Commerce

Professional Licensing

Rule 55c: Plumber Licensing Act Rule

Effective Date: 01/15/2026

Admin. Code Reference: R156-55c

Rule Type: Current Rule

R156. Commerce, Professional Licensing.

R156-55c. Plumber Licensing Act Rule.

R156-55c-101. Title -- Authority -- Organization of Rules.

(1) This rule is known as the "Plumber Licensing Act Rule."

(2) This rule is adopted by the Division under the authority of Subsection 58-1-106(1)(a) to enable the Division to administer Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act.

(3) The organization of this rule and its relationship to Rule R156-1 is as described in Section R156-1-101.

R156-55c-102. Definitions.

The following definitions supplement the definitions in Title 58, Chapter 1, Division of Professional Licensing Act, and Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act:

(1) "Immediate supervision" as used in Subsections 58-55-102(9) and (32) means:

(a) for non-residential plumbing work, the apprentice and the supervising plumber are physically present on the same project or jobsite but are not required to maintain a direct line of sight; and

(b) for residential plumbing work, the supervising plumber, when not physically present on the same project or jobsite as the apprentice, is available to provide direction, oversight, inspection, and evaluation of the apprentice's work to ensure that the result complies with applicable standards.

(2)(a) "Minor plumbing work that is incidental" as used in Subsection 58-55-305(1)(k)(i) means repair of residential type Plumbing Appurtenances, Fixtures, or Appliances, provided that no modification is made to:

(i) existing culinary water, soil, waste, or vent piping; or

(ii) a gas appliance or combustion system.

(b) "Minor plumbing work that is incidental" as used in Subsection 58-55-305(1)(k)(i) does not include:

(i) installation or replacement of a water heater; or

(ii) work to include the initial installation of Plumbing Appurtenances, Fixtures, and Systems.

(3) "Plumbing Appliance", "Plumbing Appurtenance", "Plumbing Fixture", and "Pluming System" mean the same as defined the International Plumbing Code, adopted under Subsection 15A-2-103(1)(d) of the State Construction and Fire Codes Act.

(4) "Unprofessional conduct" as defined in Subsection 58-1-501(2)(a) of the Division of Professional Licensing Act and Section 58-55-502 of the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act and is further defined in Subsection 58-1-203(1)(e), in Section R156-55c-501.

R156-55c-302a. Qualification for Licensure - Education and Experience Requirements.

(1) A Master Plumber applicant:

(a) under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(a)(i)(A), shall have at least 4,000 hours of work experience and at least 4,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed Journeyman Plumber; or

(b) under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(a)(i)(B), shall:

(i) hold at least an associate of applied science degree or a similar degree, from an institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); and

(ii) have at least 2,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed Journeyman Plumber.

(2) A Residential Master Plumber applicant:

(a) under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(b)(i), shall have at least 4,000 hours of work experience and at least 4,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed Residential Journeyman Plumber; or

(b) under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(b)(ii), shall:

(i) hold at least an associate of applied science degree or a similar degree, from an institution recognized by the CHEA; and

(ii) have at least 2,000 hours of supervisory experience as a licensed Residential Journeyman Plumber.

(3) A Journeyman Plumber applicant:

(a) under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(c)(i), shall have completed at least:

(i) 576 hours of a planned program of training that meets the requirements of Subsection (5); and

(ii) 8,000 hours of full-time work experience as a licensed Apprentice Plumber;

(b) under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(c)(ii), shall have completed at least 16,000 hours of lawful full-time work experience as an Apprentice Plumber; or

(i) at least 2,000 hours of full-time work experience in non-residential plumbing while licensed as an Apprentice Plumber; and

(ii) the fourth year, 144 hours, of a planned program of training that meets the requirements of Subsection (5).

(4) A Residential Journeyman Plumber applicant:

(a) under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(d)(i), shall have completed at least:

(i) 432 hours of a planned program of training that meets the requirements of Subsection (5); and

(ii) 6,000 hours of full-time work experience as a licensed Apprentice Plumber; or

(b) under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(d)(ii), shall produce satisfactory evidence, using a form provided by the Division, that the applicant:

(i) has completed at least 12,000 hours of full-time work experience in a maintenance or repair trade; and

(ii) that at least 9,000 of the required 12,000 hours directly involved the plumbing trade.

(5) Under Subsection 58-1-203(1)(a) and Subsections 58-55-302(3)(c)(ii) and (d)(i), the "planned program of training approved by the Division" means a program of plumbing study that:

(a) includes measures of competency and achievement level for each student;

(b) is approved by the Utah Board of Higher Education, or if the program is out of state, is determined by the Division in collaboration with the Plumbers Licensing Board to be a reputable training program; and

(6) "Completion" of a planned program of training under Subsections 58-55-302(3)(c) and (d) and this rule, means that the applicant:

(a) attended a minimum of 72 classroom instruction hours each semester; and

(b) passed each class with a score of at least 75%.

(7) On the job training and instruction shall include measurements of the apprentice's performance in the plumbing trade.

(8) An applicant may earn up to 3,000 hours during a 12-month period.

(9) As used in Subsections 58-55-302(3)(c) and (d) and this rule, "full-time training," "full-time experience," "work experience," and "full-time work experience" mean work experience that is lawfully performed preceding the date of application, in accordance with applicable licensing and supervision requirements, and may include work experience obtained while exempt from licensure.

R156-55c-302b. Qualifications for Licensure - Examination Requirements.

Under Subsection 58-55-302(1)(c), the exam requirements for licensure are established as follows:

(1) a Master Plumber or Residential Master Plumber applicant shall pass the Utah Plumber Law and Rule Exam with a score of at least 75%.

