Georgia Journeyman Plumber Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide
Earning your journeyman plumber license in Georgia opens the door to higher pay, more job responsibility, and the credibility that comes with a state-recognized credential. The Georgia journeyman plumber exam is administered by PSI and covers everything from code compliance to pipe math — 100 scored questions across nine topic areas. This guide breaks down exactly what's on the exam, what to study first, and how to prepare so you walk in confident. Start by taking our free practice exam to see where you stand right now.
Georgia Journeyman Plumber Exam Overview
The PSI Georgia plumbing exam is structured as follows:
- Scored questions: 100
- Unscored pre-test questions: 20 (for a total of 120 questions delivered)
- Time limit: 5 hours, split into two 2.5-hour parts with a break in between
- Passing score: A final scaled score of 70 (equivalent to 70 of 100 scored questions correct)
- Format: Multiple choice
- Open book: Yes — approved reference materials may be used during the exam
The unscored pre-test questions look identical to scored ones — you won't know which is which, so treat every question the same.
This is an open-book exam, which is a significant advantage over the Master Plumber exams (which are closed book). That said, don't let "open book" make you complacent. With 120 questions across 5 hours, there's no time to look up every answer. You need solid knowledge going in; the references are a safety net, not a crutch.
Review the official exam bulletin and the state licensing website for the most current requirements.
Topics on the Georgia Plumbing License Exam
Here's every topic area, ranked by how many questions it carries on the real exam. Study accordingly.
High-Weight Topics (Study These First)
Perform Plumbing Systems Installation Activities — 21 items
This is the largest section. Expect questions on sizing and installing water supply and drainage systems, installing gas piping, and assembling fixtures per manufacturer specs. Reading plans and specifications is also tested here.
Comply with Regulations — 15 items
Covers the Georgia State Plumbing Code (2024 IPC with Georgia amendments), the SBCCI Gas Code, OSHA's 29 CFR Part 1926, permit and inspection procedures, and state trenching law.
Perform Maintenance and Repair Activities — 15 items
Locating gas leaks, servicing gas and electric appliances, clearing drain obstructions, and cleaning backwater valves.
Safety-related Issues — 15 items
T&P relief valves, gas piping support and testing, backflow prevention, personal safety in trenching and around poisonous gases, and PPE requirements.
Mid-Weight Topics
Perform Pipe Cutting and Joining Activities — 10 items
Cutting and reaming cast iron, concrete, copper, plastic, and steel pipe using the appropriate tools for each material.
Work Planning/Organizing — 7 items
Job takeoffs, reading isometrics, interpreting equipment nameplates, understanding bar chart schedules, and knowing which codes, laws, or manufacturer instructions take precedence.
Perform System Testing Activities — 7 items
Pressure testing water distribution, sanitary, and gas systems; certifying backflow tests; and sterilizing potable water systems.
Lower-Weight Topics (Still Study Them)
Comply with General Laws — 5 items
The Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, underground utility location law (Georgia 811), ADA and ANSI handicap accessibility standards, and state water conservation law.
Calculations — 5 items
Pipe offsets using 45° constants, volume, pressure/head conversions, drainage grade, and unit conversions.
Sample Georgia Journeyman Plumber Test Questions
Here are five questions representative of what you'll see on the Georgia journeyman plumber exam. Answers are not provided — try our free practice exam to test yourself.
Question 1 — Safety-related Issues
When selecting the correct temperature and pressure relief valve for a gas storage water heater, the valve is sized according to the:
- A) Incoming water service pressure
- B) Diameter of the cold water supply
- C) Storage capacity in gallons
- D) Btu rating of the water heater
What this tests: Your understanding of T&P valve sizing criteria — a key safety concept that appears in both the plumbing code and manufacturer guidelines.
Question 2 — Safety-related Issues
A sheet metal device is placed on a conventionally vented gas water heater at the point where the flue pipe connects. One stated purpose of this device is to:
- A) Supply combustion air directly to the burner
- B) Raise flue gas temperature inside the baffle tube
- C) Keep a chimney downdraft from extinguishing the pilot
- D) Throttle the gas flow to the burner assembly
What this tests: Knowledge of venting components and their functions — the kind of practical detail that separates journeymen from apprentices.
Question 3 — Perform Plumbing Systems Installation Activities
A basement fixture group cannot drain by gravity, so you must fabricate a sump for the pumping equipment. Absent specific approval otherwise, what are the minimum sump pit dimensions?
- A) 12 inches in diameter and 18 inches in depth
- B) 18 inches in diameter and 30 inches in depth
- C) 18 inches in diameter and 24 inches in depth
- D) 24 inches in diameter and 30 inches in depth
What this tests: Code-specific knowledge of ejector sump pit requirements — a detail you'll find in the IPC.
Question 4 — Comply with General Laws
As a master plumber, you extend a job offer to a service technician applicant and want to condition that offer on the results of a physical examination performed before the technician starts work. Under Title I of the ADA, such a post-offer medical examination is permitted only if which condition is met?
- A) The applicant disclosed a limitation when interviewed
- B) A licensed occupational physician performs the exam
- C) Everyone entering that job category is examined
- D) The applicant consents to the exam in writing
What this tests: ADA employer obligations — an area many plumbing candidates underestimate. Know the rules before exam day.
