Construction / Plumber Continuing Education / Ohio
- Ohio
- Plumber CE
- 1-Year & 3-Year Licenses
- Updated Oct 2026
Ohio Plumber Continuing Education: Hours, Deadline and Approved Courses
Ohio plumbing contractors need 8 hours of OCILB-approved CE for a 1-year renewal or 24 hours for a 3-year renewal when renewing on time, and only half of those hours can be self-paced.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) requirements
Hours per cycle
8 or 24 hrs
8 hrs for a 1-year renewal, 24 hrs for a 3-year renewal (10 or 30 if late)
Cycle
1 or 3 years
You renew every year or every three years
Deadline
License expiration date
Late CE means 10 or 30 hours plus a late fee
Online allowed?
Yes, with limits
Half can be self-paced; the rest must be live, such as a live webinar
Who needs CE
Who needs continuing education for an Ohio plumber license?
Ohio plumbing contractor license holders need CE to renew, whether they renew every year or every three years. Renewal is handled by the state through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, not by your city.
CE applies to
- Plumbing contractor license holders on a 1-year renewal
- Plumbing contractor license holders on a 3-year renewal
Exemptions
- None stated in our sources
Late on your CE?
If you don’t finish your CE before the deadline, you owe more hours: 10 instead of 8, or 30 instead of 24, plus a late fee up to $120.
Ohio plumber CE at a glance
Ohio plumber renewal, one box
| Renewed with | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) |
| CE required? | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 8 hrs (1-year) or 24 hrs (3-year); 10 or 30 hrs if late |
| Cycle | 1 or 3 years |
| Required topics | Ohio codes, health & safety, business or technology approved by OCILB |
| Online allowed? | Yes, half self-paced; the rest live (live webinar counts) |
| Deadline | On or before your license expiration date |
| Who reports | Approved training agency (within 14 calendar days) |
| Carryover | No (per OAC 4101:16-2-08) |
| Grace period | None (automatic suspension at expiration; 1 year to reactivate) |
| Renewal fee | $60 (1-year) or $180 (3-year); up to $120 late fee |
| Last updated | October 28, 2026 |
Hours
How many CE hours does an Ohio plumber license need?
You need 8 hours of approved CE if you renew every year, or 24 hours if you renew every three years under the compliant contractor program (10 or 30 hours if late). Under OAC 4101:16-2-08, courses may be in any topic approved by the OCILB specialty sections (codes, health and safety, business or technology). OCILB allows half of your hours to be self-paced; the rest must be taken live, such as a live webinar.
| Class | Total | Required topics | Electives | Delivery limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year license | 8 hrs | Ohio codes, health & safety, business or technology | Any OCILB specialty-approved course | Max 4 hrs self-paced; 4 hrs live |
| 3-year license | 24 hrs | Ohio codes, health & safety, business or technology | Any OCILB specialty-approved course | Max 12 hrs self-paced; 12 hrs live |
| 1-year license, CE late | 10 hrs | Ohio codes, health & safety, business or technology | Any OCILB specialty-approved course | Max 4 hrs self-paced; 6 hrs live |
| 3-year license, CE late | 30 hrs | Ohio codes, health & safety, business or technology | Any OCILB specialty-approved course | Max 12 hrs self-paced; 18 hrs live |
Live webinars need a webcam for ID verification, and you may be asked to show your driver’s license and plumbing license. No more than 10 hours may be completed in a single calendar day.
Deadline
When is the Ohio plumber license renewal deadline?
Ohio plumbing licenses renew in 1-year or 3-year increments on your license expiration date. Finish your 8 or 24 hours before your deadline. If you finish late, your license is automatically suspended and you need 10 or 30 hours plus a late fee.
