Trade Licenses

Trade Licenses are issued for the purpose of verifying an individual's qualifications for performing trade work. Trade Licenses are issued to individuals, not to companies.

All license applications must be submitted through the OneStopPGH platform linked here, or in-person at the OneStopPGH counter at 412 Boulevard of the Allies.

 

The Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections issues the following Trade Licenses (click on the dropdown for information specific to the license):

Electrical Trade License

The City of Pittsburgh requires an Electrical Trade License to perform electrical work within the City of Pittsburgh.

License Requirements

New Licensees:

  • Valid Government Issued Photo ID
  • A copy of proof of passing the certified standardized test (details below).
  • A resume or documentation establishing a minimum of six (6) years of a combination of experience and education.

Renewal:

  • Valid Government Issued Photo ID
  • Proof of completing eight (8) hours of Continuing Education Units within the previous twelve (12) months from the license renewal date.


How to Schedule Your Exam

  1. Visit the ICC - Contractor/Trades page, select "Non-authorized Candidates" and follow these instructions to schedule your exam
  2. Type or paste one of the following codes in the form entry box beneath the "Available Exams" heading: T16, G16, or F16 and hit Enter/Return. This will bring up a link for your chosen version of the National Standard Master Electrician Exam.
  3. Clicking this link will bring up the test details. View the testing policies for this exam and click "Schedule this Exam".
  4. You will have to create an account with Pearson Vue prior to scheduling and paying for your exam. Once you create your non-authorized contractors account, return to the exam page.
  5. Schedule and pay for your exam. Print out confirmations of your scheduled exam and payment. Make sure to arrive early for your exam on your test date.
  6. All ICC exams are proctored by Pearson Vue, and can be scheduled through their website.
  7. PLI will accept all exam versions that meet the requirement through the ICC; the applicant should choose the exam that covers the most recent code year adopted by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (“UCC”).
    Available versions include:
    • The National Standard Master Electrical - T16
      • Exam references the NFPA 70®: National Electrical Code® (NEC®), 2020 Edition; and Ugly's Electrical References (any edition). View the exam bulletin for a detailed breakdown of test content.
    • The National Standard Master Electrical - G16
      • Exam references the NFPA 70®: National Electrical Code® (NEC®), 2017 Edition; and Ugly's Electrical References (any edition). View the exam bulletin for a detailed breakdown of test content.
    • The National Standard Master Electrical - F16
      • Exam references the NFPA 70®: National Electrical Code® (NEC®), 2014 Edition; and Ugly's Electrical References (any edition). View the exam bulletin for a detailed breakdown of test content.

PLI will also accept previous versions of this exam, or a passing score letter from the Pittsburgh-proctored exam, to be evaluated by the License Officer.


Mechanical Trade License

The City of Pittsburgh requires an Mechanical Contractor License to install, erect, enlarge, repair, alter, remove, convert, or replace any mechanical system within the City of Pittsburgh.


License Requirements

New Licensees:

  • Valid Government Issued Photo ID
  • A copy of proof of passing the certified standardized test (details below).
  • A resume or documentation establishing a minimum of four (4) years of a combination of experience and education.

Renewal:

  • Valid Government Issued Photo ID
  • Proof of completing eight (8) hours of Continuing Education Units within the previous twelve (12) months from the license renewal date.

How to Schedule Your Exam

  • All ICC exams are proctored by Pearson Vue, and can be scheduled through their website. The approved reference materials for the National Standard Master Mechanical - F29 exam are the 2015 International Mechanical Code®, the 2015 International Fuel Gas Code®, and the 2014 National Electrical Code®.
  • The National Standard Master Mechanical - W29 exam references the 2012 International Mechanical Code®, the 2012 International Fuel Gas Code®, and the 2011 National Electrical Code®. View the exam bulletin for a detailed breakdown of test content.
  • Visit the ICC - Contractor/Trades page, select "Non-authorized Candidates" and follow these instructions to schedule your exam.
    1. Type or paste one of the following codes in the form entry box beneath the "Available Exams" heading: F29 or W29 and hit Enter/Return. This will bring up a link for the National Standard Master Mechanical Exam.
    2. Clicking this link will bring up the test details. View the testing policies for this exam and click "Schedule this Exam".
    3. You will have to create an account with Pearson Vue prior to scheduling and paying for your exam. Once you create your non-authorized contractors account, return to the exam page.
    4. Schedule and pay for your exam. Print out confirmations of your scheduled exam and payment. Make sure to arrive early for your exam on your test date


Fire Suppression Trade License

A Fire Suppression Trade License is required to install, erect, enlarge, repair, alter, remove, convert, or replace any fire suppression systems within the City of Pittsburgh. Cooking hood work does not require a Fire Suppression Trade License.


License Requirements

New Licensees:

  • Valid Government Issued Photo ID
  • A copy of proof of passing the certified standardized test (details below).
  • A resume or documentation establishing a minimum of six (6) years of a combination of experience and education.

