WISCONSIN · plumber
Journeyman Plumber
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services →Scope of Work
A Wisconsin Journeyman Plumber is authorized to perform plumbing work under the general supervision of a person holding a Master Plumber license, Master Plumber Restricted license, or Utility Contractor license. Wis. Stat. § 145.06 prohibits any person from engaging in plumbing in Wisconsin without a license. Wisconsin also issues narrower credentials including Journeyman Plumber Restricted Service and Journeyman Plumber Restricted Appliance, each with a limited scope documented on the relevant DSPS form. Source: DSPS Journeyman Plumber (https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/JourneymanPlumber/Default.aspx).
Experience and Training
Complete a plumbing apprenticeship recognized under Wis. Stat. § 106.025 or the U.S. Department of Labor (typically a 5-year program with approximately 8,000 hours of OJT plus 576+ classroom hours). Submit a letter from the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards confirming apprenticeship completion to sit for the exam. Out-of-state applicants who have practiced for at least 5 years under a journeyman plumber license (or equivalent license) issued by another state with licensing provisions substantially similar to Wisconsin may qualify using DSPS Form 3126T, and must document a minimum of 576 hours of plumbing-related instruction. Source: DSPS Form 3126 Journeyman Plumber Application Information (https://dsps.wi.gov/Credentialing/Trades/fm3126.pdf).
Military Crosswalk
DSPS credits verified military plumbing experience under Wis. Stat. § 440.052. Relevant MOS examples include Army Plumber (12K), Navy Utilitiesman (UT), Marine Hygiene Equipment Operator (1171), and Air Force Water and Fuel Systems Maintenance (3E4X1). Applicants submit DD-214 and training transcripts with the DSPS application through LicensE.
Exam
Administered by DSPS via LicensE (license.wi.gov). Core topics include the Uniform Plumbing Code edition currently adopted by Wisconsin, Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 382 and related plumbing chapters, drainage and vent sizing, water supply and distribution, fuel-gas piping, fixtures and appliances, backflow prevention, cross-connection control, water heaters, and Wisconsin-specific rules. The exam is open-book with permitted references listed in DSPS Trades Exam Materials Allowed (https://dsps.wi.gov/Documents/DPD-OEE/DSPSPermittedTradesExamMaterials.pdf). Fees are calculated in LicensE at application.
Reciprocity
Wisconsin does not maintain a broad journeyman-to-journeyman plumber reciprocity list. A qualified out-of-state journeyman with 5 years of practice and the required instruction hours may apply for Wisconsin licensure using DSPS Form 3126T, which streamlines the application but typically still requires passing the Wisconsin exam. Verify current reciprocity on the DSPS Journeyman Plumber page.
Renewal and CE
Renewal cycles and fees are calculated in LicensE. The DSPS Trades Renewal Dates and Fees document publishes current cycle lengths and fees (https://dsps.wi.gov/Credentialing/Trades/TradesRenewalDatesFees.pdf). Wisconsin does not require continuing education for Journeyman Plumber renewal.
Scope Limitations
The Journeyman Plumber works under the general supervision of a Master Plumber, Master Plumber Restricted, or Utility Contractor. The journeyman does not contract for plumbing work in the journeyman's own name; contracting requires a Wisconsin-licensed plumbing business with a Master Plumber of record. Cross-connection control tester and medical-gas installer work require separate endorsements documented on the relevant DSPS credential page.