Revised Bond Requirement for Minnesota Plumbing Contractors

Why is a Minnesota plumbing bond required?

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Construction Codes and Licensing Division requires all plumbing contractors to post a $25,000 contractor bond before beginning any plumbing work. This bond ensures that the principals (plumbing contractors) abide by all applicable laws and regulations for their industry, including the Minnesota Plumbing Code. These bonds offer the obligee (Minnesota Construction Codes and Licensing Division) and consumers protection in the event that the principal practices negligence or causes physical or financial harm.

How much does a $25,000 plumbing bond cost?

SuretyBonds.com can issue a $25,000 Minnesota contractor license bond instantly online for a $125 premium on a one-year term. However, applicants can save time and money by purchasing their bond for multiple-year terms with a 25% discount. This would mean that two years of bond coverage would cost $218.75 in place of two annual $125 payments.

Once you have purchased your Minnesota plumbing bond, the original bond documents will be sent to your address on file via trackable shipping. These original documents must be filed with the obligee to fulfill the surety bond licensing requirement.

You can find more information on additional contractor bonds required in Minnesota on our MN contractor bond page.

How to get a Minnesota plumbing license

Applicants must first meet the following qualifications to perform plumbing work:

Be at least 18 years old
Be licensed with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber, or enrolled in a DLI-registered apprenticeship program
Be a W-2 employee of a licensed plumbing contractor or registered plumbing employer
Be a licensed owner or officer of a licensed plumbing contractor or restricted plumbing contractor

Applicants can determine whether a license is required of them through the plumbing license types and credentials page.

Plumbing license examination

Applicants for a Minnesota plumbing license must first apply for the Plumber license exam and have certified practical work experience. This includes:

One year of practical plumbing experience consists of at least 1,750 hours, though no more than 1,750 hours can be credited for one calendar year
Not more than two years of practical plumbing experience from a state other than Minnesota will be credited, unless the applicant first obtains a plumber’s license in the other state
Applicants must verify their own plumbing experience
Plumbing experience must be certified by the licensed master plumber responsible for the work performed

Applicants can find more information on plumber examinations by visiting the plumbing license experience page and the Directory of exam schedules and testing sites.

Once an applicant passes the exam, he or she can apply for a plumbing license. Don’t forget to obtain your required $25,000 plumbing surety bond!

To become licensed as a journeyworker plumber, an applicant must complete the following process:

Submit an application to take the license exam
Pay the $50 exam fee

To take the journeyworker plumber exam, applicants must do the folllowing:

Complete a registered plumbing apprenticeship program; or
Hold a restricted journeyworker plumber license or restricted master plumber license and at least two years of practical plumbing experience gained while holding the restricted plumber license; or
Provide DLI with evidence of sufficient plumbing work experience as a registered unlicensed plumber; or
Have a current plumber’s license from another state where the licensing jurisdiction requires at least four years of practical plumbing experience and an examination to qualify for licensure.

Credit for work experience will be granted if the applicant:

Was registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber while working in Minnesota
Was employed by a company that was licensed by DLI as a plumbing contractor or registered with DLI as a registered plumbing employer

Once approved, you will receive instructions on how to schedule your exam. If you do not pass the exam, you must wait 30 days before reapplying. Find information on these exams by visiting the plumbing license experience page and the Directory of exam schedules and testing sites.

Once an applicant passes the exam, they will receive instructions on how to pay for their license.

If you need to renew your journeyworker plumber license, complete the following process:

Complete 16 hours of DLI-approved continuing education (at least eight hours must relate to the State Plumbing Code)
Submit the $48 renewal fee
- A late fee of $17.50 is added for late renewals
Renew online or submit a paper application

Licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years.

To qualify to take the master plumber exam, the applicant must have:

At least one year of practical plumbing experience as a licensed journeyworker plumber; or
A current master plumber license from another state where the requirements of the licensing jurisdiction are equivalent to those of Minnesota as determined by DLI; or
A current Minnesota restricted master plumber license and five years of verifiable experience in business as a plumbing contractor in Minnesota

To renew your master plumber license, use this renewal form.

You can perform work without a plumbing license if:

You are registered with DLI as a registered unlicensed plumber or enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program
Your work falls under the scope of the work your employer is authorized to perform
Your work is always directly supervised by a licensed journeyworker or master plumber

If you do not need a plumbing license, you must still register as an unlicensed plumber:

Apply online or submit the application forms
- Complete the Plumbing work experience form
Submit the $14 application fee

You will be registered when you receive the assigned registration number beginning with the letters “PA.” All registrations expire on June 30 each year and must be renewed.

Those seeking their plumbing contractor’s license in Minnesota can find the appropriate forms here and can direct questions to the DLI. Contact the experts at SuretyBonds.com with any questions about the plumbing contractor bond requirement.