California Plumbing License Requirements

Plumbers License California

Inside the State of California a contractors license is required in prior to bidding on commercial, residential, and public works construction involving projects that exceeds $500.  To become a licensed contractor, candidates are required to pass the California plumbers exam and the business and law exam.

Requirements to Get a CA Plumbers License.

To perform plumbing work in the State of California you will either need to register as a Journeyman or meet the requirements for a CA State contractors license. Registration as a journeyman allows you to works inside California on jobs that value no more than $500 in labor and materials. 

A C-36 contractors license is required for projects that exceed $500.In order to become a licensed contractor, candidates will have to sit for the business and law exam and the trade exam.

  • All applicants must be approved by the board, in order to sit for the California plumber exam.
  • All applicants must have at least 4 years experience as a journeyman, foreman or supervisor, contractor, or as an owner-builder to qualify to take the exam.
  • All applicants must have a working capital of at least $2,500. In addition, all applicants must also file a bond with the Registrar in the amount of $10,000.

Work that can be Done Under this License

A plumbing contractor in California provides a means for a supply of safe water and proper disposal of wastes from the premises. This includes gas piping for all units except for forced warm air units. Also places, installs, erects or connects any electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, raceways, conduits, solar photovoltaic cells or any part thereof, which generate, transmit, transform or utilize electrical energy in any form or for any purpose.

California Plumbing Exam Format

The California Plumbing Exam consists of five major sections:

  1. Worker and Job Site Safety
  2. Service, Repair, and Remodel Plumbing Systems
  3. Planning and Estimating
  4. Rough-in Plumbing Systems
  5. Finish Plumbing Installations

Applying to get your plumbing License

The California Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB) offers up to date information about the license application process and presents useful study materials to help you pass the c-36 plumbing license exams.
An application for licensure can be obtained from the California Contractors State License Board website, by calling 1-800-321-CSLB or pick up an application form at the fysical address below:

Contractors State License Board
9821 Business Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95827

Phone: (800) 321-CSLB
Website: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/About_Us/Library/Licensing_Classifications/C-36_-_Plumbing.aspx

Once you are in possession of a California plumbing license the CSLB requires u to renew your license every 2 years.

Plumbing Trade Schools in California

There are plenty of plumbing trade schools that offer a great plumbing education in California. However the state doesn’t officially treat plumbing as a trade and as such apprenticeship programs offered by a trade school or technical college may or may not be state-approved.

Contractors State License Schools
3410 Stevens Creek Blvd King KD2
San Jose, CA 95117

Phone: (408) 247-1242
Website: https://www.contractorslicensingschools.com/

City College of San Francisco
11 Frida Kahlo Way
San Francisco, CA 94112

Phone: (415) 239-3200
Website: https://www.ccsf.edu/

State Licensing and Exams

Licensing and plumbing certification requirements for plumbers are usually determined at the state level and tend to vary slightly from state to state. Often, the job of enforcing and regulating these requirements falls to individual municipalities. To check the requirements for a plumbing license in a particular state select your location and find out How to get a plumbing license in your area..

If you need more information on passing the journeyman plumbing exams then perhaps you might want to read: How To Do The Plumber Journeyman Exam to help you get started as an apprentice plumber or journeyman plumber.

External References

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