Minnesota Plumber License Fees
The Complete Fee Schedule
Minnesota's plumber licensing fees are set by statute (Chapter 326B) and administered through the DLI iMS portal. Here's every fee in the pipeline from first registration to contractor renewal:
Registered Unlicensed Plumber (PA)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial registration | $14 |
| Annual renewal (due June 30) | $19 |
The annual renewal includes submitting your Form CC0100 experience verification and completing two hours of DLI-approved CE. Missing the June 30 deadline can create gaps in your documented experience timeline.
Journeyman Plumber
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam application | $50 |
| Initial license activation | $40 |
| Biennial renewal (Dec 31, odd years) | $53 |
| Late renewal surcharge | $20 |
Each exam attempt costs a fresh $50 fee. If you fail and wait the mandatory 30 days before retaking, you pay again. Three attempts means $150 in exam fees alone.
Master Plumber
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam application | $50 |
| Initial license activation | $80 |
| Biennial renewal (Dec 31, even years) | $93 |
| Late renewal surcharge | $40 |
The master license activation fee is double the journeyman's ($80 vs. $40), and the biennial renewal runs $93 compared to the journeyman's $53.
Plumbing Contractor
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial license application | $188 |
| Biennial renewal (Dec 31, odd years) | $188 |
Contractor fees don't include the cost of the required financial instruments — the $25,000 surety bond (typically $125–$375/year in premiums), general liability insurance, and workers' compensation coverage or exemption documentation are separate business expenses.
The Hidden Cost: Time
The fees themselves are modest. The registrations, exams, activations, and renewals are separate charges at each stage. What makes the system expensive is the administrative overhead: four-plus years of careful hour documentation, annual CE compliance, timely CC0100 filings, and the document alignment required for contractor licensing.
A lost Form CC0100 — an unsigned experience verification from a former employer — doesn't cost a fee. It costs months of career delay while the DLI reviews a dispute. A name mismatch on your contractor insurance certificate doesn't cost a fee either. It costs weeks of back-and-forth with your insurer while your license application sits in limbo.
Paying the Fees
For the filings described above, submit applications and renewals through the DLI iMS portal and follow the current DLI instructions for payment.
The Minnesota Plumber License Guide includes a full cost breakdown by career stage and timeline planning tools for managing the financial and administrative milestones at each transition.
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