Plumber License from Indiana to Michigan: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Plumbing ↗
A plumbing license transfers from Indiana to Michigan by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Plumbing, verify your Indiana license, and meet Michigan's endorsement requirements. Michigan does not reciprocate with any state and waives its journey plumber exam for no one: every applicant, in-state or out, must pass Michigan's written AND practical (hands-on) journey plumber examinations. An out-of-state plumber may receive credit for out-of-state experience — documented on the BCC Out-of-State License Verification form — toward the 6,000-hour eligibility requirement to be approved to sit for the exam, but the examination is mandatory..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Indiana is not among the states Michigan names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Plumbing's individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. Michigan does not reciprocate with any state and waives its journey plumber exam for no one: every applicant, in-state or out, must pass Michigan's written AND practical (hands-on) journey plumber examinations. An out-of-state plumber may receive credit for out-of-state experience — documented on the BCC Out-of-State License Verification form — toward the 6,000-hour eligibility requirement to be approved to sit for the exam, but the examination is mandatory.. Bring your Indiana license, proof that it is active and in good standing, and your apprenticeship and exam records — and get any discretionary exam or experience credit in writing before you rely on it.
What changes, Indiana → Michigan
| Indiana (current) | Michigan (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $15–$30 (Per 860 IAC 1-1-2.1: journeyman plumber initial license fee is $15 in odd-numbered years or $30 in even-numbered years (biennial cycle; renewal $30 due before Dec 1 of each odd-numbered year). A reciprocity applicant pays the license fee with no exam; a non-reciprocity applicant also pays a $30 Commission examination fee plus the separate exam-vendor (Prove/ICC) fee. All PLA fees are non-refundable) | $40–$90 ($40 journey plumber license/application fee plus $50 examination fee (MCL 339.6121, Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407). The same fees apply to out-of-state applicants; the exam is administered by PSI.) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time in weeks; a non-reciprocity application must be reviewed and approved for eligibility by the Indiana Plumbing Commission before the applicant may register for the exam. All in.gov hosts refused direct connections during research | No board-stated processing time; the application, out-of-state verification, and license fee are mailed to LARA BCC and the exam is scheduled through PSI. |
| Licensing authority | Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Indiana Plumbing Commission | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Plumbing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Michigan sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Michigan's current requirements on the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Plumbing website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Plumbing (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- At least 6,000 hours of plumbing experience gained over no less than 3 years as a registered plumbing apprentice under a licensed master or journey plumber (MCL 339.6115).
- Pass both the written and the practical (hands-on) journey plumber examinations.
- Out-of-state applicants: submit the BCC Out-of-State License Verification form to document experience and be approved to sit for the exam.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Pay the fees ($40–$90 ($40 journey plumber license/application fee plus $50 examination fee (MCL 339.6121, Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407). The same fees apply to out-of-state applicants; the exam is administered by PSI.)) and allow No board-stated processing time; the application, out-of-state verification, and license fee are mailed to LARA BCC and the exam is scheduled through PSI..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Michigan accept a Indiana plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from Indiana to Michigan by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Plumbing, verify your Indiana license, and meet Michigan's endorsement requirements. Michigan does not reciprocate with any state and waives its journey plumber exam for no one: every applicant, in-state or out, must pass Michigan's written AND practical (hands-on) journey plumber examinations. An out-of-state plumber may receive credit for out-of-state experience — documented on the BCC Out-of-State License Verification form — toward the 6,000-hour eligibility requirement to be approved to sit for the exam, but the examination is mandatory..
Which exam applies moving from Indiana to Michigan?
Michigan does not reciprocate with any state and waives its journey plumber exam for no one: every applicant, in-state or out, must pass Michigan's written AND practical (hands-on) journey plumber examinations. An out-of-state plumber may receive credit for out-of-state experience — documented on the BCC Out-of-State License Verification form — toward the 6,000-hour eligibility requirement to be approved to sit for the exam, but the examination is mandatory..
What does the Indiana-to-Michigan move cost and how long does it take?
$40–$90 ($40 journey plumber license/application fee plus $50 examination fee (MCL 339.6121, Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407). The same fees apply to out-of-state applicants; the exam is administered by PSI.); processing No board-stated processing time; the application, out-of-state verification, and license fee are mailed to LARA BCC and the exam is scheduled through PSI..
Can I keep my Indiana plumbing license after I'm licensed in Michigan?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Indiana 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 2026-07-21.
- Michigan LARA BCC — Plumbing Examination, Licensing/Registration & Application Information ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MCL 339.6115 — Journey plumber's license requirements (6,000 hours / 3 years) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MCL 339.6121 — License and registration fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Michigan LARA BCC — Out of State License Verification form ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Indiana Code 25-28.5-1-19 — Reciprocity ('shall without examination be granted a license' under substantial-equivalence + mutuality; current as of 2026-01-01) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 860 IAC 1-1-2.1 — Indiana Plumbing Commission fee schedule (Legal Information Institute) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Indiana PLA — Plumbing Licensing Information ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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