Arkansas Plumber License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Arkansas master and journeyman plumber licenses, and apprentice registrations, from the Department of Health expire every year on December 31, so the next one expires December 31, 2026. The law asks you to renew within 30 days after the expiration date; the Department warns that a license expired more than 30 days won't be renewed without sufficient justification, and must be reinstated. The annual fee is $200 for a master and $75 for a journeyman. Reinstating an expired license costs $325 for a master or $150 for a journeyman, plus any back fees and penalties, and the Department decides whether you need to retake the exam.

At a glance

Renews every: 1 year: master and journeyman plumber licenses and apprentice registrations expire on December 31 each year. Next: December 31, 2026
Renewal window: The law asks for renewal within 30 days after the expiration date. The Department may renew after that only for sufficient reason and after the penalties the rules set; its page warns that licenses expired more than 30 days are inactive and must be reinstated
Fee: $200 a year for a master plumber, $75 a year for a journeyman and $25 a year for an apprentice registration. Any unpaid fees or penalties on a license must be paid before the annual renewal, unless you're keeping to a payment agreement with the Department
Continuing education: The Department's licensing rules set no continuing education hours for master or journeyman plumbers (they set refresher training for plumbing inspectors and recertification for backflow testers). Check with the Department if you're unsure
Renew: Through the Department's licensure portal (licensure.adh.arkansas.gov): choose License Application, pick your license type and license, tick the box that you're renewing and enter your current license number. Every submittal needs the matching application from the forms list printed, completed and uploaded
Reinstating an expired license: Send the reinstatement application with an amended experience record covering your work since the license lapsed. The Department decides whether to reinstate without an exam. The reinstatement fee is $325 for a master, $150 for a journeyman and $25 for an apprentice, plus any back fees and penalties: the annual license fee plus $5 a month for each year and month lapsed
More than 5 years delinquent: After more than five consecutive years delinquent, the Committee of Plumbing Examiners decides whether to reinstate with or without an exam
Deferment: A master or journeyman holding a current license can apply to defer it, at $20 a year, and the Department may grant it. The Department may reinstate a deferred license without an exam once you pay the current license fee and a $20 reinstatement fee; after five consecutive years deferred, you send an amended experience record and the Committee decides whether to reinstate without an exam
Master to journeyman: A master can transfer to a journeyman license for a $20 fee, and a journeyman who held a master license here can go back to master without an exam for $20 plus the master license fee. After more than five years since the transfer, you send an amended experience record and the Committee decides whether to require an exam
Suspension: The Department may suspend a license for not paying the fees
Contact: Plumbing and Natural Gas Section, Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 West Markham Street, Slot #24, Little Rock, AR 72205-3867. Phone (501) 661-2642. Tell the Department promptly when your business address changes

The law doesn't let anyone install plumbing in a city, town, or water, sewer or gas utility district unless a licensed master (or restricted) plumber responsible for the installation is in charge at all times, and a licensed plumber may not let others use their license to get local permits.

How to renew

Check your expiration date: December 31 every year (the next is December 31, 2026). Pay off any unpaid fees or penalties first: they must be paid before the annual renewal, unless you're keeping to a payment agreement with the Department.
Renew through the Department's licensure portal before December 31: choose License Application, pick your license, tick that you're renewing, enter your license number and upload the application the portal asks for. Pay $200 for a master or $75 for a journeyman.
Not working as a plumber for a while? Ask to defer the license instead ($20 a year): the Department may then reinstate it without an exam.
Missed it by more than 30 days? The Department may still renew it only for sufficient reason and with penalties; otherwise it treats the license as inactive, and you send the reinstatement application with an amended experience record, the reinstatement fee ($325 master, $150 journeyman) and any back fees and penalties.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

60 days outCheck you owe the Department no unpaid fees or penalties, and that it has your current business address.
30 days outLog in to the licensure portal and renew ($200 master, $75 journeyman). Make sure your apprentices' registrations ($25) are renewed too.
December 31Your license expires today. Renew within 30 days at the latest: after that the Department may renew it only for sufficient reason and with penalties, and otherwise treats it as inactive.
30 days afterNot renewed, and no sufficient reason to give? Send the reinstatement application with an amended experience record, the reinstatement fee and any back fees and penalties.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your backflow preventer assembly tester license, if you hold one: it expires with your latest certification, no later than 36 months after your latest certification or re-certification training, and needs a re-certification course before it expires
Your apprentices' registrations, which expire on December 31 too
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

When do Arkansas plumbing licenses expire?

Master and journeyman plumber licenses and apprentice registrations expire on December 31 each year. The law asks for renewal within 30 days after the expiration date.

How much does it cost to renew an Arkansas plumbing license?

$200 a year for a master plumber, $75 a year for a journeyman and $25 a year for an apprentice registration.

Do Arkansas plumbers need continuing education to renew?

