New York to Indiana: journeyman plumber license reciprocity
New York does not issue a statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Indiana's standard path for out-of-state applicants.
Your origin state does not issue a statewide license at this level, so there is no license to transfer. The destination's standard out-of-state path is shown; expect to meet it in full.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Commission review of out-of-state journeyman credentials (IC 25-28.5-1-19; no named partner states)
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
Indiana publishes no list of reciprocal partner states for plumbing, and the Plumbing Commission's FAQ states that reciprocity is not available for journeyman plumbers: an out-of-state journeyman files an application, the Commission reviews it, and an approved applicant must pass the Indiana exam. IC 25-28.5-1-19 allows a license without examination where the origin state's requirements were substantially equal and that state grants Indiana licensees the same privilege, but the Commission's published process routes out-of-state licensees to the exam. You file a Journeyman Plumber application in MyLicense One with certification of your out-of-state license and an employer affidavit showing four years of experience in the plumbing trade, then schedule the 90-question Indiana Journeyman Plumber exam with Prov. The application fee is $30, and the initial license fee is $30 if the license is issued in an even-numbered year or $15 in an odd-numbered year.
Indiana's statute provides for licensing without examination for holders from states with a reciprocity agreement or substantially equal requirements (IC 25-28.5-1-12(e) and -19), but the Commission names no such states and its FAQ says reciprocity is not available. Under IC 25-28.5-1-12(d), a license from a state without a reciprocity agreement makes the holder eligible to take the Indiana exam; an applicant from a state that does not license plumbers must instead meet Indiana's apprenticeship or experience requirements. Nonresident licensees must also appoint the Commission's secretary as agent for service of process (IC 25-28.5-1-20).
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- Your New York license must be active and in good standing.
- Applicant is at least 18 years of age (IC 25-28.5-1-19)
- You must document at least 4 years of qualifying work experience.
What you'll do to get licensed in Indiana
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($30). Journeyman Plumber application fee, paid by card in MyLicense One; nonrefundable.
- 2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($30). Initial license issuance fee when the license is issued in an even-numbered year; $15 when it is issued in an odd-numbered year.
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Indiana Journeyman Plumber exam administered by Prov after the Commission approves the application: 90 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, approved code references allowed.
- 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($75). Prov examination fee, paid to Prov for each attempt.
- 5Other. Certification of licensure from the other state's licensing authority (860 IAC 1-1-11) and a notarized employer affidavit of experience in the plumbing trade, uploaded in MyLicense One.
- 6Other. Answer the application's background questions; for any "yes" answer, attach a full statement (violation, location, date, cause number and disposition) and copies of the court documents.
Published fees on this path total $135, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
What you'll need to buy or arrange
Exam preparation
Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.
- Trade exam
- Exam fee · $75
How Indiana licenses journeyman plumbers
Indiana journeyman plumber · “Journeyman Plumber”
Statewide license
Issued by Indiana Plumbing Commission (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)
Indiana licenses plumbers statewide through the Indiana Plumbing Commission, which is administered by the Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) under IC 25-28.5-1. The Commission registers Plumbing Apprentices and approves apprenticeship programs and schools, and it issues Journeyman Plumber and Plumbing Contractor licenses to individuals, a Temporary Plumbing Contractor license, and a Corporate Plumbing Business registration for entities. Applications, renewals and license verification are handled online in MyLicense One with an Access Indiana account. The Indiana journeyman examination is administered by the testing vendor Prov, and initial license fees depend on whether the license is issued in an odd or even year of the two-year cycle. Indiana's statute contains a reciprocity section (IC 25-28.5-1-19) and nonresident provisions (IC 25-28.5-1-12(d) and -20), so an out-of-state journeyman applies to the Commission rather than to any city or county; cities may require a licensed plumber to register but may not require any other license (IC 25-28.5-1-33).
Why New York has nothing to transfer
New York journeyman plumber · “Journeyman Plumber (municipal; NYC registration / Westchester Journey-Level)”
Licensed by cities and counties
Issued by New York cities and counties (no statewide plumber license)
New York has no statewide plumber license at any level: the Department of State's Division of Licensing Services regulates 35 occupations and none of them is plumber, plumbing contractor, journeyman plumber or master plumber. Journeyman-level plumbing credentials therefore exist only where a city or county ordinance creates them, and they are not interchangeable. New York City's Department of Buildings issues a Journeyman Plumber / Fire Suppression Piping Installer registration (employees work under a licensed Master Plumber; the registration is not an independent contracting license). Westchester County issues a Journey-Level plumber license (exam application $25, license and renewal $75) that is required to work as a plumber anywhere in the county, including Yonkers. Rochester publishes a Plumbing Licensing program on its Licensed Trades page but does not list class names or fees on that page. An out-of-state journeyman plumber license has no state-level recognition in New York; the arriving worker must satisfy the city or county where the work will be done, and in New York City that typically means working under a licensed Master Plumber while holding (or obtaining) the city journeyman registration.
