Two Methods: Plumbing is a skilled trade requiring years of training and on-the-job experience. Before becoming a master plumber, you must spend years as an apprentice and a journeyman. If you want to be a plumber in California, you can take a plumbing apprentice course and then apply for your contractor's license. All contractors licenses are given by the Contractor's State License Board (CSLB), under the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Read through the qualifications to see if you have the experience necessary to get your license. If not, you can follow this path to obtain a license in the future. Find out how to get a plumbing license in California. Apply for a state recognized plumbing apprenticeship program. These programs are available through organizations or plumbing companies.

They usually include coursework and on-the-job training lasting up to 4 years. • Go to the California Department of Industrial Relations website, at dir.ca.gov, to research potential apprenticeship programs in your county. Look under the 'Apprenticeship' tab and search by occupation and county. • You can also research a degree in plumbing from a technical school. This will cover a portion of your educational requirement and the program may be able to place you in an apprenticeship position. Fill out the Original Contractor License Application.

May 16, 2016. Log onto the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website at: www.cslb.ca.gov. Once completed, submit the application along with the non-refundable application fee. Take the required exams, and pay initial licensing fee. After submission, you then need to sign up to take the business and law exam.

Adobe Soundbooth Flac Files. Keep the following guidelines in mind as you fill out the form: • Do not leave any spaces blank. You may be given 30 days to make corrections, but this will delay your application. • Use only full legal names and official addresses. You will need to fill out personal information, including your social security number and information on any prior convictions. • Do not strikeout or blot out any corrections. Start on a new form, or else your application is unlikely to be accepted. • Support all work experience documentation with official payroll or W-2 forms.

Submit a copy of your apprenticeship program certificate or diploma. • Ask a prior employer or colleague to fill out the work experience certification form. They must have direct experience with you during your time as a journeyman.

Hi everyone!! Hey, I have a question for any licensed plumbers who currently work in California. I completed a four year apprenticeship in Oregon and have been a licensed Journeyman plumber there for over 14 years now. I took a break from plumbing back in 2009 and relocated to Hawaii for family reasons. Anyways I'm still a licensed Oregon Journeyman and now that my family issues have been dealt with I am eager to return to my trade.

I've been very interested in relocating to California, specifically the Bay Area, but cannot find any information online for a 'Journeyman Plumbers' license for California, only some kind of contractors license. Keep in mind that I'm not interested in opening another business like I had in Oregon, I would like to go to work for a plumbing shop. So my question is, what kind of license does one need in order to work for a plumbing shop in California as a Journeyman? I know that my Oregon Journeyman's card doesn't transfer to California like it would to Washington or Idaho so I assume that I need to re-test and get a card in California? What license do I need there? Thanks in advance for any information that you can help me with, I really appreciate it!!

Take care, Douglas. Re: Question for California Plumbers. If you have worked in a Union Shop then I would recommend you contact a local plumbing Union in the area you are thinking of moving too. If you want to jump to GO and get the $200.00. Then just do the following. The litmus test is four years of work, in your field, within a ten year span, and you qualify for the state contractors test. Just to show you how pathetic this state is on giving out licenses all you need is someone to vouch for you and sign a specific form, and Bita-Bang, Bita-Boo your in line to take the C-36 Test.

Everything you need to answer your question. If you have worked in a Union Shop then I would recommend you contact a local plumbing Union in the area you are thinking of moving too. If you want to jump to GO and get the $200.00. Then just do the following. The litmus test is four years of work, in your field, within a ten year span, and you qualify for the state contractors test.

Just to show you how pathetic this state is on giving out licenses all you need is someone to vouch for you and sign a specific form, and Bita-Bang, Bita-Boo your in line to take the C-36 Test. Everything you need to answer your question: Thankfully those days are long gone. You now need to show pay stubs or union certificates to prove experience.

Applicants are being turned away in droves now because of not having proof. I know a guy who had his son working for him for 10-years yet after passing the test he was denied because the guy was paying his son cash for a good period of the 10-years. Now the son is working for a local City to prove up on experience. Hi everyone!! Hey, I have a question for any licensed plumbers who currently work in California.

I completed a four year apprenticeship in Oregon and have been a licensed Journeyman plumber there for over 14 years now. I took a break from plumbing back in 2009 and relocated to Hawaii for family reasons. Anyways I'm still a licensed Oregon Journeyman and now that my family issues have been dealt with I am eager to return to my trade.

I've been very interested in relocating to California, specifically the Bay Area, but cannot find any information online for a 'Journeyman Plumbers' license for California, only some kind of contractors license. Keep in mind that I'm not interested in opening another business like I had in Oregon, I would like to go to work for a plumbing shop. So my question is, what kind of license does one need in order to work for a plumbing shop in California as a Journeyman?

I know that my Oregon Journeyman's card doesn't transfer to California like it would to Washington or Idaho so I assume that I need to re-test and get a card in California? What license do I need there? Thanks in advance for any information that you can help me with, I really appreciate it!! Take care, DouglasSome areas require a Journeyman's card issued by the City or a Union to work, some areas just require you work under a Licensed Contractor (Master). It just depends on the jurisdiction you work in.

