Construction / Plumber Continuing Education / Washington
- Washington
- Plumber CE
- Journey, Residential & Trainee
- Updated Oct 2026
Washington Plumber Continuing Education: Hours, Deadline and Approved Courses
Washington journey and residential specialty plumbers need 24 hours of CE every 3 years by their birthdate, including 12 hours of Uniform Plumbing Code, and trainees need 8 hours every year.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) requirements
Hours per cycle
24 hrs
Journey and residential specialty; trainees need 8 hrs a year
Cycle
3 years
Trainee certificates renew every year
Deadline
Your birthdate
Every 3 years on or before your birthdate (trainees annually)
Online allowed?
Yes
L&I-approved online, correspondence or classroom CE counts
Who needs CE
Who needs continuing education for a Washington plumber license?
Washington journey plumbers, residential specialty plumbers, domestic pump specialty plumbers and plumbing trainees all need CE to renew. Renewal is handled by the state through L&I, not by your city.
CE applies to
- Journey Plumbers
- Residential Specialty Plumbers
- Domestic Pump Specialty Plumbers
- Plumbing Trainees
Exemptions
- None stated in WAC 296-400A-028
Washington plumber CE at a glance
Washington plumber renewal, one box
| Renewed with | Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) |
| CE required? | Yes, for journey, residential specialty and trainee |
| Hours per cycle | 24 hrs (trainees 8 hrs a year) |
| Cycle | 3 years (trainees 1 year) |
| Required topics | 12 hrs UPC, 4 hrs industry-related electrical (IRE), 8 hrs code, IRE or industry-related plumbing (IRP) |
| Online allowed? | Yes |
| Deadline | Your birthdate, every 3 years (trainees annually) |
| Who reports | Course sponsor (within 30 days of class) |
| Carryover | No |
| Grace period | 90-day late renewal window (doubled renewal fee; retest after 90 days) |
| Renewal fee | $242.70 journey/residential (3 yrs); $60.00 trainee (1 yr) |
| Last updated | October 28, 2026 |
Hours
How many CE hours does a Washington plumber license need?
Journey and residential specialty plumbers need 24 hours every 3-year renewal. Trainees need 8 hours every year.
| Class | Total | Required topics | Electives | Delivery limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journey Plumber | 24 hrs per 3 years | 12 hrs UPC, 4 hrs IRE | 8 hrs code, IRE or IRP | Online allowed; no duplicate courses in a cycle |
| Residential Specialty Plumber | 24 hrs per 3 years | 12 hrs UPC, 4 hrs IRE | 8 hrs code, IRE or IRP | Online allowed; no duplicate courses in a cycle |
| Plumbing Trainee | 8 hrs per year | Over each 2-year period: at least 8 hrs code and 4 hrs IRE | 4 hrs code, IRE or IRP in the IRE year | Online allowed; no duplicate courses in a cycle |
IRE means industry-related electrical and IRP means industry-related plumbing. Trainees who take 8 hours of code one year must take at least 4 hours of IRE plus 4 hours of code, IRE or IRP the next year.
Deadline
When is the Washington plumber license renewal deadline?
Washington plumbing certificates expire every 3 years on the holder’s birthdate, and trainee certificates expire every year. You may apply for renewal up to 90 days before expiration.
| Deadline rule | On or before your birthdate |
| Cycle | 3 years (trainees every year) |
| Grace period | Up to 90 days after expiration with a doubled renewal fee |
| Late penalty | Doubled renewal fee ($485.40 for journey/residential specialty within 90 days); retesting required after 90 days |
| CE completion deadline | Before you submit your renewal (sponsors have up to 30 days to submit rosters) |
Steps
How to renew a Washington plumber license, step by step
- Take approved CEBefore your deadline
Complete your approved CE: 24 hours for journey and residential specialty plumbers, or 8 hours a year for trainees, in the required topic mix. - Get your certificateSame day
Save or print the certificate of completion for each course. - Confirm it’s reportedWithin 30 days of class
Approved course sponsors have up to 30 days to submit completion rosters to L&I. Check your L&I record to confirm your hours have posted before you renew. - Pay the renewal fee$242.70 ($60 trainee)
Submit your renewal and fee ($242.70 for journey or residential specialty, $60.00 for trainees) to L&I on or before your birthdate. - Check your license statusAfter renewal
Confirm L&I shows your certificate as renewed with a new expiration date.