How local licensing works in New York
How local licensing works. No state agency licenses plumbers in New York. Each city or county that requires a license runs its own examining board under its own ordinance, so titles, exams and fees differ, and a license from one jurisdiction is not automatically valid in another. There is no defaultPath and no state-to-state agreement at this level.
New York City. DOB's license-types list includes 'Plumbing and Fire Suppression (Master and Journeyman)'. The master-plumbers page links Obtain a Journeyman Plumber / Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration (and a separate Gas Work Qualification). The registration is person-held and is the city's journeyman-level credential; independent plumbing contracting in the five boroughs requires the Master Plumber license (see master level). New applications go through DOB NOW (since 7 September 2021). The master written (LIC41, $585) and practical (LIC42, $530) exam fees published on the master-plumbers page apply to the Master Plumber license, not to the journeyman registration.
Westchester County (including Yonkers). 'Plumbers and Electricians must obtain a trade license from Westchester County in order to work in the county. The first step is to apply to take the licensing examination.' Journey-Level exam application $25.00; Journey-Level license $75.00; Journey-Level renewal $75.00; vehicle decals $5.00 each. Exam and re-examination amounts are paid to the testing company and are not listed on the fee page. Yonkers does not appear to issue a separate city plumber license; county law requires the Westchester trade license to work in the county.
Rochester. The Licensed Trades page lists Plumbing Licensing alongside electrical and SE/RO and routes applications to the city's Infor portal (585-428-9339). Confirm the destination city or county before working; in NYC plan to work under a Master Plumber and obtain the city journeyman registration; in Westchester apply for the Journey-Level exam.
- New York City (Department of Buildings — Journeyman Plumber / Fire Suppression Piping Installer registration)
- Westchester County (Department of Consumer Protection — Journey-Level plumber)
- Yonkers (Westchester County Journey-Level / Master plumber license required to work in the county)
- Rochester (Licensed Trades — Plumbing Licensing)
- Syracuse (Division of Code Enforcement; plumber license unconfirmed on 2026 notice)
- Buffalo (plumbing landing page HTTP 404; journeyman plumber license unconfirmed)
- Albany (plumber examining board not verified this session)
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Indiana journeyman plumber exam if I'm licensed in New York?
- Yes. Indiana requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a Indiana journeyman plumber license from New York?
- Published fees on this path total $135, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my New York work hours count in Indiana?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Indiana's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Indiana to New York?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Indiana to New York, the mechanism is not applicable.
Sources
- 860 IAC 1 - Indiana Plumbing Commission, General Provisions (fees, admission to examination, examinations) · 860 IAC 1-1-2.1, 1-1-7, 1-1-8, 1-1-9, 1-1-10, 1-1-11, 1-3-1, 1-3-1.1, 1-3-2, 1-5-7 · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- Indiana Code Title 25, Article 28.5 (Plumbers), Chapter 1 - Regulation of Plumbers; Creation of Commission; Licensing · IC 25-28.5-1-12, -13, -15, -16, -17, -18.1, -18.3, -18.5, -19, -20, -22, -23, -32, -33 · Indiana General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Section 4 - Experience in a Plumbing Business, and Employer Affidavit of Experience in Plumbing Trade (part of State Form 27522) · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Indiana Professional Licensing Agency - Plumbing Home (Indiana Plumbing Commission) · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Indiana Professional Licensing Agency - Plumbing Licensing Information (application instructions, renewal, fee schedule) · Indiana Professional Licensing Agency · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Wayback Machine snapshot (2025-09-02) of PLA Plumbing Licensing Information · Internet Archive (capture of in.gov) · Other · verified September 16, 2026
- Indiana - Candidate Information Bulletin (Prov, IN CIB 2026.10.12) · Prov, Inc. (for the Indiana Plumbing Commission) · Form · verified October 12, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.