(2) a Journeyman Plumber applicant shall pass:

(a) the Utah Journeyman Plumber Written Exam with a score of at least 70%; and

(b) the Utah Plumber Practical Exam with a score of least 70%.

(3) a Residential Journeyman Plumber applicant shall pass:

(a) the Utah Residential Journeyman Plumber Written Exam with a score of at least 70%; and

(b) the Utah Plumber Practical Exam with a score of at least 70%.

(4) Admission to the exams is permitted after:

(a) the applicant has completed the requirements for licensure in Section R156-55c-302a; or

(b) the Journeyman Plumber applicant under Subsection R156-55c-302a(3)(a) has:

(i) completed the first semester of the fourth year of the planned program of training;

(ii) enrolled in the second semester of the fourth year of the planned program of training; and

(iii) completed at least 6,000 hours of the required full-time work experience.

(5) An applicant who fails an exam may retake that exam:

(a) no sooner than 30 days following any failure, up to six failures; and

(b) no sooner than 120 days following any failure thereafter.

R156-55c-302c. Qualifications - Expedited Licensure.

(1) Under Subsection 58-55-302(3)(c)(iii) or 58-55-302(3)(d)(iii), a licensed apprentice plumber may take the approved competency exams, in sequence beginning with 1A and continuing through 2B, to either satisfy the education requirement, or determine placement in a planned program of training approved by the Division.

(2) Division pre-approval is not required to sit for a competency exam.

(3) An applicant may register directly with the Division's approved exam provider to sit for a competency exam.

(4) An applicant may attempt each competency exam one time.

(5) Admission to the subsequent competency exam is permitted after obtaining a minimum score of 70%.

(6) Placement in a planned program of training is determined when the applicant scores below 70% on the corresponding competency exam.

R156-55c-303. Renewal Cycle - Procedures.

(1) Under Subsection 58-1-308(1), the renewal date for the two-year renewal cycle for plumber licensees under Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act is established in Subsection R156-1-308a(1).

(2) Renewal procedures shall be in accordance with Sections R516-1-308b through R156-1-308l.

(3) Under Subsection 58-1-308(3)(b)(i), there is established a continuing education requirement for license renewal. Each licensee shall comply with the continuing education requirements in Section R156-55c-304.

(4) Each licensee shall renew their license in an online form approved by the Division, except as permitted by the Division in writing.

R156-55c-304. Continuing Education.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Core continuing education" means education covering:

(i) International Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, and International Energy Conservation Codes and Utah building code amendments as adopted or proposed for adoption;

(ii) the Americans with Disability Act;

(iii) medical gas, National Fire Protection Association 13D and 54;

(iv) hydronics and waste water treatment; or

(v) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training.

(b) "Professional continuing education" means education covering:

(i) energy conservation;

(ii) management training;

(iii) new technology;

(iv) plan reading;

(v) lien laws and Utah construction registry; or

(vi) government regulations.

(2) Under Sections 58-55-302.7 and 58-55-303, the 12 hours of continuing education required of a licensed plumber during each two-year renewal cycle shall include at least eight hours of core continuing education, and at least four hours of professional continuing education or core continuing education.

(3) The Division may defer or waive continuing education requirements for:

(a) an instructor of a planned program of training under Subsection R156-55c-302a(5);

(b) a board member who regularly attends the Plumber Licensing Board meetings; or

(4) The standards for continuing education for licensed plumbers are as follows:

(a) a licensee who lectures in continuing education courses meeting the requirements of this section may receive two hours of continuing education for each hour spent lecturing, but lecturing or teaching credit is not available for participation in a panel discussion;

(a) a course provider need not be listed in Subsection 58-55-302.5(2), but shall meet the other requirements of this section and be:

(i) a recognized accredited college or university;

(ii) a state or federal agency;

(iii) a professional association or organization involved in the construction trades; or

(iv) a commercial continuing education provider providing a program related to the plumbing trade;

(d) except for Subsection R156-55a-303b(2)(b), the continuing education standards in Subsections R156-55a-303b(1)(g), R156-55a-303b(2) through (4), and R156-55a-303b(7) through (11) are adopted.

R156-55c-305. Licensure by Endorsement.

The Division may issue a license by endorsement in accordance with Section 58-1-302.

R156-55c-401. Conduct of Apprentice and Supervising Plumber.

(1) A plumbing contractor may comply with the supervision requirements of Subsections 58-55-102(34) and 58-55-302(3)(e) by contracting with a licensed professional employer organization to employ one or more licensed plumbers.

(2) Under Subsections 58-55-102(34) and 58-55-302(3)(e), a licensed supervisor may have up to:

(a) three licensed apprentice plumbers under immediate supervision on non-residential projects; or

(b) three licensed apprentice plumbers under immediate supervision on residential projects.

R156-55c-501. Unprofessional Conduct.

"Unprofessional conduct" includes:

(1) failing to comply with the supervision requirements in Subsection 58-55-302(3)(e);

(2) failing to timely provide upon request, the licensee's current plumber license, or license number when performing plumbing work;

(3) failing to provide proof of completed continuing education within 30 days of the Division's request; and

(4) failing to be knowledgeable of the plumber licensing laws and rules.

R156-55c-502. Administrative Penalties.

The administrative penalties in Sections R156-55a-502 and R156-55a-503 of the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act Rule are adopted as the administrative penalties under this rule.

KEY: occupational licensing, licensing, plumbers, plumbing

Date of Last Change: January 15, 2026

Notice of Continuation: May 26, 2026

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 58-1-106(1)(a); 58-1-202(1)(a); 58-55-201(3)(a); 58-55-103(1)(b)(i)