(a) Master, journeyman, and restricted plumber qualifications.

1. (1) An applicant for the:

   1. (A) Master plumber examination shall have a minimum of five (5) years’ experience; and
   2. (B) Journeyman plumber examination licensing shall have a minimum of four (4) years’ experience or its equivalent.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The Committee of Plumbing Examiners shall approve an applicant for master or journeyman or restricted plumber examination provided that the applicant is currently licensed as a master or journeyman plumber or restricted plumber in another state or political subdivision of that state or territory or district of the United States with which the committee has no reciprocation and whose plumbing laws and codes are substantially similar to those of the State of Arkansas and:

(i) Holds his or her occupational licensure in good standing;

1. (ii) Has not had his or her occupational licensure revoked for an act of bad faith or a violation of law, rule, or ethics, and is not holding a suspended or probationary license from any state, territory, or district of the United States;

   1. (iii) Is sufficiently competent in his or her field; and

      1. (iv) Pays the required license fee.
   2. (B) In no case shall apprenticeship, education, or training be a prerequisite or condition for reciprocal licensure except for an individual that was previously licensed as an apprentice plumber wanting to reinstate an apprentice license.

2. (3)

   1. (A) The committee may approve an applicant under the following conditions for master or journeyman plumber or restricted plumber examination that is not currently licensed in another state or its political subdivision or territory or district of the United States and who has no plumber licensing background, provided the applicant shows proof of experience as a plumber as outlined in subdivision (a)(1) of this section:

      1. (i) Is sufficiently competent in his or her field; and
      2. (ii) Pays the required license and application fee.

   2. (B) The committee shall use the least restrictive requirements by allowing the licensing candidate to show proof of experience in the form of records, affidavits, or bona fide evidence from:

      1. (i) Current or former employers; or
      2. (ii) Persons who can attest to the applicant's work background as a plumber.
3. (4) The committee shall consider an apprentice plumber for the journeyman plumber examination provided the apprentice plumber has successfully completed the training as defined under the Arkansas plumber apprenticeship rules of apprenticeship as required in Arkansas Code § 17-38-409.
4. (5) The committee may consider applicants for master plumber examination who are professional engineers with special expertise in plumbing engineering.

5. (6)

   1. (A) Individuals applying for and obtaining a Journeyman Plumber License must hold that license for one (1) full year before becoming eligible for the master plumber examination.
   2. (B) In cases of extreme hardship, the committee may waive the one (1) year requirement in whole or in part.

6. (7) Applicants for both the Arkansas Backflow Preventer Assembly Repair and Tester Certificate of Competency shall:

   1. (A) Be competent; and
   2. (B) Possess the necessary skills to perform the functions related to the license for which they are applying.

7. (8) Applicants for the State Backflow Prevention Assembly Testing Technician Certification shall:

   1. (A) Have successfully completed a department-accredited training program for backflow prevention assembly testing; or
   2. (B) Produce documentation of training in a program that is substantially similar to a department-accredited training program for backflow prevention assembly testing, and hold a current substantially similar license in another state.

8. (9) Applicants for the State Backflow Prevention Assembly Repair Technician Certification shall hold a current Arkansas Backflow Prevention Assembly Testing Technician Certification and shall:

   1. (A) Have successful completed a department-accredited training program for backflow prevention assembly repair; or
   2. (B) Produce documentation of training at a program that is substantially similar to a department-accredited training program for backflow prevention assembly repair and hold a current, substantially similar license in another state.

9. (10)

   1. (A) Applicants shall be current on all required continuing education related to the license for which they are applying.
   2. (B) Documentation of current certification or recertification is required.
10. (11) Applicants are responsible for providing all required documents.

(b) Eligibility for certification as plumbing inspector or gas inspector.

1. (1) Any duly appointed plumbing inspector, assistant plumbing inspector, or gas inspector, when such appointment is made by the state or by any county, city, or town having authority over a system of either water, sewer, or natural gas utility or a combination of utilities, or by any water district, water association, sewer district, or sewer association or any water or gas utility shall be eligible for certification by the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section.

2. (2) Any other persons determined to be eligible for certification by the committee.

   1. (c) Qualifications for plumbing inspector and natural gas inspector. In order to be examined for a Certified Plumbing Inspector, Natural Gas Inspector, or both, an applicant must be:
3. (1) Able to read and write;

4. (2) Currently employed as a plumbing inspector by:

   1. (A) A city, town, county, or other municipality within the State of Arkansas having authority over a system of either water, sewerage, or natural gas utility or a combination of utilities that has adopted or is adopting the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code, 17 CAR pt. 65, by rule or ordinance; or
   2. (B) Any water district, water association, sewer district, sewer association, or any water or natural gas utility; and

5. (3) Competent to perform the required duties.

