Idaho Plumbing Continuing Education

Idaho's Current Plumbing CEU Position

If you've been told you need 8 or 16 hours of continuing education to renew your Idaho plumbing license, you're working from outdated information under the current DOPL position. The official guidance states that there are no Continuing Education Requirements (CEU) for plumbing.

The official DOPL position is unambiguous: "There are no Continuing Education Requirements (CEU) for plumbing."

Because rulemaking remains fluid, verify the current CE status for your license category in your DOPL portal before renewal.

Why the Confusion Persists

The disconnect between what Idaho actually requires and what the internet says is striking. Multiple national exam-prep providers, trade blogs, and insurance company resource pages still state that Idaho journeymen must complete 8 hours of continuing education every three years (4 hours of code updates and 4 hours of industry-related subjects) and that contractors must complete 16 hours.

These sources are citing requirements that existed before Idaho's Zero-Based Regulation (ZBR) initiative prompted extensive administrative-code reviews. The ongoing review is why older industry guidance and the current DOPL position diverge.

The problem is that national content platforms — the ones that rank well in Google for queries like "Idaho plumbing continuing education" — update slowly or not at all. Some are actively selling CEU course packages for a state that doesn't require them.

What This Means for Your Renewal

When your Idaho plumbing license comes up for renewal, the process is straightforward: log into your DOPL customer account at edopl.idaho.gov, pay the renewal fee, and confirm your information is current. Under DOPL's current published position, no CE verification is required; check the portal for the current status before renewing.

If a third-party service contacts you about mandatory CE hours for Idaho, they're either misinformed or selling something you don't need.

The Biennial Transition Adds Another Layer

Adding to the confusion, DOPL is simultaneously transitioning all trade licenses from triennial (3-year) to biennial (2-year) renewal cycles. Starting with renewals on or after July 1, 2026, licenses transition based on your birth year — even-year births renew in even-numbered years, odd-year births in odd-numbered years.

This transition changes when you renew and how much you pay (the fee doubles to cover two years upfront). DOPL's current published position remains that there are no CE requirements for plumbing, but rules can shift during the ongoing review.

Should You Take CE Courses Anyway?

The current no-CE position means you should distinguish a state requirement from voluntary professional development — code changes happen, materials evolve, and staying current on the Uniform Plumbing Code amendments protects you from inspection failures on the job.

The distinction is between a state mandate (which DOPL's current guidance does not list) and a professional choice (which is yours to make). Before paying for a course because someone says Idaho requires it, check the current DOPL position.

For a full breakdown of the renewal process, fee schedule, and how the biennial transition affects your specific license, the Idaho Plumber License Guide covers every step of maintaining your Idaho plumbing credential.

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