Who Issues Plumbing Licenses in Mississippi?

We bet you don't know that plumbing is one of the high-paying jobs in Mississippi state of the US. The average salary of a plumber in Mississippi is $40,153 annually. This is near the national average plumber's salary of $55,337 per year. However, with the right courses and certifications, you can even make up to $84,000. As per the projections made by the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the plumbing industry will grow by 14% between 2021 to 2031.

However, there are different licensing requirements statewide. Mississippi mandates that plumbing contractors have licenses after exceeding certain monetary thresholds.

Mississippi Licensing Requirements

Mostly, all states of the US require plumbers to get a license, but the licensing requirements vary from state to state. If we talk about Mississippi, the plumbing license is not mandatory for the below-mentioned situations:

Type of Plumber - Delivering Project Value Up to (in dollars)

• Residential Plumber: $10,000
• Commercial Plumber: $50,000

As per the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, when the plumber exceeds the above-mentioned limit, he or she is mandated to have a plumbing license.

Despite the standard requirements set by the MSBOC - a contractor licensing authority, many local jurisdictions - cities, towns, and counties require a plumber to have a local license, even within the monetary thresholds.

For instance, when you are serving in cities like Gulfport and Ocean Springs of Mississippi state, you are required to apply for plumbing licenses and pass the required plumbing examination. A local license is mandatory here, irrespective of the fact that you are delivering within or outside the monetary threshold limits.

The application formats for availing the plumbing contractors license in Gulfport and Ocean Springs are given here:

• The City of Gulfport
• The City of Ocean Springs

Types of Plumbing Licenses in Mississippi

There are basically two types of licenses available in Mississippi: unlimited commercial plumbing license and unlimited residential plumbing license.

The tasks performed by commercial as well as residential plumbers are almost similar. The unlimited commercial plumber is required to undergo certain plumbing jobs like pipe installation, fixture removals, and repairs for commercial buildings.

The residential plumber can perform all these duties specified above. The only exception lies when residential contractors serve the plumbing services in commercial buildings. They cannot do plumbing contracting jobs in commercial buildings exceeding 7,500 square feet.

Specialty Classifications

Mississippi breaks down commercial licenses into major and specialty classifications. The major classification for commercial plumbing work includes Mechanical contractor.

Other than this, there are 16 specialty classifications made by the Mississippi state board, which fall under the major classification of mechanical contractors license. Among those 16 specialties, a few are listed here:

• Boiler Installation and Repair
• Irrigation Systems
• Plumbing
• Process Piping
• Welding

If you are serving several commercial works listed in the specialty classifications, then you need to avail of the mechanical contractor license. However, when you are focused just on the plumbing work, then apply for a Mississippi plumbing license or on any one of the specialties.

The scope of examinations and financial obligations are different:

Types of License - Net Worth Requirements

• Mechanical Contractor: Net worth of at least $50,000
• Specialty License: Net worth of at least $20,000

The examination for a mechanical contractor is rigorous, requiring knowledge of more than one subject than plumbing alone.

Requirements for Mississippi Plumbing Licenses

Basic Requirements to Acquire Mississippi Plumbing License

To avail of the plumbing license in Mississippi, an individual must possess these basic requirements:

• You are not required to attend any apprenticeship program; just the age and qualification criteria are a must.
• Your age should be at least 18 years old.
• Along with this, you must have a high school diploma or any GED for that matter.

This is the basic process that you must follow while availing of the Mississippi plumbing license.

In Mississippi, beginners, or the ones who want to start a plumbing business and get a license, are not mandated to enroll in Mississippi plumbing apprenticeships. However, for self-improving, you can attend certain plumbing trade and vocational schools in Mississippi offering apprenticeship-like programs.

Plumbing License Costs in Mississippi

Mississippi Plumbing Exam Details

The Mississippi plumbing examination has two sections: Mississippi law and business management exam, and the plumbing exam.

Where to Take the Exam

Plumbing licensing exams can be taken at: Jackson Exam Center, 2679 Crane Ridge Dr, Suite B, Jackson, MS 39216

Exam Preparation Resources

You can inquire at the below-mentioned contact details for your exam preparation or course-related queries:

• American Contractors: 1-800-992-1910
• Mississippi Contractor Licensing Service: 1-800-432-9930
• Builders License Training Institute: 1-800-727-7104
• MyContractorsLicense: 1-877-699-0775
• Contractors Institute: 1-804-556-5518

Steps to Get Your Mississippi Plumbing License

Reciprocity Agreements

Conclusion

That's all for Mississippi plumbing license requirements. After walking through all the essential details regarding the plumbing license in Mississippi, you must be prepared for gearing up your plumbing business as a licensed plumbing contractor.

Stop delaying and start applying ASAP to get the fruits of having a certified plumbing degree in your hands that will ultimately help scale up your business.