The Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board accepts examination applications for:
- Master & Journeyperson Plumbing
- Master & Journeyperson Hydronics
- Master & Journeyperson HVAC/Refrigeration
- Master & Journeyperson Mechanical
- Journeyperson Sheet Metal
To be eligible to sit for an examination, an applicant must first complete a state of Iowa Examination Candidate Application.
Journeyperson exam candidates must have either
- Completed a minimum of 42 months in a Dept. of Labor registered apprenticeship program; or
- Have at least four years of experience prior to January 1, 2010.
Master exam candidates must have either
- Been previously licensed as a journeyperson and have two years of journeyperson work experience in the applicable discipline; or
- Been previously licensed as master in the applicable discipline in another state or local jurisdiction.
A fee of $35.00 per trade examination must be paid.
Applications can be submitted online or via a paper application.
Journeyperson exam candidates who are applying on the basis of four years of experience PRIOR to 2010, must either attach a copy of the notarized Affidavit of Employment to the online application, or mail or fax a copy of the affidavit to the board office. The application will NOT be processed without this form if you are applying based on experience.
Once you submit your application to the board office, staff will verify the information and, if complete & eligibility requirements are met, an Exam Approval Letter will be sent to you. The Exam Approval Letter contains instructions on scheduling your examination through the board's approved examination provider. Your eligibility to sit for the examination will be valid for one year. You may test as many times as necessary during the approval period (however, you must pay an examination fee to Kirkwood for each exam attempt). After one year, you must reapply for exam approval by submitting another Exam Candidate Application and application fee.
Kirkwood Community College is the board's approved examination provider. Please note that an examination fee must also be paid directly to Kirkwood. You may pay the exam fee(s) by Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Examination registration information, a list of allowed resources (Code books, calculator, etc.), and other examination details can be found on Kirkwood's website here: Kirkwood Community College. To request a reasonable testing accommodation for candidates with documented disabilities, follow the procedures specified on Kirkwood's website.
After successfully passing an examination you will need to apply to the board office for Post-Examination Licensure. A license is NOT automatically issued after you pass the examination. You MUST submit the application for post-examination licensure. Additional details are available on our post-examination licensure page.
Journeyperson Examination Candidates in an Apprentice Program
Board rules state that a journeyperson examination applicant may apply to sit for the examination up to 6 months prior to completion of the 48 months of required apprentice credit, which shall include the granting of advanced standing or credit for previously acquired experience, training, or skills. To apply for the examination, apprentices will need their apprentice ID number, apprenticeship start date, anticipated completion date, sponsor information, and whether they have been issued advanced apprenticeship credit. This information can be found on the Dept. of Labor (DOL) Apprentice Indenture Agreement or by contacting your apprentice training organization (e.g. ABC or PHCC) or apprentice sponsor.
Examination candidate applications can be submitted either online or via paper. While no additional paper application fee is charged for processing exam candidate applications, the online application can be processed sooner and will automatically email candidates a copy of their exam candidate approval letter once it has been approved.
Kirkwood Community College
Closure dates and availability at other community college test site locations may vary. Please make your appointment early during the holiday season to ensure availability of a testing site and time. Contact Kirkwood Community College at 319-398-4482 or 319-398-5529 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Central time), Monday through Friday, to register for your examination and ensure your testing appointment! Please have your Visa, MasterCard or Discover information available and an active email account.
Visit Kirkwood's website for the most update to date information on testing centers.