Similar to other states, to become a licensed plumber in Massachusetts, you will need to meet certain requirements. The Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Division of Professional Licensure governs the licensing process in Massachusetts. You must complete a training curriculum that incorporates education and on-the-job learning to become a professional trade worker. The state requires plumbers must be approved.
While each state has its licensing scheme, the licensing standards are identical across the board. However, the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure deviates from the conventional process somewhat when it comes to applications to become a plumber. Also, similar to being a general contractor in Massachusetts, one of the first choices could be whether you want to work for a corporation or start your own company.
In this article, we cover how to become a licensed plumber in Massachusetts. This starts from being an apprentice to a journeyman and finally a master plumber. So let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Basic Requirements
A plumber in school is first referred to as an apprentice. To obtain on-the-job experience, an apprentice works closely with more seasoned plumbers. Apprentices are often taught in a classroom environment. Massachusetts state law now mandates 110 hours of classroom teaching and 1,700 hours of on-the-job experience each year for five years, which works out to around 35 hours a week between school and work. Apprenticeships are paying jobs in which you are compensated for the time spent training and studying the ropes. Without being enrolled in school, you can be hired as an apprentice, but you must begin your classroom studies within nine months of being hired.
You can serve as a certified apprentice for ten years, but you will need to earn a journeyman license if you want to stay in the plumbing industry. Since completing all of the apprenticeship classroom and job conditions, you must take an exam.
How to Get a Plumbing License in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, there are 3 types of licenses are available from the Department of Registration of Plumbers. These are apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber.
Massachusetts Apprentice Plumber License Requirements
To become an apprentice plumber, you will need to complete professional training on the job under the direct supervision of a master plumber. An apprentice plumber perform simple tasks; for instance, pipe assembly and bending, etc… Instead of designing structures, the apprentice will learn how to evaluate them. You can qualify for your apprentice license after completing 5,100 hours of monitoring plumbing work. Apprenticeships take four to five years to complete.
Below are the requirements as an apprenticeship in Massachusetts:
- You will need to have a high school diploma or GED;
- Provide enrolment status at vocational high school;
- Having completed 550 hours of apprentice education training and 8,500 hours of work experience;
- Provide a statement of employing master form;
- Provide criminal offender record information (CORI) acknowledge form;
- Complete the application online;
- Pay license application fee of $14
Massachusetts Journeyman Plumber License Requirements
After working as an apprentice plumber for at least 3 years, you are eligible to apply to become a licensed journeyman plumber. A journeyman plumber may do any plumbing job; however, he must be under direct supervision from a master plumber particularly in positions that are more difficult. The application process to becoming a journeyman plumber will need to process through the Massachusetts E-Licensing and E-Permitting Portal, or ePLACE.
Below are the requirements to get a licensed journeyman plumber in Massachusetts:
- Provide an Education Verification Form. This form needs to be signed by an official at your school;
- Provide a Statement of Experience Form. This needs to be signed by your supervising master plumber;
- Passport photo of 2×2;
- CORI Acknowledge Form;
- Pay the exam application fee of $31
Once your application is submitted, the board will need to review and approve to take the exam. If your application is not approved due to incomplete information or does not meet the requirement or experience, the board will notify you by mail. The incomplete application will be kept only for up to 180 days.
After your application is approve, you will need to take the journeyman plumber’s exam. You can take the exam by register online or in person.
After you pass the journeyman plumbing examination, you will get your journeyman plumber license by submitting the license fee online or in person. The journeyman license fee is $52.
Now, after fulfilling all the requirements, you become a licensed journeyman plumber and can perform the work under the scope of the journeyman plumber in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Master Plumber License Requirements
The master plumber is the most advanced level of plumbing certification. Master plumbers have met all of the job’s preparation and schooling requirements and are self-contained. As a master plumber, you have the choice of working for yourself or someone else. Master plumbers are also capable of supervising and educating apprentice and journeyman plumbers. You may also choose to specialize in any plumbing-related occupations, such as commercial, automotive, or medical plumbing.
Below are the requirements to get the licensed master plumber in Massachusetts:
- Provide the Statement of Experience and Education Verification Form. This needs to be completed with your Journeyman Plumber License Number and signed by an official at your school and your plumbing instructor.
- Submit a Notarized Criminal Offender Record Information Acknowledgement (CORI) Form
- Provide a 2 x 2-inch color passport photo
- Provide a copy of your DD form 214 for veterans
- Pay the application fee of $31
After submitting the application form, the board will review and if you application is accept, you will need to register to take the exam.
However, if your application is not approved due to incomplete information or does not meet the requirement or experience, the board will notify you by mail. The incomplete application will be kept only for up to 180 days.
The master plumbing examination is managed by a third-party agency called PSI Exams. If you don’t pass the exam, you may retake it within 12 months after your exam application as approved by the board.
After you pass the master plumbing exam, you can get your license by submitting the license fee of $78.
Salary of Plumber in Massachusetts
The average hourly wage for an apprentice plumber is $17.66. The average plumber wage in Massachusetts is around $40 per hour for a journeyman or master plumber. In determining his or her rate, a self-employed master plumber has more freedom.
Plumbers’ Insurance in Massachusetts
For plumbers, it is unavoidable to get insurance. If you work for a firm, you might be eligible for coverage. Whether you live on your own, you’ll need to get insurance.
Health and disability benefits are also required for plumbers. There is still the danger of injuries while dealing with heavy materials and welding tools.
Massachusetts License Renewal
The journeyman and master plumbing license must be renewed every 2 years. The Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters will mail you the license renewal notices upon completing your continuing education requirements. You must renew your license and pay the renewal fee online and the following steps:
- You need to complete all required continuing education credits by the end of the current renewal cycle.
- For both new and existing ePLACE accounts.
- Must provide the Record ID and Authorization Code for your license.
Reference
- Plumber Licensing of Massachusetts State – https://www.mass.gov/plumber-licensing
- Statement of Employing Master Plumber Form – https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/05/31/Shortened%20Application%20for%20Apprentice%20Plumber.pdf
- Criminal Offender Record Information Acknowledge Form – https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/11/25/Updated%20CORI%20Form.pdf
