Indiana Plumbing License | Become a Plumber in Indiana

Indiana Plumbing License Reciprocity

There is no reciprocity agreement for journeyman or contractor plumbers from other states who want to become licensed in Indiana.

So as to become one, you will need to present an application to the Indiana Plumbing Commission board, which has to be approved, and then you will need to pass an exam to be allowed to work in Indiana.

Indiana Plumbing Contractor License Requirements

There is no master plumber in Indiana; instead, there is the plumbing contractor, one step above journeyman.

Plumbing contractor is very similar to master contractor levels in some other states, and Indiana defines a plumbing contractor as a person who, for compensation, does himself or by others, constructs, repairs, alters, remodels, or improves plumbing.

What is even more important, he/she is a person who is responsible for all the plumbing within the entire project, while a journeyman would work under the contractor.

To become a plumbing contractor in Indiana, you will need to meet the following requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
Have at least 4 years of plumbing apprenticeship experience
Be a licensed plumber in another state OR
Have at least 4 years of plumbing experience under the direction of a licensed plumbing contractor
Submit an original passport-sized photograph
Pay the application fee
Submit an approved school sponsor signature and current/active plumbing license
Complete the Personal Background Section of the application
Submit the Application Affirmation Section, signed and dated

When it comes to payment for this license, the application fees for a contractor license consist of:

$50 for the exam
$50 for an odd year issuance
$100 for an even year issuance
$50 renewal fee every 2 years

You can get a temporary contractor’s license for $25.

Plumbing Contractor Exam

This is the exam that has to be taken if you want to become a licensed plumbing constructor and it consists of 90 questions that have to be finished within a 3-hour time limit.

Developed Length/Isometric Analysis: 10 questions
Fixtures: 10 questions
General Requirements: 9 questions
Indiana Business: 14 questions
Sanitary Drainage: 13 questions
Storm Water Systems: 4 questions
Vents: 13 questions
Water Heaters: 5 questions
Water Supply and Distribution: 12 questions

The payment for this exam can be made via AMEX, Visa, Mastercard or Discover cards; or via cashier’s check, certified check, or money order mailed to:

Prov, Inc.

200 Association Drive, Suite 190

Charleston, WV 25311

You can choose the most suitable testing location for you among the following:

Evansville
Fort Wayne
Hammond
Indianapolis
Lafayette
Muncie
New Albany
South Bend
Terre Haute

Indiana Plumbing Journeyman License Requirements

A journeyman is a person who works under a licensed plumbing contractor supervision and is not in charge of projects.

The requirements for becoming a journeyman plumber are:

Be at least 18 years old
Have at least 4 years of plumbing apprenticeship experience OR
Be a licensed plumber in another state
Submit an original passport-sized photograph
Pay the application fee (check or money order made payable to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)
Submit an approved school sponsor signature and current/active plumbing license
Complete the Personal Background Section of the application
Submit the Application Affirmation Section, signed and dated

The application fees for a journeyman license consist of:

$30 for the exam
$15 for an odd year issuance
$30 for an even year issuance
$30 renewal fee every 2 years

Plumbing Journeyman Exam

The journeyman exam has to be done within a 3-hour time limit, and it consists of 90 questions:

Developed Length/Isometric Analysis: 8 questions
Fixtures: 10 questions
General Requirements: 7 questions
Indiana Business: 6 questions
Sanitary Drainage: 15 questions
Storm Water Systems: 6 questions
Vents: 17 questions
Water Heaters: 7 questions
Water Supply and Distribution: 14 questions

In case you fail the exam, you can retake it up to six more times every 2-year period, but you must wait 10 days after failing the test to reschedule.

Indiana Plumbing Apprenticeship Requirements

There are some requirements that you must meet to become an apprentice plumber:

You must be at least 17 years old.
Have 7,600 hours of on-the-job training
At least 1,900 per year for a four-year period
576 hours of school-related training
144 hours per year for a four-year period

There are a $10 application fee and a $10 renewal fee to become an apprentice.

Plumbing Apprenticeship Programs in Indiana

ABC of Indiana Apprenticeship Trust

(Associated Builders & Contractors)
5001 N. Shadeland Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46226
Contact: Lisa V.
Telephone: 317-596-4950

Evansville Plumbers & Pipefitters Training

4301 N. St. Joseph Ave.
Evansville, IN 47720
Contact: Jason Blondin
Telephone: 812-424-5212/ fax 812-424-5249

Indianapolis Plumbers & Steam Fitters Local 440 JATC

3747 S. High School Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46241
Contact: James M. Johnson/ David L. Posey
Telephone: 317-856-6426/ fax 317-856-0591

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 166 JATC

Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee of Local 166

Ft. Wayne Plumbers & Steam Fitters JAC

2930 West Ludwig Road
Ft. Wayne, IN 46818
Contact: Bret Finch
Telephone: 260-490-5690/ fax 260-490-5691

Mechanical Skills, Inc.

3535 E. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46201
Contact: Susie McFarland
Telephone: 317-352-1189/fax 317-352-1867
Email: mechanicalskills@mechanicalskills.org

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 210

2901 E. 83rd Place
Merrillville, IN 46411-1931
Contact: Lee Culver
Telephone: 219-942-7224

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 661 JAC

4401 S. Eaton Ave.
Muncie, IN 47302
Contact: Jack Neal, Jr.
Telephone: 765-282-7344

S.E.P.H.C.C. School at Processer School of Tech.

