However, to be allowed to work in the state of Idaho as a plumber, you must meet the state-regulated requirements and achieve a certain level of education and skills so as to be able to pass the examination and become licensed.
There are various types of plumbing licenses available in Idaho and they are the following:
- Plumbing Apprentice
- Plumbing Journeyman
- Plumbing Contractor
- Specialty Plumbing License Types:
- Appliance Specialty
- Water Pump Specialty
- Mobile Home Specialty
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Idaho Plumbing License Reciprocity
Idaho has some reciprocity agreements with other states, but an applicant must have tested for the current license and show proof of 4 years of schooling and on the job training.
These are the requirements for the following countries:
- Montana – Must have held a license for 1 year
- Washington– Must be a current Washington resident
- Oregon – Must have held a license for 6 months
Idaho Plumbing License Requirements
It is our suggestion to read carefully and understand the requirements to do plumbing work in Idaho.
Idaho Statutes and Rules can be found online at https://dbs.idaho.gov/rules/current.html.
We offer you some of the basic requirements that an applicant for any plumbing registration or certificate of competency in Idaho has to meet.
In order to qualify for the Plumbing Contractor exam an applicant must:
- Must meet the requirements of Idaho Rule
- Submit a completed application (included)
- Pay the $22.50 (non-refundable) application fee
All applicants shall pay to the board at the time of application for examination, a fee in accordance with the following:
- Application for Plumbing Contractor – $22.50
- Application for Plumbing Journeyman – $22.50
- Application for Specialty Contractor – $22.50
- Application for Specialty Journeyman – $22.50
Idaho Plumbing Journeyman License Requirements
The application for a plumbing journeyman license requires that all schooling and work experience must have been obtained per State requirements.
In order to qualify for the Plumbing Journeyman exam or license, an applicant must:
- Must meet the requirements of the Idaho Rule
- Submit a completed application (included)
- Pay the $22.50 (non-refundable) application fee
The requirements include the successful completion of the journeyman written examination, four (4) years of work experience, defined as eight thousand (8,000) hours, under the constant on-the-job supervision of a journeyman plumber or the practical portion of the examination.
Plumbing Exams
If you are wondering how to get a Plumbing license in Idaho, we are here to provide you with all the necessary information.
Prior to scheduling a test, you must first contact the Division of Building Safety and complete an application to test and pay fees.
You can also access an application online at http://dbs.idaho.gov.
All applications must be submitted to the: Division of Building Safety 1090 E Watertower Street, Ste 150 Meridian, ID 83642, so that their application is reviewed and approved.
If your application is approved, you will be allowed to take an exam that must be scheduled and paid.
The deadline for the exam is one year from acceptance.
To schedule it, you should call (800) 955-3044 at least two (2) business days prior to the date you would like to test.
The time allowed for the Idaho plumbing exam to be finished depends on the exam you are doing:
- Plumbing Journeyman Exam -4 hours – A passing grade is required on the written examination, while the practical portion of the exam may be performed on a job in-progress and must consist of work performed in either a residential or commercial application. It must be passed with no violations.
- Plumbing Appliance Specialty Contractor – 4 hours – An applicant for a contractor certificate of competency who has never been previously licensed as a journeyman in a jurisdiction recognized by the Idaho Plumbing Board must first obtain an Idaho journeyman certificate of competency in accordance with Section 203 of these rules.
- Plumbing Appliance Specialty Journeyman – 2-1/2 hours
- Plumbing M/H Specialty Contractor Plumbing – 2-1/2 hours
It is important to remember that you should bring the following items to the Idaho plumber exams:
- Identification
- 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code
- 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code
- Current Idaho Plumbing Statutes and Rules (available online at http://dbs.idaho.gov/ or at a DBS office.
- Division of Building Safety Contractor’s Business and Law Reference Manual (available online at http://dbs.idaho.gov/ or at a DBS office) – Contractor Exam Only.
Examinations for all classifications under the Plumbing Laws and rules will be given a minimum of four (4) times each year in the Division’s three offices three (3) locations.
Idaho Plumbing Apprenticeship Requirements
In order to qualify for the Plumbing Apprentice registration an applicant must:
- Be at least 16 years of age
- Submit a completed notarized application (included)
- Pay the $50 (non-refundable) license registration fee
Registration for an apprentice is valid for five (5) years while registration for a specialty apprentice is valid for three (3) years and both of them have to be renewed.
A plumbing apprentice must work at the trade under the on-the-job supervision of a journeyman and in the employ of a contractor for a total of four (4) years, defined as a minimum of eight thousand (8,000) hours work experience in order to be eligible for a journeyman certificate of competency.
Plumbing Trade Schools in Idaho
These are only some of the available Plumbing Schools in Idaho:
- College of Southern Idaho
315 Falls Avenue, Twin Falls, ID 83303
Phone : (208) 732-6219 www.csi.edu
Programs: Air Conditioning; Heating; Plumbing; Refrigeration; Welding - Inland Northwest HVAC Training Center
811 E. Sprague #6, Spokane, WA 99202
Phone : (509) 747-8810 www.inwhvac.org
Programs: Air Conditioning; Electrical; EPA Certification; Heating; Plumbing; Refrigeration - No. Idaho College/Workforce Training & Comm. Ed.
1000 W. Garden, Coeur D Alene, ID 83814
Phone : (208) 769-3304 Ext 0 www.nic.edu
Programs: Air Conditioning; Electrical; Heating; Plumbing; Refrigeration
Salary
The average Plumber salary in Idaho is $54,158.
The range typically falls between $49,110 and $64,596, being that plumber’s salary can widely depend on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
In the table below you can see that there is a huge difference in the amount earned by plumbers in various areas of the state.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Plumbers in Idaho
City Name Salary Boise $54,444 Nampa $53,870 Pocatello $49,865 Idaho Falls $52,163 Meridian $54,386 Coeur d'Alene $56,464 Twin Falls $49,693 Lewiston $56,653 Caldwell $53,813 Moscow $56,464 Regional Salary
Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary Boise City, ID 1,810 $61,310 $29.48 $77,180 $38,080 Coeur d'Alene, ID 270 $61,410 $29.53 $98,440 $37,720 Idaho Falls, ID 230 $59,020 $28.37 $92,670 $37,200 Lewiston, ID-WA 80 $65,560 $31.52 $102,340 $37,440 Pocatello, ID 130 $56,080 $26.96 $85,350 $36,330 Twin Falls, ID 150 $56,020 $26.93 $79,150 $37,590
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
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