- Trade exam is 100 questions, 4.17 hours, open book, 70% to pass.
- Business Law exam adds 40 questions, 2 hours, also 70% to pass, required from January 1, 2026.
- Combined trade plus Business Law examination fees total $260, separate from certificate and application fees.
- Sizing and Design and System Installation are the two heaviest domains on the trade exam.
What the AL-MP Actually Tests
The Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board administers the Master Plumber trade examination through testing provider Prov, and this is the credential this site refers to as AL-MP. If you're still getting oriented, What Is AL-MP? and AL-MP Meaning both walk through the terminology in plain language, while AL-MP Certification covers the credential itself in more depth.
This cheat sheet is a condensed, print-and-pin reference for candidates who already understand the basics and want every load-bearing fact in one place before test day: fees, timing, domain weight, allowed materials, and post-pass deadlines. It is not a substitute for full preparation - for that, see the AL-MP Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Fees, Applications, and Exam Mechanics
The fee structure has several moving parts, and mixing them up is one of the most common avoidable mistakes candidates make. Here's the breakdown as it stands for the January 2026 Board application cycle:
- Trade examination fee: $160
- Business Law examination fee: $100 (required for Master applicants from January 1, 2026)
- Combined examination fees: $260
- Initial application processing fee: $50 (separate line item on the Board fee schedule)
- Initial Master certificate fee: $175
These are distinct charges tracked separately by the Board, not one bundled "exam fee." For a full walkthrough of how each line item fits together - including what's a one-time cost versus a recurring one - see AL-MP Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
To qualify as an in-state applicant, you need a current Alabama certificate and at least one year of current, verifiable journeyman work experience, plus Board approval and lawful-presence documentation. AL-MP Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify covers the documentation checklist in detail if you haven't confirmed eligibility yet.
Key Takeaway
Budget for $260 in combined examination fees, plus a separate $50 processing fee and $175 initial certificate fee - three distinct payments, not one.
Exam Format Snapshot
| Detail | Trade Examination | Business Law Examination |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 100 | 40 |
| Time Allowed | 4.17 hours | 2 hours |
| Format | Computer-administered, open book | Computer-administered |
| Passing Score | 70% | 70% |
| Fee | $160 | $100 |
| Retake Rule | Repeat only if failed | Repeat only if failed |
Testing is available both at physical test centers and through eligible Examroom remote appointments, so scheduling flexibility isn't a reason to delay. For exact windows and how far ahead to book, check AL-MP Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
The 11 Domains at a Glance
The 11 domains below apply to the trade examination only and follow the official question allocations out of 100. Sizing and Design and System Installation carry the most weight, so your review time should tilt heavily toward those two areas rather than being spread evenly across all 11.
Domain 3: Sizing and Design
One of the two largest domains. Expect questions on pipe sizing methodology, fixture unit calculations, and system design logic pulled from the 2021 IPC and 2021 IFGC.
- Fixture unit tables and how they drive pipe diameter
- Water supply and drainage sizing scenarios
Domain 4: System Installation
The other heavyweight domain. Covers correct installation sequencing, code-compliant methods, and practical field judgment questions.
- Installation order and support spacing
- Code-referenced installation clearances
Domains 1, 2, 5, 6: General Knowledge, Drawings and Plan Reading, Trade Math, Tools
Foundational domains that test whether you can read a plumbing plan, apply trade math correctly under time pressure, and identify proper tool use.
- Plan symbol interpretation
- Trade math applied to real fixture and pipe scenarios
Domains 7-11: Water Heaters, Roof Drain Systems, Fixtures and Fittings, Drain Waste and Vents, Safety
Smaller but still scored domains covering equipment-specific and system-specific knowledge plus jobsite safety principles.
- Water heater venting and sizing basics
- DWV slope, venting, and trap requirements
For a domain-by-domain deep dive with more example topics under each heading, see AL-MP Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 11 Content Areas. If you're weighing how demanding this exam really is compared to your current skill level, How Hard Is the AL-MP Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down the difficulty qualitatively.
Exam-Day Rules: What You Can and Can't Bring
Because the trade examination is open book, Alabama has specific and somewhat unusual rules about what "open book" actually permits. Getting this wrong can cost you materials access mid-exam.