   1. (d) Examinations for certification as plumbing inspector or gas inspector.
6. (1) Examinations for certification as plumbing inspector or gas inspector will be given on an as-needed basis by the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section at various times and places.
7. (2) The examination will cover the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code and Arkansas Gas Pipeline Code for Design, Construction, Operation, Inspection, and Maintenance of Natural Gas Systems, 23 CAR pt. 451.
8. (3) A score of seventy percent (70%) or greater is considered a passing score.

(e) Qualifications for Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s License.

1. (1) The applicant for a Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s License shall produce evidence of his or her training and experience in the phase of plumbing for which they are requesting a license.
2. (2) Applicants for a Restricted Supervising Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s License shall have a minimum of five (5) years’ hospital maintenance plumbing experience or its equivalent, one (1) year as a licensed restricted hospital maintenance plumber.
3. (3) Applicants for a Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s License shall have served four (4) years as a registered restricted hospital maintenance plumber trainee.
4. (4) Restricted hospital maintenance plumber trainees shall register with the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section in order to record the training and experience gained under the restricted supervising hospital maintenance plumber.

(f) Examinations for Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s License.

1. (1) All applicants shall be examined by the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section to determine competency to perform as a restricted hospital maintenance plumber and on the rules that may affect their operation.

2. (2) All applicants shall be examined on the basis of competency:

   1. (A) In the restricted phase of plumbing they may be performing; and
   2. (B) In laws and rules that may affect their operation.

(h) Examinations for Restricted Water and Sewer Service Line Installation Plumber’s License. All applicants shall be examined by the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section to determine competency to perform as a restricted water and sewer service line installation plumber and on the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code, laws, and rules applicable to his or her phases of plumbing licensure unless eligible for reciprocity.

1. (i) Qualifications for licensure under the Arkansas Occupational Licensing of Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, And Spouses Act of 2021, Arkansas Code § 17-4-101 et seq.

2. (1) Applicability. This part applies to:

   1. (A) A uniformed service member stationed in the State of Arkansas;
   2. (B) A uniformed service veteran who resides in or establishes residency in the State of Arkansas; and

   3. (C) The spouse of or subdivision (i)(1)(A) or (i)(1)(B) of this section, including a uniformed service member who is:

      1. (i) Assigned a tour of duty that excludes the spouse from accompanying the uniformed service member and the spouse relocates to Arkansas; or
      2. (ii) Killed or succumbs to his or her injuries or illness in the line of duty if the spouse establishes residency in Arkansas.

3. (2) Automatic licensure. Automatic licensure shall be granted to persons listed in subdivision (i)(1) of this section if the person:

   1. (A) Is a holder in good standing of occupational licensure with similar scope of practice issued by another state, territory, or district of the United States; and
   2. (B) Pays the applicable licensure fee in 17 CAR § 66-103 unless eligible for fee exemption through Acts 2021, No. 725.
4. (3) Credit toward initial licensure. Relevant and applicable uniformed service education, training, national certification, or service-issued credential shall be accepted toward initial licensure.

5. (4) Expiration dates and continuing education.

   1. (A) A license expiration date shall be extended for a deployed uniformed service member or spouse for one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member’s return from deployment.
   2. (B) A uniformed service member or spouse shall be exempt from any applicable continuing education or recertification requirements for backflow prevention assembly testing and repair technicians and plumbing and gas inspectors for one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member’s return from deployment.
   3. (C) Any uniformed service member or spouse exercising the exemption shall provide evidence of completion of any applicable continuing education within the one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member’s return from deployment.

(j) Reciprocal licensing.

1. (1) The committee, as a means of facilitating interstate practice, may enter into reciprocal agreements with other states regarding plumber licensing.

2. (2) An applicant applying for reciprocal licensure shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (A) The applicant shall hold a plumber’s license in another United States jurisdiction that is substantially similar to an Arkansas plumber’s licensure requirements as established by this part;
   2. (B) The applicant shall hold his or her occupational licensure in good standing;

   3. (C) The applicant shall not have had a license revoked for an act of bad faith or a violation of:

      1. (i) Laws;
      2. (ii) Rules; or
      3. (iii) Ethics;
   4. (D) The applicant shall not hold a suspended or probationary license in a United States jurisdiction; and
   5. (E) The applicant shall be sufficiently competent in plumbing and natural gas installations.