Providers
Approved Washington 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. Courses must be state-approved to count toward your hours.
Approval
How to check a Washington plumber CE course is approved
Only L&I-approved courses count toward Washington plumbing CE under WAC 296-400A-028. Each course counts in a category: Uniform Plumbing Code, industry-related electrical (IRE) or industry-related plumbing (IRP), and you cannot repeat the exact same course within a single renewal cycle.
- Confirm the course is L&I-approved for Washington plumbing CE before you pay.
- Check which category it counts toward: UPC, IRE or IRP.
- Make sure your hours meet the minimums for each category without repeating a course ID.
Reporting
How Washington plumber CE is reported, and what happens in an audit
Under WAC 296-400A-028, approved course sponsors submit attendance rosters to L&I within 30 days of course completion, and L&I typically processes rosters within 2 business days of receipt. You submit your own certificate renewal to L&I once your hours are on file.
- Keep a certificate of completion for every course.
- Finish your classes early enough to allow for the sponsor’s 30-day reporting window.
- Track your UPC, IRE and IRP hours separately (and trainee year-over-year mix).
Cost
How much does Washington plumber license renewal cost?
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Journey level or residential specialty renewal (3 years) | $242.70 | L&I |
| Domestic pump specialty renewal (3 years) | $242.80 | L&I |
| Trainee certificate renewal (1 year) | $60.00 | L&I |
| Late renewal (within 90 days past expiration) | Doubled renewal fee ($485.40 journey/residential) | L&I |
| CE courses | Varies by provider ($10.50/hr internet or $15.80/hr classroom when provided directly by L&I) | CE provider or L&I |
Fees from WAC 296-400A-045, checked October 2026.
Late or lapsed
Late, expired or inactive Washington plumber license
Under RCW 18.106.070 and WAC 296-400A-023, you may renew an expired plumbing certificate within 90 days after your birthdate expiration by completing your required CE and paying a doubled renewal fee. If your certificate remains expired for more than 90 days, you must retake and pass the state competency examination.
90-day late renewal window
You can renew up to 90 days past expiration without retesting by paying double the standard renewal fee ($485.40 for journey level or residential specialty) and having all required CE on file.
Expired more than 90 days
Applications received more than 90 days after expiration require retaking and passing the plumbing competency exam ($202.10 exam fee).
Makeup CE
You still need your full 24 hours of required CE on record with L&I before your late renewal can be processed.
Who controls
Who controls Washington plumber license renewal?
Renewal authority
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Plumber Certification Program
PO Box 44470, Olympia, WA 98504-4470
Phone: 360-902-5207 | Email: plumbers@Lni.wa.gov
Responsibilities
- Renews Washington plumber certificates and trainee certificates
- Sets CE hours and topic categories under WAC 296-400A-028
- Approves plumbing CE courses and tracks completion rosters
Getting licensed
Getting a Washington plumber license
Need the license first? Our Washington guide covers who needs a license, the classes, exams, fees and the steps to apply.
FAQ
Washington plumber license CE FAQs
How many CE hours does a Washington plumber need?
Journey and residential specialty plumbers need 24 hours every 3 years: 12 hours of UPC, 4 hours of IRE and 8 hours of code, IRE or IRP.
How many hours do trainees need?
8 hours every year. If you take 8 hours of code one year, the next year you need at least 4 hours of IRE plus 4 hours of code, IRE or IRP.
When is the deadline?
Plumber certificates expire every 3 years on your birthdate, and trainee certificates expire every year. Finish your hours before you renew.
Can I take CE online?
Yes. L&I-approved online, correspondence and classroom courses all count.
Who reports my hours?
Approved course sponsors have up to 30 days after class completion to submit attendance rosters to L&I.
Do hours carry over?
No. Hours must be completed during the prior certification period under WAC 296-400A-028, and extra hours do not carry over to the next cycle.
Sources
Official sources for Washington plumber CE rules
- Washington L&I, Plumber Continuing Education
- WAC 296-400A-028, Continuing Education and Classroom Training Requirements
- WAC 296-400A-045, Department Fees
- WAC 296-400A-023, Certificate Renewal
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).