The Department's licensing rules set no continuing education hours for master or journeyman plumbers (they set refresher training for plumbing inspectors and recertification for backflow testers). Check with the Department if you're unsure.

How do I reinstate an expired Arkansas plumbing license?

Send the reinstatement application with an amended experience record covering your work since the license lapsed. The reinstatement fee is $325 for a master or $150 for a journeyman, plus any back fees and penalties: the annual license fee plus $5 a month for each year and month lapsed. The Department decides whether to reinstate without an exam.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Arkansas guides

All Arkansas guides on one page

Plumber guides for other states

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for plumbers

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Arkansas Plumber License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Renews every: 1 year: master and journeyman plumber licenses and apprentice registrations expire on December 31 each year. Next: December 31, 2026
Renewal window: The law asks for renewal within 30 days after the expiration date. The Department may renew after that only for sufficient reason and after the penalties the rules set; its page warns that licenses expired more than 30 days are inactive and must be reinstated
Fee: $200 a year for a master plumber, $75 a year for a journeyman and $25 a year for an apprentice registration. Any unpaid fees or penalties on a license must be paid before the annual renewal, unless you're keeping to a payment agreement with the Department
Continuing education: The Department's licensing rules set no continuing education hours for master or journeyman plumbers (they set refresher training for plumbing inspectors and recertification for backflow testers). Check with the Department if you're unsure
Renew: Through the Department's licensure portal (licensure.adh.arkansas.gov): choose License Application, pick your license type and license, tick the box that you're renewing and enter your current license number. Every submittal needs the matching application from the forms list printed, completed and uploaded
Reinstating an expired license: Send the reinstatement application with an amended experience record covering your work since the license lapsed. The Department decides whether to reinstate without an exam. The reinstatement fee is $325 for a master, $150 for a journeyman and $25 for an apprentice, plus any back fees and penalties: the annual license fee plus $5 a month for each year and month lapsed
More than 5 years delinquent: After more than five consecutive years delinquent, the Committee of Plumbing Examiners decides whether to reinstate with or without an exam
Deferment: A master or journeyman holding a current license can apply to defer it, at $20 a year, and the Department may grant it. The Department may reinstate a deferred license without an exam once you pay the current license fee and a $20 reinstatement fee; after five consecutive years deferred, you send an amended experience record and the Committee decides whether to reinstate without an exam
Master to journeyman: A master can transfer to a journeyman license for a $20 fee, and a journeyman who held a master license here can go back to master without an exam for $20 plus the master license fee. After more than five years since the transfer, you send an amended experience record and the Committee decides whether to require an exam
Suspension: The Department may suspend a license for not paying the fees
Contact: Plumbing and Natural Gas Section, Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 West Markham Street, Slot #24, Little Rock, AR 72205-3867. Phone (501) 661-2642. Tell the Department promptly when your business address changes

How to renew

Check your expiration date: December 31 every year (the next is December 31, 2026). Pay off any unpaid fees or penalties first: they must be paid before the annual renewal, unless you're keeping to a payment agreement with the Department.
Renew through the Department's licensure portal before December 31: choose License Application, pick your license, tick that you're renewing, enter your license number and upload the application the portal asks for. Pay $200 for a master or $75 for a journeyman.
Not working as a plumber for a while? Ask to defer the license instead ($20 a year): the Department may then reinstate it without an exam.
Missed it by more than 30 days? The Department may still renew it only for sufficient reason and with penalties; otherwise it treats the license as inactive, and you send the reinstatement application with an amended experience record, the reinstatement fee ($325 master, $150 journeyman) and any back fees and penalties.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

60 days outCheck you owe the Department no unpaid fees or penalties, and that it has your current business address.
30 days outLog in to the licensure portal and renew ($200 master, $75 journeyman). Make sure your apprentices' registrations ($25) are renewed too.
December 31Your license expires today. Renew within 30 days at the latest: after that the Department may renew it only for sufficient reason and with penalties, and otherwise treats it as inactive.
30 days afterNot renewed, and no sufficient reason to give? Send the reinstatement application with an amended experience record, the reinstatement fee and any back fees and penalties.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your backflow preventer assembly tester license, if you hold one: it expires with your latest certification, no later than 36 months after your latest certification or re-certification training, and needs a re-certification course before it expires
Your apprentices' registrations, which expire on December 31 too
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

When do Arkansas plumbing licenses expire?

Master and journeyman plumber licenses and apprentice registrations expire on December 31 each year. The law asks for renewal within 30 days after the expiration date.

How much does it cost to renew an Arkansas plumbing license?

$200 a year for a master plumber, $75 a year for a journeyman and $25 a year for an apprentice registration.

Do Arkansas plumbers need continuing education to renew?

How do I reinstate an expired Arkansas plumbing license?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Arkansas guides

All Arkansas guides on one page

Plumber guides for other states

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for plumbers

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet