Requirements

Georgia law requires anyone who does plumbing either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor to have a current Georgia State License as a Master Plumber or Journeyman Plumber.

"Plumbing" means the practice of installation, maintaining, altering, or repairing piping fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities, venting systems, medical gas piping, or public or private water supply systems within or adjacent to any building, structure, or conveyance; provided, however, that after July l, l997, only master plumbers and journeyman who have been certified by the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers to perform such tasks shall be authorized to install, maintain, alter, or repair medical gas piping systems.

The term "plumbing" also includes the practice of any materials used in installing, maintaining, extending, or altering the storm water or sewerage and water supply systems of any premises to their connection with any point of public disposal or other acceptable terminal. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any person who holds a valid master plumbing license or any company which holds a valid utility contractor license shall be qualified to construct, alter, or repair any plumbing system which extends from the property line up to but not within five feet of any building, structure, or conveyance, regardless of the cost or depth of any such plumbing system.

It is important to note that persons who perform plumbing work under a contract, either directly with a property owner or through another contractor, must have a Master Plumber license and that all employees of a plumbing contractor who do plumbing must hold a current state master plumber license or journeyman plumber license.  Unlike employees who work under the supervision of licensed Conditioned Air Contractors, Electrical Contractors and Low Voltage Contractors, all employees of a plumbing contractor must be a licensed plumber in order to perform plumbing work.

Anyone who performs plumbing work as an employee or as a subcontractor of a plumbing contractor without holding a current state plumber license is in violation of state law.  The licensed Master Plumber who allows unlicensed work by an employee or subcontractor is also in violation of State law and the Rules of the State Construction Industry Licensing Board.

To qualify for a state journeyman plumber license, applicants generally must document at least three (3) years of experience as an apprentice, trainee, helper, or other related occupation in the plumbing industry and pass the state examination.  To qualify for state master plumber license, applicants generally must document an additional two years of experience as a licensed plumber and pass the state examination.  Unlicensed work is not creditable towards the experience requirements for master plumber license.

For complete information on the state licensure requirements, you may download the various State forms by CLICKING HERE. State law O.G.C.A. 43-14 includes definitions, requirements, and exemptions for licensure.  The board rules include specific requirements for obtaining and maintaining a license.  Please review this information to determine if specific activities require a state license and the requirements for a state license.

STATE REQUIREMENTS OF MEDICAL GAS CERTIFICATION

Persons who install, maintain, alter, or repair medical gas piping systems are required to hold a state journeyman or master plumber license and hold a state medical gas certification.  "Medical Gas Piping" is printed on the state card of plumbers who are certified for medical gas.

Medical gas piping is defined as any piping system purveying oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical compress air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or other nonflammable gas and/or a vacuum piping within a medical, dental, or other facility, including a laboratory within a health care facility.

To qualify for medical gas certification, currently licensed plumbers must submit an application to the state board documenting completion of a board approved 32-hour medical gas piping program.  Approved courses include a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction on the NFPA Standard on Gas and Vacuum Systems and include a written examination and brazing test.