Plumber License from Idaho to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Washington accept an Idaho plumbing license?
Yes — Washington has a reciprocity arrangement covering Idaho license holders. Apply to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program under its reciprocity/endorsement track and complete Washington's remaining requirements.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
Idaho is on Washington's reciprocity list, which puts this move on the streamlined track — on two conditions. Your Idaho license must have been earned by examination, not grandfathered in, and be active and in good standing; where it is, Washington waives its journeyman exam and the requirements below are what it still insists on. Washington waives its journey level (journeyman) plumber examination only for a plumber who holds a current Idaho journey level plumber certificate — the sole reciprocal state; L&I reviews the Idaho credential and issues the Washington certificate without exam. Every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Washington plumber exam; out-of-state trainee/apprenticeship hours are not accepted toward Washington certification, though a one-time 120-day temporary permit lets a non-reciprocal applicant work while awaiting the exam. One caution: these agreements are directional and revocable. This page's verification date is when we last confirmed Idaho on Washington's list; the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program link is the live truth.
What's different between Idaho and Washington
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Washington. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Idaho to Washington (this page): Reciprocity agreement.
Washington to Idaho (the reverse move): Reciprocity agreement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Idaho matter?
Coming from Idaho matters here: only 1 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Washington.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (40) and no state license to transfer (9).
- Reciprocity agreements
Washington's reciprocity agreement list names 1 state (Idaho), including Idaho.
Idaho's reciprocity agreement list names 3 states (Montana, Oregon, and Washington), including Washington.
- Application fee
Washington lists $242.70 for an out-of-state applicant and Idaho lists $51.90 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Exam rules on record
Washington and Idaho carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Washington (this move): Washington waives its journey level (journeyman) plumber examination only for a plumber who holds a current Idaho journey level plumber certificate — the sole reciprocal state; L&I reviews the Idaho credential and issues the Washington certificate without exam. Every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Washington plumber exam; out-of-state trainee/apprenticeship hours are not accepted toward Washington certification, though a one-time 120-day temporary permit lets a non-reciprocal applicant work while awaiting the exam
- Idaho (the reverse move): Idaho waives its journeyman plumber written examination for reciprocity applicants who hold an active journeyman license obtained BY EXAMINATION in Montana, Oregon, or Washington and who meet the experience and residency conditions ('No written examination shall be required for the reciprocal certificate when reciprocating from' these states); every other applicant must pass the IAPMO-based Idaho journeyman examination
What changes, Idaho → Washington
| Idaho (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $51.90 ($51.90 non-refundable application/processing fee, charged at the same rate whether the application type is Initial, Reciprocal, or Reopen Closed License (DOPL Plumbing Journeyman Application, revised 2024-10-03). Not included in this amount: the IAPMO journeyman examination fee paid to PSI, later renewal fees, and the 2.5% Access Idaho surcharge added when paying by credit or debit card. idaho.gov hosts still refused direct connections on 2026-09-01, so the DOPL application form was read from an Internet Archive capture of the board's own PDF) | $242.70 (Idaho reciprocal journey level applicants pay the $242.70 journey level certification fee (exam waived). Non-reciprocal out-of-state applicants pay a $202.10 examination application fee (plus a PSI scheduling fee) and then the $242.70 certification fee; a one-time 120-day temporary work permit is $100.30) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time in weeks | L&I does not publish a fixed processing time; out-of-state credentials are reviewed before the applicant may test or receive a reciprocal certificate, and approved applications are valid for one year |
| Licensing authority | Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) — State Plumbing Board | Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Washington sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Plumber Certification Program (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current, unexpired Idaho journey level plumber certificate (the only reciprocal state).
- Submit the Plumber Certification Application (F627-008-000) with a copy of the out-of-state license/card and a government-issued photo ID to L&I's Plumber Certification program for credential review.
- Out-of-state trainee/apprenticeship hours are NOT accepted toward Washington certification.
- Non-reciprocal out-of-state applicants must pass the Washington plumber exam; a one-time 120-day temporary permit allows work in the interim.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my Idaho plumbing license after I'm licensed in Washington?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Idaho credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified Idaho 2026-09-01, Washington 2026-07-21.
- Washington L&I — Plumber Examination (Idaho reciprocity, out-of-state review, 120-day temporary permit, $202.10 exam fee, $100.30 permit) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Washington L&I — Get or Renew Your Plumber Certification (fees incl. $242.70 journey level certification; F627-008-000 application form) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Idaho DOPL — State Plumbing Board FAQs (reciprocity states and conditions) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Idaho DOPL — Plumbing Journeyman Application Instructions (exam waiver for reciprocity; 8,000-hour experience; IAPMO exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Idaho DOPL — Montana plumbing reciprocity agreement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Idaho DOPL — Oregon plumbing reciprocity agreement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Oregon BCD — Reciprocal agreement, Idaho journeyman plumber (mirror) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Idaho DOPL — Plumbing Journeyman Application, revised 2024-10-03 ($51.90 application fee for Initial, Reciprocal, and Reopen Closed License; Internet Archive capture of the DOPL PDF dated 2026-02-14, used because idaho.gov refuses direct connections) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources Idaho 2026-09-01, Washington 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com