Plumber License from Washington to Idaho: Does It Transfer? (2026)

What's different between Washington and Idaho

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Idaho. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

Washington to Idaho (this page): Reciprocity agreement.

Idaho to Washington (the reverse move): Reciprocity agreement.

The route is the same in both directions.

Does coming from Washington matter?

Coming from Washington matters here: only 3 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Idaho.

The others get: licensure by endorsement (38) and no state license to transfer (9).

Reciprocity agreements

Idaho's reciprocity agreement list names 3 states (Montana, Oregon, and Washington), including Washington.

Washington's reciprocity agreement list names 1 state (Idaho), including Idaho.

Application fee

Idaho lists $51.90 for an out-of-state applicant and Washington lists $242.70 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Exam rules on record

Idaho and Washington carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

• Idaho (this 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
• Washington (the reverse 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

What changes, Washington → Idaho

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Idaho sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

1. Confirm Idaho's current requirements on the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) — State Plumbing Board website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the reciprocity application to the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) — State Plumbing Board (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
4. Reciprocity: hold an active out-of-state journeyman license obtained by examination in Montana, Oregon, or Washington, shown on a DOPL License Verification Form.
5. Reciprocity from Montana or Oregon: document completion of an apprenticeship program and 8,000 hours of work experience.
6. Reciprocity from Washington: document 8,000 or 16,000 hours of work experience.
7. Applicants reciprocating from Montana or Washington must be a resident of the state where they are licensed at the time of application.
8. Standard (non-reciprocity) applicants must document 8,000 hours of supervised experience and pass the IAPMO examination; specialty/appliance/pipe-fitting hours do not count toward journeyman experience.
9. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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