Construction / Plumber Continuing Education / Iowa
- Iowa
- Plumber CE
- Single & Multiple Licenses
- Updated Oct 2026
Iowa Plumber Continuing Education: Hours, Deadline and Approved Courses
Iowa plumbers need 8 hours of CE every three years with one license, or 16 hours with plumbing and mechanical licenses, before their license expires on June 30.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board requirements
Hours per cycle
8 or 16 hrs
8 hours for one license, 16 for plumbing plus mechanical licenses
Cycle
3 years
Licenses expire every three years
Deadline
Jun 30, every 3 years
Current license period ends June 30, 2029
Online allowed?
Yes, up to half
At least half must be in person
Who needs CE
Who needs continuing education for an Iowa plumber license?
Iowa plumbing licensees at the journeyperson and master level, active or inactive, need CE to renew. The hours depend on whether you hold one license or plumbing plus mechanical licenses. Renewal is handled by the state through the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board.
CE applies to
- Journeyperson and master plumbers holding a single license
- Licensees holding plumbing plus mechanical licenses
- Inactive master and journeyperson licensees
Exemptions
- Medical gas piping installers don’t need CE
- First renewal of a license issued with less than one year left in the period
- First renewal of a journeyperson license earned by exam that keeps the apprentice renewal date
- Honorable active military duty and other exemptions in the board’s rules
Iowa plumber CE at a glance
Iowa plumber renewal, one box
| Renewed with | Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board |
| CE required? | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 8 hrs (single), 16 hrs (plumbing + mechanical) |
| Cycle | 3 years |
| Required topics | Iowa occupational safety and health, plumbing code (plus mechanical code with a mechanical license), discipline hours |
| Online allowed? | Yes, up to half |
| Deadline | June 30, every 3 years (next: June 30, 2029) |
| Who reports | You report hours at renewal; providers send rosters |
| Carryover | Not stated |
| Grace period | 30 days (through July 31), no late fee |
| Renewal fee | $180 journeyperson; $240 master |
| Last updated | October 28, 2026 |
Hours
How many CE hours does an Iowa plumber license need?
Iowa plumbers with one license need 8 hours every three years. If you hold a plumbing license plus one or more mechanical licenses, you need 16 hours. Up to half can be online.
| Class | Total | Required topics | Electives | Delivery limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single license | 8 hrs | 2 hrs Iowa occupational safety and health, 2 hrs plumbing code | 4 hrs plumbing | Up to half online |
| Plumbing & mechanical licenses | 16 hrs | 4 hrs Iowa occupational safety and health, 2 hrs plumbing code, 2 hrs mechanical code | 8 hrs in your disciplines | Up to half online |
Each hour is at least 50 minutes in one sitting. Medical gas piping installers don’t need CE.
Deadline
When is the Iowa plumber license renewal deadline?
All Iowa plumbing and mechanical licenses run on the same three-year period and expire June 30 at the end of it, no matter when they were issued. The current period runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. You get a 30-day grace period, through July 31, to finish CE and renew without a late fee.
| Deadline rule | June 30, every 3 years (all licenses expire together) |
| Cycle | 3 years |
| Next deadlines | June 30, 2029; June 30, 2032 |
| Grace period | 30 days, through July 31, with no late fee |
| Late penalty | $60 if you renew August 1–31; $100 from September 1 to the next June 30; after one year, reinstatement |
| CE completion deadline | By June 30 (the 30-day grace period also covers CE) |
Steps
How to renew an Iowa plumber license, step by step
- Take approved CEBefore your deadline
Complete 8 hours of board-approved CE for one license, or 16 for plumbing plus mechanical licenses, including Iowa occupational safety and health and code hours. At least half must be in person. - Get your certificateSame day
Save or print your certificate of completion when you finish. - Confirm it’s reportedAt renewal
You enter your in-person and online hours on your renewal. Approved instructors send rosters to the board, which uses them to check your certificates. - Pay the renewal fee$180 or $240 fee
Renew online through the DIAL license portal and pay the fee to the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board. Renewing by July 31 avoids a late fee. - Check your license statusAfter renewal
Look up your license to confirm the new expiration date.
