ICC G24 Master Plumber Exam (2018 IPC)

ICC G24 Master Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam: Step-by-Step Study Guide

Preparing for the ICC G24 Master Plumber (2018 IPC) 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 G24 Master Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam Overview

Start with the facts. Here's what the official bulletin says:

On exam day

• The exam consists of multiple-choice questions.
• You may bring copyrighted, bound books to the test administration, including those specifically listed as approved references. However, training materials such as presentations, study guides, or practice questions are not permitted. All exam questions are based solely on the approved reference list, and only those references may be used as the basis for appealing exam questions.

References you may bring

• 2018 International Plumbing Code

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; ICC Exam Catalog, checked October 6, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.

Topics on the ICC G24 Master Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam

Next, the content. The official content outline has 7 topics:

A Simple Plan to Prepare for the ICC G24 Master Plumber (2018 IPC) 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. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.

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 24 seconds per question.

Along the way, give the most time to the biggest topics. Administration General Regulations and Plumbing Fixtures make up 60% of the exam.

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 G24 Master Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam

The listed reference for this exam is the 2018 International Plumbing Code.

Where to get them:

• IPC 2018

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 4 hours for 100 questions, which is about 2 minutes 24 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

Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.

Take this practice exam several times. The goal is to consistently clear your exam's passing score — often around 70–75% — so passing feels routine before you walk into the real test.

Read each answer choice in order. If it seems correct, mark it as your current best. Each subsequent choice must beat your current best to replace it. Keep going until you've reviewed all choices, then verify your final selection actually answers the question.

If you've actually studied, an option full of unfamiliar terms is usually a distractor. A choice you don't recognize at all is rarely the correct one.

Sample ICC G24 Master Plumber (2018 IPC) Practice Questions

Here are a few questions from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.

Sample 1 — Sanitary Drainage

Question: What is the maximum number of drainage fixture units permitted on a 4-inch horizontal fixture branch?

• A. 90
• B. 240
• C. 160
• D. 500

Correct Answer: C

Per IPC Table 710.1(2), a 4-inch horizontal fixture branch is permitted a maximum of 160 drainage fixture units. The value of 90 represents the maximum discharge into one branch interval on a stack, 240 is the total for a stack of three branch intervals or less, and 500 is for a stack greater than three branch intervals.

Reference: IPC 2018 Table 710.1(2)

Sample 2 — Plumbing Vent Requirements

Question: Every dry vent must rise vertically to a point not less than ______ above the flood level rim of the highest trap or trapped fixture being vented before offsetting horizontally.

• A. 4 inches
• B. 3 inches
• C. 12 inches
• D. 6 inches

Correct Answer: D

Per IPC 2018 Section 905.4, every dry vent shall rise vertically to a point not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the flood level rim of the highest trap or trapped fixture being vented. The only exception is for vents serving interceptors located outdoors.

Reference: IPC 2018 Section 905.4

Sample 3 — Traps, Interceptors, and Separators

Question: During a rough-in inspection of a hotel kitchen, you find that the outlet piping of a newly set hydromechanical grease interceptor has been run to terminate over a floor sink. How is the discharge piping from a grease interceptor required to be connected to the sanitary drainage system?

• A. Through a separately trapped receptor
• B. Directly connected
• C. Indirectly, through an air gap
• D. Indirectly, through an air break

Correct Answer: B

IPC 2018 Section 1003.3.8 requires that the discharge piping from a grease interceptor be directly connected to the sanitary drainage system. Indirect connections through an air gap or air break, or discharge to a separately trapped receptor, are not permitted for grease interceptor outlet piping.

Reference: IPC 2018 Chapter 10 — Section 1003.3.8 Direct Connection

Sample 4 — Storm Drainage

Question: You are designing a new commercial building's storm drainage system. The building has a roof perimeter parapet wall that extends above the roof surface. According to code requirements, what must be provided in addition to primary roof drains?

• A. A second set of primary drains connected to the same piping system
• B. Secondary (emergency overflow) roof drains or scuppers with discharge separate from the primary system
• C. Siphonic drains to supplement the primary system capacity
• D. Overflow gutters along the parapet wall interior connected to the sanitary sewer

Correct Answer: B

Per Section 1108.1, where roof drains are required, secondary (emergency overflow) roof drains or scuppers shall be provided where the roof perimeter construction extends above the roof in such a manner that water will be entrapped if the primary drains allow buildup for any reason. Per Section 1108.2, the secondary system discharge must be separate from the primary system.

Reference: IPC 2018 Sections 1108.1 and 1108.2

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 G24 Master Plumber (2018 IPC) 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.