Virginia Plumbing Exams

The Virginia Plumbing License Exam covers many topics including: Vents & Venting; Administrative Procedures; Fixtures; Drainage Systems and more.  Whether you live in Fairfax, Alexandria, Norfolk or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started:

Need of a License:  A plumber needs a license to work as a journeyman and master plumber or as a Class A, B or C contractor in Virginia.  

Who Grants a License:  The plumbing trade is regulated by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

Procedures for Getting a License:    A candidate for a journeyman or master plumbing license must take and pass two exams, one covering regulatory matters and the other covering trade knowledge.  Detailed information about the different tests is available in the Candidate Information Bulletin.  

Qualifications to take the Exam and receive a License:  Candidates for the journeyman and master licenses need to meet certain minimum experience and educational requirements.  To see the various combinations of experience and education levels required, see the Bulletin.   

How to Apply for the Test:  The application to take the test can be found online at PSI.

Test Content:  The Regulatory part of the exam consists of 10 questions and the candidate is given 30 minutes to complete the test.  A score of 70% is needed to pass.  The technical part of the exam consists of 70 questions and the candidate is given 3 hours to complete the test.  A score of 70% is needed to pass. The technical exam will have the following content and number of questions:

     Draining Waste and Vents - 24

     Water Supply Systems - 10

     Backflow Prevention - 10

     Storm Drainage Systems - 10

     Plumbing Fixtures - 7

     General Regulations - 5

     Interceptors and Traps - 4

Who Administers the Test:  PSI

Fees:  There are fees to take the test.

License renewal:  Licenses must be renewed every two years.  Plumbers must complete a minimum of 3 hours of continuing education to renew a license.

Applicable Code:  Virginia has adopted the International Plumbing Code developed by the International Code Council.

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For more information on licensing and exam preparation, go to Tests.com's

Journeyman Plumbing Test Guide

Master Plumbing Test Guide

And take Tests.com's Plumbing Practice Test.

For plumbing exam preparation products and services, such as study guides, practice tests, flashcards and courses, go to Tests.com's Journeyman Plumber Exam and Master Plumber Exam listings.

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