West Virginia Plumbers Need License To Practice In 2009 

 This new West Virginia code is intended to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, as well as public and private property by assuring the competence of those who perform plumbing work in the state.

 “This new legislative rule will ensure that the people who are performing plumbing work are licensed professionals capable of doing such jobs,” said David Mullins, Department of Labor commissioner.

Exceptions include:

• An individual who personally performs plumbing work on a single-family dwelling owned or leased by that person or member of that person’s immediate family;
• An employee who performs plumbing work for any manufacturing plant or other industrial establishment;
• An employee who performs plumbing work by an employer who engages in the business of selling appliances at retail;
• An employee who performs plumbing work for a public utility;
• A person who performs plumbing work while engaging in the business of installing, altering or repairing water distribution or drainage lines outside the foundation walls of a building, public or private sewage treatment or water treatment systems;
• A person who performs plumbing work while engaged in the installation, extension, dismantling, adjustment, repair, servicing or alteration of a heating ventilation and air conditioning system, air-veyor system, air exhaust system or air handling system;
• A person who performs plumbing work at a coal mine;
• A person who performs plumbing work at manufacturing, natural gas or industrial facilities.

Applicants must take a written exam in order to obtain their license.  Plumbers who have plumbing experience can obtain a license without taking the exam; however, they must prove work history and certify experience by July 2, 2009. After this date, all applicants will be required to certify experience and take the written exam.

 The classification and experience necessary to obtain a license without a written examination are:

• Plumber in training means a person with interest in and an aptitude for performing plumbing work but who alone is not capable of performing plumbing work, and who has fewer than 8,000 hours of plumbing experience.

• Journeyman plumber means a person with at least 8,000 hours of plumbing or related experience and who is competent to instruct and supervise the work of a plumber in training.

• Master plumber means a person with at least 12,000 hours of plumbing work experience and who is competent to design plumbing systems, instruct and supervise the plumbing work of journeyman plumbers and plumbers in training.

 The West Virginia Division of Labor is now accepting and processing applications for new and experienced plumbers. Applications are available at the West Virginia Division of Labor offices and on its Web site at www.wvlabor.org. For questions or additional information, call the West Virginia Division of Labor at 304-558-7890.