Plumbing Certification Application

Sacramento County Certificate of Competency & Registration Cards

Except as provided by Sections 4.58.164, on and after April 1, 1987, no person shall labor for another for consideration at the work or trade of installing, removing, altering or repairing Plumbing Systems within the unincorporated area of the County, when a Plumbing Permit is required for the work of installation, removal, alteration or repair, unless such person possesses a valid, unexpired and un-revoked Certificate of Competency pursuant to the provision of this Article or possesses a Registration Certificate as a trainee issued pursuant to the provisions of this Article. This is shown on page 2 of The Sacramento County Plumbing Trade Competency Ordinance No. SCC 467.

THERE MUST BE ONE (1) QUALIFYING PERSON FOR EACH PERSON HOLD A REGISTRATION CARD ON THE JOB.

How to obtain a Card

All questions regarding obtaining these cards or how to get an application can be answered by calling call the Plumbing Certification clerk at (916) 875-5296, Monday through Friday, except for County holidays, from 7 AM to 11 AM and then from 12 noon to 3:00 PM or come into the office at 4101 Branch Center Road, just off of Bradshaw Road and Kiefer Blvd.

Anyone who has a Registration card or a Certificate of Competency card must carry the card with them while they are on the job site. Failure to do so, or not having a card, will put the plumbing employee in violation of the ordinance and subject to violation fees.

Registration Cards

Any person who does not have the required four (4) years experience can apply for the Registration card, no experience is necessary for this card. The applicant must fill out the application and pay a fee of $20.00. Any person holding this card must be working under the direct supervision and in the immediate presence of a qualified individual as described in Sacramento County Ordinance # 647.

Certificate of Competency Cards

There are two methods of obtaining this card. An applicant can either take and pass the competency exam through the County of Sacramento or, if they have a current and valid City of Sacramento Certificate of Competency card, they can apply for the Sacramento County Certificate of Competency card.

Taking exam through the County of Sacramento

To qualify to take the competency exam through the County of Sacramento, the applicant must fill out an application, pay the fee of $40.00 and provide verifiable proof of four years plumbing experience.

This proof of experience can be in the following manners:

1. Letters from employers on their letterhead stationary showing a minimum of four (4) years experience ‘AS A PLUMBER’ and signed by someone of authority, such as the person who hired them.
2. A minimum of four (4) years of W-2’s which shows the applicant has earned a minimum of $20,000 or more each year. If any year is short of this $20,000 earned, the applicant must provide an additional W-2 for each year it is short.
3. A current and valid State of California Contractor’s license for plumbing (a C-36) which has not been suspended or revoked.

The exam is a 2½ hour open book exam on the 2000 Uniform Plumbing Code. The exam is usually given once a month, but not in December. The exam starts at 5 PM. The applicant will be notified of the exam date & room number. The applicant will need to bring a copy of the 2000 UPC (Uniform Plumbing Code book), a calculator, a number 2 pencil, a photo ID and their exam notice, which the last 2 items are needed to gain access into the exam room. Anyone late to the exam will not be allowed to take it and will forfeit all money paid.

The exam consists of the following:

• General knowledge – which may or may not contain ‘field terms’
• DWV (Drain, wastes and vents)
• Gas
• Water

There are 100 multiple-choice questions which are broken into four (4) sections of 25. A score of 17 or more in EACH section must be achieved in order to pass the exam. Failure to pass the exam on the 3rd try within a six (6) month period means a waiting period of six (6) months before the applicant can reapply for the exam.

Plumbing Certification Exam Dates

To sign up for the Sacramento County Plumbing Certification Exam, you must apply at 4101 Branch Center Road. Applications are accepted Monday through Friday, except for County Holidays, from 7 AM to 11 AM and then from 12 noon to 3:00 PM.

All items (application, proof of experience and fee) must be presented at the same time in order to apply.

Reciprocal Cards

If the applicant has taken and passed the City of Sacramento’s Certification exam and their card is still current and valid, they may purchase a County of Sacramento Certificate of Competency card by bringing in the required proof of four (4) years experience and a copy of their City card. The fee is $25.00.

An applicant CANNOT obtain this reciprocal card IF their City card was obtained by having a former County card. If this is the case, the applicant MUST take the written exam again through the County where the rules of qualifying for the exam are enforced.

Renewing Cards

The four (4) year Registration card is not a renewable card.

The Sacramento County Certificate of Competency card is good for three (3) years and is renewed by filling out the application, the Renewal Update form and paying the fee of $30.00. The card holder is responsible for notifying the Plumbing Certification clerk if they move as the renewal form is mailed to the last listed address. Failure to renew this card within one (1) year of the expiration date will mean the applicant must reapply for the written exam and provide the required proof of experience once again.

Duplicate cards

If a card has been lost or stolen, the applicant can purchase a duplicate card for $5.00. The applicant must come to the Branch Center office and fill out an application as this is not a procedure done through the mail.

Fees

All fees are paid by check or money order made out to Sacramento County. At NO TIME will CASH or credit cards will be accepted as payment.