Providers
Approved Iowa plumber license CE providers
We haven’t compared CE providers for this license yet. Use the board’s approved provider list to confirm a course counts before you pay.
Approval
How to check an Iowa plumber CE course is approved
Iowa plumber CE must be approved for Iowa and cover the required topics: Iowa occupational health and safety, code hours and trade-specific hours. Both the instructor and the course must be pre-approved by the board, and course approval lasts three years.
- Confirm the course is approved for Iowa plumbing CE before you pay.
- Check which topic it counts toward: health and safety, code or trade specific.
- Make sure your total matches your license count, 8 or 16 hours.
Reporting
How Iowa plumber CE is reported, and what happens in an audit
You report your total in-person and online hours on your renewal. You don’t send certificates with it. Approved instructors send attendance rosters to the board, which uses them to verify your hours.
- Keep every certificate. It should show the course number, course name, date, topic and hours.
- The board can audit your CE at any time. If audited, you have 30 days to send proof.
- The board can’t replace lost certificates. Contact the instructor or sponsor right away if you lose one.
- You can’t count the same course twice in one license period.
Cost
How much does Iowa plumber license renewal cost?
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| License renewal fee | $50 apprentice, inactive or specialty; $180 journeyperson; $240 master; $230 inactive master with active journeyperson; $250 contractor | Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board |
| Late renewal fee | $60 (August 1–31); $100 (September 1 to the next June 30) | Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board |
| Reinstatement (lapsed more than one year) | Full license fee for each license | Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board |
| CE courses (8 or 16 hours) | Varies by provider | CE provider |
Fees from the DIAL Plumbing & Mechanical Systems licensing period and fee page and 481 IAC chapter 428, checked October 2026. Holding more than one journeyperson, master or contractor license cuts those fees by 30%, and a paper application adds $25.
Late or lapsed
Late, expired or inactive Iowa plumber license
You have until July 31 to renew without a late fee. After that, late fees apply, and a license lapsed more than one year has to be reinstated.
Grace period
30 days after June 30, through July 31, with no late fee. You can still work.
Late fees
$60 in August (you can still work); $100 from September 1 on, and you can’t work until you renew.
Reinstatement
After more than a year, make up CE for each missed period (8 hours if lapsed under 2 years, 16 for 2 to 6 years, 24 for 6 to 9, 32 for 9 to 12) or retake the exam, then pay the full license fee.
Inactive license
Inactive master and journeyperson licensees still need CE each period. An inactive license renews for $50.
Who controls
Who controls Iowa plumber license renewal?
Renewal authority
Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board
Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing, 6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50321
(866) 280-1521
Responsibilities
- Issues and renews Iowa plumbing licenses
- Sets CE hours and required topics
- Approves CE instructors and courses
Getting licensed
Getting an Iowa plumber license
Need the license first? Our Iowa guide covers who needs a license, the classes, exams, fees and the steps to apply.
FAQ
Iowa plumber license CE FAQs
How many CE hours does an Iowa plumber need?
8 hours every three years with one license, or 16 hours with a plumbing license plus one or more mechanical licenses.
What topics are required?
For one license: 2 hours of Iowa occupational health and safety, 2 hours of plumbing code and 4 hours trade specific.
When is the deadline?
All licenses expire June 30 at the end of the three-year period. The current period ends June 30, 2029, and you can renew through July 31 without a late fee.
Who reports my hours?
You report your in-person and online hours on your renewal. Approved instructors send rosters to the board, so keep your certificates for audits.
Can I take CE online?
Yes, up to half of your required hours. At least half must be taken in person.
Sources
Official sources for Iowa plumber CE rules
- Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board
- Iowa Occupational Safety and Health
- Iowa Plumbing & Mechanical Systems licensure (DIAL)
- Licensing period & fees
- PMSB continuing education & training
- Renew or update a license
- 481 IAC chapter 428, licensure fees
- 481 IAC chapter 432, continuing education
- Iowa Code section 105.20
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board.