Washington plumbing license requirements and insurance
To work for yourself as a plumber in Washington, you need the Plumbing Contractor License license. Washington has 6 plumbing license types, and which one you need depends on the work you take on. The state's minimum liability insurance is $200,000 for injury and $50,000 for property damage, and workers' comp is required as soon as you hire one employee. A $6,000 bond is required.
1Who needs a plumbing license in Washington? What is this?
Plumbing Contractor License: any business that does, offers, or advertises plumbing work. This is the license that lets you run a plumbing company
| License | Who needs it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Contractor License | Any business that does, offers, or advertises plumbing work. This is the license that lets you run a plumbing company | Plumbing work as defined in RCW 18.106, meaning water, drain, waste, vent, and medical gas piping inside buildings. Natural gas piping is not covered by this definition |
| Journey Level Plumber (PL01) | The card that lets you do any plumbing work and supervise trainees. Most businesses name a journey level plumber as their designated plumber | All plumbing work, residential and commercial |
| Residential Plumber (PL02) | Lets you do plumbing in houses and other residential buildings up to three stories. A business can use a residential plumber as its designated plumber | Residential buildings up to three stories |
| Residential Service Plumber (PL04) | Lets you repair and replace existing fixtures in single-family homes and duplexes, clean drains, and fix leaks. Not new installs | Service, repair, and replacement of existing plumbing in single-family homes and duplexes |
| Plumber Trainee | Everyone learning the trade. You cannot touch plumbing work in Washington without a trainee card or a plumber card, plus photo ID on you | Any plumbing work, under the direct supervision of a certified plumber |
| Other plumber specialties (pump and irrigation PL03, domestic well PL03A, backflow PL30, medical gas endorsement MG01) | Niche cards. Pump and irrigation needs 4,000 hours, domestic well 2,000 hours, backflow needs an active backflow assembly tester certificate, and medical gas needs a 32-hour approved course on top of a plumber card | — |
2Who issues plumber licenses in Washington? What is this?
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Plumber Certification Program and Contractor Registration issues plumbing licenses in Washington.
See how this compares in every state: How to check a contractor's license, state by state
| Name | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Plumber Certification Program and Contractor Registration |
|---|---|
| Website | lni.wa.gov |
| Look up a license | secure.lni.wa.gov |
| The law | RCW chapter 18.106 (plumbers and plumbing contractors) and RCW chapter 18.27 (contractor registration) |
| The rulebook | WAC chapter 296-400A (plumbers) and WAC chapter 296-200A (contractor registration) |
3How to become a plumber in Washington What is this?
Washington has 6 licenses that matter to a plumber: Plumbing Contractor License, Journey Level Plumber (PL01), Residential Plumber (PL02), Residential Service Plumber (PL04), Plumber Trainee, Other plumber specialties (pump and irrigation PL03, domestic well PL03A, backflow PL30, medical gas endorsement MG01). Each is below, with what you need before you apply.
| License | Experience required | Training required | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Contractor License | None for the business itself. You must employ, full time, one person who holds a journey level or specialty plumber card and name that person to L&I as your designated plumber | None | No |
| Journey Level Plumber (PL01) | 8,000 hours (four years or more) as a plumber trainee under a certified journey level plumber. L&I expects at least 4,000 of those hours on commercial or industrial work | None required beyond the trainee's yearly classes. An approved apprenticeship or trade course can count toward the hours | Yes, an L&I exam run by PSI at PSI test centers. Closed book |
| Residential Plumber (PL02) | 6,000 hours (three years or more) as a plumber trainee under a certified plumber | None beyond the trainee's yearly classes | Yes, an L&I exam run by PSI. Closed book |
| Residential Service Plumber (PL04) | 4,000 hours (two years or more) as a trainee under a journey level, specialty, or residential service plumber | None beyond the trainee's yearly classes | Yes, an L&I exam run by PSI |
| Plumber Trainee | None. Be 16 or older | 8 hours of approved classes each year to renew. Over two years that must include 8 hours of plumbing code and 4 hours of electrical safety | No |
| Other plumber specialties (pump and irrigation PL03, domestic well PL03A, backflow PL30, medical gas endorsement MG01) | — | — | — |
4How much does a plumbing license cost in Washington? What is this?
