22 Tex. Admin. Code § 363.1 – Qualifications

(a) An applicant may qualify for a Master Plumber License, Journeyman Plumber License, Tradesman Plumber-Limited License, Plumbing Inspector License, Plumber's Apprentice Registration, Residential Utilities Installer Registration, Drain Cleaner Registration or Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registration. A Master or Journeyman Plumber License may contain a Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement, Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist Endorsement, or Water Supply Protection Specialist Endorsement. A Plumbing Inspector License may contain a Medical Gas Piping Endorsement, or a Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist Endorsement. In order to qualify for any of the licenses or endorsements an applicant must meet all the requirements of the Board, successfully complete the required examination and remit the appropriate fee. In order to qualify for any of the registrations an applicant must meet all the requirements of the Board and remit the appropriate fee.
(b) When a Plumber's Apprentice or Tradesman Plumber-Limited license holder applies to take an examination, he/she must submit the Employer's Certification. This form certifies the Applicant's work experience complies with the eligibility criteria for the examination. If the applicant has met the criteria through employment with one employer, the Employer's Certification must be completed by that employer. However, if the applicant has met the criteria through employment with various employers, then the Employer's Certification must be submitted from each of those employers. Therefore, the Board recommends that the applicant request an employer complete the Employer's Certification annually and each time the Applicant discontinues employment with a particular employer. A Licensee is required to complete the Employer's Certification form within 30 days of a request by any individual who has worked as a Plumber's Apprentice or Tradesman Plumber-Limited license holder under the Licensee's supervision. It is the responsibility of the Applicant to supply the Licensee with the Employer's Certification form.
1. (1) In accordance with the requirements of §1301.002 and §1301.354, of the Plumbing License Law, a person may receive credit for on-the-job work hours required to qualify for a Tradesman Plumber-Limited or Journeyman Plumber examination, only while the person holds a valid Plumber's Apprentice registration; or
2. (2) a valid Tradesman Plumber-Limited license.
(c) Master Plumber. Each applicant must:
1. (1) be licensed either as:
  1. (A) a Journeyman Plumber in Texas or another state with at least 8,000 hours working at the trade under a Responsible Master Plumber and must have held the Journeyman License for at least:
    1. (i) four years; or
    2. (ii) one year and have successfully completed a training program approved by the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship or another nationally recognized apprentice training program accepted by the board; or
  2. (B) a Master Plumber in another state who has met the requirements in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph;
2. (2) be a high school graduate or hold a General Equivalency Diploma (GED); and
3. (3) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas.
(d) Journeyman Plumber.
1. (1) Each applicant must:
  1. (A) be a high school graduate or hold a General Equivalency Diploma (GED); and
  2. (B) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas.
  3. (C) have either of the following:
    1. (i) a current Plumber's Apprentice Registration or Tradesman Plumber-Limited and at least 8,000 hours of experience working at the trade under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber, as verified by employers; or
    2. (ii) a valid Journeyman License from another state and at least 8,000 hours of experience working at the trade under the supervision of a Master Plumber;
  4. (D) complete 48 hours of classroom training provided by a board-approved instructor in a board-approved training program in the areas of health and safety, applicable plumbing codes, and water conservation, as provided by §363.12 of this chapter (relating to Training Programs for Journeyman Plumber and Tradesman Plumber-Limited License Applicants).
2. (2) At the applicant's request, the Board may credit an applicant for the Journeyman Plumber examination with up to 500 hours of the work experience required before taking an examination if the applicant has completed the classroom portion of a training program:
  1. (A) approved by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship; or
  2. (B) provided by a person approved by the Board and based on course materials approved by the Board.
3. (3) Notwithstanding the training required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, a Plumber's Apprentice may apply for and take an examination for a license as a Journeyman Plumber if the apprentice has received an associate of applied science degree from a plumbing technology program that:
  1. (A) includes a combination of classroom and on-the-job training; and
  2. (B) is approved by the Board and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
4. (4) A Plumber's Apprentice who is enrolled in good standing in a training program approved by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship, may take a Journeyman Plumber examination without completing the classroom training required by paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection.
(e) Tradesman Plumber-Limited.
1. (1) Each applicant must:
  1. (A) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas; and
  2. (B) have either of the following:
    1. (i) Plumber's Apprentice Registration and have completed at least 4,000 hours of experience working at the trade as a Registered Plumber's Apprentice under the direct supervision of a Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman Plumber or Master Plumber, and the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber, as verified by employers; or
    2. (ii) a valid Journeyman or Master License from another state and at least 4,000 hours of experience working at the trade under the supervision of a Master Plumber;
  3. (C) complete 24 hours of classroom training provided by a board-approved instructor in a board-approved training program in the areas of health and safety, applicable plumbing codes, and water conservation, as provided by §363.12 of this chapter.
2. (2) At the applicant's request, the Board may credit an applicant for the Tradesman Plumber-Limited examination with up to 500 hours of the work experience required before taking an examination if the applicant has completed the classroom portion of a training program:
  1. (A) approved by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship; or
  2. (B) provided by a person approved by the Board and based on course materials approved by the Board.
3. (3) Notwithstanding the training required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, a plumber's apprentice may apply for and take an examination for a license as a Tradesman Plumber-Limited if the apprentice has received an associate of applied science degree from a plumbing technology program that:
  1. (A) includes a combination of classroom and on-the-job training; and
  2. (B) is approved by the Board and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
4. (4) A plumber's apprentice who is enrolled in good standing in a training program approved by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship, may take a Tradesman Plumber-Limited examination without completing the classroom training required by paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection.
