Plumbing License Reciprocity By State

You’ve already completed the training, exams, and paperwork necessary to work as a plumber. But what happens to your plumber license if you need to move your business to a new state? Every state’s contractor license requirements are different. Sometimes, there are even varying local level and state level requirements for professional and vocational licensing. Will you need to start from scratch and take your licensing exams again to work in a new state? Or will your current license still count through reciprocity agreements?

Do plumbing licenses transfer to other states?

Not all plumbing licenses transfer to other states, but some states' licensing requirements are similar enough to support reciprocity agreements. This makes it far easier for plumbing contractors to transfer their license across state lines and start bidding plumbing jobs . Licensed contractors moving to those states will only need to fill out a form and pay an application fee to obtain a reciprocal license classification. So, instead of time spent studying and taking a new exam, they can focus on their move and jump right into working.

Even if the state where you’re moving doesn’t have an official reciprocal agreement, it’s still a good idea to contact the state's plumbing licensing board. In some cases, you may still be eligible to waive specific fees and exams. For example, you may not be able to skip the business and law exam, but you might be able to transfer your master plumber license because the board has determined your former license and skill level are substantially equivalent to that state's standards.

What is plumbing license reciprocity?

Plumbing license reciprocity allows plumbers to get a license in another state’s licensing board through an expedited process. This works when states enter into reciprocity agreements, essentially stating that they will honor the plumber licensing requirements and qualifications that plumbing contractors have already completed in their home state. In many cases, this exempts applicants from repeating certain steps like an exam or retaking courses, saving licensed contractors significant time, money, and stress.

It’s a nice shortcut if you’re moving to another state or plan to expand your consumer and business services. While the specifics vary by state level licensing requirements and the type of license classification (for example, a master plumber license vs. journeyman license), the process typically involves submitting paperwork, paying an application fee, and showing proof of a current license in good standing. If the board determines your experience is substantially equivalent to their own standards, you can often bypass certain requirements. Once approved, you’ll be licensed in your new state and ready to take on both residential and commercial plumbing work without starting from scratch.

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How Much Does A Reciprocal Plumbing License Cost ?

The cost of a reciprocal plumbing license generally ranges from $50 to $400, depending on your license type. For example, master plumbers and those working as commercial contractors will usually pay more for a master plumber license or a commercial plumbing license than a journeyman plumber would. Additionally, you may need to pay extra for specific certifications if you’re a specialty contractor, such as a specialty residential building plumber classification or a specialty journeyman plumber license.

What Other Requirements Are Needed To Become A Licensed Plumbing Contractor In Another State?

In addition to licensing, requirements for a plumbing license may include taking exams and obtaining insurance. For example, in some states the requirements for obtaining master plumber license reciprocity may differ from those that a journeyman plumber license requires. Some states also require a law and business exam in addition to a trade exam. While you may be exempted from one, there’s still a chance you’ll have to take others.

Of course utilizing reciprocal licensing is no walk in the park, but it’s definitely far easier than retaking the entire plumbing licensing exam in your new state. Before your move, you’ll need to locate that state’s licensing department to contact. From there, you’ll need to find out who you’ll need to reach out to in that state’s department of labor, labor board, or labor commission to begin your reciprocity application.

Your first step in the plumber license reciprocity application process is largely going to consist of paperwork. In order to prove to your new state that you’re qualified to work there, you’ll have to prove that you’ve been qualified to work in your old or current state. This just means that you’ll have to provide some sort of license verification, which usually just consists of filling out a form.

Once your form has been processed by your state’s department of labor, labor board, or labor commission, there are a few different ways the reciprocity application can go. Some states still require plumbers seeking license reciprocity to retake exams. These exams could cover that specific state’s business laws, as well as plumbing license laws that are appropriate or relevant for that state. This is just so that the state has more verification that you’re well equipped for plumbing work.

