Plumber License from District of Columbia to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) ↗
A plumbing license transfers from District of Columbia to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your District of Columbia license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
District of Columbia is not among the states Florida names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)'s individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam. Bring your District of Columbia license, proof that it is active and in good standing, and your apprenticeship and exam records — and get any discretionary exam or experience credit in writing before you rely on it.
What changes, District of Columbia → Florida
| District of Columbia (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $175 (Journeyman: $65 application + $110 initial license (up to 2 years) = $175. Master: $65 + $120 = $185. Apprentice license $110. Renewals: journeyman $110, master $155) | $350 ($350 certification-by-endorsement application fee (CILB 10). The standard exam-route Certified Plumbing Contractor application is $245 (May 1 even year–Aug 31 odd year) or $145 (Sep 1 odd year–Apr 30 even year). A separate electronic-fingerprint fee applies) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time | No board-stated processing time |
| Licensing authority | District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades — Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Occupational and Professional Licensing | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- No state journeyman plumber license: the state (DBPR / Construction Industry Licensing Board) licenses plumbing contractors, while journeyman plumbers are licensed locally by counties and municipalities.
- Certify by endorsement (form CILB 10) via a substantially-equivalent exam, a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license, or at least 10 years of active licensure.
- Submit electronic fingerprints for a state (FDLE) and federal (FBI) background check.
- Provide a credit report with a FICO score of 660+ (or complete a 14-hour financial-responsibility course) and carry required liability and workers'-compensation insurance.
- Pay the fees ($350 ($350 certification-by-endorsement application fee (CILB 10). The standard exam-route Certified Plumbing Contractor application is $245 (May 1 even year–Aug 31 odd year) or $145 (Sep 1 odd year–Apr 30 even year). A separate electronic-fingerprint fee applies)) and allow No board-stated processing time.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida accept a District of Columbia plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from District of Columbia to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your District of Columbia license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam.
Which exam applies moving from District of Columbia to Florida?
Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam.
What does the District of Columbia-to-Florida move cost and how long does it take?
$350 ($350 certification-by-endorsement application fee (CILB 10). The standard exam-route Certified Plumbing Contractor application is $245 (May 1 even year–Aug 31 odd year) or $145 (Sep 1 odd year–Apr 30 even year). A separate electronic-fingerprint fee applies); processing No board-stated processing time.
Can I keep my District of Columbia plumbing license after I'm licensed in Florida?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the District of Columbia credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Florida DBPR CILB 10 — Application for Certification by Endorsement (s.489.115(3); $350 fee; licensure without state exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida DBPR CILB 5-M — Application for Certified Plumbing Contractor as an Individual (contractor-level license; $145/$245 fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida Statutes 489.115 — certification and registration; endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- DC DLCP Board of Industrial Trades — Plumbing/Gasfitting Application Instructions (license classes, experience, exam waiver) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- DC DLCP — Board of Industrial Trades (fees; reciprocity limited to electricians) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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