Moving to Maryland as a journeyman plumber: every state's rule
Maryland has reciprocity agreements with 1 state. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: experience credit.
Maryland journeyman plumber · “Journeyman Plumber/Gas Fitter”
State license plus local requirements
Issued by Maryland State Board of Plumbing (Department of Labor)
Maryland issues a statewide Journeyman Plumber/Gas Fitter license (statutory name: journey plumber) through the State Board of Plumbing in the Department of Labor. A journey plumber provides plumbing services under the direction and control of a master plumber or limited master plumber. Qualification on the Board's License Requirements page is four years as an apprentice plumber plus 7,500 hours of apprentice work, a 32-hour backflow prevention certification, and the PSI journey exam. State plumber licenses are required throughout Maryland except Baltimore County and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) service area in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, which issue their own plumber licenses. The original license fee is $43.50 (updated July 1, 2025). The Board issues reciprocal Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter licenses to holders licensed by the District of Columbia, WSSC, or Baltimore County (WSSC and Baltimore County applicants must hold both plumbing and gas licenses obtained by examination). Apprentice plumber licenses may be renewed for only two consecutive cycles before the journey exam is required (Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-308.1).
How local licensing works in Maryland
The Board's home page states that State plumber and natural-gas-fitter licenses are required throughout Maryland except (1) Baltimore County and (2) areas served by WSSC in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties; those two jurisdictions issue their own licenses and have their own plumbing code. Propane-gas-fitter certificates from the State Board are valid statewide, including those counties. Inbound plumbers who will work only in Montgomery or Prince George's County should apply to WSSC, not (or not only) to the State Board; work only in Baltimore County goes through Baltimore County. Work in the remaining counties and Baltimore City uses the State Board license. The reciprocal-license page states the Board may issue a State journey or master plumber license to a person already licensed by WSSC or Baltimore County if that person holds both plumbing and gas licenses obtained by examination.
- Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Montgomery County)
- Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Prince George's County)
- Baltimore County
States Maryland reciprocates with
Every origin state
| State | Mechanism | Note | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Alaska | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Arizona | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Arkansas | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| California | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Colorado | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Connecticut | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Delaware | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| District of Columbia | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-16 |
| Florida | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Georgia | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Hawaii | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Idaho | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Illinois | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Indiana | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Iowa | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Kansas | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Kentucky | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Louisiana | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Maine | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Massachusetts | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Michigan | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Minnesota | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Mississippi | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Missouri | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Montana | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Nebraska | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Nevada | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| New Hampshire | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| New Jersey | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| New Mexico | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| New York | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| North Carolina | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| North Dakota | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Ohio | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Oklahoma | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Oregon | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Pennsylvania | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Rhode Island | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| South Carolina | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| South Dakota | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Tennessee | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Texas | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Utah | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Vermont | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Virginia | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Washington | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| West Virginia | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Wisconsin | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Wyoming | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
Getting licensed in Maryland from scratch
No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how Maryland issues a journeyman plumber license to a first-time applicant.
Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter license by examination
Maryland issues the Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter license to an applicant who has held a Maryland apprentice plumber license for at least four years, completed at least 7,500 hours of training under the direction and control of a licensed master plumber during that time, and completed a 32-hour Board-approved course in backflow prevention device testing. Only work done as a licensed apprentice counts, so an unlicensed helper must first get the apprentice license, which is open from age 16. You apply online to PSI with your proof of hours and backflow certificate, and once PSI approves you take a 100-question, open-book exam on plumbing and fuel gas work, needing 70% to pass. After passing you apply to the Board and pay the $43.50 license fee; there is no separate law or business exam.
