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LicenseReciprocity

Plumber License from Pennsylvania to Indiana: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Indiana Plumbing Commission ↗

A plumbing license transfers from Pennsylvania to Indiana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Indiana Plumbing Commission, verify your Pennsylvania license, and meet Indiana's endorsement requirements. Indiana Code 25-28.5-1-19 (verified current as of 2026-01-01) provides that an out-of-state journeyman plumber 'shall without examination, be granted a license' by the Indiana Plumbing Commission IF the other jurisdiction's licensing requirements were substantially equal to Indiana's when the applicant was last licensed AND that jurisdiction grants Indiana licensees the same reciprocal privilege; the statute names no partner states and no official list of qualifying states was located, so an applicant must confirm eligibility with the Commission, and anyone who does not meet the substantial-equivalence/mutuality test must be approved by the Commission and pass the Indiana journeyman plumber examination.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Pennsylvania is not among the states Indiana names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Indiana Plumbing Commission's individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. Indiana Code 25-28.5-1-19 (verified current as of 2026-01-01) provides that an out-of-state journeyman plumber 'shall without examination, be granted a license' by the Indiana Plumbing Commission IF the other jurisdiction's licensing requirements were substantially equal to Indiana's when the applicant was last licensed AND that jurisdiction grants Indiana licensees the same reciprocal privilege; the statute names no partner states and no official list of qualifying states was located, so an applicant must confirm eligibility with the Commission, and anyone who does not meet the substantial-equivalence/mutuality test must be approved by the Commission and pass the Indiana journeyman plumber examination. Bring your Pennsylvania 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, Pennsylvania → Indiana

Side-by-side: Pennsylvania vs Indiana (Plumber (journeyman/master)), verified 2026-07-21
Pennsylvania (current)Indiana (destination)
Application feeNo statewide fee. Fees are set locally; for example, Philadelphia's journeyman plumber license is $126 initial (including a $25 non-refundable application fee) and $126 annual renewal.$15–$30 (Per 860 IAC 1-1-2.1: journeyman plumber initial license fee is $15 in odd-numbered years or $30 in even-numbered years (biennial cycle; renewal $30 due before Dec 1 of each odd-numbered year). A reciprocity applicant pays the license fee with no exam; a non-reciprocity applicant also pays a $30 Commission examination fee plus the separate exam-vendor (Prove/ICC) fee. All PLA fees are non-refundable)
Processing timeNo statewide process; processing time is set by each municipality.No board-stated processing time in weeks; a non-reciprocity application must be reviewed and approved for eligibility by the Indiana Plumbing Commission before the applicant may register for the exam. All in.gov hosts refused direct connections during research
Licensing authorityNo statewide board — plumber licensing is handled by Pennsylvania municipalities (e.g., Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections; Allegheny County Health Department for the Pittsburgh area)Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Indiana Plumbing Commission

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm Indiana's current requirements on the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Indiana Plumbing Commission website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Indiana Plumbing Commission (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Hold a current journeyman plumber license/registration in the same category in another state, territory, country, or province.
  5. The issuing jurisdiction's requirements must have been substantially equal to Indiana's when last licensed, and it must grant Indiana licensees the same reciprocity/mutuality (IC 25-28.5-1-19).
  6. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
  7. Applicants who do not qualify for reciprocity must document an approved four-year apprenticeship (about 6,400 hours on-the-job training plus 576 classroom hours) or an out-of-state license, be approved by the Commission, and pass the Indiana journeyman examination (vendor Prove/ICC, provexam.com).
  8. Pay the fees ($15–$30 (Per 860 IAC 1-1-2.1: journeyman plumber initial license fee is $15 in odd-numbered years or $30 in even-numbered years (biennial cycle; renewal $30 due before Dec 1 of each odd-numbered year). A reciprocity applicant pays the license fee with no exam; a non-reciprocity applicant also pays a $30 Commission examination fee plus the separate exam-vendor (Prove/ICC) fee. All PLA fees are non-refundable)) and allow No board-stated processing time in weeks; a non-reciprocity application must be reviewed and approved for eligibility by the Indiana Plumbing Commission before the applicant may register for the exam. All in.gov hosts refused direct connections during research.

Official links

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Does Indiana accept a Pennsylvania plumbing license?

A plumbing license transfers from Pennsylvania to Indiana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Indiana Plumbing Commission, verify your Pennsylvania license, and meet Indiana's endorsement requirements. Indiana Code 25-28.5-1-19 (verified current as of 2026-01-01) provides that an out-of-state journeyman plumber 'shall without examination, be granted a license' by the Indiana Plumbing Commission IF the other jurisdiction's licensing requirements were substantially equal to Indiana's when the applicant was last licensed AND that jurisdiction grants Indiana licensees the same reciprocal privilege; the statute names no partner states and no official list of qualifying states was located, so an applicant must confirm eligibility with the Commission, and anyone who does not meet the substantial-equivalence/mutuality test must be approved by the Commission and pass the Indiana journeyman plumber examination.

Which exam applies moving from Pennsylvania to Indiana?

Indiana Code 25-28.5-1-19 (verified current as of 2026-01-01) provides that an out-of-state journeyman plumber 'shall without examination, be granted a license' by the Indiana Plumbing Commission IF the other jurisdiction's licensing requirements were substantially equal to Indiana's when the applicant was last licensed AND that jurisdiction grants Indiana licensees the same reciprocal privilege; the statute names no partner states and no official list of qualifying states was located, so an applicant must confirm eligibility with the Commission, and anyone who does not meet the substantial-equivalence/mutuality test must be approved by the Commission and pass the Indiana journeyman plumber examination.

What does the Pennsylvania-to-Indiana move cost and how long does it take?

$15–$30 (Per 860 IAC 1-1-2.1: journeyman plumber initial license fee is $15 in odd-numbered years or $30 in even-numbered years (biennial cycle; renewal $30 due before Dec 1 of each odd-numbered year). A reciprocity applicant pays the license fee with no exam; a non-reciprocity applicant also pays a $30 Commission examination fee plus the separate exam-vendor (Prove/ICC) fee. All PLA fees are non-refundable); processing No board-stated processing time in weeks; a non-reciprocity application must be reviewed and approved for eligibility by the Indiana Plumbing Commission before the applicant may register for the exam. All in.gov hosts refused direct connections during research.

Can I keep my Pennsylvania plumbing license after I'm licensed in Indiana?

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