- Permitted: approved references, permanent tabs, highlighting, a simple four-function calculator, and pen-only margin notes (no calculations written in margins)
- Prohibited: movable tabs, Post-it notes, added photocopies, and practice-test books
Because passing requires a 70% score on each exam, precision in how you use your allowed reference time matters as much as raw knowledge. AL-MP Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass explains exactly how that threshold is applied.
After You Pass: Certificate and CE Deadlines
Passing both exams isn't the finish line - there's a clock that starts immediately.
- 90 calendar days: the window to obtain your Master certificate after passing both required examinations
- $175 annual renewal: due during the October 1-December 31 renewal window each year
- 4 CE hours annually: required for renewal, subject to Board exemptions - plumber-only holders need four plumbing hours, while dual plumbing/gas holders split the four hours between trades
- 2027 certification example: complete and submit CE before November 1, 2026, then renew during October 1-December 31, 2026
Key Takeaway
Missing the 90-day certificate window or the CE submission deadline creates avoidable delays - mark both dates the moment you pass your exams.
Once you're weighing whether the ongoing renewal and CE commitment pays off long-term, Is the AL-MP Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and AL-MP Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis are useful companion reads. Employers hiring licensed Master Plumbers in Alabama typically look for exactly this certificate status, and AL-MP Jobs covers what that hiring landscape looks like.
A Compressed Final-Review Schedule
If you're using this cheat sheet in the final stretch before an exam date, don't try to re-study everything evenly. Weight your remaining hours toward the two largest domains first, then sweep the smaller ones.
Sizing and Design + System Installation
- Redo fixture unit and pipe sizing problems until they're automatic
- Review installation sequencing scenarios against 2021 IPC/IFGC references
Trade Math, Drawings and Plan Reading, General Knowledge
- Time yourself on math-heavy questions to build speed for the 4.17-hour window
- Practice reading plan symbols under exam-like conditions
Water Heaters, DWV, Fixtures and Fittings, Roof Drain Systems, Tools, Safety
- Sweep the remaining smaller domains for gaps
- Finalize permanent tabs in your approved references
Business Law + Logistics
- Review Business Law content separately since it's a distinct 40-question exam
- Confirm test-center or Examroom appointment details and allowed materials list
This sequencing intentionally mirrors the exam's own weighting rather than a generic study calendar - a full walkthrough of this approach lives in the AL-MP Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Quick Reference Table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Governing Board | Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board |
| Testing Provider | Prov |
| Trade Exam Fee | $160 |
| Business Law Exam Fee | $100 |
| Combined Exam Fees | $260 |
| Initial Application Processing Fee | $50 |
| Initial Master Certificate Fee | $175 |
| Trade Exam Length / Questions | 4.17 hours / 100 questions |
| Business Law Exam Length / Questions | 2 hours / 40 questions |
| Passing Score (Both Exams) | 70% |
| Certificate Deadline After Passing | 90 calendar days |
| Annual Renewal Fee | $175 |
| Renewal Window | October 1 - December 31 |
| Annual CE Requirement | 4 approved hours |
If you want the pass-rate context behind these numbers, AL-MP Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows summarizes what's publicly known. And if you're still building your prep plan from scratch, our practice test platform is built around these exact domain weights so you can drill Sizing and Design and System Installation without wasting time on lower-weight areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. From January 1, 2026, the separate Business Law examination is required for Master applicants regardless of prior journeyman status, in addition to the trade examination.
Yes, the trade examination is computer-administered and open book, but only approved references with permanent tabs, highlighting, a simple four-function calculator, and pen-only margin notes are allowed. Movable tabs, Post-it notes, photocopies, and practice-test books are prohibited.
Only the failed examination must be repeated. If you pass the trade exam but fail Business Law, you only need to retake Business Law, and vice versa.
You must obtain the Master certificate within 90 calendar days after passing both required examinations.
Four approved CE hours annually, subject to Board exemptions. Plumber-only holders need four plumbing hours, while dual plumbing/gas holders split the four hours between the two trades.
Keep this page bookmarked as your one-stop reference through renewal season, and pair it with the AL-MP Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 11 Content Areas for deeper domain-level study before you sit for either exam.