Plumbing License in Virginia: Fees, Requirements & Startup Costs
Quick answer: Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors licenses plumbing firms as Class A, B, or C contractors with the PLB classification. The firm’s qualified individual must hold a Master Plumber license. Initial contractor fees are $235 for Class C, $380 for Class B, or $400 for Class A, plus a $25 Recovery Fund assessment. A new master license by examination is $150 and the PSI master exam is $125. See the contractor fee rule and tradesman fee rule.
Put the PLB classification on the business license
A plumber’s personal credential and a plumbing company’s authority are separate in Virginia. The entity needs a contractor firm license showing PLB; its qualified individual needs the Master Plumber credential. When a licensed plumber starts a firm, naming that person as qualifier does not eliminate the company application. Conversely, a company filing without the appropriate master qualifier does not satisfy the PLB requirement described in the record.
Match both project value and annual volume to the statutory contractor classes. Class C covers projects over $1,000 and below $30,000, with annual work below $250,000. Class B applies at $30,000 to below $150,000 per project or $250,000 to below $1 million in any 12-month period. Class A applies at $150,000 per project or $1 million in 12 months. A higher annual total can require a higher class even when each job is smaller.
Licensing in Virginia
Jurisdiction: state
Authority: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors
Virginia licenses contractor firms statewide by Class A, B, or C and trade classification; the firm's qualified individual must hold the corresponding master tradesman license.
Contractor firm license (Plumbing PLB classification; Class A, B, or C)
BUSINESS Business license with PLB trade classification. Class C: projects over $1,000 and under $30,000; Class B: $30,000 to under $150,000; Class A: $150,000 or more; annual-volume thresholds also apply. Qualified individual must hold Master Plumber license.
| Fee | Amount | Period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Class C initial contractor license | $235 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
| Class B initial contractor license | $380 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
| Class A initial contractor license | $400 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
| Recovery Fund assessment with each initial contractor license application | $25 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | — |
| Class C contractor license renewal | $220 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
| Class B contractor license renewal | $260 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
| Class A contractor license renewal | $270 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
| Recovery Fund assessment with each contractor license renewal | $30 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
Master Plumber
INDIVIDUAL Individual master tradesman license required for the firm's PLB qualified individual.
| Fee | Amount | Period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Original master tradesman license by examination | $150 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
| PSI Master Tradesman examination, paid directly to PSI | $125 OFFICIAL FEE Source — www.dpor.virginia.gov | — |
| Tradesman license renewal | $160 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov | 2 |
Exam: Provider: PSI · Fee: 125 · Source
Experience: Master exam eligibility requires at least one year holding a valid journeyman license in the trade, nine years of practical trade experience, or three years holding a residential plumber license. A firm’s qualified individual needs one year for Class C, three for Class B or five for Class A in the specialty.
Bond: $50,000 OFFICIAL FEE Source — law.lis.virginia.gov
Renewal and CE: Renewal period: 2 years · Continuing education: 3 hours · Source
Local note: DPOR says firms must also comply with local licensing requirements of cities, towns, and counties where they work; contact local Commissioner of the Revenue and Building Official.
Data notes
Class A and B designated employees must pass a separate contractor Business and Law exam. Class C firms are exempt from the Class A and B financial-verification bond requirement.
Verified: 2026-09-24
Which individual route applies?
The DPOR tradesman regulations, master examination routes, distinguish these alternatives. Each is an exam-eligibility route, not automatic permission to contract as a business.
| Master exam route | Experience evidence |
|---|---|
| Licensed journeyman plumber | Hold a valid journeyman license in the same trade for at least one year. |
| Licensed residential plumber | Hold the residential plumber tradesman license for three years. |
| Practical experience | Nine years in the trade; submit the evidence required by the application. |
Scoped source review: 24 October 2026 — the three master-exam routes and statutory contractor-class thresholds were rechecked. Other fee and source dates remain as stated below; this is not an individual eligibility decision.
Prepare the people behind the application
The PLB qualified individual needs one year of specialty experience for Class C, three years for Class B, or five years for Class A. The master exam eligibility routes in the record include holding a valid journeyman plumber license for at least one year or nine years of practical plumbing experience. A residential plumber license held for three years provides another route. Choose the route supported by the applicant’s records rather than counting general business ownership as trade experience.
The new contractor firm must have a responsible management member or designated employee complete an eight-hour board-approved business prelicense course. A Class A or B designated employee must also pass a separate contractor business and law exam. The charge for that exam was not confirmed on the official pages, so the $125 PSI figure on this page applies to the master tradesman exam only. Allow for both steps when arranging a launch date.
Handle financial qualifications and expiration dates
For Class B, the record gives $15,000 in net worth or equity as the financial verification figure; for Class A, it gives $45,000. The qualification rule identifies a $50,000 bond as an alternative for those classes. This is not a general bond requirement for Class C. No general statewide PLB insurance minimum was confirmed on the official pages. Check any employer and local requirements for the business’s staffing and work area.
