Plumber License from Texas to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Arkansas accept a Texas plumbing license?
Yes — Arkansas has a reciprocity arrangement covering Texas license holders. Apply to the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) under its reciprocity/endorsement track; it typically waives the journeyman exam and complete Arkansas's remaining requirements.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
Texas is on Arkansas's reciprocity list, which puts this move on the streamlined track — on two conditions. Your Texas license must have been earned by examination, not grandfathered in, and be active and in good standing; where it is, Arkansas waives its journeyman exam and the requirements below are what it still insists on. 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. One caution: these agreements are directional and revocable. This page's verification date is when we last confirmed Texas on Arkansas's list; the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) link is the live truth.
What's different between Texas 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
Texas to Arkansas (this page): Reciprocity agreement.
Arkansas to Texas (the reverse move): Reciprocity agreement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Texas matter?
Coming from Texas matters here: only 4 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 no state license to transfer (9).
- Reciprocity agreements
Arkansas's reciprocity agreement list names 4 states (Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma), including Texas.
Texas's reciprocity agreement list names 2 states (Louisiana and Arkansas), including Arkansas.
- Application fee
Arkansas lists $75–$150 for an out-of-state applicant and Texas lists $40 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Texas lists 4–6 weeks for the reverse move; Arkansas has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Exam rules on record
Arkansas and Texas 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.
- Texas (the reverse move): Texas waives its journeyman plumber examination only for plumbers currently licensed in Louisiana or Arkansas, who may qualify for a reciprocal Texas license; every other out-of-state journeyman or master plumber (currently licensed and having held that license at least two years) must apply for an Out-of-State Examination and pass the Texas computer-based (Pearson VUE) written exam plus the practical journeyman exam
What changes, Texas → Arkansas
| Texas (current) | Arkansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $40 ($40 non-refundable out-of-state journeyman examination processing fee to TSBPE ($25 for master); a separate computer-based test fee is payable to Pearson VUE on approval, plus IdentoGO fingerprint costs and the license issuance fee once passed; Louisiana/Arkansas applicants use the Reciprocal License Verification pathway) | $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 | 4–6 weeks (TSBPE states typical processing of 30-45 days for straightforward applications; longer with criminal history or unclear immigration status) | No board-stated processing time; a temporary revocable permit / provisional license is issued immediately upon eligibility approval and is valid 90 days |
| Licensing authority | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | 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
- Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing and Natural Gas Section (State Committee of Plumbing Examiners) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Have a minimum of 4 years plumbing experience (or equivalent) to qualify for the journeyman examination.
- Hold an out-of-state plumber license in good standing whose laws/codes are substantially similar to Arkansas (national model code + national examination), not suspended, revoked, or on probation.
- Pass the Arkansas journeyman plumber examination unless licensed under a reciprocal agreement (Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, or Oklahoma).
- For automatic licensure (Act 457), establish Arkansas residency and pass an Arkansas state-law exam (waivable) plus a criminal background check.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my Texas plumbing license after I'm licensed in Arkansas?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Texas 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.
- 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)
- TSBPE — Out-of-State Examination Application (LA/AR reciprocity banner; 2-year license; $40 journeyman fee; fingerprints; written + practical exam), Rev. March 2026 ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TSBPE — License Types (Tradesman, Journeyman, Master Plumber) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TSBPE — Printable Forms (Reciprocal License Verification, Louisiana and Arkansas only) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com