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Plumbing is a skilled trade that offers opportunities to learn on the job, making it a great alternative to attending a costly four-year college or university after high school. It’s also a great option for someone looking to change careers and enter an in-demand profession that offers stability and opportunities to advance. 

Whether you’ve already obtained your journeyman plumber license and you’re working toward becoming a master or you’ve completed the requirements to become a master plumber, you must maintain your license through periodic renewal. The North Dakota State Plumbing Board has certain requirements for license renewal that ensure working professionals remain up to date with industry advances. 

What are the license renewal requirements for plumbers in North Dakota? Here’s what you need to know to make sure your license doesn’t lapse. 

Requirements for Renewing Your License 

North Dakota plumber licenses expire on December 31 of each year and must be renewed annually. The easiest way to do this is online via the North Dakota State Plumbing Board website. 

The state also requires journeyman and master plumbers (not apprentices) to complete continuing education (CE) as part of the renewal process. However, this is only required for renewals falling in even years. 

When you are required to complete CE, you must choose a state-approved course that includes four hours of topics relating to the plumbing industry. There are a couple of options to consider.  

You may choose a four-hour course on North Dakota Plumbing Code updates, including changes to the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), or you could opt for a four-hour course covering industry-related materials. You may want to take both, just for your own knowledge and advancement. 

What Happens if You Miss the Renewal Deadline? 

If you miss the deadline to renew your plumbing license, you will have to pay a late fee on top of the typical renewal fee. In the meantime, you will not legally be permitted to work as a plumber. If you allow your license to lapse for more than a year, you will have to retake the state exam to obtain a new license. 

Benefits of Continuing Education for Plumbers 

You may view CE as little more than a necessary step in maintaining your license to practice, but it can be much more. It’s an opportunity to stay current on the latest technologies, techniques, safety measures, and code changes, ensuring compliance with changing standards. 

It’s also an opportunity to incorporate new knowledge and skills that allow you to remain competitive and offer the best possible service to clients. In addition, you can increase your appeal to employers, expanding your professional prospects. 

Finding a Suitable CE Program 

If you’re up for license renewal, you’re almost certainly a working professional, which means you have limited time to devote to CE. This is why it’s important to find a program that offers the convenience of self-paced learning with 24/7 online access that you can start and stop at your leisure. 

Is it time to complete continuing education requirements to renew your journeyman or master plumber license in North Dakota? Contact RocketCert now to get started.