Overview
Alabama licenses plumbing at the state level through the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board. The board's licensing page structures Alabama plumbing around apprentice, journeyman, and master classifications, and the out-of-state page says a valid Alabama certification is required to contract, offer to engage in, or engage in plumbing in the state.
Alabama is not a local-only plumbing state. Cities can still control permits and inspections, but the worker credential comes from the state board. The board also separates the individual card from the business registration: a company bidding or performing plumbing work in Alabama must register with the board and identify a principal master plumber.
The path is direct. Register as an apprentice, build the required time, test for journeyman, then test for master after holding the journeyman card long enough. The important 2026 change is at the master level: master applicants must pass the master plumbing exam and a Business Law exam before master certification can issue.
Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master
An Apprentice Plumber is registered with the board, learns the trade, assists with installations, and works directly under a journeyman or master plumber. The apprentice card is a supervised training credential, not a standalone right to run plumbing work.
A Journeyman Plumber performs installation, repair, or replacement of plumbing systems after meeting the board's exam requirement and holding a current annual certificate. Alabama requires a journeyman applicant to complete two years as an apprentice, complete a board-approved apprentice program combined with registered apprentice time equal to two years, or present verifiable two-year apprentice experience through the board appearance route.
A Master Plumber can work on plumbing systems and serve as principal master for a business. The board says an individual must be certified as a journeyman plumber for at least one year before sitting for the master plumber exam. Medical gas is a separate endorsement tied to ASSE 6010 installer certification and an existing apprentice, journeyman, or master plumbing or gas fitting credential.
Experience and Exams
Alabama uses exam gates for journeyman and master certification. The board's exam page says journeyman applicants need two years of current work experience and master applicants need one year of current work experience. It also says a passing exam result must be converted into certification within 90 calendar days, or the applicant has to test again.
The current master packet is more demanding than the old path. As of January 1, 2026, the board requires master-level applicants to complete the written Master Plumber exam and the Business Law exam. The master packet lists the Master Plumber exam fee at $160 and the Business Law fee at $100. The board's candidate bulletin identifies Prov as the testing provider and shows the plumbing exams as open book, with the board deciding which exam a candidate needs.
For journeyman plumbers, the official pass packet lists a $50 initial application processing fee and a $75 initial journeyman certificate fee after passing. For apprentice registration, the board's apprentice form lists a $35 registration fee.
The Business Registration Layer
Alabama's business layer matters because the individual card alone does not register the company. The board says all companies must register before bidding on or performing plumbing or gas fitting work in Alabama. Every company must have a Principal Master designee, and the journeyman and apprentice employees working for that company must also be certified or registered by the board.
The company registration form lists a $25 fee for a new company registration and a $25 annual renewal, with a late renewal fee after December 31. The form also requires principal master plumber information. That is the control point for accountability: the company is registered, the principal master is responsible, and the individual workers are tied back to their board-issued cards.
For a working plumber, this split is simple. If you are an employee, your individual certification is the credential to protect. If you own the shop or bid jobs through a legal entity, the business registration and principal master setup have to be in place too.
Fees and Renewal
The official Alabama forms publish the core entry dollars. Apprentice registration is $35. Journeyman certification after passing the exam is $50 for initial application processing plus $75 for the initial certificate. Master certification after passing both required exams is $50 for initial application processing plus $175 for the initial master certificate. The in-state master exam packet lists $160 for the master exam and $100 for the Business Law exam.
Business registration is a separate $25 filing for a new company and a $25 annual renewal. The company form sets the renewal window between October 1 and December 31 and adds a $25 late renewal fee after December 31.
Renewal also carries continuing education. The board's 2026 renewal notice states that certification renewal requires completing the CE requirement before renewal.
Out-of-State Plumbers
Alabama's out-of-state path is narrow. The board's out-of-state applicant page says that, effective January 1, 2026, Alabama has a reciprocal agreement with the Mississippi Board of Contractors. The same page says the board has no active reciprocal agreements with any other states.
The board also says a plumber licensed or certified in another state may be able to take the Alabama examination for an equivalent classification. For journeyman and master candidates, the out-of-state license must have been issued after an exam with a minimum 70 percent score, be active and in good standing, and be supported by agency verification.
Mississippi is the special case. Everyone else should plan around Alabama's examination and verification packet.
FAQ
Does Alabama have a statewide plumbing license? Yes. Alabama uses statewide certification through the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board for apprentice, journeyman, and master plumbing classifications.
How long do I need to work before the journeyman exam? Alabama lists two years of current apprentice work experience, or an equivalent board-approved apprentice training path combined with registered apprentice time.
What changed for Alabama master plumbers in 2026? Master-level applicants must pass the master plumbing exam and the Business Law exam before master certification can issue.
Does Alabama have plumbing reciprocity? Alabama lists a reciprocal agreement with Mississippi for master plumbers. Applicants from other states use the out-of-state examination and license verification process.