Plumber License from Virginia to Texas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) ↗
A plumbing license transfers from Virginia to Texas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), verify your Virginia license, and meet Texas's endorsement requirements. Texas waives its journeyman plumber examination only for plumbers currently licensed in Louisiana or Arkansas, who may qualify for a reciprocal Texas license; every other out-of-state journeyman or master plumber (currently licensed and having held that license at least two years) must apply for an Out-of-State Examination and pass the Texas computer-based (Pearson VUE) written exam plus the practical journeyman exam.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Virginia is not among the states Texas names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)'s individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. Texas waives its journeyman plumber examination only for plumbers currently licensed in Louisiana or Arkansas, who may qualify for a reciprocal Texas license; every other out-of-state journeyman or master plumber (currently licensed and having held that license at least two years) must apply for an Out-of-State Examination and pass the Texas computer-based (Pearson VUE) written exam plus the practical journeyman exam. Bring your Virginia 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, Virginia → Texas
| Virginia (current) | Texas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $171.75 ($171.75 examination or reciprocity application fee on the current DPOR application (apprenticeship-program route $131.75), which includes a $7.25/year technology fee (2026 HB30); fees nonrefundable. Regulation 18VAC50-30-90 historically listed a $130 original fee (superseded by the current application fee)) | $40 ($40 non-refundable out-of-state journeyman examination processing fee to TSBPE ($25 for master); a separate computer-based test fee is payable to Pearson VUE on approval, plus IdentoGO fingerprint costs and the license issuance fee once passed; Louisiana/Arkansas applicants use the Reciprocal License Verification pathway) |
| Processing time | DPOR does not publish a standard processing time; exams are scheduled through the board's testing vendor (PSI) | 4–6 weeks (TSBPE states typical processing of 30-45 days for straightforward applications; longer with criminal history or unclear immigration status) |
| Licensing authority | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Board for Contractors (Tradesman program) | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Texas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Texas's current requirements on the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current out-of-state Journeyman or Master Plumber license held for at least two years (or a Louisiana/Arkansas license for the reciprocal pathway).
- Submit fingerprints through IdentoGO — required for all out-of-state examinees before the application is approved.
- Provide proof of lawful authorization to work in the United States and a current government-issued photo ID.
- Pass the Texas journeyman computer-based written exam and the practical exam (both waived only for Louisiana/Arkansas reciprocal applicants).
- Pay the fees ($40 ($40 non-refundable out-of-state journeyman examination processing fee to TSBPE ($25 for master); a separate computer-based test fee is payable to Pearson VUE on approval, plus IdentoGO fingerprint costs and the license issuance fee once passed; Louisiana/Arkansas applicants use the Reciprocal License Verification pathway)) and allow 4–6 weeks (TSBPE states typical processing of 30-45 days for straightforward applications; longer with criminal history or unclear immigration status).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas accept a Virginia plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from Virginia to Texas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), verify your Virginia license, and meet Texas's endorsement requirements. Texas waives its journeyman plumber examination only for plumbers currently licensed in Louisiana or Arkansas, who may qualify for a reciprocal Texas license; every other out-of-state journeyman or master plumber (currently licensed and having held that license at least two years) must apply for an Out-of-State Examination and pass the Texas computer-based (Pearson VUE) written exam plus the practical journeyman exam.
Which exam applies moving from Virginia to Texas?
Texas waives its journeyman plumber examination only for plumbers currently licensed in Louisiana or Arkansas, who may qualify for a reciprocal Texas license; every other out-of-state journeyman or master plumber (currently licensed and having held that license at least two years) must apply for an Out-of-State Examination and pass the Texas computer-based (Pearson VUE) written exam plus the practical journeyman exam.
What does the Virginia-to-Texas move cost and how long does it take?
$40 ($40 non-refundable out-of-state journeyman examination processing fee to TSBPE ($25 for master); a separate computer-based test fee is payable to Pearson VUE on approval, plus IdentoGO fingerprint costs and the license issuance fee once passed; Louisiana/Arkansas applicants use the Reciprocal License Verification pathway); processing 4–6 weeks (TSBPE states typical processing of 30-45 days for straightforward applications; longer with criminal history or unclear immigration status).
Can I keep my Virginia plumbing license after I'm licensed in Texas?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Virginia 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.
- TSBPE — Out-of-State Examination Application (LA/AR reciprocity banner; 2-year license; $40 journeyman fee; fingerprints; written + practical exam), Rev. March 2026 ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TSBPE — License Types (Tradesman, Journeyman, Master Plumber) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TSBPE — Printable Forms (Reciprocal License Verification, Louisiana and Arkansas only) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors — Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements (the only plumber agreement is the WSSC examination agreement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Virginia DPOR — Tradesman Exam & License Application A501-2710EXLIC (PLB fees $171.75; out-of-state qualifying routes) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 18VAC50-30-70 — out-of-state substantial-equivalency recognition; applicant must still sit for the Virginia examination (Cornell LII mirror; law.lis.virginia.gov unreachable from research host) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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