In the state of Nebraska, there is not a regulating body for plumbing licensure, but the issuing of journeyman and master plumber licenses are regulated on a city-by-city basis.
With the aim to help you pursue a plumbing career in Nebraska, in our article you will find a guide to getting licensed in the city of Omaha.
According to the Omaha municipal code, license reciprocity will be extended to people who are licensed as journeymen in a city of equivalent size that requires similar qualification criteria.
To get the reciprocity, you will have to submit the evidence of your licensure and the application to the plumbing board.
An Omaha master plumber’s license can be given to individuals who have:
Master plumbers who come from other cities in Nebraska can be licensed by endorsement, but only if they were licensed and employed in a city of equal size and training standards of Omaha.
When it comes to a Master Plumber examination in Omaha, subjects covered by the examination shall include the knowledge of all provisions of the chapter, state law, and other applicable rules and regulations pertaining to plumbing, as well as the ability to design, direct and supervise the installation of plumbing systems.
To become a licensed journeyman plumber in Omaha you must meet the following requirements:
The Omaha journeyman exam consists of questions related to both practical and theoretical knowledge of plumbing, building drainage, venting, and sanitation.
Prior to being allowed to take the exam, applicants will need to:
Upon satisfactory completion of all license prerequisites and the submission of the written application for examination for the applicable license, the plumbing board has to approve an eligible applicant to sit for the appropriate license examination.
The approved applicant is obliged to pay the examination fee to the recording secretary of the plumbing board prior to sitting for the appropriate license examination.
Examination fees are the following:
License holders are required to submit proof of their continuing education participation to the plumbing board by December 31 of each calendar year.
The hours of continuing education required for each license are as follows:
Once the plumbing board issues a certificate to a licensed journeyman, he/she must carry it with himself/herself whenever engaged in plumbing work.
A person who is interested in becoming an apprentice under a master plumber must:
The plumbing board shall certify those apprenticeship programs that have a specific affirmative action plan, including measurable performance objectives, detailing methods to recruit members of minority groups and women and a minimum of four consecutive years of practical on-the-job training with a minimum of 300 hours each of the seven years to accrue a minimum total of 7,000 hours.
Furthermore, a minimum of 696 classroom instruction hours related to the plumbing trade as outlined in section 49-255 is required as well.
The process of registering as an apprentice in Omaha is easy and you can reach the plumbing board secretary by phone at (402) 444-5150 ext. 2062, and all you need to do is to provide your name, address, and place of employment.
Registration expires on December 30 of each year.
The Nebraska department of labor has an apprenticeship portal which is specially designed for those seeking apprenticeship opportunities.
You can search for and verify your Omaha license on the City of Omaha license and permit search portal.
The average Plumber salary in Nebraska is $52,710, but the numbers are not the same in all the cities of Nebraska, due to the fact that plumbers salary depends on various factors.
Annual Salary Range: