Kentucky Journeyman Plumber Requirements

Experience Requirements

To qualify for the Kentucky journeyman plumber exam, you need two consecutive years of experience as a registered apprentice plumber under the direct physical supervision of a licensed journeyman and the general supervision of a licensed master plumber. The key word is "consecutive" — gaps in registration or employment break the clock.

There is an alternative path: complete a DHBC-approved vocational or trade school program, which counts as one year of experience. After that, you need just one additional year as a registered apprentice. Either way, all experience must be documented with employer details, supervising master plumber license numbers, and verifiable employment records (W-2 forms and signed affidavits).

Exam Registration and Fees

Register for the exam by submitting Form PLB-3 to the DHBC Licensing Branch in Frankfort. Include a $50 non-refundable exam fee (payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer) and a passport-sized color photograph taken within the preceding six months. Your form must be received at least three weeks before the scheduled exam date.

Exams are held quarterly — February, May, August, and November — at testing centers in larger Kentucky cities. Check-in starts at 7:30 AM, with testing beginning at 8:00 AM.

What the Exam Covers

The journeyman exam consists of two parts, each lasting 2.5 hours:

Written portion: You receive a prepared drawing showing stacks, wastes, vents, and connected fixtures, then insert the proper pipe sizes throughout the system. Correctly sizing main stacks is the primary focus — both under-sizing and over-sizing cost points. You may bring a tabbed copy of the Kentucky Plumbing Code as your only reference.

Practical portion: You physically demonstrate plumbing connections using various materials. You must bring your own tools and plumbing materials — the DHBC mails the required materials list approximately one week before the exam.

Passing requires 75% overall with a minimum of 70% on each section. Miss that threshold and you can retake, but there is a hard deadline: if you do not pass within one year of your first exam notice, your entire application voids. You would then need to resubmit fees, registration forms, and experience verifications from scratch.

Activating the License

After passing the exam, submit Form PLB-2 (Journeyman Plumber License Application) with:

• A $60 license fee
• Proof of a background check
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or work authorization

What the Journeyman License Authorizes — and Does Not

A Kentucky journeyman plumber can independently perform plumbing installations, alterations, repairs, and maintenance. That independence is real on the job site — you do not need a journeyman or master standing over your shoulder for every connection.

What you cannot do: pull plumbing permits, advertise services independently, contract directly with the public, or operate a plumbing business. All work must be performed under the employment and general oversight of a licensed master plumber. Journeymen who take on side work without a master's supervision risk penalties of up to $1,000 per day under KRS Chapter 318.

The full licensing pathway from journeyman through master plumber and contractor setup is detailed in the Kentucky Plumber License Guide.

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