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Hiring a licensed plumber in Texas: what the license actually tells you

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In Texas, plumbing work for hire is regulated by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). A homeowner may do some work on the home they live in, but anyone you pay to do plumbing needs a TSBPE license or registration for the work they perform.

The license types you will see

  • Master Plumber. The highest TSBPE license. A master can plan and supervise plumbing work and can serve as a company's Responsible Master Plumber.
  • Journeyman Plumber. Can do most plumbing work, working for a plumbing company.
  • Tradesman Plumber-Limited. Can do work on one- and two-family homes within the limits of that TSBPE license.
  • Plumber's Apprentice. Registered with the TSBPE and must work under the supervision of a licensed plumber. An apprentice should not be the only person sent to your job.

What a Responsible Master Plumber is

A plumbing company in Texas operates under a Responsible Master Plumber, or RMP. The RMP is a TSBPE-licensed master who takes responsibility for the company's plumbing work, and the board requires the RMP to keep liability insurance on file. When you hire a company, ask who its RMP is and for the RMP's license number.

How to check a plumber yourself

  1. Ask for the plumber's full name and TSBPE license number, and the company's RMP number.
  2. Look both up on the TSBPE website. Check that the licenses are active and that the names match the people and company you are dealing with.
  3. Ask whether the job needs a city permit. Water heater replacements and gas work often do, and the plumber normally pulls it.
  4. Get the scope and price in writing before work starts.

What a license does and doesn't tell you

An active TSBPE license shows the plumber passed the state's exams and meets its requirements on the date you checked. It doesn't tell you about price, workmanship or punctuality, so it is still worth asking questions and comparing.

How Tack On uses TSBPE records

Before a plumbing company can accept requests on Tack On, we match its Responsible Master Plumber and each plumber to TSBPE records, and we re-check them regularly. The license numbers and the date of our last check are shown to you when a pro accepts your job.

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