What It Takes to Earn a Texas Master Plumber License in 2026

A Texas master plumber license requires years of verified field experience, passing a 3-part exam administered by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), and completing ongoing education every year after that. Texas runs one of the stricter plumbing licensing structures in the country, and the rules changed in September 2025 when HB 3214 reduced the required journeyman experience from 4 years to 2.

So what separates a journeyman from a master? A journeyman plumber can install, repair, and service plumbing, but only under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber. A master plumber has passed a more advanced exam, logged significantly more supervised hours, and can directly oversee apprentices and tradesmen on job sites. The title isn’t honorary. It represents a specific tier of tested, documented competence that the state verifies and tracks.

The September 2025 update means applicants who have held a journeyman license for at least 2 years (or 1 year with a DOL-approved apprenticeship) can now sit for the master plumber exam. Before that change, the standard path required 4 years as a journeyman.

For homeowners, understanding these requirements matters because it tells you exactly what a licensed master plumber had to prove before working on your home. Below, you’ll find the full license hierarchy, current experience and exam requirements, fees, renewal rules, and how to verify any plumber’s credentials on the TSBPE database.

Texas Plumbing License Hierarchy: How the System Works

The TSBPE issues 4 license types and 4 registration types. Understanding where “master plumber” fits helps you evaluate any plumber’s qualifications.

The key distinction most homeowners miss: even a master plumber works under a Responsible Master Plumber’s company umbrella. The RMP designation is the business-level credential that allows a plumbing company to operate, pull permits, and take on liability for all work performed.

Experience and Education Requirements for a Master Plumber License

The path to a master plumber license starts with holding a journeyman license. There is no shortcut around this step. The TSBPE requires documented, supervised experience before you can even apply.

Current requirements (post-September 1, 2025):

Before September 2025, the standard route required 4 years as a journeyman. HB 3214 cut that to 2 years to address the growing shortage of licensed plumbers in Texas. The DOL apprenticeship shortcut remained at 1 year.

To reach journeyman status in the first place, an apprentice must log 8,000 hours (roughly 4 years) of on-the-job training under direct supervision and pass the journeyman exam. When you add up the full timeline, a master plumber in Texas has a minimum of 5-6 years of documented, supervised plumbing work before earning the credential.

All applicants must also submit fingerprint data to the TSBPE as required by Texas law.

The Master Plumber Exam: Format, Topics, and Fees

The master plumber exam is a 3-part, closed-book test with 210 total questions, administered through Pearson VUE testing centers at over 40 locations across Texas.

Exam sections:

The written portions test knowledge of the Uniform Plumbing Code, Texas plumbing law (Occupations Code Chapter 1301), and TSBPE administrative rules. The practical portion confirms you can actually do the work, not just answer questions about it.

Fees breakdown:

Your initial exam authorization is valid for up to 5 attempts. If you don’t pass within those 5 tries, you must submit a new application and pay the processing fee again.

Responsible Master Plumber: The Business License

Holding a master plumber license alone doesn’t authorize you to operate a plumbing business in Texas. That requires the Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) designation, which adds insurance, financial, and supervisory responsibilities on top of the master license.

RMP requirements beyond the master plumber license:

• Minimum $300,000 in commercial general liability insurance covering property damage and bodily injury claims
• $225 initial application fee (or $300 if applying during renewal)
• Certificate of Insurance submitted to the TSBPE

The RMP is the person whose name is on the line for every job their company performs. They are legally responsible for code compliance, permit applications, and the quality of work done by every journeyman, tradesman, and apprentice working under their supervision.

When you hire a plumbing company, you’re hiring under an RMP’s credential. Staggs Plumbing operates under Texas Plumber License #17697, issued by the TSBPE. Randy Staggs has held this license since the 1990s, backed by 40+ years of industry experience and $1,000,000+ in general liability insurance, which exceeds the state minimum by more than 3 times.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

A Texas master plumber license renews annually. Missing the renewal deadline doesn’t just cost money. It can suspend your ability to work legally.

Annual renewal requirements:

The 6 hours of CPE must come from TSBPE-approved providers and typically cover code updates, safety practices, and regulatory changes. This keeps licensed plumbers current on evolving building codes and installation standards.

If a license lapses beyond the late-renewal window, the plumber may need to reapply and potentially re-test, depending on how long the license has been expired. For homeowners, a lapsed license means the plumber is not currently authorized to perform plumbing work in Texas.

How Homeowners Can Verify a Texas Plumber’s License

The TSBPE maintains a free, public license search tool. You can check any plumber’s credentials in under 2 minutes.

Steps to verify a license:

1. Go to the TSBPE license verification page at vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov
2. Select “Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners” from the Board dropdown
3. Choose “Plumbing – Licensed or Registered”
4. Search by license number (fastest) or by the plumber’s name
5. Review the results for license type, status, and expiration date

What to check:

Red flags that should stop you from hiring:

• No license found when you search their name or number
• License status shows “Expired” or “Inactive”
• They claim to be a master plumber but only hold an apprentice registration or tradesman license
• They refuse to provide a license number when asked

The TSBPE also publishes downloadable lists of all Responsible Master Plumbers, Master Plumbers, and Journeyman Plumbers in the state.

Why Hiring a Licensed Master Plumber Matters

A master plumber license isn’t just a credential on a business card. It creates tangible protections for your home, your insurance coverage, and your legal standing.

What a licensed master plumber provides that unlicensed workers cannot:

• Permit authority. Only work performed under an RMP’s license qualifies for city permits and inspections. Unpermitted plumbing work can void your homeowner’s insurance and create disclosure problems when you sell.
• Code compliance. Licensed plumbers are trained and tested on current building codes. Code violations from unlicensed work can cost thousands to correct.
• Insurance backing. Licensed plumbing companies carry general liability insurance. If something goes wrong, you have recourse. An unlicensed worker’s “guarantee” has no financial backing.
• Accountability. The TSBPE tracks complaints and can revoke licenses. Licensed plumbers have a professional reputation and regulatory accountability that unlicensed workers simply don’t.

Staggs Plumbing (License #17697) pulls permits, coordinates city inspections, and maintains an A+ BBB rating with 0 complaints over the past 3 years. That track record is the direct result of the licensing and accountability system the TSBPE enforces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Staggs Plumbing holds Texas Plumber License #17697, backed by 40+ years of experience serving Plano, TX and the DFW metroplex. Every job is performed under a licensed Responsible Master Plumber, fully insured, permitted, and inspected. Call 972-833-8660 to schedule service with a team that has earned its credentials the hard way.