---
title: "How Long Does It Take to Become a Plumber? | ShapeMyCareer"
description: "How long it takes to become a plumber: trade school, the four to five year apprenticeship, the journeyman license and the extra years to master plumber."
url: https://shapemycareer.com/guides/how-long-to-become-a-plumber/
updated: 2026-10-10
site: ShapeMyCareer
---

Guides · Plumber timeline

# How long it takes to become a plumber

Usually four to five years to a journeyman license.

Timeline

Plumbing follows the same shape as most licensed trades: years of paid supervised work, then a code exam. Here is the typical timeline.

In short

Becoming a licensed journeyman plumber usually takes four to five years of supervised work, most often through a paid apprenticeship with classroom hours each year, followed by a code exam. A trade school program first can take months to two years. Becoming a master plumber typically takes one or more extra years as a journeyman plus another exam, depending on the state.

**Sources checked October 10, 2026** Pay, training and outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is the middle (median) figure nationally; your first paycheck in the trade will usually be lower.

| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Optional trade school | A few months to 2 years |
| Apprenticeship | 4 to 5 years |
| Journeyman exam | After required hours |
| Master plumber | Often 1 to 2 more years, varies by state |

| Middle pay | $63,800 a year, roughly $30.67 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| How most people start | High school or GED to start, then apprenticeship |
| People in the trade | About 510,600 nationwide (2025) |
| Growth to 2035 | BLS expects 6.8% growth |
| Openings a year | Around 42,000, counting retirements |

From the [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm) Employment Projections table (2025 to 2035) and May 2025 wage survey. These are U.S. numbers. Local shops may pay above or below them, and apprentices start well under the middle figure.

## Things that slow people down

- Not documenting hours
- Changing employers without getting hours signed off
- Waiting for an apprenticeship opening

### Get started in plumbing

Tell us your ZIP and we will send plumbing programs nearby.

[Find training near me](#smc-form)

## Straight answers

### Can I become a plumber without an apprenticeship?

In some states you can register as a trainee with a licensed plumber instead. You still need the supervised hours.

### Is plumbing school required?

No. Many plumbers go straight into apprenticeships.

### How long is the journeyman plumber test?

It is usually a timed exam of several hours. Check your state's testing provider.

## Where this comes from

- [BLS OOH: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm)
- [Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm)
- [BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025 to 2035)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)

## Keep looking

- [Plumbing apprenticeship](https://shapemycareer.com/apprenticeships/plumbing/)
- [Journeyman plumber](https://shapemycareer.com/licensing/journeyman-plumber/)
- [Master plumber](https://shapemycareer.com/licensing/master-plumber/)
- [Guides](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/)
- [CDL school cost](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/cdl-school-cost/)
- [Electrician vs plumber](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/electrician-vs-plumber/)
- [Getting hired](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/getting-hired-in-construction/)
- [Equipment school](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/heavy-equipment-operator-school/)

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