While the process might seem less streamlined than simply retaking a state plumbing license exam, it really was created with the intent to cut down the amount of time it takes for plumbers to be able to obtain their vocational licensing and start their plumbing work in a new state.

Which states don’t require a plumbing license?

States that don’t require a plumbing license include: Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. However, you may be required to have a license on a local level. If this is the case, you’ll need to contact your state plumbing board to check whether it allows for licenses to be transferred.

How Plumbing Contractors Can Apply For Reciprocity

Because of the varying licensing requirements for each state, research is going to be your best friend transferring your plumbing contractor license. It’s important to get a general idea of the reciprocity process in your new state, and even more important to check that they offer reciprocity to begin with. You’ll have to check what your new state will allow so you can start getting work as soon as possible.

Plumbing contractor licenses are either obtained through the state or through the local municipal government in the city or town you’re working in. Most states only require one or the other, so you won’t need to worry about making sure you have a state license in addition to a local license. This means you’ll have to make sure to contact the right people when looking into license reciprocity. The more you’re prepared when contacting the appropriate department, the faster the overall process will go.

There are a few states that only offer plumber license reciprocity between themselves and specific other states, while others do not offer license reciprocity at all. Though you might not have much choice depending on other outside factors that may be contributing to your move, it’s still important to consider whether you’ll be able to apply for plumber license reciprocity, or whether you’ll need to take the entire state licensing exam, potentially delaying your availability for work as a plumber.

If you need help getting started in your plumber license reciprocity research, we’ve compiled a general list of each state’s reciprocity requirements. While this article won’t cover every tiny detail of license reciprocity, it’s a great jumping off point, and will give you a solid idea of where you’ll need to begin and who you’ll need to contact in order to get started on the reciprocity application process!

Alabama

State Certification Authority: Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board

Reciprocity: Alabama does not currently participate in formal reciprocity agreements with other states for plumbing licenses. However, plumbers or gas fitters who already hold a current license elsewhere may still qualify to sit for Alabama’s licensing examination.

Alaska

State Certification Authority: Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

Reciprocity: Alaska may grant reciprocity if your out of state plumbing license is equivalent to Alaska’s standards. The state reviews work hours, exam requirements, and apprenticeship experience before approval.

Arizona

State Certification Authority: Arizona Registrar of Contractors

Reciprocity: Arizona’s HB 2569 enables plumbers with valid, out of state licenses to receive a plumbing license through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, provided they’ve held the license for at least one year, are in good standing, and satisfy any Arizona specific testing, residency, or background requirements.

Arkansas

State Certification Authority: Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Division

Reciprocity: Arkansas and Texas have established a reciprocal agreement specifically for journeyman plumber licenses. If you're currently licensed as a journeyman plumber in one of these states and your license is in good standing, you can obtain the equivalent journeyman license in the other state without retaking the exam.

California

State Certification Authority: Contractors State License Board

Reciprocity: California recognizes reciprocity with Arizona, Louisiana, and Nevada. If you’ve held a valid contractor license in one of these states for at least five years, you may be eligible to skip the trade exam when applying for a similar license in California. To qualify, the out of state licensing board must confirm your current license by completing the License Verification Request form .

Colorado

State Certification Authority: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, State Plumbing Board

Reciprocity: Colorado does not currently offer formal plumbing license reciprocity with other states.

Connecticut

State Certification Authority: Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection

Reciprocity: Connecticut does not offer formal reciprocity for plumbing licenses. However, if your out of state license required equivalent classroom instruction and on the job training, you may be able to apply through Connecticut’s "equivalent out of state license ” route.

Delaware

State Certification Authority: Delaware Division of Professional Regulation

Reciprocity: Delaware offers reciprocity for applicants with a current Master Plumber license in Connecticut, Iowa, or Maryland, since those states’ standards are considered substantially similar. No proof of experience is required.For all other states or U.S. territories, the Delaware Board will review your license laws and regulations to decide if they qualify.