The exam allows 240 minutes and draws on the 2018 International Plumbing Code, the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, OSHA construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926), Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters and any standard backflow text; books may be tabbed and highlighted but not written in. Gas appliances and piping make up 40 of the 100 questions. Each supervising master plumber certifies your hours; hours certified by office staff are not accepted, and hours under a registered apprenticeship count only while you also hold the Board's apprentice license. A passing score stays valid for one year for applying for the license. After a failed attempt you register and pay again, and you may not retest within 30 days. The Board says the license arrives by mail within two weeks of the license application. A conviction does not automatically disqualify you: disclose each one with true test copies of the court docket and a letter explaining the offense. An apprentice license may be renewed for only two consecutive cycles before you must take the journey exam. Baltimore County and the WSSC service area (Montgomery and Prince George's Counties) license plumbers separately. Natural gas fitter and propane gas fitter credentials are separate Board licenses for non-plumbers.
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Exam given by
- PSI
- Exam format
- Open book
- Passing score
- 70%
- Typical processing
- About 14 days
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- None required
Who can apply
- Held a Maryland Apprentice Plumber/Gas Fitter license for at least four yearsHeld for at least four years (Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-302(c)). The apprentice license is available from age 16.
- You must document at least 7,500 hours of qualifying work experience.Training in plumbing work during those four years, under the direction and control of a licensed master plumber. The Board may credit up to 1,500 hours of accredited, approved school study toward the 7,500 hours.
Other ways to qualify
Each of these replaces the requirements above. You only need one.
Apprentice-level license from another state
An applicant trained outside Maryland may qualify with at least four years under another state's apprentice plumber license, or a license the Board finds of equal stature, including at least 7,500 hours under the direction and control of a master plumber. Because the supervising master must have been licensed by passing a written exam, you need an original verification letter from the authority that first licensed each master. The backflow course, exam and fees still apply.
- Held another state's apprentice plumber license, or a license of equal stature as determined by the Board, for at least four years
- You must document at least 7,500 hours of qualifying work experience.Under the direction and control of a master plumber licensed by written exam; up to 1,500 hours of accredited, approved school study may count.
Steps to get licensed
- 1Pre-license course. Complete the required pre-license course. 32-hour Board-approved course in backflow prevention device testing; the certificate must be unexpired when you apply to PSI. Approved providers are listed on the Board's backflow course page, and you do not need a plumbing license to enroll..
- 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Maryland Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter exam (PSI): 100 questions, 240 minutes, open book, 70% to pass.
- 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($65). PSI examination fee per attempt, paid after PSI approves your eligibility; nonrefundable and valid for one year.
- 4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($43.50). Original Journeyman Plumber/Gas Fitter license fee (Board fee schedule updated July 1, 2025).
- 5Other. Upload proof of hours certified by each supervising master plumber, your backflow certificate and a copy of your driver's license to PSI's online portal.
Published fees on this path total $108.50, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
Keeping it active
Every 2 years with no continuing education required and a $43.50 renewal fee.
The Board requires no continuing education to renew a plumber license; its eight-hour annual requirement applies only to plumbing inspectors.
Licenses expire two years from the date of issue, and the Board sends a renewal notice about 60 days before. A license expired for more than four years requires a new application and the exam again.
Pre-license education
Where a board mandates a course before the exam, it publishes a list of approved schools. Confirm a provider is on that list before enrolling.
- Pre-license course
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 · $65
Sources for this section
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-302 - Qualifications of applicants · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-302 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-303 - Applications and examination fee · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-303 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-306 - Issuance of licenses · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-306 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-308 - Term and renewal of licenses · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-308 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-309 - Reinstatement of expired licenses · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-309 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Approved Backflow/Cross Connection Courses · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Education · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Taking the Exam (PSI) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Forms and Fees (updated July 1, 2025) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Licensing Frequently Asked Questions · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Faq · verified September 23, 2026
- PSI Qualification Information Bulletin - Maryland State Board of Plumbing (Master/Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter, Master/Journey Natural Gas Fitter) · PSI Services LLC for the Maryland State Board of Plumbing · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Renew Your License · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - License Requirements · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026