Massachusetts Journeyman Plumber (UPC) Practice Test

Free practice for the Massachusetts Journeyman Plumber Exam (UPC). Tap an answer to see if you are right, why, and which code section to look up.

Questions are checked against public sources. They are not yet reviewed by a licensed professional.

About the exam

Code edition: 248 CMR 10.00 Massachusetts Uniform State Plumbing Code (2023, state-written)

Written exam

questions (80 scored)

2 h 40 min

time

70%

to pass

Closed book

Topic weights are provisional until the candidate bulletin is reviewed.

Free practice questions

Question 1

In the plumbing codes, what is an air gap in a water supply system?

Question 2

Which job is normally exempt from a plumbing permit under the model codes?

Question 3

What is the minimum distance from the center of a water closet to a side wall or partition?

Question 4

What is the minimum size of a building water service pipe?

Question 5

Under the UPC, what is the standard minimum slope for a 3-inch horizontal drain?

Question 6

What is the main purpose of a plumbing vent system?

Question 7

What safety device must every storage-type water heater have?

Question 8

Calculation

Use 1,000 Btu per cubic foot for natural gas. A furnace is rated 80,000 Btu/h. What gas flow does it need?

Question 9

What is the correct order for making a PVC solvent-cement joint?

Question 10

Under Chapter 142, what must a Massachusetts journeyman plumber do with the license on the job?

Question 11

Which plumbing work needs no permit in Massachusetts?

Question 12

Under Chapter 142, what is the most a hot water tank's working pressure may be, compared with the test pressure marked on it?

Question 13

An indirect waste pipe ends below the flood level rim of a floor sink but above its trap seal, and the joint is open to the air. This connection is called:

Question 14

When must the rough-in inspection of drainage, vent and water piping be made?

Question 15

Two water closets are installed side by side. What is the minimum center-to-center spacing?

Question 16

Under the UPC, when may a water pipe be laid in the same trench as a building sewer made of a material not approved inside buildings?

Question 17

Calculation

A 40-ft horizontal drain is laid at 1/4 inch per foot. How much total fall does it have?

Question 18

How many vent pipes must extend to the outdoors from a building's drainage system?

Question 19

At what maximum temperature must a water heater's temperature relief function open?

Question 20

Calculation

Use 1,000 Btu per cubic foot. A house has a 100,000 Btu/h furnace, a 40,000 Btu/h water heater, a 65,000 Btu/h range and a 35,000 Btu/h dryer. What total gas load must the piping carry?

Calculation practice

Generated problems with worked solutions, the part most candidates fail.

Practice by topic

Definitions & terms

Questions: 46

General regulations, materials, joints & testing

Questions: 52

Fixtures & traps

Questions: 47

Water supply, distribution & backflow

Questions: 61 · Often missed

Sanitary drainage

Questions: 59 · Often missed

Venting

Questions: 44 · Often missed

Questions: 34 · Often missed

Licensing, apprentices & renewal

Questions: 12 · Often missed

Permits & inspections

Questions: 9 · Often missed

Hot water tank law

Questions: 5

Exam rules

Real test: 80 questions, 70% to pass. Not confirmed by the board: time limit; this practice exam uses 2 h 40 min. Check your candidate bulletin.

Closed book: you answer from memory.

Questions are written to the UPC 2021 (UPC version). Check your state's code edition and amendments.

Calculation questions give every value you need; use the values in the question, not a table.

This version follows the UPC; pick the IPC version if your exam uses that code.

Two parts (80 + 40 questions, 70% each). Massachusetts writes its own code; this national IPC/UPC practice covers the shared basics of part 1, plus the Massachusetts law and Board rules items (M.G.L. c. 142 and 248 CMR 3.00) from the Massachusetts pack.

Whether the real test is offered in Spanish is not confirmed.

Unofficial practice; not affiliated with the licensing board or the test vendor.

Frequently asked questions

How is the Massachusetts Journeyman Plumber Exam (UPC) structured?

It has Written exam (80 questions, 2 h 40 min, 70%). You need to pass each part.

Is the exam open book?

No. It is closed book, so practice until you know the rules without looking them up.

Can I take the exam in Spanish?

Some exams are offered in Spanish; check your candidate bulletin. Every question here is available in Spanish too.

Are these the real exam questions?

No. SkillPermit Pro is an independent study tool. Questions are written in our own words; they are not taken from the exam and are not endorsed by any licensing agency or testing vendor.

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Not affiliated with any state agency, TDLR, PSI, NFPA, EPA or CSLB. NEC® and National Electrical Code® are registered trademarks of NFPA.

Practice questions are written in our own words and cite code sections by number. Always study from your own copy of the code and the official candidate bulletin.

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