1. (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 or Water Supply Protection 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.
2. (b) When a Plumber's Apprentice or Tradesman Plumber-Limited Licensee 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 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 Licensee under the Licensee's supervision. It is the responsibility of the Applicant to supply the Licensee with the Employer's Certification form.

3. (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 Master Plumber and must have held the Journeyman License for at least one year before filing the Master Plumber application; 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) maintain a single registered mailing address that the Board shall regard as the applicant's principal business address for communication and record keeping purposes.
   4. (4) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas.

4. (d) Journeyman Plumber. Each applicant must:

   1. (1) be a high school graduate or hold a General Equivalency Diploma (GED); and
   2. (2) be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien or non-immigrant eligible for licensure by the State of Texas.

   3. (3) have either of the following:

      1. (A) Plumber's Apprentice Registration or Tradesman Plumber-Limited Licensee and at least 8,000 hours of experience working at the trade under the supervision of a Master Plumber, as verified by employers; or
      2. (B) 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. (4) meet the minimum trade experience requirements set forth in subparagraphs (A)-(F) of this paragraph.

      1. (A) 2,000 hours in the installation or repair of piping for waste and vent drainage systems. During this period an individual should obtain the proper knowledge and skill to install or repair different types of materials used in residential or commercial plumbing systems, e.g., cast iron, plastics, copper.
      2. (B) 2,000 hours in the installation or repair of piping for domestic hot and cold water systems. During this period an individual should obtain the proper knowledge and skill to install or repair different types of materials used in residential or commercial plumbing systems, e.g., cast iron, plastics, copper, steel and understand the function, difference, and proper installation of various valves, e.g., gate, globe, mixing, etc.
      3. (C) 2,000 hours in the installation or repair of fixtures and equipment common to residential or commercial plumbing systems. During this period an individual should obtain the proper knowledge and skill to install or repair different types of products used, e.g., water heaters, natural and L.P. gas fired equipment, plumbing fixtures, faucets, water softeners and similar equipment and understand the proper method for sizing and installation of gas appliance vents.
      4. (D) 500 hours in the installation or repair of Piping Hangers and Pipe Support systems. During this period an individual should obtain the proper knowledge and skill to install different types of hangers for piping support.
      5. (E) 1,000 hours in the installation or repair of Special Plumbing systems. During this period an individual should obtain the proper knowledge and skill regarding medical gas systems, decorative fountains, lawn irrigation systems and solar panels.
      6. (F) 500 hours of understanding and implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act. During this period an individual should become knowledgeable in model plumbing codes and job safety and OSHA requirements as they apply to the plumbing profession.

5. (e) Tradesman Plumber-Limited Licensee. 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) have either of the following:

      1. (A) 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 Journeyman or Master Plumber, as verified by employers; or
      2. (B) 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.

6. (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) 50 hours credit for successful completion of a Board approved Water Supply Protection Specialist Endorsement Training Program;
         4. (iv) 100 hours credit for successful completion of an approved Backflow Tester Certification program;
         5. (v) 6 hours credit for successful completion each different Board approved Continuing Professional Education for Licensed Plumbers and Plumbing Inspectors Course;
         6. (vi) actual hours, with a maximum of 100 hours credit for approved, documented and verified plumbing related training academy or educational sessions;
         7. (vii) 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
         8. (viii) 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.

7. (g) Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement. Each applicant must:

   1. (1) hold a current Journeyman or Master Plumber 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.

8. (h) 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.

9. (i) 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; and

   4. (4) complete a Board approved training program:

      1. (A) after registering as a Residential Utilities Installer and prior to March 1, 2003; or
      2. (B) prior to registering as a Residential Utilities Installer, if registering after March 1, 2003.

10. (j) 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; and

    4. (4) complete a Board approved training program:

       1. (A) after registering as a Drain Cleaner and prior to March 1, 2003; or
       2. (B) prior to registering as a Drain Cleaner, if registering after March 1, 2003.

11. (k) 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;

    3. (3) complete a Board approved training program:

       1. (A) after registering as a Drain Cleaner and prior to March 1, 2003; or
       2. (B) prior to registering as a Drain Cleaner, if registering after March 1, 2003.

12. (l) 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 December5,1996,21TexReg 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.