The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners is set to be abolished and the Plumbing License Law will expire on the 1st of September 2019. This implies that on and after September 1, 2019, the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners will stop issuing plumbing licenses, and the license requirement will cease to take effect.
Up until August 31, 2019, the Board of Plumbing Examiners will remain active to register applicants for a plumbing apprenticeship. After September 1, 2019, people wanting to perform plumbing activities or tasks will not need to have a license or be registered with the Board.
It means that once the Plumbing License Law expires, people who want to work as a plumber won’t need a license. However, the law’s current requirements will apply until August 31, 2019, and the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners will enforce the requirements until that date.
Under the Plumbing License Law, people looking to enter the trade skill field as a plumber need to acquire a Journeyman Plumbing License to start as a journeyman plumber. The requirements to become a journeyman plumber are that the applicant should have a high school diploma or equivalent, 8000 hours of experience, and a Plumber’s Apprentice Registration.
With this license, they can perform unlimited plumbing work like store drainage, water supply, and sanitary drainage under the supervision of a Master Plumber.
They can then choose to pursue a Master Plumbing License, which allows them to perform unlimited work without the need for supervision.
Now, however, the board is no longer accepting applications to take Journeyman Plumber or Master Plumber exams.
If you’re scheduled for an exam after or on the date of September 1, 2018, you’ll be put on a stand-by list. Based on this list, you’ll be offered an examination seat prior to the law’s expiration date, as they become available. That is if you still wish to take the exam.
If you’re scheduled for an exam on or after September 1, 2019, you can cancel your exam and ask for a refund.
In Texas, the State Board of Plumbing Examiners enforces the Plumbing License Law to promote safe and effective services throughout the state. By authorizing Journeyman or Master Plumbing licenses, the board sets a standard for service providers who want to advertise their reliability. It also prevents inexperienced people from working as a plumber, which can put people’s health and safety at risk.
The examiners evaluate the knowledge a candidate provides in a test to assess whether he/she is fit to become a journeyman plumber. They grant a license when the candidate shows proficiency in plumbing terminology, procedures, and facts.
The Board will have a ‘wind down’ period to wrap up duties, during which they reserve the authority to prosecute violations of the Plumbing License Law that occur prior to September 1, 2019.
For now, Texas Governor Greg Abbott used his powers as Governor to grant an Executive Order which suspended the abolition of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Plumbing Licenses are good through May 31, 2021 and gives the Legislature time to address the issue in the next session.
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