Kentucky Plumber CE Providers and Approved Courses

Several national CE providers sell 6-hour plumbing renewal packages marketed to Kentucky plumbers. The problem is that Kentucky requires 8 hours — and completing only 6 puts your license in delinquent status even if you renewed on time and paid every fee.

The 8-Hour Requirement Under 815 KAR 20:032

Kentucky administrative regulation 815 KAR 20:032 mandates eight hours of approved continuing education annually for both journeyman and master plumbers. The hours must be completed within the 12 months before your license expiration date (the last day of your birth month).

The breakdown differs by license tier:

• Journeyman plumbers — Minimum 2 hours of trade-specific job safety training. The remaining 6 hours can cover the Kentucky State Plumbing Code, safety, or trade-specific subjects.
• Master plumbers — All 8 hours must cover business management, accounting, job safety, code updates, or trade-specific material.
• Dual license holders — If you hold both a journeyman and master license, the master CE requirements (8 hours) satisfy both renewals.

Why 6-Hour Packages Exist

National CE mills market "6-hour Kentucky plumbing renewal" courses because 6 hours is the non-safety portion of the journeyman requirement. They advertise the 6-hour package as sufficient, sometimes assuming the plumber will get their 2 safety hours elsewhere, sometimes not mentioning the gap at all.

If you complete only 6 hours — even from a state-approved provider — the DHBC will flag your renewal as incomplete. You'll owe the missing hours plus potentially face late fees and a delinquent license status until the gap is resolved.

What Makes a Provider "Approved"

Under 815 KAR 20:034, continuing education providers must be approved by the DHBC. Requirements include:

• Curriculum submitted to and approved by the state plumbing board
• Secure online verification if courses are delivered digitally
• Course completion records submitted directly to the DHBC

Before purchasing any course, verify that the provider submits completions to the DHBC and that the total package covers all 8 hours (or that you have a separate plan for any remaining safety hours). The safest approach is an 8-hour bundle from a single approved provider.

Carry-Forward Rules

If you complete more than 8 hours in a given year, Kentucky allows you to carry forward a maximum of 12 excess hours into the next two successive educational years. This is a genuine benefit — banking a few extra hours during a lighter work season means you can absorb a busy year where finding time for CE is harder.

The carry-forward is capped at 12 hours total, not 12 per year. Once you've carried 12 hours forward, any additional excess expires.

What Happens If You Fall Behind

Missing the CE deadline before your birth month puts your license in delinquent status. Reinstatement requires:

• Paying the standard renewal fee
• Paying a late fee ($5 for master plumbers, $3 for journeymen)
• Completing all delinquent CE hours, capped at 40 hours maximum regardless of how many years you've lapsed

If you don't want to complete back CE, you can place your license in inactive status ($125 for master, $30 for journeyman). Inactive status exempts you from CE requirements, but you cannot perform work, pull permits, or advertise your services.

The Kentucky Plumber License Guide includes a CE tracking worksheet and the full renewal timeline, so you never have to wonder whether your hours are current.

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