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Texas Plumber license renewal
Last reviewed 2026-09-19. Not legal advice — confirm fees, hours, and forms on the official .gov page before you file. Rules change.
Texas electrical and HVAC credentials sit at TDLR. Plumbing does not. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners issues Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, Master, and Plumbing Inspector licenses plus endorsements. Using a TDLR bookmark for plumbing renewals is a common office-manager mistake.
Texas plumbers are licensed by TSBPE, not TDLR. Licenses renew annually and most classes need 6 hours of board-approved CPE before you can pay.
- Board / agency
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)
- Renewal cycle
- Annual renewal. First expiration is assigned (often 6–18 months after exam), then yearly.
- Continuing education
- 6 hours of TSBPE-approved Continuing Professional Education each year for Tradesman-Limited, Journeyman, Master, and Plumbing Inspector. Medical Gas endorsement: extra 2 hours every 3 years.
- Fees (verify before paying)
- Pay through TSBPE’s online licensing system / Texas.gov. Amounts vary by license and endorsement — confirm at checkout.
- Official source
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
License types
TSBPE issues four license types: Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber (including Responsible Master Plumber designation), and Plumbing Inspector. Registrations (apprentice, drain cleaner, residential utilities installer) are separate and also renew annually.
Endorsements — Medical Gas Piping Installation, Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler, Water Supply Protection Specialist — have their own CE overlays. A current journeyman card does not automatically keep a med-gas endorsement alive.
Renewal timing
Licenses renew annually. The first expiration after you pass the exam is assigned by TSBPE and can fall anywhere from about 6 to 18 months out (inspectors follow inspector rules). After that, plan on a yearly cycle.
Online renewal appears when you are within two months of expiration (or within 275 days after expiration for a late online renewal). You cannot renew a credential that has been expired more than two years without reinstatement / re-examination rules. Fingerprinting is a one-time obligation TSBPE still checks at renewal.
Continuing professional education
Master, Journeyman, Tradesman-Limited, and Plumbing Inspector must complete 6 hours of TSBPE-approved CPE before renewal. Apprentice registrants need the 6-hour course only if they hold an endorsement. The Board must approve the provider and the instructor; random 6-hour “plumbing CE” from another state will not post.
Medical Gas endorsement holders also take 2 hours of med-gas CE every three years. That clock is easy to miss because it is not the same as the annual 6-hour CPE.
What to track
- TSBPE license or registration number, type, and assigned expiration
- Responsible Master Plumber designation if the company pulls permits under that master
- Annual 6-hour CPE completion from a TSBPE-approved provider
- Medical Gas and other endorsement dates (2-hour / 3-year med-gas CE)
- Company / municipal registrations that sit on top of the state card
Renewal checklist
- Do not file plumbing renewals in the TDLR electrician portal
- Finish the 6-hour CPE before the two-month online window if you can
- Renew the highest-ranking license first when one login holds several credentials
- Calendar med-gas 3-year CE separately
- Keep CPE certificates and the Texas.gov payment receipt
Common mistakes
- Sending plumbers to TDLR instead of TSBPE
- Treating first-year assigned expirations as a standard anniversary
- Forgetting endorsement CE
- Letting a Responsible Master leave without a replacement
FAQ
Is Texas plumbing licensed by TDLR?
No. Electricians and ACR/HVAC contractors are TDLR. Plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners at tsbpe.texas.gov.
How often do Texas plumber licenses renew?
Annually, after an assigned first expiration. Most licensees need 6 hours of TSBPE-approved CPE each year.
What about medical gas?
Med-gas is an endorsement. Holders need an extra 2 hours of CE every three years on top of the annual 6-hour CPE.
Sources
Published Plumber guides
Other published Texas guides
Pillars: when OSHA 10/30 expires · CDL medical card timeline · audit checklist · NYC SST vs OSHA
Track renewals for your whole crew — reminders before anything lapses.
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