Commerce

Professional Licensing

Rule 55c: Plumber Licensing Act Rule

Effective Date:

Admin. Code Reference: R156-55c

Rule Type: Proposed Rule

NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE

TYPE OF FILING: Amendment

Filing ID: 58207

Rule or section number:

R156-55c-302b

1. Agency Information

Title catchline:

Commerce, Professional Licensing

Building:

Heber M Wells Building

Street address:

160 E 300 S

City, state:

Salt Lake City, UT

Mailing address:

PO Box 146741

City, state and zip:

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741

2. Contact Persons

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Matt Johnson

801-530-6628

mmjohnson@utah.gov

Steve Duncombe

801-530-6235

sduncombe@utah.gov

Please address questions regarding information on this notice to the persons listed above.

3. General Information

A. Rule or section catchline:

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

B. Purpose of the new rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to clarify examination eligibility requirements for journeyman plumber license applicants.

C. Summary of the new rule or change:

The proposed rule change, recommended by the Electrician and Plumber Licensing Board on 05/06/2026, reestablishes the requirement that applicants must successfully complete the prescribed educational requirements prior to registering or sitting for the applicable journeyman examinations.

5. Fiscal Information

Provide an estimate and written explanation of the aggregate anticipated cost or savings to:

A. State budget:

The Division of Professional Licensing (Division) does not anticipate that these amendments will have any fiscal impact on state government revenues or expenditures because these changes will not affect or modify any existing state government policies or procedures.

B. Local governments:

The proposed amendments are not expected to have any fiscal impact on local governments' revenues or expenditures because none of the changes will apply to local governments.

C. Small businesses ("small business" means a business employing 1-49 persons):

The proposed amendments are not expected to have any fiscal impact on non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures

because none of the changes will apply to small businesses.

D. Non-small businesses ("non-small business" means a business employing 50 or more persons):

The proposed amendments are not expected to have any fiscal impact on non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures

because none of the changes will apply to non-small businesses.

E. Persons other than small businesses, non-small businesses, state, or local government entities ("person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or public or private organization of any character other than an agency):

The proposed amendments are not expected to have any fiscal impact on persons seeking to complete the education, examination, and experience requirements for the journeyman plumber's license as applicants must still complete the required education, examination, and experience requirement prior to submitting an application for licensure.

F. Compliance costs for affected persons:

As described in Box 5E, the proposed amendments are not expected to impose any compliance costs on any affected person because the changes merely reinstitute the exam requirements.

6. Regulatory Impact Summary Table

Enter the cost or savings in the relevant cell. If there is no cost or savings, enter, "$0." If a cost or savings is inestimable, enter, "inestimable."

Fiscal Cost

FY2027

FY2028

FY2029

FY2030

FY2031

State Budget

Local Governments

Small Businesses

Non-Small Businesses

Other Persons

Total Fiscal Cost

Fiscal Benefits

FY2027

FY2028

FY2029

FY2030

FY2031

State Budget

Local Governments

Small Businesses

Non-Small Businesses

Other Persons

Total Fiscal Benefits

Net Fiscal Benefits

7. Regulatory Impact Analysis Approval

The Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Margaret Busse, has reviewed and approved this regulatory impact analysis.

8. Family Impact Information

A. The agency has considered this rule's impact on family health, stability, and formation:

☒

9. Citation Information

Provide citations to the statutory authority for the rule. If there is also a federal requirement for the rule, provide a citation to that requirement:

Subsection 58-1-106(1)(a)

Subsection 58-1-202(1)(a)

Subsection 58-55-201(3)(a)

Subsection 58-55-103(1)(b)(i)

11. Public Notice Information

The public may submit written or oral comments to the agency identified in box 1.

A. Comments will be accepted until:

10/15/2026

B. A public hearing (optional) will be held (The public may request a hearing by submitting a written request to the agency, as outlined in Section 63G-3-302 and Rule R15-1.):

Date:

Time (hh:mm AM/PM):

Place (physical address or URL):

09/25/2026

3:00 PM

Commerce, Professional Licensing

Room 402

Heber M Wells Building

160 E 300 S

Salt Lake City, UT

Google Meet joining info:

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ses-wdrb-ory

Or dial: (US) +1 567-250-1270

PIN: 927 410 625#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/ses-wdrb-ory?

pin=9427853982146

12. Effective Date Information

This rule change MAY become effective on:

(NOTE: This is the date the agency anticipates making the filing effective. It is NOT the effective date)

10/22/2026

13. Agency Authorization Information

Agency head or

designee and title:

Adam Watson, Assistant Division Director

Date:

8/1/2026

R156. Commerce, Professional Licensing.