The government fees on this page add up to about $706 in Washington. Add insurance, tools, and a vehicle to get the real number.
| License | Application | First certificate | Renewal | Late renewal | Backflow certificate | Naming your designated plumber | Exam application | Booking the exam (PSI) | Medical gas add-on, application | Medical gas certificate | Pump certificate | Retest after a lapse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Contractor License | $148.1 | — | $139.1 | — | — | $53.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Journey Level Plumber (PL01) | — | $242.7 | $242.7 | Double the renewal fee. After 90 days you must retest | — | — | $202.1 | null | — | — | — | $189.8 |
| Residential Plumber (PL02) | — | $242.7 | $242.7 | — | — | — | $202.1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Residential Service Plumber (PL04) | — | $242.7 | $242.7 | — | — | — | $202.1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Plumber Trainee | — | $60 | $60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Other plumber specialties (pump and irrigation PL03, domestic well PL03A, backflow PL30, medical gas endorsement MG01) | — | — | — | — | $167.4 | — | $202.1 | — | $74.3 | $166.9 | $242.8 | — |
Added up
| Government fees, added up | $706 |
|---|
Does not include the PSI scheduling fee, the $6,000 bond premium, insurance premiums, workers' comp, tools, a vehicle, or city permits. Add $150.20 if you also register as a general contractor
5How much plumbing insurance do you need in Washington? What is this?
The least liability insurance Washington lets a plumber work with is $200,000 for injury and $50,000 for property damage. Most customers ask for more. Workers' comp is required as soon as you hire one employee.
| Minimum liability insurance (injury) | $200,000 |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability insurance (property damage) | $50,000 |
| Or one combined limit of | $250,000 |
| Type of policy | General liability insurance |
| Who this applies to | The plumbing contractor license holder, meaning the business. The statute writes it as $100,000 for one person, $200,000 for more than one person, and $50,000 property damage |
| Who must be named on the certificate | File the insurance certificate with L&I. If the policy lapses or is canceled, the license is suspended until a new policy is filed |
| Workers' comp required? | Yes, as soon as you hire one employee. Coverage comes only from the L&I state fund. Private workers' comp policies are not allowed in Washington |
| Who can opt out |
|
·5 official pages
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/licensed-plumbing-contractor/licensing-requirements
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.420
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/do-i-need-a-workers-comp-account/
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/how-to-get-a-workers-compensation-account
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=51.12.020
6Does Washington check your credit for a plumber license? What is this?
Washington does not check your credit for this license.
| Credit score you need | None |
|---|---|
| If your score is lower | Instead of a surety bond you can file an assigned savings account with L&I for the same amount |
7Does a plumber need a bond in Washington? What is this?
Washington requires a bond of $6,000. A bond is a promise, backed by an insurance company, that customers can be paid if you do not finish the job.
| Does the state require a bond? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Amount | $6,000 |
A continuous plumbing contractor surety bond (a promise, backed by an insurance company, that customers can be paid if you do not finish or do bad work) of $6,000, or an assigned savings account instead. This is for the plumbing contractor license only. If you also do non-plumbing construction you need a separate contractor registration under RCW 18.27 with its own bond, $30,000 for a general contractor or $15,000 for a specialty contractor. Cities may ask for more before they let you pull permits
8Where must a Washington plumber show the license number? What is this?
In Washington: if you hold a contractor registration under RCW 18.27, every ad that shows your name or address must show your registration number, and so must every flyer or mailer sent to homeowners. Vehicle signs and signs on your own building are exempt. For a plumbing contractor license under RCW 18.106 the state's pages give no number-display rule, so check WAC 296-400A before printing.
| The rule |
|
|---|---|
| If you forget | Up to $10,000 per violation after a hearing. Not charged for an honest mistake |
| Written notice you must give the customer | Before starting any home job of $1,000 or more, or a commercial job of $1,000 to $60,000, you must hand the customer a written disclosure statement about bonds, insurance, and liens. Without it you cannot file a lien on that job |
9Does a plumber charge sales tax on labor in Washington? What is this?
In Washington, taxed. Same rule as above. The rest of the rules are below.
