Apr 23, 2013 1 min read

A bill that would create a uniform licensing procedure for plumbers in Pennsylvania has moved out of a state Senate committee and could be voted on soon by the entire legislative body.

The Senate’s Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure committee last week pushed through the bill by a 13-1 vote that would require all plumbers to be certified by a statewide licensing board, according to state Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg. It would prohibit anyone from advertising as an apprentice, journeyman or master plumber without proper licensing.

However, the bill would not cover plumbers in Allegheny and Philadelphia counties because each has its own testing procedures for plumbers.

“Homeowners should be able (to) know whether someone running a plumbing business has the training and experience to do the job,” Solobay said in a press release. “As it stands now, anyone can call himself a plumber and the requirements can vary from town to town and state to state.”

Solobay added that some Pennsylvania plumbers have trouble finding work in neighboring states because of the patchwork standards.