The WSSC administers four examinations: Journeyman Plumbing; Journeyman Gasfitting; Master Plumbing; and Master Gasfitting. The exam administration agency, Psychological Services Inc. (PSI), has five examination sites in the area:

Baltimore Center, The Rotunda
711 W 40th Street, Suite 352
Baltimore, MD 21211

College Park Center, The Sterling Building
4920 Niagara Road
College Park, MD 20740

Hagerstown Center, Westshire Professional Center
920 West Washington Street, #204
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Salisbury Center, Beaglin Park Plaza
1325 Mt. Hermon Road, Unit 10A
Salisbury, MD 21804

Lanham Center
5900 Princess Garden Parkway, Suite 240
Lanham, MD 20706

For further examination information or to obtain an examination application, you may call PSI directly at 800/733-9267. Examinations may be taken every thirty days until a passing score is obtained. The fee for exam sitting is $60.00 for journeyman and $90 for master.

To qualify to sit for WSSC's examination(s) the following requirements must be met, and documentation must be submitted to PSI along with your examination application.

Apprentice applicants must be at least 16 years of age at date of license application, and must currently be employed by a WSSC Master licensee of record. Please attach supporting documentation to this application. The attachments will be destroyed by WSSC after application approval unless instructed otherwise by the applicant. At the time of renewal, an Apprentice shall provide evidence that the applicant is currently employed by a WSSC licensee of record. Registration fee is $10.00

An Apprentice Plumber license authorizes the licensee to assist in providing plumbing services and sewer and drain cleaning services, under the direction and control of a WSSC-licensed Master Plumber or Master Plumber/Gasfitter; or under a WSSC-licensed Journeyman Plumber or Journeyman Plumber/Gasfitter who is under the direction and control of a WSSC-licensed Master Plumber or Master Plumber/Gasfitter.

An Apprentice Gasfitter license authorizes the licensee to assist in providing gas fitting services under the direction and control of a WSSC- licensed Master Gasfitter or Master Plumber/Gasfitter; or under a WSSC- licensed Journeyman Gasfitter or Journeyman Plumber/Gasfitter who is under the direction and control of a WSSC-licensed Master Gasfitter or Master Plumber/Gasfitter.

An Apprentice Plumber/Gasfitter license authorizes the licensee to assist in providing plumbing and sewer and drain cleaning services, and gas fitting services, under the direction and control of a WSSC-licensed Master Plumber/Gasfitter; or under a WSSC-licensed Journeyman Plumber/Gasfitter who is under the direction and control of a WSSC- licensed Master Plumber/Gasfitter.

Required Documentation for a WSSC Apprentice License

1. Copy of driver’s license or birth certificate (for age verification)
2. Letter from employer verifying employment.
3. Copy of recent pay stub.
4. Check or money order made payable to WSSC in the amount of $10.00
5. Completed WSSC Apprentice application

All of the above should be mailed or dropped off to:

WSSC
Attn: Beverly Houser
14501 Sweitzer Lane
Laurel, MD 20707
Any questions should be directed to Beverly Houser at 301-206-8588 or bhouser@wsscwater.com.

To sit for a WSSC Journeyman examination, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

Journeyman Plumber: Four years of experience working under the direction of a licensed Master Plumber or Master Plumber/Gasfitter. Current Cross-Connection Backflow Certification.

Journeyman Gasfitter: Two years of experience working under the direction of a licensed Master Gasfitter or Master Plumber/Gasfitter.

The Applicant must submit:

Copy of your Apprentice card.

Copies of W-2’s for the number of years work experienced required.

Three letters of reference, one of which must be from Master Plumber or Master Gasfitter that the applicant has worked under.

Additional requirement for Journeyman Plumber applicants only:

Copy of current certification certificate of successful completion of a WSSC Approved Cross Connection/Backflow Prevention Course.

Fee

Completed Examination Application form

To sit for a WSSC Master examination, the applicant must have two years of work experience as a WSSC licensed Journeyman working under the direction of a licensed Master Plumber or Master Gasfitter as appropriate.

Three letters of reference from Master Plumbers or Master Gasfitters as appropriate, or other individuals familiar with your work.

Additional requirement for Master Plumber applicants only:

Copy of current certification certificate of successful completion of a WSSC-approved Cross-Connection/Backflow Prevention Course.

The Applicant must submit:

Copy of your Journeyman card.

Copies of W-2's or employment payroll records documenting two years work experience under a licensed Master Plumber or Master Gasfitter as appropriate. If the Master was licensed outside the Washington Suburban Sanitary District, include a notarized letter from the appropriate regulatory agency stating that the Master (that the applicant worked under) took and passed a written exam and that his/her license is currently in "good standing."

Three letters of reference from Master Plumbers or Master Gasfitters as appropriate, or other individuals familiar with the applicant's work.

Copy of current certification certificate of successful completion of a WSSC-approved Cross-Connection/Backflow Prevention Course.

Fee

Completed Examination Application Form.

Reciprocal License Requirements

WSSC will reciprocate plumber and/or gasfitter from the State of Maryland and the State of Virginia.

The applicant must appear in person at the Regulatory Services counter located in the One Stop Shop at 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707.