The State of California does not have a Journeyman program. Thankfully those days are long gone. You now need to show pay stubs or union certificates to prove experience. Applicants are being turned away in droves now because of not having proof. Congratulations You Have Successfully Installed Tomb Raider 2013. I know a guy who had his son working for him for 10-years yet after passing the test he was denied because the guy was paying his son cash for a good period of the 10-years.

Now the son is working for a local City to prove up on experience. MarkI can't agree with you on this one. The form has not changed much,:. I compared it to the one I had in our files and it has not changed much. I have yet to meet anyone that has had the CSLB actually go back and review the work history, granted I am sure they do it but down in SoCal I have not heard of anyone being denied. Maybe I travel in more qualified circles.

My only thought is the more they allow the more money the state gets. I can't agree with you on this one. The form has not changed much,:. I compared it to the one I had in our files and it has not changed much. I have yet to meet anyone that has had the CSLB actually go back and review the work history, granted I am sure they do it but down in SoCal I have not heard of anyone being denied.

Maybe I travel in more qualified circles. My only thought is the more they allow the more money the state gets. I am in So Cal as well and in addition to the guy I mentioned I can tell you a member of this Forum who is a Licensed in another State was turned down on Experience by the CSLB the first time he applied. He subsequently was approved but it was not the cake walk it once was.

Thankfully those days are long gone. You now need to show pay stubs or union certificates to prove experience. Applicants are being turned away in droves now because of not having proof. I know a guy who had his son working for him for 10-years yet after passing the test he was denied because the guy was paying his son cash for a good period of the 10-years. Now the son is working for a local City to prove up on experience. MarkLast year I applied for my B license.

I had another contractor friend sign my papers, no questions were asked once the paperwork was submittied. I met a guy on test day who had to physically prove his work history, He said the guy behind the counter said its like winning the lottery, they spot check like 5% of applicants. Re: Question for California Plumbers. California approves monkies trained in a three day crash course crash course with fake proof of experience. In the city of Los Angeles I was asked twice on Commercial projects by inspectors to provide proof of Journeyman's certification and their ratio to surpervised apprentices.

That is in the city of L.A. Everyhwere else the monkeys run free making profits for Ironranger's contractors. Now the biggest problem is the Illegal Generals putting in uninspected,totally wrong,needs to be torn out plumbing. Plenty of room down here for a guy from Oregon to hang out. Just be forewarned. They only hire Mexicans for non union construction.

Maybe 10% of the companies hire legal citizens exclusively. You'd better hurry and get down here before it's the same in service.Although I'm not too worried about a full takover like construction.Some private homeowners still tell the difference in quality. Re: Question for California Plumbers. When I moved back to Mn 9 years ago I had a hard time even sitting for the Master test. They didn't want to honor any experience from Ca.

I did sit for the test eventually and passed it but not without many weekends of prep classes and studying. It's a half a day test.

Besides the written part of the test you're required to size gas, water waste and vent for a large commercial building. They give you a large drawing with about five floors full of commercial fixtures, roof drains etc. Banks of toilets, urinals, large round wash sinks, banks of commercial wash machines, etc. Sounds easy enough but it's not 'what' works, they want minimum exact code on everything. Size a branch at inch and a half when it should be inch and a quarter and you fail.

A few years ago they passed new rules here. The will no longer honor ANY experience from Ca. If you moved here from Ca. Now you are coming here with zero experience in the eyes of the plumbing board.

You will not be able to test. I believe this is caused by the unions in this state. The only states Mn will honor is North and South Dakota. I think the rule is stupid, if you can pass the test and can show proof of experience then what's the problem?

One thing for sure we have hardly any problems with illegal plumbers and hacks, which is nice. Because of this we can charge what we're worth so there is a good side of this I guess. Re: Question for California Plumbers. Wow, thanks for all the answers to my question, I really appreciate all the info. That's funny, this is pretty much what I thought as my father was a plumber in Los Angeles back in the late 70's and he told me that only down there was a license required. In Oregon if you're caught doing plumbing without a Journeyman's license it's a $5,000 fine, and believe me the inspectors check everyone they don't know.

Honestly, I'm totally blown away with California being this way as they seem to be a pretty progressive state in other respects and then to be so draconian in regards to their lack of a state run apprenticeship/journeyman's program. What the hell's is that all about? Oh well, I would imagine I shouldn't have too much trouble getting work with a reputable plumbing shop with my background. I have the 'certificate of completion' from my 4 year state apprenticeship and my current Oregon state Journeyman's license along with newspaper articles where I was voted 'Favorite Plumber' and also a stack of customer appreciation letters that I saved from over a decade of service work with my business.

I would hope that would be enough 'proof' to 'wild west california' plumbing shops that I know what I'm doing. Thanks again everyone, I appreciate it!!! Take care, Douglas.