Idaho Plumbing License Renewal

The Biennial Transition Changes Everything

If your last Idaho plumbing license renewal followed a triennial (3-year) cycle, that system is going away. Starting with renewals on or after July 1, 2026, DOPL is transitioning all trade licenses — including plumbing — to a biennial (2-year) renewal cycle.

The transition doesn't happen all at once. It's staggered by birth year:

• Even-year births (1980, 1982, 1994, etc.): Transition to the 2-year cycle during even-numbered years. Your first biennial renewal lands in 2026, 2028, etc.
• Odd-year births (1981, 1983, 1995, etc.): Transition during odd-numbered years. Your first biennial renewal lands in 2027, 2029, etc.

Business and contractor registrations transition based on their original issue date.

Under the new system, your license expires on your birthday in your renewal year, not on a fixed calendar date. Log into your DOPL customer account at edopl.idaho.gov to see exactly when your specific transition occurs.

How Fees Change

When your license moves to the 2-year cycle, the renewal fee doubles to cover both years upfront. The per-year rate stays the same — you're just paying for two years at once instead of one.

The initial license fees (what you pay when you first obtain a license) remain separate from renewal fees. These adjusted renewal amounts apply only when your license comes up for its biennial renewal.

How to Renew Online

The renewal process runs through DOPL's online portal:

1. Log into your customer account at edopl.idaho.gov
2. Navigate to your active plumbing license
3. Confirm your contact information and any business entity details (for contractors)
4. Pay the renewal fee
5. Your renewed license is issued electronically

There is no paper renewal form to mail in. The entire process is online through the DOPL portal.

DOPL's Current No-CE Position

This is the part that catches the most people off guard: DOPL's current published position is that there are no continuing education requirements for plumbing. The official DOPL guidance states plainly that there are no continuing education requirements for plumbing.

Under that current DOPL position, you do not need to complete 8 hours (journeyman) or 16 hours (contractor) of CE to renew. Multiple national trade education providers and insurance company blogs still advertise Idaho plumbing CEU courses; verify the current CE status in your DOPL portal because rules remain fluid during the ongoing review.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

If your license expires before you renew, you cannot legally perform plumbing work until the license is reinstated. Any work done during a lapsed period creates compliance exposure for both you and the contractor you work for.

Reinstatement fees match the initial license fee for your category:

• Journeyman: $29.40 reinstatement fee
• Contractor: $147.00 reinstatement fee

For contractors, a lapse also affects your business registration. If the qualifying plumber's license expires, the business's contractor registration becomes invalid until the license is reinstated and the qualifying plumber is re-designated.

Contractor Renewal: Additional Checks

Contractor renewals carry two additional requirements beyond paying the fee:

Bond verification. Your $2,000 surety compliance bond must remain active for the full license period. If your bond expires or is cancelled, your contractor registration is at risk regardless of your license renewal status.

Insurance verification. Your general liability insurance (minimum $300,000) must also remain current. An insurance lapse can trigger a stop-work order and loss of permitting privileges with local building departments.

Both the bond and insurance are continuous obligations — they don't renew on the same schedule as your license, so track them separately.

For step-by-step renewal instructions and a calendar tool to calculate your transition date, the Idaho Plumber License Guide includes a biennial transition planner keyed to your birth year.

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