Plumbing belongs to the category of construction trades and individuals looking to obtain a plumbing license in Mississippi must meet certain requirements.
Furthermore, Mississippi requires different licenses depending on whether you are performing commercial or residential construction, including the different application process, exams, and fees.
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Mississippi Plumbing License Reciprocity
Mississippi has reciprocity agreements with the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
Reciprocity agreements in Mississippi only cover testing.
This means that contractors from other states must still apply for a license.
People from the above-mentioned states who have held a license for three consecutive years are eligible to waive their trade exam while the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam is required regardless.
In order for the Mississippi State Board of Contractors to consider an applicant for reciprocity, he/she is supposed to show proof of current licensure with one of the boards referenced above by providing a completed verification form.
Furthermore, he/she has to be free of any disciplinary action taken against it during the 3-year time frame and must complete and submit an application with all required documentation and fees to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
Actually, there are two parts of the application form, so the applicant must complete part 1 of the verification form and mail to one of the above-named states to complete part 2.
Mississippi Plumbing License Requirements
Applications for this licensure include the following requirements:
- 3 references letters – 1 from the bank, 2 from past co-workers/employers in the construction field.
- A certificate of general liability insurance
- Tax ID numbers
- A $50 fee for residential contracting
- A $400 fee for commercial contracting
Future journeymen must first fill out the application-specific to commercial or residential contracting and send the application forms by mail to the following address:
MSBOC
P.O. Box 320279
Jackson, MS 39232-0279
For commercial contractors, licensure is required for jobs exceeding $50,000, while for residential contractors, licensure is required for jobs exceeding $10,000.
For residential licenses granted after July 1st, 2015, continuing education courses are required.
Plumbing Journeyman Exam
Once your application is reviewed, you will be sent by the MSBOC a bulletin with all the necessary information regarding the exam, scheduling, and materials.
The Board will determine which examination you should take.
You will have six (6) months from the date of eligibility to take the examination.
The great thing is that if you fail, you can retake it as many times as you need to during the six-month period.
Some aspiring plumbers may take the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building in place of the Mississippi Building Construction exam.
This exam allows for licensure in multiple jurisdictions, including the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia.
Business & Law Exam – 50 questions that have to be done in 120 minutes’ time.
Percent Required to Pass: 70%
- 5 Questions – Licensing
- 7 Questions – Estimating and Bidding
- 1 Question – Lien Law
- 5 Questions – Financial Management
- 5 Questions – Tax Laws
- 5 Questions – Labor Laws
- 5 Questions – Project Management
- 6 Questions – Contracts
- 2 Questions – Business Organization
- 4 Questions – Risk Management
- 5 Questions – Environmental & Safety
Plumbing Exam – 70 questions that have to be done in 180 minutes’ time
Percent Required to Pass: 70%
- 4 Questions – General Plumbing Regulations
- 4 Questions – Safety
- 4 Questions – Cleanouts
- 5 Questions – Fixtures & Equipment
- 2 Questions – Water Heaters
- 3 Questions – Hangers, and Supports
- 15 Questions – Drain, Waste, and Vent
- 3 Questions – Backflow
- 4 Questions – Traps & Interceptors
- 2 Questions – Developed Length
- 12 Questions – Isometric Analysis
- 3 Questions – Joints & Connections
What you should bring to the Mississippi plumber exam are two forms of identification, such as a driver’s license, a state ID, a passport that bears your signature, and has your photograph, while the second ID must have your signature and preprinted legal name.
You should bring the following books, as it is an open book exam:
- NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – Mississippi, 4th Edition
- International Plumbing Code 2012
- Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), with latest available amendments, U.S. Government Printing Office, (866) 512-1800 or https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1926
Plumbing licensing exams can be taken at:
Jackson Exam Center
2679 Crane Ridge Dr., Suite B
Jackson, MS 39216
To get ready for the exam you can take a look at the offers of a few companies that have preparation courses for PSI contracting exams, including the following:
- American Contractors: 1-800-992-1910
- Mississippi Contractor Licensing Service: 1-800-432-9930
- Builders License Training Institute: 1-800-727-7104
- MyContractorsLicense: 1-877-699-0775
- Contractors Institute: 1-804-556-5518
Mississippi Plumbing Apprenticeship Requirements
It is worth mentioning that in Mississippi, aspiring plumbers are not required to enroll in an apprenticeship program.
Still, there are trade and vocational schools that do offer apprenticeship-like programs that are a good stepping stone and you should consider attending them so as to successfully move up the career ladder.
Mississippi Plumbing Apprentice Jobs
Online job boards are a great resource for several Mississippi plumbing apprenticeships and entry-level jobs:
- Indeed: Mississippi Plumbing Jobs
- Indeed: Mississippi Apprenticeships
- Glassdoor: Mississippi Plumbing Apprenticeships
Plumbing Trade Schools in Mississippi
Below is a plumbing school in Mississippi that we believe is worth your consideration:
Hinds Community College in Rankin, MS
Institution: Public
Tuition(in-state): $1,600 per semester for full-time students
Contact Info: (601) 936-5528
Address: P.O. Box 1100, Raymond, MS 39154
Mississippi Professional License Search
You are advised to utilize the MSCOB’s search directory to find licensed contractors in the state of Mississippi.
Salary
Once you finish the education and training, reaching the license, it is expected that you are interested in how much you can earn with your new certificate.
As in any other profession, entry-level plumbers cannot expect to earn as much as those experienced ones.
Besides experience, what determines the salary is whether you are a company owner or just an employee there.
Those who have their own workers can decide on the amount of work they will do, the working hours and will be getting much higher wages.
The average Plumber salary in Mississippi is $50,009 and it varies among the cities which can be seen in the table below.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Plumbers in Mississippi
City Name Salary Jackson $51,407 Gulfport $50,543 Hattiesburg $50,227 Southaven $53,187 Biloxi $50,946 Greenville $51,101 Meridian $50,937 Tupelo $48,491 Vicksburg $50,890 Pascagoula $50,537 Regional Salary
Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS 1,340 $56,820 $27.32 $65,540 $38,710 Hattiesburg, MS 110 $45,320 $21.79 $62,400 $28,070 Jackson, MS 470 $52,460 $25.22 $72,540 $31,100
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Plumber Schools by City
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