The applicant must bring with them the following:

• Current State license (either Maryland or Virginia)
• Current Cross Connection/Backflow Certification Certificate (for plumber applicants only)
• For Master licensees wanting to purchase permits, they must also bring a Certificate of Liability Insurance that names WSSC as the Certificate Holder.
• Appropriate registration fees, (cash or check accepted, NO credit or debit cards)

The current fees for a WSSC reciprocal license:

Master Plumber / Master Gasfitter / Cross Connection………………..$105

Master Plumber / Cross Connection……………………………………...$105

Master Gasfitter……………………………………………………………..$80

Journeyman Plumber / Journeyman Gasfitter / Cross Connection…….$55

Journeyman Plumber / Cross Connection………………………………...$55

Journeyman Gasfitter………………………………………………………..$30

Questions regarding WSSC licensing should be directed to:

Beverly Houser
Licensing Specialist
Regulatory Services Group
301-206-8588
bhouser@wsscwater.com

The WSSC accepts certification from the following State of Maryland Approved Cross Connection Class Providers:

• Washington Suburban Master Plumbers Association, Inc. – Daryl White 301-466-7747



• MPHCC - Maryland Plumbing/Heating/Cooling Contractors, Inc.; MD, VA, DE, and DC - 1-800/723-4900, or 410/461-5977



• Herbert Fishpaw - Pipe Trades Technologies; Local 486 and Local 5; 301/322-8810, or 410/823-0243



• John Phillips - MD, VA, and DE - 443/956-4720



• Charlie Kruger - MD, Eastern Shore - 410/548-2880



• Fred DeJohn - Roto Rooter - 410/825-5381



• James M. Yacovissi; Chesapeake Cross-Connection & Yacovissi Mechanical - 301/651-4321



• Plumber & Pipe Fitters local 782 Seaford, DE - Eric Wess 302-629-3521



• Plumber & Steamfitter local 489 Cumberland, MD 301-722-8518
  Jack Wilson 301-697-6337 Gerard Conis 301-697-8388.

Applicants may qualify for registration as a WSSC Sewer and Drain Cleaner after furnishing satisfactory proof of work experience in the sewer and drain cleaning business, under the direction of a WSSC-licensed Sewer and Drain Cleaner, Master Plumber, or Master Plumber/Gasfitter, for a minimum of 3,750 hours and two years. Proof of work experience must be submitted by written notarized statements from one or more employers (WSSC licensee of record) of the applicant, and W-2's from the employers. The applicant must also submit referral evidence from a minimum of three persons familiar with the applicant's trade qualifications and character.

A Journeyman Plumber or Journeyman Plumber/Gasfitter is considered a qualified applicant in lieu of the work experience requirements. A Master Plumber or Master Plumber/Gasfitter does not need to additionally hold a Sewer and Drain Cleaner's license in order to conduct Sewer and Drain Cleaning business. Journeyman Plumbers and Sewer and Drain Cleaners who conduct sewer and drain cleaning business as the Licensee of Record must submit a certificate of insurance listing WSSC as the certificate holder. Expired insurance certificates invalidate a Sewer and Drain Cleaner's license, and must be renewed and resubmitted to WSSC in order to continue conducting sewer and drain cleaning business in the WSSD. Sewer and Drain Cleaners must renew their license every two years, and pay the associated fees approved by the Commission at time of license registration/renewal.

The e-mail address for questions or comments regarding licensing is licensing@wsscwater.com.

Fees for WSSC licenses are as follows:

Registration

• Examined Master License - $105.00 for each license (4 year license)



• Reciprocal Master License - $80.00 for each license (2 year license)



• All Journeyman Licenses - $30.00 for each license (2 year license)



• Cross Connection License - $25.00 until certification expiration (every 3 years)



• Sewer and Drain Cleaner License - $80.00 (2 year license)

Initial registration of each license must be made in person.

If you passed the WSSC exam, bring your original score report from PSI, and your current original 8½" x 11" cross connection certification (for plumber applicants only).

If you are reciprocating your license, bring your current original license from the reciprocating jurisdiction and your original 8½" x 11" cross connection certification (for plumber applicants only).

Renewals

• Examined Master Licenses - $105.00 every 4 years



• Reciprocal Master Licenses - $80.00 every 2 years



• All Journeyman Licenses - $30.00 every 2 years



• Cross Connection License - $25.00 every 3 years



• Sewer and Drain Cleaner License $80.00 every 2 years

Late Renewal Fees

• All Master Licensees and Sewer and Drain Cleaners - $50.00



• Journeyman Licensees - $20.00

Unless otherwise specified, licenses may be renewed by mail upon receipt of a license renewal notice from WSSC.

• The fee for replacing a license is $15.00.



• The fee for changing the company name or licensee-of-record   on a license is $30.00. This fee is assessed to the individual or company requesting the change.

Lapse of registration and/or insurance renders a WSSC license invalid, and no work authorized by the license may proceed until WSSC registration is made current.

If a WSSC licensed plumber or gasfitter fails to renew his/her license within four years of the date of expiration; or if a passing examinee fails to register within three years of the date of passing notification; the licensee or applicant will be required to re-apply for licensure with WSSC in accordance with licensure requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

If a WSSC licensed sewer and drain cleaner fails to renew his/her license within two years of the date of expiration, the licensee will be required to re-apply for licensure with WSSC in accordance with licensure requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

If a WSSC licensed Cross-Connection Technician fails to renew his/her cross connection certification (by successful completion of an 8-hour refresher class) prior of certification expiration, the licensee may be required to re-take the 32-hour cross connection certification program in order to regain WSSC licensure as a certified Cross-Connection Technician.

Examination Application  

Apprentice Application   

Change of Company Name/Licensee of Record