As a plumber in Mississippi, you must first obtain licensure from the Mississippi Board of Contractors (MSCOB). In Mississippi State, plumbing falls within the category of construction trades; therefore, if you are seeking to get the Mississippi plumbing license, you must meet the requirements governed by the Mississippi Board of Contractors.
In Mississippi State, there are different license depends on whether you are performing commercial or residential construction. Each license has a different application process, test as well as different fees.
Residential plumbers who do more than $10,000 in plumbing work in Mississippi must have a license. While commercial builders need to obtain license if the plumbing works worth more than $50,000.
In this article, we cover how to become a licensed plumber in Mississippi. This includes the license requirements of each level of license. Now, let’s get started!
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How to Get a Plumbing License in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, all contractors are required to have a license issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) if you perform the work on:
- New residential construction over $50,000
- Residential remodelling over $10,000
- Residential roofing over $10,000
If you perform the residential electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work with a total value of less than $10,000, you will not be required to have a state license. However, you must contact the local building official or permit office in order to obtain more information regarding the local requirements.
If you perform the work on commercial construction with a value of over $50,000, you will need the commercial license issued by MSBOC. In addition, the commercial license is also required for any contract that involves the construction, reconstruction, repair, or maintenance of fire protection systems on public projects with a value over $5,000 and private projects with a value over $10,000.
As mentioned above, the plumbing falls under the category of construction trades, thus, it needs to be in accordance with the requirements governed by MSBOC.
In order to get the plumbing license, firstly you need to complete an application form. The application form can be obtained at www.msboc.us. You need to fulfill the requirements set out on the instruction page of the application form.
Below are the requirements before you submit the application form for both commercial and residential licenses:
- Applicants are encouraged to watch a brief instructional video prior to completing the application process. This can found at https://www.msboc.us/.
- You can type or print clearly with ink. You need to answer all questions and put “N/A” where not applicable
- All signatures must be affixed and notarized where indicated
- Applicant must be registered with the Mississippi Secretary of State with proof of good standing if the applicant is a corporation or LLC
- Applicant must provide the Mississippi Income Tax ID Number or Federal Tax ID Number if the applicant is a corporation, LLC, or LLP. If the applicant is a sole proprietor, a list of Social Security Number is required
- Must provide a certificate of insurance showing the current general liability insurance coverage. For commercial licenses, the insurance coverage is $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 on aggregate.
- Must provide a certificate of insurance showing current worker’s compensation coverage if the applicant has 5 employees or more
- Must provide 3 reference letters; one reference letter must be from the bank, two others must be from anyone who worked with/for on construction-related projects
- Applicant must provide proof of experience in any classification of work that the applicant wants to request.
- Must provide proof of employment for each qualifying party (This includes check stub, W2 form, or Owner/Officer listed with the Mississippi Secretary of State.)
- For commercial license, the applicant must provide a reviewed or audited financial statement prepared and signed by the CPA completed within the last 12 months.
- Pay the application fee. For a residential license, the application fee is $50 per one classification and an additional fee of $100 for each additional classification. For a commercial license, the application fee is $400 for one classification and an additional fee of $100 for each additional classification.
You can submit the application form and mail to the following address:
- MSBOC
- P.O. Box 320279
- Jackson, MS 39232-0279
Mississippi License Reciprocity
The state of Mississippi has reciprocity agreements with the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
If you have a license in a comparable classification with the above states, you may be waived for the trade exam. This is only when the reciprocity requirements are met. The reciprocity applies to waive only the trade exam; however, the other requirements are still applied and need to be reviewed by the board.
Mississippi License Renewal
In Mississippi State, before the expiry date of approximately 60 days, MSBOC will mail a renewal application to the current license. The license will need to be renewed on annual basis and the applicant will need to mail the renewal application to MBSOC.
For commercial and residential licenses, the holder can process the late renewal within 180 days upon the expiry date printed on the certificate of licensure. If the holder does not process the renewal within 180 days following the expiry date, the license cannot be renewed. Instead, the applicant will need to submit a new application for licensure.
Salary of Plumber in Mississippi
As of March 29, 2021, the average Plumber wage in Mississippi is $50,688, although the range usually ranges between $44,083 and $57,990. Salary levels differ considerably depending on the city and various other considerations such as qualifications, certifications, additional expertise, and the number of years you’ve worked in your field.
References
- Mississippi State Board of Contractor Website: Frequently Asked Question – https://www.msboc.us/?page_id=13
- Commercial Application – https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Commercial-Application_03_13_20.pdf
- Residential Application – https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Residential-Application_03_13_20.pdf
- Reciprocity – https://www.msboc.us/?page_id=9
- Plumber Salary in Mississippi –https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/plumber-salary/ms
