Mississippi Plumbing License Requirements

Mississippi Doesn't Have a State Plumbing Board

If you've been searching for a "Mississippi State Board of Plumbing Examiners," you can stop. It doesn't exist. Several licensing blogs and generic directories reference one, but the statutory chapters they cite (Title 73, Chapters 19 and 21 of the Mississippi Code) actually govern optometrists and pharmacists.

Mississippi uses a dual-tier system instead. State-level business licensing runs through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC). Individual trade credentials — journeyman and master plumber cards — are issued by local municipalities, not the state.

Understanding which tier applies to your situation is the first requirement.

When You Need a State Contractor License

The MSBOC licenses business entities, not individual tradespeople. You need a state contractor license when the total contract value of your work exceeds specific thresholds:

• Commercial projects: over $50,000
• New residential construction: over $50,000
• Residential remodeling: over $10,000
• Residential subcontracting: $10,000 or more for plumbing specialty work

If all your work falls below these thresholds, you don't need a state license — but you almost certainly need a local one.

State License Requirements (MSBOC)

To get an MSBOC plumbing contractor license, you need:

Business entity registration. Choose a business structure recognized by MSBOC (LLC, corporation, LLP, or sole proprietorship). Corporations and LLCs must register with the Mississippi Secretary of State and maintain active, good-standing status.

A qualifying party. One person — an owner, officer, or W-2 managing employee — serves as the "qualifier" and takes the state exams on behalf of the business. The MSBOC requires proof of active employment (recent check stub, W-2, or Secretary of State listing).

Financial statement. For commercial and mechanical classifications, a certified public accountant must prepare a reviewed or audited statement dated within the prior 12 months showing minimum net worth of $20,000 for a plumbing specialty or $50,000 for a mechanical contractor classification; compiled statements are rejected. Residential applications use a dated GAAP balance sheet showing $20,000 net worth, and a formal CPA review is not strictly mandated.

General liability insurance. Minimum $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate, with MSBOC listed as the certificate holder.

Workers' compensation insurance. Required if you employ five or more workers.

State sales tax or use tax number. For commercial operations, obtain the required number from the Mississippi Department of Revenue before the license is issued.

Three references. Including at least one bank reference.

Application fee. $400 for commercial, $50 for residential.

Two state exams through PSI for a standard application (reciprocity may waive the trade exam):

• Mississippi Law and Business Management — 50 questions, 120 minutes, 70% passing score
• Plumbing Trade Exam — 70 questions, 180 minutes, 70% passing score

Both exams are open-book.

Local Trade Card Requirements

Because Mississippi has no statewide individual plumber license, your journeyman or master plumber credential comes from whatever city or county you work in.

Typical local requirements include:

• 8,000 to 10,000 documented OJT hours under a licensed plumber (employer letters, supervisor sign-offs, W-2 records)
• 144 hours of related technical instruction per year during your apprenticeship
• A local trade exam — most municipalities use ICC or SBCCI-proctored exams based on the International Plumbing Code, requiring a 70% to 75% passing score
• A surety bond registered with the local permit department (amounts vary: $5,000 in Tupelo and Vicksburg, $10,000 in Southaven)
• Local liability insurance (minimums vary by city — Jackson requires $500,000/$1,000,000, while Gulfport requires $100,000/$300,000)

The local master plumber card is what allows you to pull permits and supervise apprentices in that jurisdiction. It doesn't transfer automatically to other cities — though MS Code Ann. § 27-17-457 provides some reciprocal recognition between municipalities.

The Experience Documentation Trap

The single most common problem: applicants can't prove their hours. Years of hands-on work mean nothing if you don't have the paperwork.

Start collecting documentation from day one:

• Employer letters confirming dates and hours worked
• Supervisor signature logs for each quarter or year
• W-2 tax records showing employment periods
• Certified payroll records if available

Local examining boards validate these records when you apply for your trade card. The MSBOC separately requires three references, including at least one bank reference, for the state contractor application. Different systems, different documentation — and both are mandatory if you're building an independent plumbing business.

Putting It Together

The practical sequence for most Mississippi plumbers runs:

1. Register as a local apprentice and accumulate 8,000–10,000 hours
2. Pass the local journeyman exam and get your municipal trade card
3. Work additional years under a licensed master
4. Pass the local master exam and register your bond
5. Form a business entity and register with the Secretary of State
6. Get the financial statement required for your classification and insurance
7. Submit the MSBOC application only when you can complete the remaining requirements within 180 days
8. Pass the required PSI exams (reciprocity may waive the trade exam)

The Mississippi Plumber License Guide maps out this full sequence with checklists for each phase, including the CPA financial prep and the 180-day application timeline.

See more Mississippi guides →