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How to get a plumber license in Alaska

Requirements, license levels, and the issuing authority, sourced from Alaska's official board.

AS 18.62.070 requires a certificate of fitness for plumbing work under the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted for the state, and it must be carried on the person while working. An installer certified by the Department of Environmental Conservation may install septic sewer piping from within two feet of the structure without a restricted PU certificate. No more than two trainees per certified journeyman. Mechanical contracting is licensed separately by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development through the Mechanical Administrator program.

Issuing authority: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section. Official page: https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/plumbing_electrical.htm

License levels in Alaska

Alaska plumber licensing at a glance

RequirementsPlumber Journeyman (8 AAC 90.130): 8,000 hours of legally obtained work experience subject to standards at least as stringent as AS 18.60.705 and 8 AAC 63.010, documented on a notarized department form, notarized employer letterhead, or a sworn affidavit from an Alaska-based union official, plus a passing exam score of at least 70 percent. No more than 500 of those hours may be plumber restricted PU work and no more than 2,000 may be plumber restricted PG work. A failed exam may be retaken after 30 days. Trainee certificates require indenture in a registered apprenticeship program except at the utility level. Journeyman certificate fee $200.
ReciprocityUnder 8 AAC 90.111 the department may reciprocate with any jurisdiction whose requirements it finds substantially similar. The applicant must have held the out-of-jurisdiction license for a full year; a one-year provisional certificate is issued while the review runs, and a provisional plumber journeyman may not perform gas work. If the other jurisdiction is not found substantially similar, the applicant must document hours and pass the Alaska exam.
RenewalEvery 2 years. Continuing education under 8 AAC 90.192 is 16 approved hours within the preceding 24 months, at least 8 of them on significant Uniform Plumbing Code changes.
NotesAS 18.62.070 requires a certificate of fitness for plumbing work under the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted for the state, and it must be carried on the person while working. An installer certified by the Department of Environmental Conservation may install septic sewer piping from within two feet of the structure without a restricted PU certificate. No more than two trainees per certified journeyman. Mechanical contracting is licensed separately by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development through the Mechanical Administrator program.

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Common questions

Do you need a license to work as a plumber in Alaska?
AS 18.62.070 requires a certificate of fitness for plumbing work under the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted for the state, and it must be carried on the person while working. An installer certified by the Department of Environmental Conservation may install septic sewer piping from within two feet of the structure without a restricted PU certificate. No more than two trainees per certified journeyman. Mechanical contracting is licensed separately by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development through the Mechanical Administrator program.
What plumber license levels does Alaska have?
The levels are Plumber Journeyman Certificate of Fitness, Plumber Restricted PG (gas) Certificate of Fitness, Plumber Restricted PU (utility) Certificate of Fitness, Plumber Trainee Certificate of Fitness, Provisional Certificate of Fitness (reciprocal applicants).
How do you get licensed as a plumber in Alaska?
Plumber Journeyman (8 AAC 90.130): 8,000 hours of legally obtained work experience subject to standards at least as stringent as AS 18.60.705 and 8 AAC 63.010, documented on a notarized department form, notarized employer letterhead, or a sworn affidavit from an Alaska-based union official, plus a passing exam score of at least 70 percent. No more than 500 of those hours may be plumber restricted PU work and no more than 2,000 may be plumber restricted PG work. A failed exam may be retaken after 30 days. Trainee certificates require indenture in a registered apprenticeship program except at the utility level. Journeyman certificate fee $200.
Does Alaska have plumber license reciprocity?
Under 8 AAC 90.111 the department may reciprocate with any jurisdiction whose requirements it finds substantially similar. The applicant must have held the out-of-jurisdiction license for a full year; a one-year provisional certificate is issued while the review runs, and a provisional plumber journeyman may not perform gas work. If the other jurisdiction is not found substantially similar, the applicant must document hours and pass the Alaska exam.

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Sources: labor.alaska.gov, labor.alaska.gov, labor.alaska.gov. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing authority.

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