Iowa Code
Chapter 105 - PLUMBERS, MECHANICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND CONTRACTORS
Section 105.18 - Qualifications and types of licenses issued.

105.18 Qualifications and types of licenses issued.
1. General qualifications. The board shall adopt, by rule, general qualifications for licensure. References may be required as part of the licensing process.
2. Plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, and hydronic licenses and contractor licenses. The board shall issue master licenses for plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, and hydronic professionals. The board shall issue journeyperson licenses for plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, and hydronic professionals. A plumbing license shall allow an individual to perform work defined as plumbing. A mechanical license shall allow an individual to perform work defined as HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal, and hydronic. An HVAC-refrigeration license shall allow an individual to perform work defined as HVAC and refrigeration. A hydronic license shall allow an individual to perform work defined as hydronic. A sheet metal license shall allow an individual to perform work defined as sheet metal. The board shall issue the separate licenses as follows:
a. Apprentice license. In order to be licensed by the board as an apprentice, a person shall do all of the following:
(1) File an application, which application shall establish that the person meets the minimum requirements adopted by the board.
(2) Certify that the person will work under the supervision of a licensed journeyperson or master in the applicable discipline.
(3) Be enrolled in an applicable apprentice program which is registered with the United States department of labor office of apprenticeship.
b. Journeyperson license.
(1) In order to be licensed by the board as a journeyperson in the applicable discipline, a person shall do all of the following:
(a) File an application and pay application fees as established by the board, which application shall establish that the person meets the minimum educational and experience requirements adopted by the board.
(b) Pass the state journeyperson licensing examination in the applicable discipline.
(c) Provide the board with evidence of having completed at least four years of practical experience as an apprentice. Commencing January 1, 2010, the four years of practical experience required by this subparagraph division must be an apprenticeship training program registered by the United States department of labor office of apprenticeship.
(2) A person may simultaneously hold an active journeyperson license and an inactive master license.
(3) An individual who has passed both the journeyperson HVAC-refrigeration examination and the journeyperson hydronic examination separately shall be qualified to be issued a journeyperson mechanical license without having to pass the journeyperson mechanical examination.
c. Master license.
(1) In order to be licensed by the board as a master, a person shall do all of the following:
(a) File an application and pay application fees as established by the board, which application shall establish that the person meets the minimum educational and experience requirements adopted by the board.
(b) Pass the state master licensing examination for the applicable discipline.
(c) Provide evidence to the board that the person has previously been a licensed journeyperson or master in the applicable discipline.
(2) An individual who has passed both the master HVAC-refrigeration examination and the master hydronic examination separately shall be qualified to be issued a master mechanical license without having to pass the master mechanical examination.
d. Contractor license. In order to be licensed by the board as a contractor, a person shall do all of the following:
(1) File an application and pay application fees as established by the board and establish that the person meets the minimum requirements adopted by the board. Through June 30, 2017, the application shall include the person’s state contractor registration number. After July 1, 2017, the application shall include proof of workers compensation insurance coverage, proof of unemployment insurance compliance, and, for out-of-state contractors, a bond as described in chapter 91C.
(2) Maintain a permanent place of business.
(3) Hold a master license or employ at least one person holding a master license under this chapter.
3. Combined licenses, restricted licenses.
a. The board may issue single or combined licenses to persons who qualify as a contractor, master, journeyperson, or apprentice under any of the disciplines.
b. Special, restricted license. The board may by rule provide for the issuance of special plumbing and mechanical professional licenses authorizing the licensee to engage in a limited class or classes of plumbing or mechanical professional work, which class or classes shall be specified on the license. Each licensee shall have experience, acceptable to the board, in each such limited class for which the person is licensed. The board shall designate each special, restricted license to be a sublicense of either a plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic license. A special, restricted license may be a sublicense of multiple types of licenses. An individual holding a master or journeyperson, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic license shall not be required to obtain any special, restricted license which is a sublicense of the license that the individual holds. Special plumbing and mechanical professional licenses shall be issued to employees of a rate-regulated gas or electric public utility who conduct the repair of appliances. “Repair of appliances” means the repair or replacement of mechanical connections between the appliance shutoff valve and the appliance and repair of or replacement of parts to the appliance. Such special, restricted license shall require certification pursuant to industry-accredited certification standards.
c. The board shall establish a special, restricted license fee at a reduced rate, consistent with any other special, restricted license fees.
d. An individual that holds either a master or journeyperson mechanical license or a master or journeyperson HVAC-refrigeration license shall be exempt from having to obtain a special electrician’s license pursuant to chapter 103 in order to disconnect and reconnect existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
4. Waiver for military service. Notwithstanding section 17A.9A, the board shall waive the written examination requirements and prior experience requirements in subsection 2, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (1), and subsection 2, paragraph “c”, for a journeyperson or master license if the applicant meets all of the following requirements:
a. Is an active or retired member of the United States military.
b. Provides documentation that the applicant was deployed on active duty during any portion of the time period of July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009.
c. Provides documentation that shows the applicant has previously passed an examination which the board deems substantially similar to the examination for a journeyperson license or a master license, as applicable, issued by the board, or provides documentation that shows the applicant has previously been licensed by a state or local governmental jurisdiction in the same trade and trade level.
2007 Acts, ch 198, §18; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §105, 202; 2008 Acts, ch 1089, §8, 10, 12; 2009 Acts, ch 151, §19; 2011 Acts, ch 100, §8 – 10, 15; 2013 Acts, ch 77, §17 – 23, 36; 2014 Acts, ch 1106, §20; 2015 Acts, ch 30, §38; 2019 Acts, ch 99, §10