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Pathway to Licensure

This provides individuals who were previously licensed in the State of Michigan and have not been licensed in over 3 years a pathway to becoming licensed again.

MCL 339.5411(4) “…shall relicense a person whose last license expired 3 or more years before the application for relicensure if the person shows that the person meets the requirements for licensure established by the department in rules or procedures. The rules or procedures may require that an individual pass all or part of a required examination, complete continuing education requirements or meet current education or training requirements.”

You will need to submit: an application, application fee, and proof of completion of the most recent code update or continuing education, as applicable. 

2016 PA 407 Skilled Trades Regulation Act

Skilled Trades Regulation Rules

    •        Applicants for boiler licensure must submit an application, application fee, and once approved to test; pass an exam.  
    •        You may only be approved to test again for licenses/classifications you’ve held before.
    •        If you were previously licensed as a boiler operator, you must provide current N.I.U.P.L.E. certification.
    •        You must hold your boiler license for at least one year before applying for upgraded classifications.
    •        This is not applicable to electrical apprentices, as apprentice registrations may be renewed regardless of length of registration lapse.
    •        This does not apply to electrical contractor, fire alarm contractor, or sign contractor license holders, as there is no longer an exam required for these licenses.
    •        Applicants for electrical journey, sign specialist, fire alarm specialty technician or master electrician licensure must submit an application, application fee, proof of most recent code update course, and once approved to test; pass an exam. 
      •    Fire alarm specialty technicians (FAST) must also hold current NICET or CFAT certification and provide proof with application.
    •        Individuals who previously held an electrical journey license may be able to apply for licensure as a master electrician if they are able to meet the requirements as provided in MCL 339.5713. You will need submit notarized statements from your employer attesting to your experience during the time you were previously licensed. You will also be required to pass an exam.

     

    •        Applicants for mechanical licensure must submit an application, application fee, and once approved to test; pass an exam. 
    •        You may only be approved to test again for classifications you’ve previously held.
    •        Any requests to add additional classifications must be submitted as an amendment after you pass your exam(s) and are issued a license again. You must meet current licensure requirements to add additional classifications.
    •        This is not applicable to plumbing apprentices, as apprentice registrations may be renewed regardless of length of registration lapse.
    •        This does not apply to previously licensed plumbing contractors, as there is no requirements for experience or hours for this license type.
    •        Even if you are applying for a different license type, you must be registered as a plumbing apprentice, at minimum to be present on a job site or performing plumbing work without being in violation of 2016 PA 407.
    •        If you were previously licensed as a journey plumber, and that license expired more than 3 years ago:
      •    If your license was originally issued prior to the adoption of 2002 PA 733 (State Plumbing Act, which went into effect 3/31/2003, you will need to meet current requirements for licensure, which includes 6,000 hours AND 3 years as an actively registered plumbing apprentice, pursuant to MCL 339.6115(1)(i).
      •    If your license was originally issued after the adoption of 2002 PA 733, you will need to submit an application, application fee, proof of most recent code update course completion, and once approved to test; pass both the written exam and practical exam within the same 1-year application period.
    •        If you were previously licensed as a master plumber, and that license expired more than 3 years ago:  
      •    The law specifically requires 2 years immediately preceding application as a licensed journey plumber under MCL 339.6113(d).
      •    You will need to apply for journey licensure again but will not need to submit notarized statements as proof of experience.
      •    Once you pass both the written and practical exams within the same 1-year application period AND hold your journey license for the required 2 years/4,000 hours immediately preceding application, you may apply for your master plumber license again.