Florida

State Certification Authority: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Reciprocity: Florida does not offer full reciprocity, but out of state contractors may apply through the state’s endorsement process . To qualify, your license must come from a state with requirements deemed equivalent to Florida’s, including passing a comparable certification exam.

Georgia

State Certification Authority: Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers

Reciprocity: Georgia does not maintain reciprocity agreements with any other states for Master Plumber or Journeyman Plumber licenses.

Hawaii

State Certification Authority: Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division

Reciprocity: Hawaii does not maintain reciprocity agreements with any other states.

Idaho

State Certification Authority: Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses

Reciprocity: Idaho may grant reciprocity for Journeyman Plumber licensure from Montana, Oregon, and Washington. To qualify, applicants must have tested for their current license and show proof of four years of schooling and on the job training.

Illinois

State Certification Authority: Department of Public Health

Reciprocity: Illinois does not offer statewide plumbing license reciprocity, though plumbers licensed in Chicago may apply for state licensure in other districts by submitting the Chicago reciprocity application form .

Indiana

State Certification Authority: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Plumbing Commission

Reciprocity: Indiana does not offer reciprocity for journeyman or contractor plumbers.

Iowa

State Certification Authority: Iowa Department of Public Health, Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board

Reciprocity: Iowa only has a reciprocal agreement with South Dakota for plumbing licenses. Applicants must hold a current South Dakota journeyperson or master plumber license earned through a written exam and provide proof of good standing to the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board. If approved, you can skip Iowa’s exam and apply directly for a comparable license.

Kansas

No state licensing required, check local licensing requirements

Kentucky

State Certification Authority: Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction

Reciprocity: Kentucky allows reciprocity if three conditions are met. The out-of-state license must be from a jurisdiction with a statewide plumbing code, the examination requirements must be at least equivalent to Kentucky’s, and the other state must agree to reciprocate.

Louisiana

State Certification Authority: State Plumbing Board of Louisiana

Reciprocity: Louisiana offers reciprocity for Journeyman Plumber licenses with Texas and Arkansas.

Maine

State Certification Authority: Plumbers’ Examining Board

Reciprocity: Maine will grant a plumbing license to applicants from other states if that state’s requirements are equal to Maine’s and it also offers the same privilege to Maine plumbers. The Board reviews factors like exam type, passing scores, and experience requirements before approving reciprocity. To apply, plumbers must submit an application, pay the fees, provide proof of experience, and include a certified license verification from their home state.

Maryland

State Certification Authority: Maryland Department of Labor

Reciprocity: Maryland only offers reciprocity with Delaware. Applications for reciprocal licenses can be completed online through the Maryland Plumbing Board .

Massachusetts

State Certification Authority: Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters

Reciprocity: Massachusetts does not offer full reciprocity with other states. Out of state applicants may request that their prior education or work experience be accepted as substantially equivalent to Massachusetts requirements , but they must still pass the state plumbing exam.

Michigan

State Certification Authority: Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Reciprocity: Michigan does not have reciprocity with other states. Out of state plumbers must take the Michigan exam, but they can receive partial credit for prior experience by submitting notarized letters that document their hours, years of work, and licensed supervision signed by the master or contractor of record for the companies where they were employed.

Minnesota

State Certification Authority: Department of Labor and Industry

Reciprocity: Minnesota offers reciprocity with North Dakota and South Dakota. Plumbers can apply for a reciprocal license by submitting the application form along with the $50 fee.

Mississippi

State Certification Authority: Mississippi State Board of Contractors

Reciprocity: Mississippi offers reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Plumbers from these states may be able to waive the trade exam when applying for a Mississippi license.

Missouri

No state licensing required to work as a plumber, check local requirements

Montana

State Certification Authority: Montana Board of Plumbers

Reciprocity: Montana offers reciprocity for people who have Journeyman Plumber licenses in Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, or South Dakota. Your license must be active and without complaints, and you must have passed both the written and practical journeyman exams in that state.

