Do you have a talent for problem-solving and enjoy working with your hands?
If you answer yes, becoming a plumber in Georgia might be your ideal career choice.
Picture yourself as the expert behind the scenes, ensuring homes and businesses have reliable water systems and efficient plumbing infrastructure.
If you think you are suited for a career in plumbing, this article will help you start your journey by informing you of everything you need to know to become a plumber in Georgia.
Table of Contents
How to Become a Plumber in Georgia – Step by Step
To begin your plumbing career in Georgia you:
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Have a High School degree or the GED equivalent
You need to gain at least 3 years of training or experience in the field before you can become a licensed plumber.
You can gain the knowledge and experience needed through:
- Apprenticeship programs
- Working under the supervision of an already licensed professional
- College courses
- Vocational school
Aspiring plumbers in Georgia tend to combine on-the-job training with classroom education to gain as much experience and expertise in the field as possible.
Georgia offers a total of 3 different plumbing licenses:
- Journeyman Plumber
- Master Plumber Class I
- Master Plumber Class II
Journeyman Plumber
As we briefly mentioned, you need at least 3-years of primary or secondary experience before you can apply for any plumbing license in Georgia.
Primary experience refers to work experience, while secondary experience refers to training or any educational experience.
After you have obtained the 3 years of training and/or experience you can go on, and apply for your Journeyman Plumbing Licensure.
You will need to fill out the application form and provide proof of your training/experience.
The application fee is $30.
All Plumbing licenses are being issued by Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers in partnership with PSI exams who are responsible for the exam portion of the licensing process.
The next step is to take the Trade exam.
The exam fee for Journeyman is $223.
You will have 5 hours to complete the exam, and you will receive your results shortly after the examination.
If you have a score of 70% or higher you have passed the exam and can go on to receive your Journeyman Plumber license.
Master Plumber Class I
A Master Plumber Class I is someone with 5 years of experience in plumbing work.
At least 2 of these 5 years must be primary experience (work).
You will also need a referral from at least 3 licensed plumbers who will attest to your experience and good professional character.
The process for applying is the same as Journeyman, and the application fee is $30.
The exam fee is $267.
The exam consists of 80 questions, and you will have a 7-hour time limit.
If your score is 70% or higher you have passed and will go on to receive your Master Plumber Class I license.
Master Plumber Class II
There is one main difference between Class I and Class II plumbers.
Class II also needs to have at least 5 years of experience, 2 of which must be primary (work).
The difference is Class II must have documented experience in commercial or industrial plumbing.
The application process is the same as the other licenses, and the fee is $30.
The exam fee is $267.
The exam consists of 100 questions and there’s a 7-hour time limit.
If your score is 70% or higher you have passed the exam and can go on to get your Master Plumber Class II license.
Plumbing Schools in Georgia
Georgia offers some of the best schools and apprenticeship programs to make sure they have highly trained and knowledgeable professionals.
Here, we’ll share with you some of the best schooling options you can choose from:
Atlanta Technical College 
Atlanta Technical College offers one starting program and the option to continue your education later.
The first program is the Residential/Commercial Plumbing Technician Certificate.
It’s a 2-semester long program, and it consists of 7 classes total.
With this course completed you will become a 1st year plumbing apprentice, and your starting salary will be around $37k.
The addition to this program is the Plumbing Service and Systems Specialist Certificate.
To receive this certificate you have 1 additional semester and 3 additional classes you need to take.
With this, you will be allowed to work in plumbing maintenance, and your starting salary will be around $46k.
The final continuation to this program you can take is to obtain your Plumbing and Pipeliffting Technology Diploma.
There is one additional semester and 3 additional classes here as well.
Having completed this program you will become a Plumbing Apprentice and your starting annual salary will be around $52k.
To learn more about the programs, how to apply, fees and more visit their website.
Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association of Georgia
PHCC currently offers a 4-year online learning program, which requires 8,000 on-the-job hours. 
The benefit of a program such as this one is that you can enroll and begin at any time.
This program will also allow you to be flexible with the pace, and move through material as well as when and where you are doing the work.
There are 15 different modules you will go through in total.
The tuition cost is $2,095 per student per year.
To learn more about the program and how to apply visit their website.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Technical College | 1560 Metropolitan Pkwy SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, United States |
| Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association of Georgia | 101 Pilgrim Village Drive, Suite 200 Cumming, GA 30040, United States |
Salary
The hard work plumbers put into keeping the intricate plumbing networks that make our homes and businesses run smoothly is greatly appreciated and fairly paid in Georgia.
The annual salary varies between $45833 and $77754 with the average currently being $61731.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $62,485 |
| Marietta | $62,307 |
| Roswell | $62,247 |
| Athens | $62,040 |
| Savannah | $59,779 |
| Augusta | $59,534 |
| Macon | $59,094 |
| Warner Robins | $58,916 |
| Albany | $58,479 |
| Columbus | $57,859 |
Regional Salary in Georgia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | 80 | $46,810 | $22.5 | $62,990 | $27,210 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 140 | $55,900 | $26.88 | $74,340 | $40,150 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 3,930 | $59,410 | $28.56 | $77,610 | $37,260 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 1,130 | $70,810 | $34.04 | $99,940 | $38,220 |
| Brunswick, GA | 90 | $58,210 | $27.99 | $62,670 | $38,380 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 160 | $49,130 | $23.62 | $63,030 | $36,800 |
| Dalton, GA | 70 | $59,390 | $28.55 | $82,770 | $37,930 |
| Gainesville, GA | 140 | $54,860 | $26.38 | $76,290 | $35,700 |
| Macon, GA | 130 | $49,920 | $24 | $65,710 | $36,910 |
| Rome, GA | 50 | $47,210 | $22.7 | $65,770 | $36,000 |
| Savannah, GA | 290 | $58,640 | $28.19 | $80,410 | $39,460 |
| Valdosta, GA | 70 | $46,900 | $22.55 | $62,820 | $33,470 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 160 | $54,490 | $26.2 | $75,870 | $37,790 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does license renewal cost in Georgia?
The renewal fee in Georgia depends on the license you are renewing.
The Journeyman Plumber License renewal fee is $35.
The Master Plumber Class I and Master Plumber Class II renewal fees are both $75.
How long is my plumbing license valid in Georgia?
Plumbing licenses in Georgia must be renewed by November 30th, every even-numbered year.
The next renewals need to be complete by November 30th, 2024.
Where are plumbing exams being taken in Georgia?
The plumbing examinations are a collaboration between the Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers and PSI exams and the location is 237 Coliseum Dr Macon, GA 31217.
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