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If you’ve worked for years in the plumbing industry and are in the process of earning your professional license, you’ll need to make sure you meet all the requirements and submit everything needed to get that license.

The state of Ohio requires that you hold this license before you bid on or contract any plumbing work on your own. Once you have your license, you will need to renew it either annually or every three years. Ohio also has reciprocity agreements with the following states for the plumbing license:

• New Hampshire
• Washington
• Vermont
• Maine
• Oregon

This means that when you earn your Ohio plumbing license, you will also be able to perform work legally in those other states. 

What You Need to Apply for Your Ohio Plumbing License

Three basic steps to getting your license are submitting materials, taking the tests, and applying.

Submitting the Materials

You must turn in the completed application, along with supplemental materials, before you’re able to sit for the exams. The supplemental materials include verified work experience and/or education as the state requires. 

Proof of Education/Work Experience

You must submit proof that you’ve spent the last five years as a tradesperson in the plumbing field working under a licensed contractor and performing permittable work. Alternatively, you can be a registered engineer in the state with at least three years of experience in the trade, but you must also supply proof of this.

Proof also includes a copy of one permit for each of those five years that your employer obtained that you also worked under.

Taking the Tests

You must have all submitted materials approved before you are allowed to take the tests. Ohio requires that applicants take and pass two exams for licensure: the Ohio State Plumbing Contractor’s Exam and the Business & Law Exam. 

The Ohio State Plumbing Contractor’s Exam contains 100 questions, and you must score at least 70% to pass. You will have four hours to finish this test, which is an open-book exam.

The Business & Law Exam includes 50 questions; again, you must get 70% of them correct for a passing grade. You will be given two hours to complete this exam, which is also open-book.

Test topics for the plumbing exam include general knowledge, drainage, roof rain piping, specialty plumbing, fixtures, and isometric analysis. The business exam covers licensing, OSHA record-keeping and safety, tax laws, financial management, contracts, and more.

Applying for Licensure

Once you pass the state exams, you can apply for your license through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. You will need to provide proof of insurance at this point, and the policy and license must be assigned to a contracting company.

Prepare the Right Way with RocketCert

To obtain the best exam prep materials available, you’ll need to sign up with a company that offers expertly crafted study materials. RocketCert is the best option when you want lifetime access to the best materials, industry-leading customer service, and more. Sign up with RocketCert today.