Licensing Requirements for Pipefitters by State

The Houston Chronicle reports that the total number of jobs available for pipefitters will increase by 26% between 2010 and 2020, according to the BLS. The average salary for pipefitters in the United States is currently $51,830 per year, with the top ten percent earning over $80,000 per year.

Training at Tulsa Welding School prepares an aspiring pipefitter for a promising career. Whether you chose to enroll in the Pipefitting Training Program or the Welding Specialist with Pipefitting Program, you will receive comprehensive in-class and hands-on instruction. Moreover, either program can be completed in less than a year, enabling to start your pipefitting career as soon as possible.

Upon graduation, you may wonder what kind of credentials you need to obtain in order to work as a pipefitter. As a matter of fact, certification and licensing requirements for pipefitters differ from state to state. Here’s an overview of the credentials required for pipefitters for each state:

ALABAMA

Pipefitters are licensed in Alabama by the state’s Plumbing and Gasfitters Examining Board.

ALASKA

Pipefitters in Alaska need a plumber’s license issued by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

ARIZONA

Pipefitters in Arizona are required to hold a contractor’s license issued by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

ARKANSAS

In Arkansas, a pipefitter needs both a contractor’s license as a plumber from the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and a license from the Arkansas Department of Health.

CALIFORNIA

California requires a pipefitter to have a contractor’s license issued by the Contractors State License Board depending on the type of work they perform.

COLORADO

Colorado pipefitters need a license by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

CONNECTICUT

A pipefitter needs to get a Plumbing & Piping Contractor’s License issued by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

DELAWARE

Delaware’s Division of Professional Regulation issues journeyman licenses after apprentices have at least seven years of experience.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

The District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades requires pipefitters to have a plumber’s license.

FLORIDA

Florida’s Construction Industry Licensing Board issues a license to be a Certified Plumbing Contractor that includes the pipefitting specialty.

GEORGIA

The Georgia Board of Residential & General Contractors provides licenses to pipefitters in Georgia.

HAWAII

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issues contractor licenses for pipefitters.

IDAHO

The Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses issues licenses for plumbing contractors and journeymen.

ILLINOIS

Pipefitters do not need¹ a license in Illinois.

INDIANA

The Indiana Plumbing Commission issues apprentice plumber and journeyman plumber licenses needed to work as a pipefitter.

IOWA

Pipefitters must register as a contractor with Iowa’s Division of Labor Services.

KANSAS

Kansas does not provide licenses for pipefitters on a state level. Nevertheless, licenses may be required on a local level.

KENTUCKY

In Kentucky, the Department of Housing, Buildings & Construction issues licenses for pipefitters.

LOUISIANA

The State Licensing Board for Contractors is the regulatory agency in Louisiana that handles the licensing of pipefitters.

MAINE

The Professional & Financial Regulation Board in Maine issues licenses that cover the work of pipefitters.

MARYLAND

Pipefitters need a journeyman or master license from the Maryland State Board of Plumbing.

MASSACHUSETTS

The Massachusetts Department of Public Safety requires pipefitters to obtain a license.

MICHIGAN

Michigan issues apprentice, journeyman and master licenses for pipefitters through the Plumbing Division of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

MINNESOTA

In Minnesota, pipefitters need a plumbing license issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry.

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi pipefitters need a commercial construction contractor’s certificate with a special mechanical certification issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.

MISSOURI

The state of Missouri does not provide² statewide contractor’s licenses. Local ordinances may apply.

MONTANA

Pipefitters in Montana require a plumbing license issued by the Montana Board of Plumbers.

NEBRASKA

There are no specific³ licensing or certification requirements for pipefitters in Nebraska. Contractors working in counties that have populations over 100,000 people must have a business license.

NEVADA

Pipefitters working in Nevada need a contractor’s license issued by the Nevada State Contractors Board.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

The Bureau of Building Safety & Construction issues licenses for those wanting to work as pipefitters in New Hampshire.

NEW JERSEY

Pipefitters need a license issued by the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers in New Jersey.

NEW MEXICO

In New Mexico, pipefitters need to get a license for mechanical plumbing from the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department.

NEW YORK

New York has no⁴ statewide licensing for pipefitters. All the regulations that apply to pipefitters are at a local level.

NORTH CAROLINA

Anyone doing pipefitting work in North Carolina falls under the general category of plumbing and needs to have a contractor’s license issued by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.

NORTH DAKOTA

The State Plumbing Board issues licenses to pipefitters in North Dakota.

OHIO

Pipefitters need to have a contractor’s license issued by the Ohio Department of Commerce.

OKLAHOMA

Pipefitters in Oklahoma require a license from the Construction Industries Board.

OREGON

Pipefitter licenses are issued by the Department of Consumer & Business Services.

PENNSYLVANIA

There are no licenses⁵ required for pipefitters in Pennsylvania.

RHODE ISLAND

Pipefitters must obtain a license from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.

SOUTH CAROLINA

In South Carolina, pipefitters need a mechanical contractor’s license from the South Carolina Contractors’ Licensing Board.

SOUTH DAKOTA

The South Dakota State Plumbing Commission issues apprentice, plumbing contractor and journeyman plumber licenses.

TENNESSEE

Tennessee requires pipefitters to have a contractor’s license issued by the Board for Licensing Contractors.

TEXAS

Texas pipefitters must be licensed through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

UTAH

Pipefitters in Utah need a license from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

VERMONT

In Vermont, pipefitters need a plumbing contractor’s license issued by the Department of Public Safety.

VIRGINIA

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation in Virginia issues journeyman licenses under the Tradesmen Program.

WASHINGTON

Washington requires pipefitters to register as a specialty contractor with the Department of Labor & Industries.

WEST VIRGINIA

The West Virginia Division of Labor issues contractor licenses for pipefitters.

WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services provides several credentials to pipefitters.

WYOMING

There is no statewide program in Wyoming to license pipefitters. Local and county regulations apply instead.

General Pipefitting Work Requirements

Many states require a minimum amount of years working as an apprentice before applying for the full journeyman license. Some states allow further qualifications to a master level after being a journeyman. Besides needing to have the proper levels of experience, there are rigorous tests that pipefitters have to pass to obtain these certifications. However, hard work and study will often pay off for those who dedicate themselves to this in-demand ⁶ career. Contact Tulsa Welding School for information about enrolling in a pipefitting training program.