4202 Charlestown Road
New Albany, IN 47150
Contact: Anthony Phillips/Wendy
Telephone: 812-949-4266/812-633-4252
Email: email@acphillpsplumbing.com

South Bend & Vicinity Plumbers & Pipefitters JATC-Local 172

4172 Ralph Jones Court
South Bend, IN 46628-9793
Contact: Broc Buczolich
Telephone: 547-273-0500/fax 547-273-1300

Terre Haute Plumbers & Steam Fitters JAC Local 157

8707 E. Milner Ave.
Terre Haute, IN 47803-9796
Contact: Rich Cheever Telephone: 812-877-1736 /812-877-4552

Local 392 JATC

1300 Century Circle
Cincinnati, OH 45246
Contact: Jerry Beck
Telephone: 513-671-5282/ fax 513-671-5233
Email: jerry@jatc392.com

Plumbing Trade Schools in Indiana

The Indiana Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association,

Ft. Wayne Area
4-year Plumbing
Cost: $1260 for year (PHCC members);
$2520 for a year (non-members)
Contact: Sherry Elward
PO Box 8414
Ft. Wayne, IN 46898
(260) 410-5163
fwaphcc@gmail.com

South Central Chapter

(Jasper & Surrounding Area)
4-year Plumbing
Cost: $350/semester (members)
$700/semester (non-members)
Books not included
Contact: Beth Gudorf
602 E 16th St
Jasper, IN 47546
(812) 630-1729
gudie@psci.net

Mechanical Skills Inc.

(Indianapolis & Surrounding Area)
4-year Plumbing
Cost: $725/semester (member)
$1125/semester (non-member)
3535 E Michigan St
Indianapolis, IN 46201
(317) 352-1189
mechanicalskills@mechanicalskills.org

Southeastern Chapter

(New Albany/Charlestown/Jeffersonville Area)
4-year Plumbing
Cost: $250/semester (member); Book & Shop fees extra
$450/semester (non-member); Book & shop fees extra
Contact: Tony Phillips
A.C. Phillips Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
PO Box 158
129 W Main St
Milltown, IN 47145
(812) 633-4252
info@acphillipsplumbing.com

North Central Chapter

(South Bend/Elkhart & Surrounding Area)
4-year Plumbing and HVAC
Cost: Plumbing – $1200/year (member) $1970/year (non-member)
HVAC – Offered by the Elkhart Career Center
Contact: Nickey Shively
PHCC-NCIA
PO Box 474
Plymouth, IN 46563
(574) 941-4473
phcc@phcc-ncia.com

Southwestern Chapter

(Evansville & Surrounding Area)
4-year Plumbing and HVAC
Cost: $1200/semester (non-active member);
$375/semester (active member)
Contact: Becky Kamp
PO Box 3554 (47734)
14621 McCutchan Rd (47725)
Evansville, IN
(812) 459-4536
rlkamp2010@aol.com

Northwest Chapter

(Highland/Merrillville & Surrounding Area)
Type: 4-year Plumbing
Cost: $800/semester
Contact: Clint Mann
Northwest IN PHCC Chapter
9478 Calumet Ave
Munster, IN 46321
(219)677-6965
mmp10974@gmail.com

St. Joe Valley

(South Bend & Surrounding Area)
Type: 5-year Commercial and Residential
Plumbing and Pipefitting (Union Shop)
Contact: Broc Buczolich
Apprentice Coordinator
bbuczolich@ua172.org
website link: www.UA172.org
(219) 273-0500

Salary

The average Plumber salary in Indiana is $56,062.

Annual Salary Range:

$48K

$56K

$64K

Average Salary of Plumbers in Indiana

City Name	Salary
Indianapolis	$56,054
Fort Wayne	$53,532
Evansville	$54,235
South Bend	$53,640
Gary	$57,152
Hammond	$557,152
Bloomington	$52,857
Muncie	$52,929
Anderson	$53,135
Terre Haute	$52,682

Region	Employed	Avg. Annual Salary	Avg. Hourly Pay	Top 10% Annual Salary	Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Bloomington, IN	140	$69,330	$33.33	$93,330	$45,630
Columbus, IN	60	$65,590	$31.54	$93,020	$38,180
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	570	$72,040	$34.64	$94,330	$46,500
Evansville, IN-KY	590	$64,640	$31.08	$92,410	$37,200
Fort Wayne, IN	1,080	$69,510	$33.42	$95,480	$43,970
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	4,000	$70,180	$33.74	$96,500	$45,150
Kokomo, IN	420	$77,730	$37.37	$92,280	$46,790
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	370	$61,030	$29.34	$85,430	$41,600
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	110	$62,660	$30.13	$89,170	$43,700
Muncie, IN	60	$54,690	$26.29	$67,440	$40,590
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	560	$70,200	$33.75	$94,890	$40,690
Terre Haute, IN	320	$73,750	$35.46	$93,370	$44,420

* Salary information last updated 2024
Regional Salary
Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Bloomington, IN 140 $69,330 $33.33 $93,330 $45,630
Columbus, IN 60 $65,590 $31.54 $93,020 $38,180
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 570 $72,040 $34.64 $94,330 $46,500
Evansville, IN-KY 590 $64,640 $31.08 $92,410 $37,200
Fort Wayne, IN 1,080 $69,510 $33.42 $95,480 $43,970
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 4,000 $70,180 $33.74 $96,500 $45,150
Kokomo, IN 420 $77,730 $37.37 $92,280 $46,790
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN 370 $61,030 $29.34 $85,430 $41,600
Michigan City-La Porte, IN 110 $62,660 $30.13 $89,170 $43,700
Muncie, IN 60 $54,690 $26.29 $67,440 $40,590
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI 560 $70,200 $33.75 $94,890 $40,690
Terre Haute, IN 320 $73,750 $35.46 $93,370 $44,420
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, OCC 47-2152, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

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