Plumber License from Texas to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Florida accept a Texas plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from Texas to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your Texas license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Texas is not among the states Florida names for an exam waiver, so this move runs on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)'s individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. Bring your Texas 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's different between Texas and Florida
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Florida. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Texas to Florida (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
Florida to Texas (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Texas matter?
Texas gets Florida's most common result: 41 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.
The others get: no state license to transfer (9).
- Reciprocity agreements
Florida's row names no reciprocity agreement states.
Texas's reciprocity agreement list names 2 states (Louisiana and Arkansas), not including Florida.
- Application fee
Florida lists $350 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; Florida has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Exam rules on record
Florida and Texas carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Florida (this move): Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam
- 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 → Florida
| Texas (current) | Florida (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) | $350 ($350 certification-by-endorsement application fee (CILB 10). The standard exam-route Certified Plumbing Contractor application is $245 (May 1 even year–Aug 31 odd year) or $145 (Sep 1 odd year–Apr 30 even year). A separate electronic-fingerprint fee applies) |
| 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 |
| Licensing authority | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- No state journeyman plumber license: the state (DBPR / Construction Industry Licensing Board) licenses plumbing contractors, while journeyman plumbers are licensed locally by counties and municipalities.
- Certify by endorsement (form CILB 10) via a substantially-equivalent exam, a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license, or at least 10 years of active licensure.
- Submit electronic fingerprints for a state (FDLE) and federal (FBI) background check.
- Provide a credit report with a FICO score of 660+ (or complete a 14-hour financial-responsibility course) and carry required liability and workers'-compensation insurance.
- 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 Florida?
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.
- Florida DBPR CILB 10 — Application for Certification by Endorsement (s.489.115(3); $350 fee; licensure without state exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida DBPR CILB 5-M — Application for Certified Plumbing Contractor as an Individual (contractor-level license; $145/$245 fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida Statutes 489.115 — certification and registration; endorsement ↗ (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