Question 5 — Comply with Regulations
You are running the condensate drain from a Category IV condensing gas furnace installed in an attic to an approved plumbing fixture. The piping is corrosion resistant and no smaller than the appliance drain connection. What is the minimum slope the condensate piping must maintain in the direction of discharge?
- A) 1/8 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (1-percent slope)
- B) 1/4 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (2-percent slope)
- C) 1/2 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (4-percent slope)
- D) 1/16 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (0.5-percent slope)
What this tests: Gas code requirements for condensate drainage — a detail from the IFGC that shows up in field work constantly.
What Types of Questions to Expect
Our full question bank covers all nine topic areas. Here's what each one actually tests:
- Comply with General Laws: Board complaint procedures, underground utility location (Georgia 811), ADA Title I employer rules, ANSI accessibility standards, and water conservation requirements.
- Comply with Regulations: Code interpretation across the 2024 Georgia Plumbing Code and Gas Code, OSHA Part 1926 safety rules, permit and inspection requirements, and state trenching law.
- Work Planning/Organizing: Reading isometric drawings, performing job takeoffs from plans, interpreting nameplate data on pumps and water heaters, and determining which code or instruction takes precedence on a job.
- Perform Pipe Cutting and Joining Activities: Tool selection and technique for cutting cast iron, concrete, copper, plastic, and steel — including snap cutters, tubing cutters, and power pipe cutters.
- Perform Plumbing Systems Installation Activities: Water supply sizing, drainage system sizing, gas pipe sizing, sump pit specs, fixture installation per manufacturer instructions, and plan interpretation.
- Perform System Testing Activities: Pressure testing methods for water and gas lines, smoke and peppermint tests for sanitary systems, backflow certification, and potable water sterilization procedures.
- Perform Maintenance and Repair Activities: Gas leak detection with soapy water or detectors, servicing burners and venting, replacing water heater elements, clearing drain obstructions, and backwater valve maintenance.
- Safety-related Issues: T&P relief valve sizing and routing, gas piping support requirements, backflow prevention device selection, trenching hazards, poisonous gas awareness, and PPE employer rules.
- Calculations: 45° offset math (diagonal, rise, run), cylinder and rectangular volume, psi-to-feet-of-head conversions, drainage grade and percent drop, and decimal/metric conversions.
Study Materials for the Georgia Journeyman Plumber Exam
This is an open-book exam, so bring the right books — and know them well enough to find answers fast. Here's the complete reference list:
Primary Code References
- International Plumbing Code 2024 — The base code for Georgia plumbing. Study sizing tables and special drainage requirements.
- Georgia State Amendments to the International Plumbing Code (2024 Edition) — Georgia-specific modifications effective January 1, 2026. These override the base IPC where they conflict.
- International Fuel Gas Code 2024 — Required for gas pipe sizing, appliance venting, and condensate drainage questions.
- Georgia State Amendments to the International Fuel Gas Code (2024 Edition) — Georgia-specific gas code modifications, also effective January 1, 2026.
Business, Law, and Project Management
- NASCLA Georgia CILB Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (5th Edition) — Covers the licensing board, general laws, and employer responsibilities tested in the General Laws section.
- Employer's Tax Guide (Publication 15, Circular E) — Required reference for employment tax topics that appear in the business law portion.
- EEOC ADA Employer Guide — The primary reference for ADA employer obligation questions.
- 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design — Accessibility standards referenced in both General Laws and installation questions.
Technical References
- Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters (8th Edition) — The go-to resource for offset calculations, volume, pressure, and unit conversions. Tab it heavily.
- Plumbing Technology: Design and Installation (4th Edition) — Strong on system design principles and installation procedures.
- Georgia 811 Excavator Manual — Required for underground utility location law questions.
Note: Beginning May 1, 2026, the exam is based exclusively on the 2024 code editions. Do not bring 2018 editions to the exam.
Study Tips for the Georgia Plumbing License Exam
Take practice exams under real conditions. Start free — our free practice exam gives you 10 questions at no cost, no account required. It's a fast way to get a feel for the format and question style. When you're ready to go deeper, the full practice exam matches the real test: same question count, same time limit, same topic breakdown. Every attempt pulls from a large question pool, so you get a different exam each time.
Aim to consistently score above 70% before exam day. If you're hitting 70–75% routinely in practice, passing feels routine — not stressful.
Tab your books now. This exam is open book, but you don't have time to hunt. Stick tabs on key IPC tables, offset formulas, and relief valve sizing sections before you walk in.
Prioritize by weight. The Installation, Regulations, Maintenance, and Safety sections together account for 66 of 100 scored questions. Master those four areas first.
Know your calculator rules. Only silent, non-programmable calculators without alpha keys or printing capabilities are allowed. Bring the right one.
Ready to Start Preparing?
The Georgia journeyman plumber exam is thorough, but it's structured and predictable. Study the high-weight topics first, know your codes well enough to find answers quickly, and practice under timed conditions. Begin with our free practice exam today — 10 questions, no account needed, no cost. When you're ready to go all in, upgrade to the full practice exam and get a complete simulation of the real PSI Georgia plumbing exam. Your license is within reach.