permits for plumbing work. If your project requires permits — and most plumbing work on water supply, drain, waste, and vent systems does — confirm the plumber or contractor you are hiring has permit-pulling authority in the jurisdiction where work will occur.

A journeyman plumber typically cannot pull permits independently. This is one of the most common errors in unlicensed or under-licensed plumbing work.

Verification checklist

1. Determine whether licensing is state-issued or locally issued for the jurisdiction where work will occur
2. Collect the plumber's name and license number
3. Search the state or local plumbing licensing portal — confirm Active status and expiration date
4. Confirm license type is appropriate for the scope of work (journeyman vs. master vs. contractor)
5. For permit-required work, confirm the plumber or contractor has permit-pulling authority
6. For contractor hires, request and verify COI (general liability and workers' comp)
7. Review disciplinary history on the license record

Verify trade school and apprenticeship program accreditation

Plumbers who completed formal training programs at trade schools should have graduated from accredited institutions. Use VerifyED to confirm school accreditation status before accepting educational credentials.

Search Schools and Accreditation →