Nebraska

No state licensing required to work as a plumber, check local requirements

Nevada

State Certification Authority: Nevada State Contractors Board

Reciprocity: Nevada may maintain reciprocity for plumbing contractors with Arizona, California, Florida, and Tennessee through equivalency agreements.

New Hampshire

State Certification Authority: Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board

Reciprocity: In New Hampshire, Journeyman plumber reciprocity is recognized with Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

New Jersey

State Certification Authority: State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers

Reciprocity: New Jersey allows plumbers licensed in other states to apply for reciprocity if the state’s licensure standards are equal or comparable to New Jersey’s, and that state also offers reciprocity back.

New Mexico

State Certification Authority: Regulation and Licensing Department

Reciprocity: New Mexico does not offer reciprocity for journeyman or contractor plumbers.

New York

No state licensing required to work as a plumber, check local requirements

North Carolina

State Certification Authority: State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors

Reciprocity: North Carolina has a Technical Examination Waiver Agreement with South Carolina for plumbing and HVAC contractors. However, applicants must still pass the North Carolina business law exam. Other than that, North Carolina does not have reciprocity agreements with any other state.

North Dakota

State Certification Authority: North Dakota State Plumbing Board

Reciprocity: North Dakota maintains reciprocity with South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. Applicants must provide a Certificate of Endorsement from their licensing state.

Ohio

State Certification Authority: Department of Commerce

Reciprocity: Ohio offers plumbing reciprocity with Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Oklahoma

State Certification Authority: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board

Reciprocity: Oklahoma has a reciprocity agreement with Arkansas that allows licensed plumbers in either state to apply for a journeyman license in the other without retaking the exam. Applicants may fill out this form to apply.

Oregon

State Certification Authority: Oregon State Plumbing Board

Reciprocity: Oregon offers plumbing reciprocity with Idaho and Montana.

Pennsylvania

No state licensing requirements, check local requirements here.

Rhode Island

State Certification Authority: Division of Professional Regulation

Reciprocity: Rhode Island does not maintain reciprocity agreements with any other states.

South Carolina

State Certification Authority: Contractor’s Licensing Board

Reciprocity: South Carolina has plumbing reciprocity agreements with North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. Applicants can waive the plumbing trade exam but must still pass the South Carolina Business, Law, and Project Management exam and meet all other licensing requirements.

South Dakota

State Certification Authority: Department of Labor and Regulation

Reciprocity: While South Dakota has no formal reciprocal agreements with other states, you may be eligible to skip exams and waive fees should the commission determine your license is equivalent to a South Dakota issued license required to work as a plumber. Contact the board for more information.

Tennessee

State Certification Authority: Department of Commerce and Insurance

Reciprocity: Tennessee has a license reciprocity agreement with Ohio.

Texas

State Certification Authority: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Reciprocity: Texas has plumbing reciprocity agreements with Louisiana and Arkansas

Utah

State Certification Authority: Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

Reciprocity: Utah grants endorsement to Master Plumbers licensed in certain jurisdictions whose standards are substantially equivalent to Utah’s.

Vermont

State Certification Authority: Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety

Reciprocity: Vermont doesn’t have reciprocity agreements with other states.

Virginia

State Certification Authority: Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

Reciprocity: Virginia recognizes licenses from Washington for journeyman and master plumbers.

Washington

State Certification Authority: State Department of Labor and Industries

Reciprocity: Washington has a reciprocity agreement with Idaho, which means you'll be exempt from the trade portion of the exam.

West Virginia

State Certification Authority:  West Virginia Division of Labor

Reciprocity: West Virginia has plumbing reciprocity agreements with Ohio and Tennessee. However, you should contact your local licensing board for more information. West Virginia may accept waive certain requirements.

Wisconsin

State Certification Authority: Department of Safety and Professional Services

Reciprocity: Wisconsin does not have reciprocity agreements with any other states.

Wyoming

No state licensing requirements, check local requirements.

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