- Part 1 has 110 questions in 4 hours; Part 2 has 132 questions in 4 hours - Part 2 is the larger share.
- Each part costs $95, exams are open book, and passing requires 70% on each part.
- Only DSPS-approved bound references are allowed - no loose paper, tabs, sticky notes, or paperclips.
- Passing results are valid for one year, so schedule both parts within that window.
Quick Facts Snapshot
If you only have five minutes before walking into a Pearson VUE testing center, this is the page to bookmark. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) licenses Master Plumbers, and the credential is validated through a two-part computer-based exam delivered at six in-state Pearson VUE testing locations. Everything below is pulled directly from the current exam structure - no filler, no generic test-taking fluff.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administering Body | Wisconsin DSPS (exam delivered via Pearson VUE) |
| Part 1 Length | 110 questions / 4 hours |
| Part 2 Length | 132 questions / 4 hours |
| Fee per Part | $95 each |
| Exam Format | Open book, computer-based |
| Passing Score | 70% per part |
| Result Validity | 1 year |
| License Term | 4 years, expires March 31 |
| Renewal Fee | $500 |
| CE Requirement | 24 approved hours per term |
For a deeper narrative walkthrough of these numbers, the WI-MP Study Guide 2026 breaks down how to convert this snapshot into a week-by-week plan.
Exam Structure: Part 1 vs Part 2
The WI-MP examination is split into two separately scored parts, each administered as its own four-hour block. Part 1 contains 110 questions and Part 2 contains 132 questions - meaning Part 2 carries the larger share of total content and, practically speaking, deserves the larger share of your prep time. Candidates can register for both parts together or space them out, but because passing results are only valid for one year, most candidates aim to complete both within a single testing cycle rather than letting momentum fade.
Because the two parts are scored independently at 70% each, a strong Part 1 score does not offset a weak Part 2 score. Each part stands on its own, which is a detail candidates sometimes overlook when they assume the exam works like a single combined score. For a full explanation of how the scoring threshold interacts with both parts, see WI-MP Passing Score 2026.
Registration, Fees, and Reference Rules
Registration and cost mechanics catch more candidates off guard than the content itself. Each part of the exam costs $95, so completing both parts totals $190 in exam fees alone - before factoring in reference materials, application costs through DSPS, or renewal fees down the road. A complete cost breakdown, including how exam fees fit into the total investment of becoming licensed, is available in WI-MP Certification Cost 2026.
Reference material rules are strict and specific:
- Allowed: DSPS-approved bound references and notes, plus architect and engineer scale rulers.
- Not allowed: loose paper, removable tabs, sticky notes, paperclips, or any form of practice exam brought into the testing room.
Key Takeaway
Build your reference binder as a single bound volume with permanently affixed organization - no removable tabs - well before test day, since testing center staff will inspect materials and can reject anything that violates the bound-reference rule.
Testing windows and appointment scheduling through Pearson VUE change periodically, so confirm current openings before locking in a study timeline. The WI-MP Exam Dates 2026 guide covers testing windows, deadlines, and how far in advance to schedule at one of the six Wisconsin Pearson VUE centers.
Eligibility Pathways at a Glance
Before you can sit for either part, DSPS requires proof of qualifying experience or education. The two primary paths are:
Pathway 1: Journeyman Experience
At least 1,000 hours per year working as a licensed Wisconsin Journeyman Plumber, sustained for three years. This is the most common route into the Master Plumber exam.
- Hours must be documented and meet the annual minimum each year
- Journeyman license must remain active throughout the qualifying period
Pathway 2: Approved Engineering Degree
An approved plumbing-related engineering degree can substitute for the journeyman-hours requirement, though candidates should confirm the specific degree qualifies under current DSPS guidance.
- Degree must be plumbing-related and DSPS-approved
- Fewer candidates use this route, but it exists as a formal alternative
There are also separate comity pathways for applicants coming from out-of-state apprenticeships, licenses, or equivalent experience - useful for plumbers relocating to Wisconsin who already hold credentials elsewhere. Full eligibility detail, including how comity applications are evaluated, is covered in WI-MP Requirements 2026.
