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LicenseReciprocity

Plumber License from Louisiana to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) ↗

Yes — Arkansas has a reciprocity arrangement covering Louisiana license holders. Apply to the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.

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Verdict

Reciprocity agreement

Louisiana is on Arkansas's reciprocity list, which puts this move on the streamlined track — on two conditions. Your Louisiana license must have been earned by examination, not grandfathered in, and be active and in good standing; where it is, Arkansas waives its journeyman exam and the requirements below are what it still insists on. Arkansas waives its journeyman plumber examination for applicants licensed under one of its formal reciprocal agreements — the Department of Health publishes agreements with Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma — who hold a substantially similar license in good standing (Rules Sec. II(j)(iii): examinations shall not be required, and no apprenticeship/education/training may be imposed). An out-of-state journeyman from a state WITHOUT an agreement whose plumbing laws/codes are substantially similar may sit for the Arkansas journeyman exam without redoing an apprenticeship but must pass it. New residents may instead use Act 457 of 2023 automatic occupational licensure (residency + one year in good standing on a substantially-similar license, or 3 years' experience in a non-licensing state), subject to an Arkansas state-law exam the Department may waive.. One caution: these agreements are directional and revocable. This page's verification date is when we last confirmed Louisiana on Arkansas's list; the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) link is the live truth.

What changes, Louisiana → Arkansas

Side-by-side: Louisiana vs Arkansas (Plumber (journeyman/master)), verified 2026-07-21
Louisiana (current)Arkansas (destination)
Application fee$40–$165 (Exam track: $125 examination fee plus $40 initial license fee (about $165 total) per La. Admin. Code tit. 46 Pt. LV §312. Reciprocal Arkansas/Texas applicants are exam-exempt and pay the board's reciprocal application fee (reported around $100 for the Arkansas journeyman-plumber/natural-gas-fitter application), which could not be confirmed on a reachable official page.)$75–$150 ($75 journeyman application fee + $75 annual journeyman license fee (Ark. State Board of Health plumbing rules, Sec. III). The first scheduled exam is covered by the application fee; retake/no-show exam $50 each. Master tier is $125 application + $200/yr license. Reinstatement: $150 journeyman / $325 master.)
Processing timeNo board-stated processing time published in the LAC or reachable board pages.No board-stated processing time; a temporary revocable permit / provisional license is issued immediately upon eligibility approval and is valid 90 days
Licensing authorityState Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA)Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arkansas sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the reciprocity application to the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Have a minimum of 4 years plumbing experience (or equivalent) to qualify for the journeyman examination.
  5. Hold an out-of-state plumber license in good standing whose laws/codes are substantially similar to Arkansas (national model code + national examination), not suspended, revoked, or on probation.
  6. Pass the Arkansas journeyman plumber examination unless licensed under a reciprocal agreement (Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, or Oklahoma).
  7. For automatic licensure (Act 457), establish Arkansas residency and pass an Arkansas state-law exam (waivable) plus a criminal background check.
  8. Pay the fees ($75–$150 ($75 journeyman application fee + $75 annual journeyman license fee (Ark. State Board of Health plumbing rules, Sec. III). The first scheduled exam is covered by the application fee; retake/no-show exam $50 each. Master tier is $125 application + $200/yr license. Reinstatement: $150 journeyman / $325 master.)) and allow No board-stated processing time; a temporary revocable permit / provisional license is issued immediately upon eligibility approval and is valid 90 days.

Official links

Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) ↗Arkansas application ↗License verification ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Arkansas → LouisianaPlumber in LouisianaPlumber in ArkansasAll plumber states

Frequently asked questions

Does Arkansas accept a Louisiana plumbing license?

Yes — Arkansas has a reciprocity arrangement covering Louisiana license holders. Apply to the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.

Which exam applies moving from Louisiana to Arkansas?

Arkansas waives its journeyman plumber examination for applicants licensed under one of its formal reciprocal agreements — the Department of Health publishes agreements with Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma — who hold a substantially similar license in good standing (Rules Sec. II(j)(iii): examinations shall not be required, and no apprenticeship/education/training may be imposed). An out-of-state journeyman from a state WITHOUT an agreement whose plumbing laws/codes are substantially similar may sit for the Arkansas journeyman exam without redoing an apprenticeship but must pass it. New residents may instead use Act 457 of 2023 automatic occupational licensure (residency + one year in good standing on a substantially-similar license, or 3 years' experience in a non-licensing state), subject to an Arkansas state-law exam the Department may waive..

What does the Louisiana-to-Arkansas move cost and how long does it take?

$75–$150 ($75 journeyman application fee + $75 annual journeyman license fee (Ark. State Board of Health plumbing rules, Sec. III). The first scheduled exam is covered by the application fee; retake/no-show exam $50 each. Master tier is $125 application + $200/yr license. Reinstatement: $150 journeyman / $325 master.); processing No board-stated processing time; a temporary revocable permit / provisional license is issued immediately upon eligibility approval and is valid 90 days.

Can I keep my Louisiana plumbing license after I'm licensed in Arkansas?

Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Louisiana 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.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]