ICC G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2018 IPC/IFGC) Exam: Step-by-Step Study Guide
Preparing for the ICC G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2018 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 G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2018 IPC/IFGC) Exam Overview
Start with the facts. Here's what the official bulletin says:
| Questions | 70 questions |
| Time limit | 3 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
- 2018 International Fuel Gas 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 G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2018 IPC/IFGC) Exam
Next, the content. The official content outline has 8 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Administration General Regulations | 24 | 34% |
| Plumbing Fixtures | 8 | 11% |
| Water Supply and Distribution | 8 | 11% |
| Sanitary Drainage | 6 | 9% |
| Plumbing Vent Requirements | 5 | 7% |
| Traps, Interceptors, and Separators | 5 | 7% |
| Storm Drainage | 1 | 1% |
| Gas Piping | 13 | 19% |
A Simple Plan to Prepare for the ICC G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2018 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. 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 34 seconds per question.
Along the way, give the most time to the biggest topics. Administration General Regulations and Gas Piping make up 53% 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 G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2018 IPC/IFGC) Exam
The listed references are the 2018 International Plumbing Code and the 2018 International Fuel Gas 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
You're given plenty of time, so use as much of it as you need. Don't get rattled when other people finish early — finishing first isn't a prize. Work at your own steady pace and review your answers before you submit.
After each practice test, note the topics you miss most and spend your next session there. Re-testing weak areas yields far more score gain than re-reading what you already know.
Several 25–30 minute sessions across the week beat one long cram. Spaced repetition moves facts into long-term memory so they stick through exam day.
On tough multiple-choice questions, rule out the options you know are wrong before choosing. Narrowing to two choices sharply improves your odds even when you're unsure.
Sample ICC G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2018 IPC/IFGC) Practice Questions
Here are a few questions from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Water Supply and Distribution
Question: What is the minimum pipe bending radius permitted for polyethylene (PE) water service pipe?
- A. 15 pipe diameters or the minimum coil radius, whichever is greater
- B. 30 pipe diameters or the minimum coil radius, whichever is greater
- C. 25 pipe diameters or the minimum coil radius, whichever is greater
- D. 20 pipe diameters or the minimum coil radius, whichever is greater
Correct Answer: B
Per IPC 605.18.4, the minimum pipe bending radius for PE pipe shall be not less than 30 pipe diameters, or the minimum coil radius, whichever is greater.
Reference: IPC 2018 Section 605.18.4
Sample 2 — 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 3 — 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 4 — Traps, Interceptors, and Separators
Question: You are installing a sand interceptor for heavy solids serving a commercial equipment-wash bay. The interceptor is located for ready access for cleaning. What is the minimum water seal the interceptor must have?
- A. 4 inches
- B. 6 inches
- C. 18 inches
- D. 2 inches
Correct Answer: B
Per IPC 2018 Section 1003.5, sand and similar interceptors for heavy solids shall be designed and located so as to be provided with ready access for cleaning and shall have a water seal of not less than 6 inches (152 mm). The 2-inch and 4-inch values are the minimum and maximum liquid seal limits for fixture traps (Section 1002.4), and 18 inches is the minimum water seal required at the outlet of a designed oil separator (Section 1003.4.2.1).
Reference: IPC 2018 Chapter 10, Section 1003.5
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 G28 Journeyman Plumber with Gas (2018 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.