CO Plumber study guide
CO Plumber · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Colorado plumbing credential is issued by the State Plumbing Board, which sits within the Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) at 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202. Colorado licenses plumbers at more than one level - Residential Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber, and Master Plumber - and each level is reached by examination. This page is an independent study resource for candidates preparing for those licensing exams; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Board or the Division. The licensing exams assess the practical and code knowledge a working plumber needs: general plumbing principles and jobsite safety, piping systems with their materials and joining methods, fixtures, appliances and water heaters, and the code, permit, and inspection requirements that apply to work performed in Colorado. The CO Plumber study guide has 4 sections and about 1,297 words.
01General Plumbing Knowledge and Safety
Every plumbing question on this exam traces back to three ideas: potable supply must never be contaminated, drain lines must move solids by gravity, and a trap only holds its seal if the vent lets air in behind the flow. Drainage slope is a favorite trap.
354 words, about 2 min02Piping Systems, Materials, and Joints
Piping questions test whether you can match a material to its service and to the right joining method. Copper tube comes in K, L, and M: K is the heaviest wall (underground and heavy-duty), L is standard plumbing, and M is thin-wall for light duty.
315 words, about 2 min03Fixtures, Appliances, and Water Heaters
Water heater questions are really about expansion and relief. A closed system with a backflow preventer or check valve creates a thermal expansion problem, so add a listed expansion tank on the cold inlet side.
324 words, about 2 min04Colorado Plumbing Code, Permits, and Inspection
Colorado adopts a statewide plumbing code built on the International Plumbing Code, with state amendments plus local amendments layered on top. That structure is the biggest exam trap: when a question asks which rule governs, the locally adopted - and generally stricter - amendment applies, and you should not assume every jurisdiction enforces identical text.
304 words, about 2 min