See how this compares in every state: Can you charge sales tax on labor? The rule in 25 states
| Building for a customer | You charge retail sales tax on the whole contract price, labor and materials, and show it as a separate line on the invoice. This is called retail or custom construction and covers most jobs a plumber does for a homeowner or a business |
|---|---|
| Labor on homes (repairs and remodels) | Taxed. Same rule as above |
| Repairs and remodels on businesses | Taxed. Same rule as above |
| Labor on new buildings | Taxed when you work for the landowner or a prime contractor. Building on land you own to sell (speculative building) is taxed differently |
| Materials | You buy materials that become part of the building tax-free with a reseller permit. You pay sales tax on tools, supplies, and anything you use up on the job |
| Business and occupation tax | Your gross receipts from custom construction are also taxed under the Retailing B&O classification, a tax on the business itself that you do not pass to the customer |
| Tax rate | 6.5 percent state rate plus the local rate for the job site |
10Getting paid: lien and notice deadlines for a Washington plumber What is this?
If you are not paid in Washington, a lien on the property is your backstop, but only if your notice goes out on time: send it early. The notice only protects work done in the 60 days before you send it, so anything older is lost (work started on March 1 and notice sent on June 1 covers only work from April 2 onward). On a new single-family house it covers only the 10 days before the notice.
- Day 0Your first day on the job
The clock starts here.
- Day 60Send your notice
Send it early. The notice only protects work done in the 60 days before you send it, so anything older is lost (work started on March 1 and notice sent on June 1 covers only work from April 2 onward). On a new single-family house it covers only the 10 days before the notice
- Day 90File your lien
Record the lien with the county where the property sits within 90 days of your last day of work or last delivery (last work on June 1 means the lien is recorded by August 30)
Each day count is counted from the day the rule beside it names, which is not always the same day. Read the sentence under each one.
| Who has to send a notice |
|
|---|---|
| Send your notice by |
|
| File your lien by | Record the lien with the county where the property sits within 90 days of your last day of work or last delivery (last work on June 1 means the lien is recorded by August 30) |
11How do you renew a plumbing license in Washington? What is this?
The Plumbing Contractor License renews every 2 years (the license expires 24 months after it is issued). No training hours are required.
| License | Renewal | Training hours each year | Training hours each renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Contractor License | Every 2 years (the license expires 24 months after it is issued) | — | — |
| Journey Level Plumber (PL01) | Every 3 years, on your birthday | — | — |
| Residential Plumber (PL02) | Every 3 years, on your birthday | — | — |
| Residential Service Plumber (PL04) | Every 3 years | — | — |
| Plumber Trainee | Annual (the card lasts 12 months). File your affidavit of experience, the form that reports your supervised hours, at least once a year and within 30 days of your renewal date | — | — |
| Other plumber specialties (pump and irrigation PL03, domestic well PL03A, backflow PL30, medical gas endorsement MG01) | Every 3 years | — | — |
Renewal fees are in what the license costs. The official page for each license is linked under how you get it.
12What catches people out in Washington What is this?
The things people get wrong or do not expect about Washington, in a few sentences.
- Washington charges sales tax on your labor. On a normal job for a customer you collect retail sales tax on the whole bill, labor and materials, and buy the materials tax-free with a reseller permit. The rule is the same for a house and for a business.
- A plumbing business needs a plumbing contractor license from L&I, with a $6,000 bond. That is separate from the general contractor registration, which now needs a $30,000 bond. If you only do plumbing you need only the plumbing license.
- Journey level takes 8,000 hours, about four years, and the state expects half of it on commercial or industrial work. Residential takes 6,000 hours and residential service 4,000 hours.
- Plumber cards run three years and cost $242.70 to renew. You need 24 hours of classes in that time, and four of those hours must be about electrical safety.
- Workers' comp comes only from the L&I state fund. You cannot buy a private policy. You need an account as soon as you hire one employee.
- On any job of $1,000 or more you must hand the customer a written disclosure statement before you start. If you skip it you cannot file a lien on that job.
·7 official pages
- dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/construction/custom-construction
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/licensed-plumbing-contractor/licensing-requirements
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.040
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-certification/
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-certification/get-or-renew-your-certification
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/do-i-need-a-workers-comp-account/
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.114
13Where these numbers come from
The labels under each table are explained on how to read a page.
- dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/construction/custom-construction
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/licensed-plumbing-contractor/licensing-requirements
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.040
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-certification/
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-certification/get-or-renew-your-certification
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/do-i-need-a-workers-comp-account/
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.114
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.400
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.010
- app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-400A-045
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-examination
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/continuing-education
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.040
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.070
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-certification/plumber-trainee
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.020
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.420
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/how-to-get-a-workers-compensation-account
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=51.12.020
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.410
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.100
- dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/construction
- dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/retail-sales-tax
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=60.04.031
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=60.04.091