| Deadline rule | Complete CE and renew on or before your license expiration date |
| Cycle | 1 or 3 years |
| Grace period | None (license is automatically suspended at expiration; 1 calendar year to reactivate) |
| Late penalty | Late CE rises to 10 hrs (1-year) or 30 hrs (3-year) plus late fee up to $120 |
| CE completion deadline | Before your renewal deadline |
Steps
How to renew an Ohio plumber license, step by step
- Take approved CEBefore your deadline
Complete 8 hours (1-year) or 24 hours (3-year) of OCILB-approved CE, with no more than half self-paced. - Get your certificateSame day
Save the certificate of completion for each course you finish. - Confirm it’s reportedWithin 14 days
Your OCILB-approved training agency must submit attendance rosters to the board within 14 calendar days. Check eLicense Ohio before you renew. - Pay the renewal fee$60 or $180 fee
Submit your renewal, proof of $500,000 contractor liability insurance, and the $60 (1-year) or $180 (3-year) fee to the OCILB via eLicense Ohio. - Check your license statusAfter renewal
Confirm in eLicense Ohio that your license shows the new expiration date.
Providers
Approved Ohio 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 Ohio plumber CE course is approved
Courses must be approved for continuing education credit by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. CE-approved courses don’t satisfy Ohio’s pre-licensing requirements.
- Confirm the course and training agency are OCILB-approved for plumbing CE before you pay.
- Check whether it’s self-paced or live so you stay within the self-paced limit.
- For live webinars, have a webcam and your ID ready for verification.
Reporting
How Ohio plumber CE is reported, and what happens in an audit
Under OAC Rule 4101:16-3-02, approved training agencies electronically submit attendance rosters (with a $1 per credit hour roster fee) to OCILB within 14 calendar days of course completion.
- Print or save each certificate of completion.
- Track self-paced and live hours separately.
- Verify in eLicense Ohio that your hours are on file, and keep your certificates in case OCILB asks for proof.
Cost
How much does Ohio plumber license renewal cost?
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year license renewal fee | $60 | OCILB |
| 3-year license renewal fee | $180 | OCILB |
| Late renewal fee | Up to $120 | OCILB |
| CE courses (8 or 24 hours) | Varies by provider | CE provider |
Fees from OAC Rule 4101:16-2-09, checked October 2026. Finishing CE late also means taking 10 or 30 hours instead of 8 or 24.
Late or lapsed
Late, expired or inactive Ohio plumber license
Under OAC 4101:16-2-08 and ORC § 4740.06, if you miss the renewal deadline, your license is automatically suspended and you need extra hours and a late fee to reactivate.
Late CE, 1-year license
10 hours, with no more than 4 self-paced and 6 live.
Late CE, 3-year license
30 hours, with no more than 12 self-paced and 18 live.
Reactivation within 1 year
You have up to one calendar year from expiration to reactivate by completing the required CE, proving $500,000 liability insurance, and paying the renewal fee plus a late fee of up to $120. After one year, the license is revoked.
Who controls
Who controls Ohio plumber license renewal?
Renewal authority
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
6606 Tussing Road, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Phone: (614) 644-3493
Responsibilities
- Issues and renews Ohio plumbing contractor licenses
- Approves plumbing CE courses and training agencies
- Sets limits on self-paced versus live CE hours
- Sets the extra-hours rule for late CE
Getting licensed
Getting an Ohio plumbing contractor license
Need the license first? Our Ohio guide covers who needs a license, the classes, exams, fees and the steps to apply.
FAQ
Ohio plumber license CE FAQs
How many CE hours does an Ohio plumber need?
8 hours if you renew every year, or 24 hours if you renew every three years on time (10 or 30 hours if late).
Can I take CE online?
Yes, with limits. Half of your hours can be self-paced; the rest must be live, and a live webinar counts.
What happens if I finish CE late?
Your license is automatically suspended, you need 10 hours instead of 8 (or 30 instead of 24) with only 4 or 12 of those hours self-paced, and you owe a late fee up to $120.
Can I take all my hours at once?
You can take up to 10 classroom hours in a single calendar day under OAC Rule 4101:16-2-08.
Who reports my hours?
Your OCILB-approved training agency must submit your attendance roster to the board within 14 calendar days of completion.
Do hours carry over?
No. Under OAC Rule 4101:16-2-08(C), excess hours do not carry over to subsequent renewal cycles.
Sources
Official sources for Ohio plumber CE rules
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
- Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4101:16-2-08 (Continuing Education Hours)
- Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4101:16-2-09 (Fees and Insurance)
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB).