Journeyman Plumber study guide
Journeyman Plumber · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Journeyman Plumber credential is the working-level license that lets a plumber install, alter, and repair plumbing systems without the direct supervision required of an apprentice. It sits between apprenticeship and master licensure: you need documented field hours and a passing exam score to earn it, and it is what most employers mean when they advertise for a licensed plumber. The Journeyman Plumber study guide has 8 sections and about 2,501 words.
01Plumbing Code and Regulations
You cannot plumb legally from memory of a model code; you must know which document your authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) has adopted and in what edition. The three model plumbing codes in U.S.
314 words, about 2 min02Drainage, Waste, and Vent Systems
The DWV system does three jobs: carry waste, keep sewer gas out of the building, and protect trap seals. Nearly every exam question traces back to one of those.
338 words, about 2 min03Water Supply and Distribution
Water supply questions test pressure more than pipe. Three ideas anchor most of them: 0.433 psi per foot of elevation (the weight of a column of water), the minimum residual pressure fixtures need, and the maximum static pressure above which you must protect the system.
301 words, about 2 min04Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances
Fixture questions blend code tables, clearances, and water conservation limits. Know the standard maxima: 1.6 gallons per flush for water closets (1.28 for WaterSense-labeled units, frequently required by local amendment), 1.0 gpf urinals, 2.2 gpm lavatory and kitchen faucets, and 2.5 gpm showerheads at 80 psi.
318 words, about 2 min05Water Heaters
Water heaters are pressure vessels and combustion appliances at once, so questions split into temperature-and-pressure (T&P) protection, venting, and installation location. Every storage water heater needs a listed T&P relief valve, with the temperature element set at or below 210 degrees F and the pressure element at or below the tank's rated working pressure, commonly 150 psi.
308 words, about 2 min06Fuel Gas Piping and Venting
Fuel gas work is about three things: sizing the pipe, proving it tight, and getting the products of combustion outside. Pressure: natural gas is delivered near 7 in.
321 words, about 2 min07Safety, Tools, and Jobsite Practices
Jobsite questions reward the person who thinks about what kills you first: trench collapses, falls, and confined spaces. Trenches: any excavation 5 ft deep or more needs cave-in protection, meaning sloping, benching, shoring, or a trench box.
304 words, about 2 min08Plan Reading, Math, and System Layout
Plan reading is where the other domains get applied. A plumbing set usually includes floor plans showing fixtures and routes, an enlarged plan for tight areas, a single-line riser diagram showing stacks, branches, and vents, detail sheets, and schedules listing fixtures and equipment.
297 words, about 1 min