Plumber License from Pennsylvania to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Arkansas accept a Pennsylvania plumbing license?
There is no Pennsylvania state license to carry to Arkansas: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. Arkansas does license this work, so ask the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license — plumbing there is regulated at the contractor level or by cities and counties — so there is no Pennsylvania state license for Arkansas to verify or endorse. Arkansas does license plumbers, through the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners), and it reviews out-of-state plumbers for endorsement, but that route starts from a state license. Ask the board, in writing, whether it credits a local Pennsylvania license, a contractor-level credential or your documented hours; otherwise plan to qualify as a new journeyman applicant. Arkansas waives its journeyman plumber examination for applicants licensed under one of its formal reciprocal agreements — the Department of Health publishes agreements with Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma — who hold a substantially similar license in good standing (Rules Sec. II(j)(iii): examinations shall not be required, and no apprenticeship/education/training may be imposed). An out-of-state journeyman from a state WITHOUT an agreement whose plumbing laws/codes are substantially similar may sit for the Arkansas journeyman exam without redoing an apprenticeship but must pass it. New residents may instead use Act 457 of 2023 automatic occupational licensure (residency + one year in good standing on a substantially-similar license, or 3 years' experience in a non-licensing state), subject to an Arkansas state-law exam the Department may waive.
What's different between Pennsylvania and Arkansas
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Arkansas. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Pennsylvania to Arkansas (this page): No state license to transfer.
Arkansas to Pennsylvania (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from Pennsylvania matter?
Coming from Pennsylvania matters here: only 9 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Arkansas.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (37) and reciprocity agreement (4).
- Reciprocity agreements
Arkansas's reciprocity agreement list names 4 states (Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma), not including Pennsylvania.
- Fee and processing
Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is no Pennsylvania state license application fee or processing time to compare with Arkansas's.
- Exam rules on record
Arkansas and Pennsylvania carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Arkansas (this move): Arkansas waives its journeyman plumber examination for applicants licensed under one of its formal reciprocal agreements — the Department of Health publishes agreements with Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma — who hold a substantially similar license in good standing (Rules Sec. II(j)(iii): examinations shall not be required, and no apprenticeship/education/training may be imposed). An out-of-state journeyman from a state WITHOUT an agreement whose plumbing laws/codes are substantially similar may sit for the Arkansas journeyman exam without redoing an apprenticeship but must pass it. New residents may instead use Act 457 of 2023 automatic occupational licensure (residency + one year in good standing on a substantially-similar license, or 3 years' experience in a non-licensing state), subject to an Arkansas state-law exam the Department may waive.
- Pennsylvania (the reverse move): Not applicable — Pennsylvania has no state-level plumber license, so there is no statewide exam to waive or transfer; each municipality sets its own plumber licensing and exam rules (for example, Philadelphia requires passing the ICC-based Journeyman Plumber Examination on the Philadelphia Code)
What changes, Pennsylvania → Arkansas
| Pennsylvania (current) | Arkansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide fee. Fees are set locally; for example, Philadelphia's journeyman plumber license is $126 initial (including a $25 non-refundable application fee) and $126 annual renewal | $75–$150 ($75 journeyman application fee + $75 annual journeyman license fee (Ark. State Board of Health plumbing rules, Sec. III). The first scheduled exam is covered by the application fee; retake/no-show exam $50 each. Master tier is $125 application + $200/yr license. Reinstatement: $150 journeyman / $325 master.) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; processing time is set by each municipality | No board-stated processing time; a temporary revocable permit / provisional license is issued immediately upon eligibility approval and is valid 90 days |
| Licensing authority | No statewide board — plumber licensing is handled by Pennsylvania municipalities (e.g., Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections; Allegheny County Health Department for the Pittsburgh area) | Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arkansas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Arkansas's requirements on the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) whether it credits a local Pennsylvania license or your documented experience: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet Arkansas's education/experience requirements and pass the exams it requires.
- Submit the application with fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my Pennsylvania credential after I'm licensed in Arkansas?
Nothing changes it. Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so any local or contractor-level Pennsylvania credential you hold runs on its own authority's renewal rules, independently of your Arkansas license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing & Natural Gas (published reciprocity agreements: Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma; applications; license lookup) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Arkansas State Board of Health — Rules Pertaining to Master, Journeyman, and Restricted Plumber Licenses, eff. 9/5/2024 (reciprocity Sec. II(j); qualifications Sec. II(a); Act 457 Sec. II(k); fees Sec. III) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- City of Philadelphia — Get a Journeyman Plumber License (representative municipal program; requirements and fees; no state license) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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