3. (3) The committee shall apply the least restrictive requirements for an applicant applying for reciprocal licensure unless it is required as a condition of reciprocity with another United States jurisdiction:

   1. (A) Examinations shall not be required; and
   2. (B) Apprenticeship, education, or training shall not be required as a prerequisite to licensure except for an individual that was previously licensed as an apprentice plumber wanting to reinstate an apprentice license.

4. (4)

   1. (A) An applicant shall submit:

      1. (i) A completed application;
      2. (ii) The required fee; and
      3. (iii) The documentation described below.

   2. (B) As evidence that the applicant’s license from another jurisdiction is substantially similar to Arkansas, the applicant shall submit the following information:

      1. (i) Copy of plumber’s license from the other jurisdiction or jurisdictions; and
      2. (ii)

(a) (a) Completion of required forms from the other jurisdiction or jurisdictions showing the candidate’s licensing status including:

1. (1) (1) Suspensions and revocations;
2. (2) (2) Types of examinations administered; and
3. (3) (3) Types of plumbing and gas codes used.

(b) (b) The committee may use online or telecommunications to the other licensing jurisdiction for verification of information.

1. (iii)

(a) (a) Candidates shall also be required to submit:

1. (1) (1) The names of all states in which the candidate is either currently or has been previously licensed; and
2. (2) (2) Confirmation that the license is in good standing.

(k) Automatic Occupational Licensure for Out-of-State Licensure Act, Acts 2023, No. 457.

1. (1) This subsection shall not apply to any applicant who held a license that is the subject of a reciprocal agreement between another state and the Department of Health.

2. (2) An applicant shall be eligible for automatic occupational licensure if:

   1. (A) The applicant has established residency in Arkansas and is either:

      1. (i) In good standing for at least one (1) year for a Master, Journeyman, and Restricted Plumber, Plumbing and Gas Inspector, Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s, or Water and Sewer Service Line Installation Plumber’s License with similar scope of practice issued by another state, territory, or district of the United States; or
      2. (ii) Has worked for at least three (3) years in the master, journeyman, and restricted plumbing, plumbing and gas inspector, restricted hospital maintenance plumbing, and/or water and sewer service line installation occupations in another state, territory, or district of the United States that does not use a Master, Journeyman, and Restricted Plumber, Plumbing and Gas Inspector, Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s, and Water and Sewer Service Line Installation Plumber’s Licensure to regulate the master, journeyman, and restricted plumbing, plumbing and gas inspector, restricted hospital maintenance plumbing, and water and sewer service line installation occupations for which the applicant is applying;
   2. (B) The applicant does not have a disqualifying criminal offense under Arkansas Code § 17-3-102 or under any additional state law relating to the Master, Journeyman, and Restricted Plumber, Plumbing and Gas Inspector, Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s, or Water and Sewer Service Line Installation Plumber’s Licensure;
   3. (C) The applicant does not have a complaint, allegation, or investigation pending in his or her occupational activity in this state or in the state of the applicant’s previous residency where the Master, Journeyman, and Restricted Plumber, Plumbing and Gas Inspector, Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s, and/or Water and Sewer Service Line Installation Plumber’s Licensure was granted; and
   4. (D) The applicant passes an examination specific to relevant state laws that regulate the master, journeyman, and restricted plumbing, plumbing and gas inspector, restricted hospital maintenance plumbing, or water and sewer service line installation occupations.

3. (3) The Department of Health may waive the requirement for the applicant to pass an examination specific to relevant state laws that regulate the master, journeyman, and restricted plumbing, plumbing and gas inspector, restricted hospital maintenance plumbing, or water and sewer service line installation occupations if the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section finds that:

   1. (A) The combination of the applicant’s education, training, and experience is a sufficient substitute for the state law examination requirement; and

   2. (B) A waiver by the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section will not harm public:

      1. (i) Health;
      2. (ii) Safety; or
      3. (iii) Welfare.

4. (4) Upon the applicant being granted automatic occupational licensure, the applicant shall meet all:

   1. (A) Other Master, Journeyman, and Restricted Plumber, Plumbing and Gas Inspector, Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s, or Water and Sewer Service Line Installation Plumber’s Licensure requirements; and
   2. (B) Renewal requirements of the Master, Journeyman, and Restricted Plumber, Plumbing and Gas Inspector, Restricted Hospital Maintenance Plumber’s, or Water and Sewer Service Line Installation Plumber’s Licensure, including, without limitation, a criminal background check and continuing education hours.