Finding the right career is rarely easy. Sure, some people seem to be born knowing what they want to do when they grow up. For the majority of us, we struggle to find a rewarding career. Sometimes the struggle lasts until retirement. What about a career as a plumber in Denver, CO? 

You typically have job security, can earn a pretty decent wage, and provide an absolutely necessary service to your community. Sounds pretty good right? However, you can’t just announce you’re a plumber and start taking on customers. Colorado has something to say about this and it starts with your licensing requirements. Plumbers must be licensed and there’s more than one type.

What Are the Different Types of Colorado Plumbing Licenses?

It’s a state law that all plumbers must be licensed in Colorado. All contractor, plumbing, and electrical licenses are governed by the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), specifically the Division of Professions and Occupations handles licenses. This is a subdepartment of DORA.

Colorado offers four types of plumbing licenses. You also need to meet the experience requirements and pass a test before receiving your plumbing license:

• Apprentice: less than 2 years of experience
• Residential: 2 years of experience
• Journeyman: 4 years of experience
• Master: 5 years of full-time experience

Is your ultimate goal to own a plumbing business? If so, you need a contractor’s license. This means either having a Master Plumber’s license or a supervisor certificate issued by the city. The city you’re performing the work in must be the entity issuing the supervisor’s certificate.

Are There Requirements for a Plumber’s License?

All states have requirements you need to meet before applying for a plumbing license. These requirements go a bit beyond completing the necessary years of experience. We should also mention these requirements are the same whether you’re going for an apprentice or master plumber’s license:

• You must be at least 18 years old with either a high school diploma or GED certificate from an accredited school
• Complete the years of experience required for the plumbing license.
• Pass the licensing exam, which varies for each type of plumber’s license.
• Complete the application process.

The application process is a little more involved than filling out a form. You also need to pay any required fees, including testing costs. You also need to submit an Affidavit of Eligibility.

This is usually handled by your employer. Business owners are also required to provide proof of insurance. Yep, worker’s compensation insurance counts toward meeting this licensing requirement.

How Do I Get a Colorado Plumbing License?

Everyone starts out as an apprentice. This is a given and a step you can’t skip. You can easily register as a plumbing apprentice on the DORA portal. The state agency tries to make the licensing process as simple as possible. Don’t put off registering with DORA. You only have 30 days to register as a plumbing apprentice once you start your job.

For the next couple of years, at least, there’s nothing to do except gain experience. Each level of plumbing license has very specific experience requirements. You don’t have to apply for every plumbing license after clocking in the years of experience. This can save some money on licensing and testing fees. So, you can hold onto your apprentice or journeyman’s plumbing license for several years before finally applying to become a master plumber.

After taking the appropriate licensing exam, and passing, submit the application and all required documents. Even though it takes several years to become a master plumber, you can earn a livable wage throughout the entire process. This is just one of the many reasons to consider a career as a plumber in Colorado.

What Should I Expect on the Colorado Plumbing Test?

The test differs. Depending on the level of the plumber’s license. Journeymen and residential plumbers licensing tests have 100 questions. You have 240 minutes to answer each question. The master plumber’s exam is a little more intensive. There are 120 questions but you have a little longer to go through the test, 270 minutes to be exact.

Even though the number of questions varies, the topics covered on the test stay the same. This makes it a little easier to study later down the road. After passing the journeyman’s exam, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect when you’re testing for higher levels of experience.

Colorado Plumbing Career

Pursuing a career as a plumber in Colorado can be a rewarding choice, offering stability, a decent income, and the satisfaction of providing essential services to the community.

While the path to becoming a licensed plumber involves several stages, including gaining experience and passing licensing exams, the journey is well worth the effort. With clear licensing requirements and support from organizations like the Department of Regulatory Agencies, aspiring plumbers have a structured pathway to success.

Whether you aim to work for a company or dream of starting your own plumbing business, the opportunities in the plumbing field are promising. Embrace the journey, invest in your education, and you could find yourself thriving in a fulfilling and in-demand profession.