The Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board oversee and enforce all piping and technical licensing rules in the state. Practitioners must be authorized by both the Board and the Iowa Employment And training Division of Labor, whether or not they are seeking a career in construction.
A state-approved education leads to a journeyman license, which leads to a master’s permission. In contrast to general subcontractors, the following material describes the plumbing-specific way to proceed in Iowa.
In Iowa, there are several different types of plumbers’ licenses.
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What are the many types of plumber licenses available in Iowa?
In Iowa, there are four different types of plumbers’ licenses, plus a permit for a plumbing technician specialty license.
Contractor, Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master
Plumbing Technician Specialty: Disconnect/Reconnect
To be eligible for licensing, each license has particular standards that must be satisfied.
Requirements For A License:
Apprentice
- You have finished high school or a GED comparable.
- A government license and enrollment in the certified United States Labor department Office of Apprentice program are required.
- Under the guidance of a qualified master or journeyperson, may they do work.
- Evidence of felony offenses relating to the practice of the occupation must be submitted, together with a comprehensive explanation.
- After filling out the form, pay the required costs.
- The apprentice license covers all plumbing and electrical system professions. To perform any trade specialties, just one apprentice license is required.
Journeyman
- Your age should exceed 18 to participate.
- He must operate under the supervision of a master licensed in the discipline of the job being conducted for all tasks.
- Any previous criminal offenses must be documented. Candidates with a criminal record will be put to evaluate their suitability for licensing.
- You should first pay the required costs.
- Must give evidence of at least four years of relevant experience as a trainee and confirm completing the Iowa journeyperson test for each vocational field sought to the committee.
- After submitting an Examination Clearance Request, scheduling and passing the exam, and then submitting a Post-Examination Certification Implementation, you must file a Post-Examination Certification Request.
Contractors
- He would have to be 18 years old or older.
- The certification ensures all piping and technical professionals are licensed and enrolled with the Iowa Division of Labor.
- Evidence of past offenses relating to the trade practice must be provided, together with a thorough description.
- You must pay the required costs.
- To be awarded a Division of Labor Contractor Registration Number, you must furnish the proper bond and documentation.
- Even if you don’t have any workers, you must furnish a legitimate unemployment compensation registration.
- The petitioner must show the committee that they have a stable operation situation.
The Procedure for Obtaining a Plumber’s License in Iowa
- You have a secondary school or GED comparable student.
- Participate in an apprenticeship program approved by the Office of Training of the Department Of Labor and Employment.
- Subscribe to the Piping & Mechanical Services Board (PMSB) for an apprentice license by satisfying all criteria and paying the costs. Obtain an apprentice’s permission.
- Operate as a journeyperson or master for four years under the guidance of a competent journeyperson or master.
- Register for a Journey Level license, take the exam and pass it.
- After satisfying all conditions and paying the price, you can apply for a Journey Level post-examination license. Obtain a travel permit.
- He has been practicing as a licensed journeyperson for two years under the guidance of a qualified master.
- Register for an Expert Level license, take the test and complete it.
Details on the Iowa Plumber Licensing Exam
Kirkwood Community College administers the assessment, available at sites around the region. Each test must be passed with a 75% or higher score, and all exams are an open book.
There are 125 topics on Master Plumber with the Gas test. It will take you 5 hours to accomplish. The following topics are covered:
- Terminology
- Specifications
- Fittings and Accessories for Plumbing
- Generators for Water
- Water Transmission and Delivery
- Drainage of Wastewater
- Airflow for External Wastes
- Fighter jets and Snares
- Discharge of Storms
- Pipeline for Fuel and Gas
- Medicinal Gas and Medicinal Extractors in Health Care Facilities
- Alternative Drinking Purposes for Non-Potable Activities Fireproofing Prevention
- Gasoline Pipe Measurement City Water Sizing Drainage, Trash, and Ventilation System Sizing
What Is the Average Plumber Salary in Iowa?
A plumber’s yearly mean pay in Iowa is $54,510, which is lower than the overall of $61,000.
Trainee: In Iowa, a trainee contractor earns an average of $19.93 per hr and $5,500 in extra annually.
Journeyman: In Iowa, a journeyman plumber earns a median of $27.02 per hour and $6,750 in extra annually.
The compensation varies considerably based on the location in which you operate and other aspects such as schooling, credentials, supplementary talents, and the length of time you have worked in your field.
In Iowa, how much does it cost to get a plumber’s license?
In Iowa, the expense of becoming an intern is relatively inexpensive. The fee structure for a three-year apprentice license with the Board is $50, and the charge is adjusted based on when you register throughout the three-year round. Apprenticeship programs come with a variety of tuition fees. Although there are certain expenses for books and materials, your employer or union will cover most of the costs.
The Iowa Department of Economic Development sponsors and maintains the Iowa Jobs Education Program, which offers $1 m in financing each year to assist training programs for qualifying company workers who are registered trainees.
License Reciprocity in Iowa
South Dakota is the only state with which Iowa has a reciprocity agreement for plumbers. In May 2016, the Executive Board authorized the first reciprocal agreement with the South Dakota State Plumbing Council. The deal permits those who earned their license through a knowledge examination to transfer to another state and get similar support without practicing regularly. This implies that if you reached your South Dakota plumbing license through a knowledge examination, you might request reciprocity to receive an Iowa plumbing license without retaking the assessment and vice versa. You must also agree to follow all other Iowa rules and regulations.
The bilateral agreement covers only the journeyperson and master plumbing license criteria.
License Renewal/Continuing Education
Every licensed or controlled trade in Iowa is required by law to receive continuing education as a condition of license renewal. The basic standard for each three-year licensing term for each piping and mechanic systems regulatory license is at least 8 hours of academic learning. Extra hours are necessary for people who have multiple licenses. The committee must pre-approve both the teacher and the program to be legitimate. The council lists some, but not all, of the permitted courses on its web page. Other programs may be offered in your region through your nearest local college, labor union, or organization, as not all teachers want to publish their courses.
Insurance for Plumber in Iowa
As a plumbing professional, you must have enough general liability coverage to help yourself if you cause damage or injury while doing your service. Your insurance should protect any subcontractors you engage if they operate under your direction if you have the correct coverage in place.
Final Verdict
Plumbing license requirements vary from place to place and, in certain situations, from municipality to municipality. Starting at the trainee level, Iowa has stringent statewide rules for operating in the pipeline industry.