Contractor and tradesman licenses run on two-year cycles. The contractor renewal schedule lists $220 for Class C, $260 for Class B, or $270 for Class A, plus a $30 Recovery Fund assessment. A Master Plumber renewal is $160 with three continuing education hours under the tradesman renewal rule. Set reminders for the firm and the individual separately.
Ask the locality before accepting work there
DPOR directs contractor firms to comply with city, town, and county licensing requirements wherever they operate. The local Commissioner of the Revenue and Building Official can explain the applicable licensing and building process for a job address. Determine those steps before setting the schedule for a plumbing installation or repair that may need local review.
The researched notes identify a technology fee affecting certain transactions from July 2026 but do not tie an amount to each filing. Confirm the payment screen when applying. Use the plumbing startup cost guide and calculator to place licensing beside the rest of the opening budget. The plumbing hub, license guide, and pages for Texas and North Carolina provide broader comparisons.
Estimated startup cost: $9,400–$11,700 Estimated startup cost: $9,400–$11,700. Break-even at about 7 jobs per month. Monthly overhead: $1,600–$1,750 · Annual operating: $19,300–$21,000 · Break-even: 7 jobs/month Vehicle operating per month: $760 CALCULATED Phone and admin per month: $150 YOUR INPUT Startup total is the sum of available first-year cost lines. Monthly overhead includes insurance, software, marketing, vehicle operating, phone and admin, and payroll. Break-even jobs = monthly overhead ÷ (average ticket × gross margin).Startup Cost Calculator
Licensing & exam fees $565–$730 OFFICIALLicense details Business formation (state filing) $100 OFFICIAL Insurance (first year) $1,750 MARKET ESTIMATEGeneral liability Vehicle acquisition $0 YOUR INPUTYour existing vehicle; acquisition cost $0 Vehicle price sources
Tools & equipment $50 MARKET ESTIMATE Starter kit items
Software (first year) $590–$2,250 MARKET ESTIMATEPublished monthly list price × 12 Software price sources
Launch marketing $1,500 YOUR INPUTYour input — default: 3 months × $500 Payroll reserve $0 CALCULATEDBLS median wage × 173 hours/month × employees × employer taxes and ECEC benefits × working-capital months Working capital $4,800–$5,250 CALCULATEDMonthly overhead excluding payroll (shown separately) × working-capital months Permits & compliance $0 YOUR INPUTYour input — default $0; local requirements may apply Show formula
Official sources
- law.lis.virginia.gov — Class C initial contractor license
- law.lis.virginia.gov — Class C contractor license renewal
- law.lis.virginia.gov — Original master tradesman license by examination
- www.dpor.virginia.gov — PSI Master Tradesman examination, paid directly to PSI
- law.lis.virginia.gov — Tradesman license renewal
- api.bls.gov — BLS OEWS Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- www.scc.virginia.gov — Virginia LLC filing fee
- www.dpor.virginia.gov — A501-27TRADEREGS.pdf
- law.lis.virginia.gov — Official licensing requirements
Market sources
- www.homedepot.com — RIDGID 31020 14-in straight pipe wrench
- www.homedepot.com — RIDGID 32925 Model 15 tubing cutter
- www.homedepot.com — RIDGID 57043 Power Spin+ drain auger
- www.lowes.com — Werner PD6206 6-ft fiberglass platform ladder
- www.homedepot.com — 3M SecureFit SF400G-LV-4-PS safety glasses
- www.walmart.com — Milwaukee M18 FORCE LOGIC 2922-20 press tool (ONE-KEY)
- www.walmart.com — Milwaukee 2773-22L M18 Force Logic long throw press tool kit 1/2-1 in.
- www.walmart.com — RIDGID K-400 drum drain cleaning machine
- www.homedepot.com — Klein Tools ET16 borescope camera
- www.insureon.com — Insureon
- www.getjobber.com — Jobber
- www.housecallpro.com — Housecall Pro
- quickbooks.intuit.com — QuickBooks Online
- www.ramtrucks.com — 2026 Ram ProMaster cargo van (base)
- www.cars.com — 2026 Ford F-150 XL (base)
- www.cars.com — 2026 Ford Transit-150 cargo van (base, T-150 130in low roof RWD)
- www.coxautoinc.com — Used vehicle average listing price (all segments, not cargo-van specific)
Frequently asked questions
Can a Virginia Master Plumber operate a new plumbing company without a contractor license?
The company also needs a DPOR contractor license with the PLB classification.
Is residential plumber licensure a route to the master exam?
The official guidance identifies a residential plumber license held for three years as one eligibility route.
Does Class C plumbing require the Class A/B financial bond alternative?
No. The $50,000 bond is identified as an alternative to financial verification for Class A or B.
Are the master exam and contractor business exam the same test?
No. Class A or B designated employees have a separate business and law exam; its fee was not confirmed here.
Who explains plumbing rules for a specific Virginia job address?
Contact the local Commissioner of the Revenue and Building Official for licensing and building requirements.
Last updated: October 23, 2026