Plumber License from South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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
South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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, South Dakota → Florida
| South Dakota (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 ($50 plumber license application fee (SDPC application, Rev. 02/2026); reciprocity applicants pay the same $50 and file the reciprocity documentation; a $100 exam fee applies only to applicants who must sit the examination; licenses expire December 31 (annual)) | $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; an incomplete application expires 30 days after receipt and all fees are non-refundable | No board-stated processing time |
| Licensing authority | South Dakota Plumbing Commission (Department of Labor and Regulation) | 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 South Dakota plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota-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 South Dakota plumbing license after I'm licensed in Florida?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the South Dakota 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)
- SD Plumbing Commission — Reciprocal Agreements (by-examination + substantially-equivalent-code rule) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SD Plumbing Commission — Plumbing License Application (Plumber $50; license-by-reciprocity requires proof of license by exam, verification, and 4 hours CE), Rev. 02/2026 ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SD Plumbing Commission — Licensing (four-year apprenticeship; annual expiry) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SD Plumbing Commission — Exams ($100 exam/re-exam fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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