Domain Breakdown: What Each Part Covers
The WI-MP exam is organized into two content domains that map directly to the two testing parts:
Domain 1: Master Plumber - Part 1
Covers the foundational content assessed across 110 questions in the first four-hour session. Candidates should treat this as the base layer of code knowledge and system understanding that the second part builds on.
- Answer within the four-hour window while managing reference-lookup time
- Use your bound reference binder efficiently - practice locating sections quickly before test day
Domain 2: Master Plumber - Part 2
The larger of the two parts, with 132 questions in four hours. Because this domain carries more questions, it represents the bigger share of total exam content and should receive proportionally more study time.
- Allocate extra review sessions here given its larger question count
- Pace yourself across 132 questions in four hours - that's a tighter per-question window than Part 1
For a complete walkthrough of every topic area within these two domains - including how question weight is distributed - see WI-MP Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 2 Content Areas. Understanding domain weight is one of the fastest ways to fix a study plan that's spread too thin.
Scoring, Retakes, and Validity Window
Passing each part requires a score of 70%. Since Part 1 and Part 2 are scored independently, you need to clear the 70% threshold on both - not average across them. If you pass one part but not the other, you'll retake only the part you didn't clear, but keep the one-year validity window in mind: passing results expire after one year, so don't let a passed Part 1 sit too long while you retest Part 2.
If you're trying to gauge how challenging the exam actually is relative to your current experience level, How Hard Is the WI-MP Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through the format-specific challenges of open-book, timed, code-reference-heavy testing. And if you want a data-grounded look at outcomes rather than assumptions, check WI-MP Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
License Term, Renewal, and CE Hours
Passing both parts of the exam and completing your DSPS application results in a Master Plumber license valid for a four-year term. Key dates and obligations to track:
- Expiration: All licenses expire on March 31 regardless of when during the term you were issued.
- Renewal fee: $500 per renewal cycle.
- Continuing education: 24 approved CE hours required within each four-year term.
Key Takeaway
Start tracking CE hours early in your four-year term rather than scrambling in year four - 24 hours spread across four years is far less stressful than compressed into the final months before the March 31 deadline.
Thinking beyond the exam itself, it's worth understanding what the license actually opens up professionally. WI-MP Salary Guide 2026 and Is the WI-MP Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 both look at the practical value of holding the credential, while WI-MP Jobs covers the type of employers and roles that specifically require or prefer a Master Plumber license in Wisconsin.
The Week-Before Checklist
Rather than generic exam-day advice, here's a WI-MP-specific final-week checklist tied to the actual mechanics of this test:
Reference Binder Audit
- Confirm every reference is bound - remove any loose sheets, tabs, or sticky notes now
- Verify your architect/engineer scale rulers are the approved type
Part 2 Emphasis Review
- Since Part 2 covers 132 questions versus Part 1's 110, spend more of this window reinforcing Part 2 content
- Time yourself locating answers in your bound reference under simulated four-hour pressure
Logistics Lock-In
- Confirm your Pearson VUE appointment location among the six Wisconsin centers
- Recheck DSPS ID and documentation requirements so nothing delays check-in
For candidates who want a broader multi-week study framework rather than just the final stretch, the WI-MP Study Guide 2026 lays out a full first-attempt strategy, and you can sharpen recall of code scenarios using timed practice sets on the main practice test platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Part 1 has 110 questions and Part 2 has 132 questions, for a combined 242 questions across both four-hour sessions.
Yes, both Part 1 and Part 2 are open book, but only DSPS-approved bound references and notes are permitted - loose paper, tabs, sticky notes, and paperclips are not allowed.
Each part costs $95, so completing both Part 1 and Part 2 totals $190 in exam fees. See WI-MP Certification Cost 2026 for the full cost picture.
You need 70% on each part. Part 1 and Part 2 are scored independently, so passing one doesn't compensate for failing the other.
Passing results remain valid for one year, so plan to complete both parts within that window if you don't pass them at the same time.
The license term is four years, expiring every March 31. Renewal costs $500 and requires 24 approved continuing education hours.
For broader background on the credential itself - including how it's defined and what it stands for - see What Is WI-MP?, WI-MP Meaning, and WI-MP Certification. Keep this cheat sheet handy alongside your bound reference binder as you move through the final weeks of prep on the practice test platform.