R156-55c. Plumber Licensing Act Rule.

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]and

(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.

KEY: occupational licensing, licensing, plumbers, plumbing

Date of Last Change: [January 15, 2026]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)

!--dar--

NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE

TYPE OF FILING: Amendment

Filing ID: 58207

Rule or section number:

R156-55c-302b

1. Agency Information

Title catchline:

Commerce, Professional Licensing

Building:

Heber M Wells Building

Street address:

160 E 300 S

City, state:

Salt Lake City, UT

Mailing address:

PO Box 146741

City, state and zip:

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741

2. Contact Persons

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Matt Johnson

801-530-6628

mmjohnson@utah.gov

Steve Duncombe

801-530-6235

sduncombe@utah.gov

Please address questions regarding information on this notice to the persons listed above.

3. General Information

A. Rule or section catchline:

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

B. Purpose of the new rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to clarify examination eligibility requirements for journeyman plumber license applicants.

C. Summary of the new rule or change:

5. Fiscal Information

Provide an estimate and written explanation of the aggregate anticipated cost or savings to:

A. State budget:

B. Local governments:

The proposed amendments are not expected to have any fiscal impact on local governments' revenues or expenditures because none of the changes will apply to local governments.

C. Small businesses ("small business" means a business employing 1-49 persons):

The proposed amendments are not expected to have any fiscal impact on non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures

because none of the changes will apply to small businesses.

D. Non-small businesses ("non-small business" means a business employing 50 or more persons):

The proposed amendments are not expected to have any fiscal impact on non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures

because none of the changes will apply to non-small businesses.

F. Compliance costs for affected persons:

As described in Box 5E, the proposed amendments are not expected to impose any compliance costs on any affected person because the changes merely reinstitute the exam requirements.

6. Regulatory Impact Summary Table

Enter the cost or savings in the relevant cell. If there is no cost or savings, enter, "$0." If a cost or savings is inestimable, enter, "inestimable."

Fiscal Cost

FY2027

FY2028

FY2029

FY2030

FY2031

State Budget

Local Governments

Small Businesses

Non-Small Businesses

Other Persons

Total Fiscal Cost

Fiscal Benefits

FY2027

FY2028

FY2029

FY2030

FY2031

State Budget

Local Governments

Small Businesses

Non-Small Businesses

Other Persons

Total Fiscal Benefits

Net Fiscal Benefits

7. Regulatory Impact Analysis Approval

The Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Margaret Busse, has reviewed and approved this regulatory impact analysis.

8. Family Impact Information

A. The agency has considered this rule's impact on family health, stability, and formation:

☒

9. Citation Information

Provide citations to the statutory authority for the rule. If there is also a federal requirement for the rule, provide a citation to that requirement:

Subsection 58-1-106(1)(a)

Subsection 58-1-202(1)(a)

Subsection 58-55-201(3)(a)

Subsection 58-55-103(1)(b)(i)

11. Public Notice Information

The public may submit written or oral comments to the agency identified in box 1.

A. Comments will be accepted until:

10/15/2026

B. A public hearing (optional) will be held (The public may request a hearing by submitting a written request to the agency, as outlined in Section 63G-3-302 and Rule R15-1.):

Date:

Time (hh:mm AM/PM):

Place (physical address or URL):

09/25/2026

3:00 PM

Commerce, Professional Licensing

Room 402

Heber M Wells Building

160 E 300 S

Salt Lake City, UT

Google Meet joining info:

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ses-wdrb-ory

Or dial: (US) +1 567-250-1270

PIN: 927 410 625#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/ses-wdrb-ory?

pin=9427853982146

12. Effective Date Information

This rule change MAY become effective on:

(NOTE: This is the date the agency anticipates making the filing effective. It is NOT the effective date)

10/22/2026

13. Agency Authorization Information

Agency head or

designee and title:

Adam Watson, Assistant Division Director

Date:

8/1/2026

R156. Commerce, Professional Licensing.

R156-55c. Plumber Licensing Act Rule.

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]and

(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.

KEY: occupational licensing, licensing, plumbers, plumbing

Date of Last Change: [January 15, 2026]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)

!--dar--

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Rule 55c: Plumber Licensing Act Rule