- Exam fee is $150 per attempt; you must score at least 80% on both Written and Chart to pass.
- Total testing time is 2 hours 30 minutes, split across two domains: Written and Chart.
- Applications are due at least three weeks before test dates in February, May, August, or November.
- Eligibility needs 2+ years as a journeyman (within the last 5) plus 2+ years working under a licensed master.
Quick Facts Snapshot
This cheat sheet is built for candidates who already understand the basics and want a single page to review the night before - or the morning of - the Kentucky Master Plumber License Exam. Every number below comes directly from the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Division of Plumbing, whose State Plumbing Examining Committee designs and administers the exam. If you still need the full walkthrough, start with the KY-MP Study Guide 2026 before using this page as your final review.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administering body | DHBC Division of Plumbing / State Plumbing Examining Committee |
| Exam fee | $150 per attempt |
| Domains | Written and Chart |
| Total testing time | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Passing score | At least 80% on each portion |
| Exam months | February, May, August, November |
| Application deadline | At least 3 weeks before the exam date |
| Score validity | 3 years from passing |
The Two Domains: Written and Chart
Unlike many licensing exams that split content into four or five knowledge areas, the KY-MP master exam has only two graded portions. Understanding exactly what each one demands is the single most efficient thing you can do before test day. For a deeper breakdown, see the KY-MP Exam Domains 2026 guide.
Domain 1: Written
The Written portion tests plumbing principles alongside Kentucky's specific statutory and regulatory framework. You are not just answering generic code questions - you're answering questions tied to Kentucky law.
- KRS Chapter 318 (the state plumbing statute)
- 815 KAR Chapter 2 (administrative regulations)
- 815 KAR Chapter 20 (licensing-specific regulations, including alternative eligibility routes)
- General plumbing principles applied at a master-level judgment standard
Domain 2: Chart
The Chart portion is a hands-on drawing exercise: you're given a prepared drawing showing stacks, wastes, vents, and connected fixtures, and you must insert correct pipe sizes throughout the system.
- Main-stack sizing carries greater grading weight than branch lines - get the stack right first
- Both oversized and undersized pipe entries lose credit, so "bigger is safer" is a false assumption
- Vent sizing relative to waste and stack sizing is a frequent stumbling point
- Work systematically from the fixture connections back to the main stack to avoid compounding errors
Key Takeaway
Because both oversized and undersized pipe sizes lose credit on the Chart portion, memorizing "safe" oversized defaults will not help you - you need to know the actual required sizes for each fixture-and-load combination.
Because each portion is graded independently and both require an 80% minimum, a strong Written score cannot offset a weak Chart score, and vice versa. If you want a clearer sense of where most candidates struggle, the difficulty guide and pass rate breakdown dig into this in more detail.
Registration, Fees & Deadlines
Kentucky runs this exam on a fixed quarterly calendar rather than continuous testing, which means your registration timing matters as much as your studying.
- Fee: $150 per attempt, paid at application
- Form: PLB-3, the Plumbing Examination Registration Form - it requires a recent passport-sized color photograph
- Deadline: Complete applications must be submitted at least three weeks before the scheduled exam date
- Exam months: February, May, August, and November only
- Application expiration: If you don't successfully complete the exam within one year of your first notice of examination, the application becomes void and you must reapply
Eligibility Routes
Before you can sit for the master exam, DHBC requires proof that you've put in real field time under supervision. The standard pathway requires:
- Age 18 or older
- An active journeyman license held for at least two of the preceding five years
- At least two years actively working under a licensed master plumber
Kentucky also recognizes alternative routes for engineers and out-of-state applicants, defined under 815 KAR 20:030. Notably, the out-of-state pathways still require proof of having passed the Kentucky journeyman examination - a prior credential from another state alone is not sufficient. If you're unsure which route applies to your background, the KY-MP Requirements 2026 guide walks through each scenario in detail.
Passing Score Math
The passing standard is straightforward but strict: you need at least 80% on each portion - Written and Chart - not an 80% average across both. Scoring 95% on Written but 75% on Chart means a failing result overall.
Key Takeaway
Treat Written and Chart as two separate pass/fail tests happening in one sitting. An imbalanced strategy that over-prepares one domain while neglecting the other is the fastest way to an avoidable retake.
Total time allotted for both portions combined is 2 hours 30 minutes, so pacing matters - particularly on the Chart portion, where careless sizing errors compound across a single drawing. For the exact scoring mechanics and how the two portions interact, see the KY-MP Passing Score 2026 page.
One-Week Cram Schedule
If you're using this cheat sheet as a final-week review rather than a first pass through the material, sequence your remaining study time around the domain weightings described above rather than spreading time evenly.
Written: Statutes & Regulations
- Review KRS Chapter 318 provisions likely to appear as scenario questions
- Skim 815 KAR Chapter 2 for administrative and code-application rules
- Review 815 KAR Chapter 20 for licensing eligibility and renewal rules
Chart: Main-Stack Sizing First
- Practice sizing the main stack before moving to branches, since it carries more grading weight
- Drill vent-to-waste sizing relationships on sample drawings
- Time yourself completing a full chart within a realistic portion of the 2.5-hour window
Mixed Review & Weak Spots
- Re-test any Written topics that felt shaky, especially 815 KAR Chapter 2 details
- Redo at least two full Chart drawings from scratch without notes
- Review the 2023 Kentucky State Plumbing Law, Regulations and Code document DHBC links for study
Light Review & Logistics
- Confirm your application was submitted on time and testing location details
- Light pass through this cheat sheet only - avoid new material
- Rest; pacing errors from fatigue hurt Chart accuracy more than knowledge gaps do
This schedule intentionally front-loads the Written domain's statutory content, since it's easier to review in short bursts, while giving Chart practice dedicated multi-day blocks because pipe-sizing skill builds through repetition, not memorization. For a longer-horizon plan, refer back to the full study guide.
After You Pass: License & Renewal
Passing both portions is not the end of the process - it converts into an actual license with its own fee structure and ongoing obligations.
- Base license fee: $250, with proration for initial terms of seven to eighteen months
- Renewal: $250 annually, due at the end of your birth month
- Renewal requirements: proof of insurance and six approved continuing education (CE) hours completed in the preceding 12 months
- CE exemption: your first renewal is exempt from the CE requirement if the license was issued within the preceding 12 months
- Score validity: a passing exam score remains valid for three years, so you have a window to complete licensing paperwork
Once licensed, master plumbers become eligible for supervisory roles, business ownership, and pulling permits independently - details worth exploring in the KY-MP Salary Guide and the broader ROI analysis. If you're still weighing whether to pursue the license at all, the KY-MP jobs overview is a useful companion read, and you can sharpen your Chart and Written skills using timed practice questions on our practice test platform before committing to an exam date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two: Written, covering plumbing principles and Kentucky's KRS Chapter 318 plus 815 KAR Chapters 2 and 20, and Chart, which requires sizing pipes on a prepared drawing of stacks, wastes, vents, and fixtures.
You need at least 80% on the Written portion and at least 80% on the Chart portion separately - an average across both is not sufficient.
The exam fee is $150 per attempt. It's offered four times a year, in February, May, August, and November, and applications must be submitted at least three weeks in advance.
Your application becomes void if you don't successfully complete the exam within one year of your first notice of examination. A passing score, once achieved, stays valid for three years.
Under the standard eligibility path, yes - you need an active journeyman license held for at least two of the preceding five years, plus at least two years working under a licensed master plumber. Engineer and out-of-state alternatives exist under 815 KAR 20:030.