How To Become a Licensed Plumber In Wisconsin

Are you ready to begin your plumbing career? Plumbing involves a trade school education, an apprenticeship, and knowledge of Wisconsin piping legislation.

There are several options available to assist you in achieving your objectives. Keep reading this post to find out all you can do to get a plumbing license in Wisconsin.

Table of Contents

Wisconsin’s Plumbing Licensing Requirements

To lawfully do any plumbing work in Wisconsin, you must first get a license. Wisconsin uses the term “qualifications” to describe its permits and certificates, which are issued at all levels of the organization, including trainee, craftsman, expert, and subcontractor. People must finish an approved apprenticeship program and prove expertise in the profession after specific school education and training time by getting passed a state-administered admission test before becoming licensed journeyman plumbers. Then more years of industry experience are required to receive a master plumber license, according to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Trades Credentialing Division.

Types for Plumbers in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, there are nine distinct types of plumber licenses. There are three at the apprentice, journeyman, and master levels.

However, major categories are:

Apprentice

Journeyman
Master

Apprentice Plumber License Requirements

You should be at least 18 years old and have graduated from high school or a GED equivalency.

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services requires registration.
Applicants must be engaged in a plumbing apprentice program approved by the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards or the US Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.
Only working under the direction of a professional master plumber is permitted.

You must fill out an application and pay the required costs.
Yearly, the apprentice license must be updated.

Journeyman Plumber License Requirements

A plumbing apprenticeship program certified by the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards or the US Department of Labor must have been completed. It lasts around five years and includes more than 800 hours of supervised training.

To sit the test, you must provide a photocopy of a statement from the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards certifying that you have completed a plumbers apprenticeship program.
You must fill out an application and pay the required costs.
The official test must be taken and passed.

Master Plumber License Requirements

For at three years, you must have at least 1,000 hours of training as a licensed Wisconsin Journeyman Plumber every year; OR
Must hold a degree in civil engineering, mechatronics, or another authorized engineering program relevant to piping from an efficient technical institution or college.
You must fill out the form and pay the required costs.

The state test must be passed.

Details on the Wisconsin Plumber Licensing Exam

DSPS administers the tests for all qualifications. Each one has a specific time restriction and amount of problems on the exam.

The Master Plumber examination lasts the entire day. It is divided into two halves, each having a four-hour time restriction. Part 1 has 110 issues and is given in the early morning; Part 2 has 132 questions shown in the afternoon session. Master Plumber Restricted Appliance and Master Plumber Restricted Service examinations are three hours long and have 70 and 90 questions, correspondingly. All of them have been open-book examinations with a passing score of 70%. The master’s test costs $30.

How to Obtain a Wisconsin Plumber’s License

Apprenticeships for non-restricted licenses are only available to those at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
Enroll in a Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards or US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship-approved apprentice program.
Register to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services for an apprentice membership, complete all procedures and pay the costs. Get apprentice registration and renew it every year for the term of the apprenticeship.

Finish a five-year apprenticeship that the government has approved.
Enroll for the journeyman plumbing test, take it, and pass it.
After completing the examination, pay a discounted fee to acquire your Journeyman Plumber certificate.

As a licensed journeyman, you must have three years of documented job expertise.
Enroll for the Master Plumber certificate, take the test, and pass it.
Submit a reduced cost to acquire your Master Plumber certificate after the examination.

Work for a licensed contractor continuously. OR
If you wish to run your firm, you must be both a Master Plumber and a Dwelling Contractor, according to the DSPS.
You should have workplace injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and confirmation of finances in the form of liability coverage or a security bond to fulfill the Dwelling Contractor standards.

Salary of Plumber in Wisconsin

Plumbers in Wisconsin make an average salary.

As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the yearly median pay for a plumber in Wisconsin is $67,210, more than the state median of $61,000. According to indeed.com, you may anticipate your income to rise as you get more expertise.

Apprentice: In Wisconsin, an apprentice plumber receives an average hourly rate of $21.78 per hr and $5,429 in extra annually.

Journeyman: In Wisconsin, a journeyman plumber earns an estimate of $30.93 per hour and $10,331 in extra hours annually.

Cost to get a plumber’s license

In Wisconsin, the cost of becoming an apprentice is relatively inexpensive. The apprentice registration cost is $15, and you must pay a $15 credential renewal fee each year until your apprenticeship is completed. Apprenticeship programs come with a variety of tuition fees. For example, a five-year plumbing apprenticeship with the Associated Builders of Wisconsin costs around $3,000 each year. Apprentices, on the other hand, get paid while they study.

Any Journeyman Plumber certificate requires a $10 processing fee and a $20 test. You’ll pay a $180 prorated accreditation fee if you sit the test, depending on a four-year term starting March 31.

How long does it take to get a plumber’s license

in Wisconsin?

Completing a recognized apprenticeship and becoming certified as a journeyman plumber will take roughly five years in Wisconsin. It will take three more years to satisfy the qualifying conditions for a master plumbing licensing test. The registration procedure will take longer if you opt to work as a subcontractor. The incredible thing is that as an apprentice, you’ll start receiving money right away, and your payment will increase every year as you get more experience and training until you’re a fully qualified journeyman. When you get your master’s license, it goes up again.

Wisconsin Plumber Training programs and schools

Wisconsin’s apprenticeship website is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Division of Employment & Training. Local apprenticeship committees fund registered apprenticeships in construction vocations, not individual businesses. As a result, candidates for specialized occupations such as plumbing apply directly to their local committee.

Program Prerequisites: You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or a GED (General Educational Development) degree to pursue any of these programs. All candidates must have a valid driver’s license or a letter confirming dependable transportation to work, pass a drug test, and complete algebra in high school or its equivalent.

On-the-Job Experience: You’ll need a strong work ethic, be detail-oriented, have some technical aptitude, and be reasonably fit to work in this position.

License Reciprocity

There are no reciprocity agreements in place between Wisconsin and any other state. Applicants licensed in states with essentially identical licensing criteria, fulfill basic minimum qualifications, and complete the Wisconsin examination are eligible for reciprocal licensure. You should have a valid plumbing license and have done at least eight years of plumbing expertise, according to the Master Plumber application. For at least three of those eight years, you must have worked at least 1,000 hours each year and met the legal criteria of the county, municipality, township, or settlement where you practiced.

Plumbers Insurance in Wisconsin

Plumbers should get liability coverage, generic asset, and personal injuries and sickness insurance.

Continuing Education

Plumbers in Wisconsin require continuing education as a prerequisite of license renewal. You’ll need 24 continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain your master and journeyman plumber credentials every four years. You’ll need 12 CEUs for all of the limited plumber licenses. Continuing education must be obtained from a recognized source.

License Renewal

All plumber certifications are valid for four years and must be renewed by March 31 of the following year. Your credential can be renewed online or by mailing your Renewal Reminder/Application to the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

How To Become a Licensed Plumber In Wisconsin – WI?