Transfer Your Plumber License to Washington: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program ↗
Washington has bilateral plumbing reciprocity with 1 state (Idaho): a plumber originally licensed by examination in one of them can skip Washington's journeyman exam. Washington waives its journey level (journeyman) plumber examination only for a plumber who holds a current Idaho journey level plumber certificate — the sole reciprocal state; L&I reviews the Idaho credential and issues the Washington certificate without exam. Every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Washington plumber exam; out-of-state trainee/apprenticeship hours are not accepted toward Washington certification, though a one-time 120-day temporary permit lets a non-reciprocal applicant work while awaiting the exam. Everyone else applies as a new journeyman applicant. Fee: $242.7 (Idaho reciprocal journey level applicants pay the $242.70 journey level certification fee (exam waived). Non-reciprocal out-of-state applicants pay a $202.10 examination application fee (plus a PSI scheduling fee) and then the $242.70 certification fee; a one-time 120-day temporary work permit is $100.30).
Moving to Washington from a specific state?
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Verdict
Reciprocity with 1 states
Read Washington's reciprocity as a named list, and the list is the rule: if you were licensed by examination in a state on it and your license is in good standing, the streamlined track below applies; if not, no amount of field experience substitutes for Washington's exam. Two cautions. The agreement is directional — it describes the states Washington recognizes, which tells you nothing about the reverse move — and it typically excludes licenses that were grandfathered in rather than earned by examination. Confirm both against the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program before you rely on the waiver.
Idaho is Washington's only reciprocal state for journey level plumbers (reciprocal certificate, no Washington exam). All other out-of-state plumbers must pass the Washington exam, and experience/apprenticeship hours earned out of state are not counted toward Washington certification. Washington uses 'journey level' as its journeyman-equivalent certificate and does not issue a separate statewide 'master plumber' license. Fees carry cents exactly as published by L&I ($242.70 journey level certification is the fee an Idaho reciprocal applicant pays). No national plumber verification database exists; verification_system_url is L&I's public Verify tool.
Washington requirements at a glance
| Exam | Washington waives its journey level (journeyman) plumber examination only for a plumber who holds a current Idaho journey level plumber certificate — the sole reciprocal state; L&I reviews the Idaho credential and issues the Washington certificate without exam. Every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Washington plumber exam; out-of-state trainee/apprenticeship hours are not accepted toward Washington certification, though a one-time 120-day temporary permit lets a non-reciprocal applicant work while awaiting the exam |
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| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $242.7 (Idaho reciprocal journey level applicants pay the $242.70 journey level certification fee (exam waived). Non-reciprocal out-of-state applicants pay a $202.10 examination application fee (plus a PSI scheduling fee) and then the $242.70 certification fee; a one-time 120-day temporary work permit is $100.30) |
| Processing time | L&I does not publish a fixed processing time; out-of-state credentials are reviewed before the applicant may test or receive a reciprocal certificate, and approved applications are valid for one year |
Step by step
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program website — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current, unexpired Idaho journey level plumber certificate (the only reciprocal state).
- Submit the Plumber Certification Application (F627-008-000) with a copy of the out-of-state license/card and a government-issued photo ID to L&I's Plumber Certification program for credential review.
- Out-of-state trainee/apprenticeship hours are NOT accepted toward Washington certification.
- Non-reciprocal out-of-state applicants must pass the Washington plumber exam; a one-time 120-day temporary permit allows work in the interim.
- Pay the fees ($242.7 (Idaho reciprocal journey level applicants pay the $242.70 journey level certification fee (exam waived). Non-reciprocal out-of-state applicants pay a $202.10 examination application fee (plus a PSI scheduling fee) and then the $242.70 certification fee; a one-time 120-day temporary work permit is $100.30)) and allow L&I does not publish a fixed processing time; out-of-state credentials are reviewed before the applicant may test or receive a reciprocal certificate, and approved applications are valid for one year.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Washington:
Frequently asked questions
Does my plumbing license transfer to Washington?
Washington has bilateral plumbing reciprocity with 1 state (Idaho): a plumber originally licensed by examination in one of them can skip Washington's journeyman exam. Washington waives its journey level (journeyman) plumber examination only for a plumber who holds a current Idaho journey level plumber certificate — the sole reciprocal state; L&I reviews the Idaho credential and issues the Washington certificate without exam. Every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Washington plumber exam; out-of-state trainee/apprenticeship hours are not accepted toward Washington certification, though a one-time 120-day temporary permit lets a non-reciprocal applicant work while awaiting the exam. Everyone else applies as a new journeyman applicant. Fee: $242.7 (Idaho reciprocal journey level applicants pay the $242.70 journey level certification fee (exam waived). Non-reciprocal out-of-state applicants pay a $202.10 examination application fee (plus a PSI scheduling fee) and then the $242.70 certification fee; a one-time 120-day temporary work permit is $100.30).
Will I have to take Washington's plumbing exam?
Washington waives its journey level (journeyman) plumber examination only for a plumber who holds a current Idaho journey level plumber certificate — the sole reciprocal state; L&I reviews the Idaho credential and issues the Washington certificate without exam. Every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Washington plumber exam; out-of-state trainee/apprenticeship hours are not accepted toward Washington certification, though a one-time 120-day temporary permit lets a non-reciprocal applicant work while awaiting the exam.
Which states does Washington have plumbing reciprocity with?
Idaho (1 state, verified 2026-07-21 against the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program). The waiver applies only if you were licensed by examination there; plumbers from every other state qualify as new applicants.
What will licensing in Washington cost an out-of-state plumber, and how long does it take?
$242.7 (Idaho reciprocal journey level applicants pay the $242.70 journey level certification fee (exam waived). Non-reciprocal out-of-state applicants pay a $202.10 examination application fee (plus a PSI scheduling fee) and then the $242.70 certification fee; a one-time 120-day temporary work permit is $100.30); processing L&I does not publish a fixed processing time; out-of-state credentials are reviewed before the applicant may test or receive a reciprocal certificate, and approved applications are valid for one year.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Washington L&I — Plumber Examination (Idaho reciprocity, out-of-state review, 120-day temporary permit, $202.10 exam fee, $100.30 permit) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Washington L&I — Get or Renew Your Plumber Certification (fees incl. $242.70 journey level certification; F627-008-000 application form) ↗ (accessed 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]