ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam Prep Checklist
Everything for the ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber (2018 IPC) exam in one place: the bulletin's key facts, the topics and how many questions each carries, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a prep checklist. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam Facts
From the official bulletin:
| Questions | 70 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- Test questions are in four-option, multiple-choice format with one scored correct answer.
- 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.
ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam Topics
The official content outline has 7 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Administration General Regulations | 28 | 40% |
| Plumbing Fixtures | 12 | 17% |
| Water Supply and Distribution | 10 | 14% |
| Sanitary Drainage | 9 | 13% |
| Plumbing Vent Requirements | 5 | 7% |
| Traps, Interceptors, and Separators | 5 | 7% |
| Storm Drainage | 1 | 1% |
ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam Prep Checklist
- Get the reference books the bulletin lists, in the editions it names.
- Learn each book's table of contents and index first.
- Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
- Start with the biggest topics: Administration General Regulations and Plumbing Fixtures (57% of the exam).
- Take our timed practice exams until you pass several in a row.
- After each attempt, look up every question you missed in your book.
- Practice at the real exam's pace: about 3 minutes 26 seconds per question.
ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber (2018 IPC) Exam Reference Books
The listed reference is the 2018 International Plumbing Code.
Where to get them:
Test Day Checklist
- First pass: answer every question you know. Bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you return to bookmarked questions.
- Second pass: work through your bookmarks.
- Pace: 4 hours for 70 questions, which is about 3 minutes 26 seconds per question.
- Last step: answer anything still blank. 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.
Our practice exam is specifically designed to mimic the testing conditions at all exam centers. While untimed PDF study guides might help with studying, they don’t prepare you for the challenge of managing your time during an actual test.
Be alert to hedging words like likely, may, can, sometimes, usually, generally, and rarely—question writers use them to account for exceptions. An answer choice is often wrong simply because it allows no exceptions. Similarly, avoid choices containing absolute terms like exactly and always.
A little anxiety before an exam is completely normal — acknowledge it instead of fighting it. If you feel yourself spiraling on a question, pause and take a few slow breaths to reset. If your test center allows a short break, use it; just remember the clock usually keeps running.
Don't let the clock rattle you. It's easy to feel overwhelmed when facing a page full of questions, a racing mind, and a ticking clock. Stay calm and stick to your planned pace. If you've been monitoring your progress consistently, you'll have enough time to finish. Even if the final minutes feel rushed, as long as you have only as many questions remaining as you should at that point, you're exactly where you need to be.
ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber (2018 IPC) Sample Questions
From our practice question bank, with answers and references:
Sample 1 — Sanitary Drainage
Question: You are a master plumber supervising a crew installing a building sewer that is 6 inches in diameter and 280 feet long. How many cleanouts are required along this run at a minimum?
- A. 4
- B. 2
- C. 1
- D. 3
Correct Answer: D
Per IPC Section 708.1.2, building sewers smaller than 8 inches shall have cleanouts at intervals of not more than 100 feet. Per Section 708.1.3, a cleanout is also required at or near the junction of the building drain and sewer. For a 280-foot run, cleanouts are needed at intervals of 100 feet (at approximately 0 ft/junction, 100 ft, and 200 ft), requiring a minimum of 3 cleanouts to serve the entire length.
Reference: IPC 2018 Sections 708.1.2 and 708.1.3
Sample 2 — Plumbing Vent Requirements
Question: In a high-rise building, a soil stack has more than 10 branch intervals, so relief vents are being installed at each tenth interval. The upper end of each relief vent connects to the vent stack through a wye located at least how far above the floor?
- A. 1 foot
- B. 3 feet
- C. 6 feet
- D. 2 feet
Correct Answer: B
Per IPC 908.2, the lower end of each relief vent connects to the soil or waste stack through a wye below the horizontal branch serving the floor, and the upper end connects to the vent stack through a wye not less than 3 feet above the floor. The relief vent is sized equal to the vent stack to which it connects.
Reference: IPC 2018 Chapter 9 Vents, Sections 908.1 and 908.2
Sample 3 — Traps, Interceptors, and Separators
Question: A potable water-supplied trap seal primer valve must conform to which standard?
- A. ASSE 1044
- B. ASSE 1018
- C. ASME A112.14.3
- D. ASSE 1072
Correct Answer: B
Per IPC Section 1002.4.1.1, potable water-supplied trap seal primer valves shall conform to ASSE 1018. ASSE 1044 applies to waste water-supplied trap primer devices (Section 1002.4.1.3), and ASSE 1072 applies to barrier-type trap seal protection devices (Section 1002.4.1.4).
Reference: IPC 2018 Section 1002.4.1.1
Sample 4 — Storm Drainage
Question: When sizing roof drains and storm drainage piping, how is a vertical wall that diverts rainwater to the roof accounted for?
- A. One-half of the vertical wall area is added to the projected roof area
- B. One-quarter of the vertical wall area is added to the projected roof area
- C. The full area of the vertical wall is added to the projected roof area
- D. Vertical walls are not considered in storm drainage sizing
Correct Answer: A
Per Section 1106.4, one-half of the area of any vertical wall that diverts rainwater to the roof shall be added to the projected roof area for inclusion in calculating the required size of vertical conductors, leaders, and horizontal storm drainage piping.
Reference: IPC 2018 Section 1106.4
Online Practice vs. a PDF
- Timed: you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them.
- Bookmarks: flag questions and come back, the way you will on test day.
- New sets: each attempt draws new questions from our bank.
- Scored by topic: your results show which outline topics need more study.
Next Step
- Take the free ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber (2018 IPC) practice exam.
- Study the topics where you scored lowest.
- Read the exam bulletin for the official rules, and see the licensing board's website.