ICC F28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2015 IPC/IFGC) Exam: Step-by-Step Study Guide
Preparing for the ICC F28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2015 IPC/IFGC) exam is easier one step at a time. This guide starts with the key facts from the official bulletin, then covers the topics on the exam, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a simple way to prepare. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
ICC F28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2015 IPC/IFGC) Exam Overview
Start with the facts. Here's what the official bulletin says:
| Questions | 70 questions |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 70 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- The exam consists of multiple-choice questions in four-option format with one scored correct answer.
References you may bring
- International Fuel Gas Code (2015)
- International Plumbing Code (2015)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC, where candidates can create an account, schedule an exam, locate a test center, purchase vouchers and request accommodations.
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after the examination is completed.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction in which you wish to be licensed for any other requirements, because ICC is not a licensing agency.
Source: National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED June 30, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
Topics on the ICC F28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2015 IPC/IFGC) Exam
Next, the content. The official content outline has 9 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Fixtures and Terminology | 3 | 4% |
| Plumbing Fundamentals | 10 | 14% |
| Traps, Cleanouts, and Interceptors | 3 | 4% |
| Special Requirements | 2 | 4% |
| Drainage Requirements | 10 | 14% |
| Venting Requirements | 10 | 14% |
| Water Distribution | 8 | 12% |
| Plan Reading | 10 | 14% |
| Gas | 14 | 20% |
A Simple Plan to Prepare for the ICC F28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2015 IPC/IFGC) Exam
Step one is the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll work from, while you study and in the exam room. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Step two is learning your way around them. Go through each book's table of contents and index until you know where the major subjects are. You don't need to memorize the books. You need to find things in them.
Step three is marking them up. Highlight the sections you use most. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.
Step four is timed practice. Our practice exams run on a clock, so you get used to the real exam's pace: about 2 minutes 34 seconds per question.
The last step is consistency. Keep practicing until you pass several practice exams in a row. That's the signal you're ready.
Reference Books for the ICC F28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2015 IPC/IFGC) Exam
The listed references for this exam are the 2015 International Fuel Gas Code and the 2015 International Plumbing Code.
Where to get them:
On Test Day
Go through the exam at a steady pace. On your first pass, answer the questions you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions.
On your second pass, return to your bookmarks one at a time. You have 3 hours for 70 questions, which is about 2 minutes 34 seconds per question, so keep moving and don't let one question hold you up. Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
Only select answers that directly respond to the question asked—not ones that merely sound correct or seem true. After choosing, verify your answer against the question to confirm you didn't misread it and that your selection genuinely addresses what was asked.
Don't be distracted by an answer that is merely factually true—focus on whether it actually answers the question. Always return to the question and verify that your chosen answer directly addresses what's being asked, not just that it's a true statement. Also, when two answers seem equally correct, read all choices carefully and select the one that best answers the question.
Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.
There's no hidden pattern in the answer key. If you've picked "A" four times in a row, the fifth answer can still be "A." Judge each question on its own and ignore the letter sequence.
Sample ICC F28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2015 IPC/IFGC) Practice Questions
Here are a few questions from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Venting Requirements
Question: When venting a fixture drain, the total fall in that fixture drain due to pipe slope shall not exceed:
- A. 2 inches
- B. The diameter of the fixture drain
- C. The depth of the trap seal
- D. One-half the diameter of the fixture drain
Correct Answer: B
IPC 2015, Section 909.2 (Venting of Fixture Drains) provides that the total fall in a fixture drain due to pipe slope shall not exceed the diameter of the fixture drain, and the vent connection (except for water closets) shall not be below the weir of the trap.
Reference: IPC 2015 Section 909.2
Sample 2 — Plan Reading
Question: A bathroom group plan shows several fixtures served by a horizontal wet vent, with the dry vent taken off one of the bathroom group fixture drains. Not more than how many wet-vented fixture drains may discharge upstream of the dry-vented fixture drain connection?
- A. Three
- B. Four
- C. One
- D. Two
Correct Answer: C
IPC 2015, Section 912.2.1 provides that for a horizontal wet-vent system, not more than one wet-vented fixture drain shall discharge upstream of the dry-vented fixture drain connection.
Reference: IPC 2015 Section 912.2.1
Sample 3 — Water Distribution
Question: You are laying out the water distribution piping for a custom residence. Measured as developed length from the source of hot water to the fixtures requiring hot or tempered water, the piping shall not exceed:
- A. 40 feet
- B. 50 feet
- C. 100 feet
- D. 25 feet
Correct Answer: B
IPC 2015, Section 607.2 limits the developed length of hot or tempered water piping from the source to the fixture to 50 feet (15 240 mm); recirculating system piping and heat-traced piping are considered sources of hot or tempered water.
Reference: IPC 2015 Section 607.2
Sample 4 — Plumbing Fixtures and Terminology
Question: Water delivered to a fixture is classified as tempered water when its temperature falls within which range?
- A. 90°F to 120°F
- B. 85°F to 110°F
- C. 70°F to 100°F
- D. 110°F to 140°F
Correct Answer: B
IPC 2015 Section 202 defines 'Tempered water' as water having a temperature range between 85°F (29°C) and 110°F (43°C). Water at or above 110°F is defined as 'hot water.'
Reference: IPC 2015 Section 202 (Tempered Water)
Practicing Online vs. With a PDF
A PDF lets you read questions at your own pace. The real exam runs on a clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers with the clock running. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic, so you always know what to study next.
Your Next Step
Take the free ICC F28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2015 IPC/IFGC) practice exam to see where you stand. Then study the topics that need the most attention, one at a time. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.