(f) Plumbing Inspector. Each applicant must:
1. (1) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas;
2. (2) be a high school graduate or hold a General Equivalency Diploma (GED); and
3. (3) have one of the following:
  1. (A) a Journeyman or Master Plumber License issued in the state of Texas;
  2. (B) a Journeyman or Master Plumber License issued in another state, provided he or she passes the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners Journeyman exam;
  3. (C) a Plumbing Inspector license issued by another state with licensing requirements substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners;
  4. (D) a professional engineer or a professional architect license issued in this state; or
  5. (E) a total of 500 hours training or experience in the plumbing industry, that shall be credited by any combination of the following:
    1. (i) 100 hours credit for successful completion of a certification in the Uniform Plumbing Code or the International Plumbing Code, issued by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA) or Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) plumbing code certification;
    2. (ii) 100 hours credit for successful completion of a Board approved Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement Training Program;
    3. (iii) 100 hours credit for successful completion of a Board approved Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist Endorsement Training Program;
    4. (iv) 50 hours credit for successful completion of a Board approved Water Supply Protection Specialist Endorsement Training Program;
    5. (v) 100 hours credit for successful completion of an approved Backflow Tester Certification program;
    6. (vi) 6 hours credit for successful completion each different Board approved Continuing Professional Education for Licensed Plumbers and Plumbing Inspectors Course;
    7. (vii) actual hours, with a maximum of 100 hours credit for approved, documented and verified plumbing related training academy or educational sessions;
    8. (viii) actual hours, with a maximum of 200 hours credit for on the job work experience in the plumbing trade or approved similar plumbing related trade, as verified by former employers; or
    9. (ix) actual hours, with a maximum of 200 hours credit for documented and verified on the job training in the enforcement of plumbing codes under the direct supervision of a Licensed Plumbing Inspector.
(g) Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement. Each applicant must:
1. (1) hold a current Journeyman, or Master Plumber, or Plumbing Inspector License; and
2. (2) have successfully completed a Board approved training program in medical gas piping installation which includes the standards contained in the latest edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 99C Gas and Vacuum Systems.
(h) Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist Endorsement. Each applicant must:
1. (1) hold a Journeyman, or Master Plumber, or Plumbing Inspector License; and
2. (2) have successfully completed a training program approved by the board that provides the training necessary for the proper installation of a multipurpose residential fire protection sprinkler system as required by the applicable codes and standards recognized by the state.
(i) Water Supply Protection Specialist Endorsement. Each applicant must:
1. (1) hold a current Journeyman or Master Plumber License;
2. (2) have successfully completed a Board approved training program in backflow prevention; and
3. (3) have successfully completed a Board approved training program designed around the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Clean Water Act, on-site wastewater and site evaluations and graywater re-use, water quality training and water treatment, water utilities systems and regulations, water conservation, xeriscape irrigation, fire protection systems, and state laws regulating lead contamination in drinking water.
(j) Residential Utilities Installer. Each Applicant must:
1. (1) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas;
2. (2) be registered as a Plumber's Apprentice;
3. (3) have completed at least 2,000 hours working at the trade as a Registered Plumber's Apprentice under the direct supervision of a Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman Plumber, or Master Plumber, and the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber, as verified by employers; and
4. (4) complete a Board approved training program.
(k) Drain Cleaner. Each Applicant must:
1. (1) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas;
2. (2) be registered as a Plumber's Apprentice;
3. (3) have completed at least 4,000 hours working at the trade as a Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registrant under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber, as verified by employers; and
4. (4) complete a Board approved training program.
(l) Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registrant. Each Applicant must:
1. (1) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas;
2. (2) be registered as a Plumber's Apprentice, working under the direct supervision of a Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman Plumber, or Master Plumber, and under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber;
3. (3) complete a Board approved training program.
(m) Plumber's Apprentice. Each applicant must:
1. (1) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas; and
2. (2) be at least sixteen (16) years of age.

Source Note:The provisions of this §363.1 adopted to be effective May 18, 1982, 7 TexReg 1748; amended to be effective September 9, 1982, 7 TexReg 3143; amended to be effective September 1, 1983, 8 TexReg 3185; amended to be effective February 9, 1984, 9 TexReg 483; amended to be effective September 1, 1984, 9 TexReg 3250; amended to be effective August 25, 1993, 18 TexReg 5399; amended to be effective December 8, 1993, 18 TexReg 8785; amended to be effective February 14, 1994, 19 TexReg 717; amended to be effective April 15, 1994, 19 TexReg 2279; amended to be effective August 8, 1994, 19 TexReg 5709; amended to be effective October 12, 1994, 19 TexReg 7792; amended to be effective December 5,1996, 21 TexReg 11485; amended to be effective April 9, 1998, 23 TexReg 3446; amended to be effective December 9, 1998, 23 TexReg 12304; amended to be effective June 1, 1999, 24 TexReg 4013; amended to be effective December 5, 2000, 25 TexReg 11939; amended to be effective January 30, 2001, 26 TexReg 972; amended to be effective December 30, 2001, 26 TexReg 10583; amended to be effective February 4, 2010, 35 TexReg 642; amended to be effective February 3, 2011, 36 TexReg 421; amended to be effective August 12, 2012, 37 TexReg 5770.