1. (a) An applicant may qualify for a Master Plumber License, Journeyman Plumber License or Plumbing Inspector License. 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 these licenses or endorsements an applicant must meet all the requirements of the Board, successfully complete the required examination and remit the appropriate fee.

2. (b) Master Plumber. Each applicant must:

   1. (1) be licensed either as:

      1. (A) a Journeyman Plumber in Texas or another state and must have held the Journeyman License for at least two years before filing the Master Plumber application; or
      2. (B) a Master Plumber in another state in which case the applicant need not be currently licensed at the time of application if the expired license is renewable in the state that issued it;
   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.

3. (c) Journeyman Plumber. Each applicant must:

   1. (1) be a high school graduate hold a General Equivalency Diploma (GED); and

   2. (2) have either of the following:

      1. (A) registration as a registered plumbing apprentice and at least 6,000 hours of experience working at the trade or such work experience and technical training combined to equal 6,000 hours, as verified by employers; or
      2. (B) a Journeyman License from another state that need not be current at the time of application if the expired license is renewable in the state that issued it.

   3. (3) meet the minimum trade experience requirements set forth in subparagraphs (A)-(G) of this paragraph.

      1. (A) 1500 hours in the installation or repair of piping for waste and vent drainage systems. During this period a person should obtain the proper knowledge and skill to install or repair different types of materials used in these systems, e.g., cast iron, plastics, copper.
      2. (B) 1500 hours in the installation or repair of piping for domestic hot and cold water systems. During this period a person should obtain the proper knowledge and skill to install or repair different types of materials used in these 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) 1500 hours in the installation or repair of fixtures and equipment common to plumbing systems. During this period a person 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) 375 hours in the installation or repair of Piping Hangers and Pipe Support systems. During this period a person should obtain the proper knowledge and skill to install different types of hangers for piping support.
      5. (E) 750 hours in the installation or repair of Special Plumbing systems. During this period a person should obtain the proper knowledge and skill regarding medical gas systems, decorative fountains, lawn irrigation systems and solar panels.
      6. (F) 375 hours of understanding and implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act. During this period a person should become knowledgeable in model plumbing codes and job safety and OSHA requirements as they apply to the plumbing profession.
      7. (G) When the registered apprentice applies to take the Journeyman examination, he/she must submit the Employer's Certification. This form certifies the applicant's work experience complies with the eligibility criteria for the Journeyman 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 under the licensee's supervision. It is the responsibility of the Plumber's Apprentice to supply the licensee with the Employer's Certification form.

4. (d) Plumbing Inspector. Each applicant must:

   1. (1) be a high school graduate or hold a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and

   2. (2) 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; or

      3. (C) successful completion of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO),or Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) certification. and one of the following:

         1. (i) have completed 5,000 hours of experience working at the plumbing trade or similar skilled work experience and technological training combined to equal 5,000 hours as verified by employers, or;
         2. (ii) have completed 500 hours of on-the-job training in enforcement of plumbing codes, supervised under a Licensed Plumbing Inspector, plus 28 hours of approved training academy or educational sessions, or;
         3. (iii) be licensed as a Plumbing Inspector by another state with licensing requirements substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, or;
         4. (iv) be licensed by the State of Texas as an architect or engineer.
5. (e) Exemptions. The Board in its discretion may waive any examination or application requirement after consideration of a written request from the applicant for an exemption due to hardship.

6. (f) 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 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 99C Gas and Vacuum Systems Latest Edition.

7. (g) 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.

8. (h) New construction of a graywater system or modification to an existing graywater system must be carried out in accordance with the rules of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners and:

   1. (1) the Uniform Plumbing Code and its appendixes in single family dwelling installations; or
   2. (2) the National Standard Plumbing Code and its appendixes and the National Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Assessment of On-Site Graywater and Combined Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Systems manual in single family dwelling or commercial installations.
   3. (3) Unless exempted by Section 3 of the Plumbing License Law, new construction of a graywater system or modification to an existing graywater system must be performed under the supervision of a person licensed under the Plumbing License Law. When an on-site disposal field or system is utilized all work past the storage tank must be undertaken by a licensee who meets the certification requirements of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission for on-site sewage facility installations.

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, 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.