Renewal:

  • Valid Government Issued Photo ID
  • Proof of completing eight (8) hours of Continuing Education Units within the previous twelve (12) months from the license renewal date.

What exams will be accepted?

  • ICC standardized test: PLI will accept any authentic, passed “Fire Suppression Installation Contractor” ICC exam, beginning with the 2015 code year and continuing
  • NICET standardized tests: PLI will accept any authentic, passed National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (“NICET”) exams including both the Level III Water-based Systems Layout and Special Hazards Systems Layout tests. Both tests must be completed to be considered equivalent to the ICC test defined above

Stationary Power Engineer License

The City of Pittsburgh requires a Stationary Engineer license for any person that controls or operates pipes, boilers, stationary or locomotive engines, and/or any other containers, tanks or vessels under pressure of water, liquid, gas or steam in the City of Pittsburgh.

License Requirements

New Licensees:

Renewal:

  • Valid Government Issued Photo ID
  • Proof of completing eight (8) hours of Continuing Education Units within the previous twelve (12) months from the license renewal date.

Continuing Education Credits

PLI will accept relevant continuing education credits from relevant trainings provided by the International Union of Operating Engineers (“IUOE”) and relevant Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) courses.


Stationary Power Engineer License

The City of Pittsburgh requires a Stationary Engineer license for any person that controls or operates pipes, boilers, stationary or locomotive engines, and/or any other containers, tanks or vessels under pressure of water, liquid, gas or steam in the City of Pittsburgh.

License Requirements

New Licensees:

Renewal:

  • Valid Government Issued Photo ID
  • Proof of completing eight (8) hours of Continuing Education Units within the previous twelve (12) months from the license renewal date.

Continuing Education Credits

PLI will accept relevant continuing education credits from relevant trainings provided by the International Union of Operating Engineers (“IUOE”) and relevant Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) courses.


 

Additional Applicant Information

In order to obtain permits, trade license holders must provide the documents listed below in addition to those required by their license application:

  • General Liability Certificate of Insurance showing coverage for the applicant at the location where licensed activity will take place, and listing the City of Pittsburgh as the certificate holder and additionally insured. General liability insurance minimums as follows: $1,000,000 each occurrence, $2,000,000 general aggregate.
  • Worker’s Compensation Certificate of Insurance showing Worker's Compensation coverage for the applicant business and listing the City of Pittsburgh as the certificate holder. If the business does not have any employees, the department will accept a notarized statement attesting that there are no employees. (You can download that form here.)
  • Tax Compliance Letter from the City Department of Finance, which you can request via email at taxcompliance@pittsburghpa.gov

 

Fees

The permit and license fees for the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections undergo periodic adjustments. Please consult the current year’s Fee Schedule.

Note – once a license has been issued, refunds are not provided. Expired licenses within the 60 day grace period may incur a late fee.

 

Continuing Education Units Information

Trade License holders are required to obtain eight (8) continuing education units (CEUs) annually to be eligible for renewal. One CEU is equal to one hour.  A list of accepted Continuing Education Units for Trade License Holders and when they must be completed can be found here: Continuing Education Units for Trade License Holders(PDF, 57KB)

PLI will accept relevant continuing education credits from accredited institutions as listed by:

  • The ICC Preferred Provider’s Directory. For a full list of current providers, visit the ICC website, and then “Providers Directory.”
  • The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s (“PA DLI”) Uniform Construction Code continuing education providers. For a list of current providers, visit the Department of Labor and Industry website, and then “Continuing Education Providers.”
  • For Stationary Power Engineers, relevant trainings provided by the International Union of Operating Engineers (“IUOE”) and relevant Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) courses.
  • If you intend to take a course outside of the acceptable CEU provider lists above, PLI will review requests on a case-by-case basis. Please contact PLIAppTech@pittsburghpa.gov with the course title and content, course instructor and qualifications, and information explaining the course relevance to the trade. A determination will be made within ten (10) business days. This pending determination is not a valid reason for license renewal delays. Licensees are solely responsible for providing PLI with the necessary information to make timely CEU determinations. Licenses that expire or lapse during any determination period will be subject to standard processing as per the Rules and Regulations.

In addition, trainings provided by trade-specific union and apprenticeship programs are accepted.

In determining whether a CEU provider is acceptable, PLI will refer to the lists maintained by the third-parties identified above.

 

License Expiration

  • All licenses expire 365 days from the date of issuance. If the license is not renewed within thirty (30) days after the expiration date, per the fee schedule, a late fee is incurred on the thirty-first (31st) day following the expiration date.
  • If the license is not renewed within sixty (60) days after the expiration date, then on the sixty-first (61st) day following the expiration date, the license automatically lapses.
  • All licensees that allow their license to lapse must apply for a new license and meet all new license requirements at the time of that new application. Permits related to the licensed activity will be suspended until a valid and current trade license is connected to the permitted work.

 

last updated: 08/03/2026

Back to top