Becoming a plumber in Louisiana is a rewarding career choice for those who aren’t afraid of a little hands-on work.
Just like medics do for our health, plumbers ensure our residences have efficient heating, sanitation, and water systems.
They’re the unsung heroes fixing burst pipes and maintaining these crucial household systems.
To become a plumber in Louisiana, the path involves specific steps and qualifications unique to the state’s regulations and demands.
From apprenticeships to licensing, understanding these requirements is vital.
This article will help you on your journey to becoming a plumber in Louisiana.
Table of Contents
How to Become a Plumber in Louisiana – Step by Step
To begin your journey into the plumbing career in Louisiana you must be at least 16 years old.
Plumbing training in Louisiana lasts for 5 years.
For your training, you can choose to:
- Enroll in an apprenticeship program that lasts 5 years
- Work under the supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber for 5 years have 8,000 hours of work completed total and have proof of it
If you decide to choose an apprenticeship program you must register as an apprentice plumber with the State Plumbing Board.
Some apprenticeship programs will allow you to start at the age of 16 while others will require you to be 18 years old before you can start.
Whichever way of training you choose you must complete the 5 year training process before applying for any of the plumbing licenses the state offers.
Louisiana issues the following plumbing licenses:
- Journeyman Plumber License
- Master Plumber License
Journeyman Plumber License
To apply for your Journeyman Plumber License you must be a currently registered apprentice and have either completed your plumbing training or are in your final year of finishing your plumbing training.
Submit an application to the board at least 30 days before your desired exam date and pay the $135 exam fee.
The trade exam consists of 2 parts:
- Written exam
- Hands-on practical exam
The written exam portion consists of 80 questions, and there is a 3-hour time limit.
The exam consists of questions from the following materials:
- 2015 International Plumbing Code (IPC)
- 2015 International Residential Code (IRC)
- Louisiana Title 17, Construction (Last amended December 2019)
The practical, hands-on portion of the exam consists of:
- Floor Plan Project
- Screw Pipe Project
- Copper Project
You will be notified if you have passed the exam and will need to submit a licensure form with a $50 fee.
After passing the exam you will have 90 days to submit your licensure form, If those 90 days pass your exam scores will no longer be valid and you will have to retake the exam.
If you fail the exam, you will get an application to retake the exam along with information about your failed results.
If you have only passed one of the two portions on the exam the passing score will only be valid for 1 year. To maintain the passing score, you will need to retake the exam within that year.
Master Plumber License
To get your Master Plumber License you must either be a:
- Currently licensed Journeyman Plumber
- Currently licensed Engineer from the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board
The process for applying and taking the exam is the same as for a journeyman.
Submit an application to the board at least 30 days before your desired exam date and pay the $110 exam fee.
The exam for Master Plumbers consists of 3 parts, all written test questions.
Part 1 from the exam
Part 1 consists of 80 questions, and has a 3-hour time limit.
Questions are taken out from the following materials:
- 2015 International Plumbing Code
- 2015 International Residential Code
- Louisiana Title 17: Construction (December 2019)
Part 2 of the exam
The second part of the exam consists of 25 questions and has a 2-hour time limit.
The questions have been taken out of the Title 51 Public Health Sanitary Code (Part 13).
Part 3 of the exam
The third part consists of 40 questions and has a 2-hour time limit.
The questions in this portion are taken from the NASCLA Louisiana Master Plumbers and Master Natural Gasfitters Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management, 2nd Edition.
You will be notified if you have passed the exam and will need to submit a licensure form with a $190.00 Active license fee or $40 Inactive license fee for your license.
After passing the exam you will have 90 days to submit your licensure form, If those 90 days pass your exam scores will no longer be valid and you will have to retake the exam.
If you fail the exam, you will get an application to retake the exam along with information about your failed results.
If you have only passed one of the two portions on the exam the passing score will only be valid for 1 year. To maintain the passing score, you will need to retake the exam within that year.
Plumbing Schools in Louisiana
Louisiana offers great apprenticeship programs, vocational schools, and college courses for aspiring plumbers.
Local 198
Local 198 offers a 5-year apprenticeship program (school) for aspiring plumbers.
The only requirements to join this program are to be at least 18 years old and have a High School degree or the GED equivalent.
These are some of the benefits you will get during and after completing this program:
- Wages
- Health insurance
- Pension Benefits
- Job Security
To learn more about this program and how to apply visit their website.
Local 60
Local 60 offers a program called the New Orleans Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Program.
If you decide to join this program you will start your 5-year on-the-job training and will be eligible to receive up to 32 college credits completely free.
You will be under the Local 60 Training Center as a registered apprentice with the US Department of Labor Bureau, of Apprenticeship and Training.
As you will be working under the supervision of licensed and experienced plumbers, you will be paid fair wages.
To apply for this program you must be 18 or older High School Graduate or have the GED equivalent, and you must have a valid driver’s license.
To learn more about the program and how to apply visit their website.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Local 198 | 5655 Greenwell St, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, United States |
| Local 60 | 3515 N Interstate 10 Service Rd W, Metairie, LA 70002, United States |
Salary
Louisiana pays its plumbers a fair wage for the hard work they put into keeping all the plumbing systems running smoothly.
Annual wages vary anywhere between $44911 and $76189.
The current annual average wage is $60488.
It is estimated that plumbers in New Orleans are paid the highest wages with the annual wage currently being $62284, and plumbers in Kenner being right behind with $62250.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $62,284 |
| Kenner | $62,250 |
| Baton Rouge | $59,788 |
| Shreveport | $58,491 |
| Bossier City | $58,491 |
| Lafayette | $58,005 |
| New Iberia | $57,666 |
| Lake Charles | $57,650 |
| Monroe | $57,295 |
| Alexandria | $56,366 |
Regional Salary in Louisiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 170 | $51,620 | $24.82 | $70,100 | $31,060 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 2,620 | $68,510 | $32.94 | $82,670 | $49,260 |
| Hammond, LA | 100 | $49,760 | $23.92 | $65,440 | $33,760 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 400 | $55,220 | $26.55 | $64,550 | $39,530 |
| Lafayette, LA | 600 | $52,420 | $25.2 | $71,440 | $31,850 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 430 | $63,190 | $30.38 | $75,510 | $40,080 |
| Monroe, LA | 200 | $50,910 | $24.47 | $69,520 | $33,490 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,520 | $58,130 | $27.95 | $72,980 | $39,140 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 640 | $53,110 | $25.53 | $71,970 | $35,660 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are plumbing exams in Louisiana being held?
Journeyman Plumber exams are held in January, April, July, and October every year.
Master Plumber exams are held in February, May, August, and November every year.
The exact dates are made clear ahead of time and can be changed if something that is out of the Board’s work occurs.
When should I renew my plumbing license in Louisiana?
Plumbing licenses in Louisiana expire on December 31st every year and should be renewed by then.
How much does a plumbing license renewal cost in Louisiana?
Plumbing license renewal fees differ depending on the license you are renewing.
- Journeyman Plumber License – $50
- Master Plumber Renewal – $190
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