Illinois to Michigan: master plumber license reciprocity
Michigan has no reciprocity agreement with Illinois. Your Illinois experience counts toward eligibility, but you must pass the Michigan exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Out-of-state master plumber (all states; Michigan has no reciprocity)
Nothing is waived, but your documented out-of-state hours count toward eligibility to sit the exam.
Michigan does not reciprocate with any state, so a master plumber licensed elsewhere must take and pass the Michigan Master Plumber exam regardless of origin. Out-of-state credentials are used only to establish eligibility to sit: under LARA's Out-of-State License Verification instructions all applicants with out-of-state experience must be approved by the board before scheduling, and they 'may receive credit for experience earned from other states' under the equivalence clause of MCL 339.6109. The applicant submits the plumbing examination application with the master license fee, a copy of the current out-of-state license and the issuing state's requirements, the Out-of-State License Verification form completed by the issuing board, and notarized letters from employers documenting 4,000 hours of work as a journey plumber over at least the two years immediately preceding the application. MCL 339.6113(1)(d) also requires that the applicant 'holds a journey plumber license issued under this article or former 2002 PA 733'; because Michigan issues only one plumbing license at a time, an out-of-state master with no Michigan journey license should expect to be evaluated under this clause by the State Plumbing Board, which meets quarterly. Once approved the applicant schedules the PSI exam ($100, 130 questions, 75% to pass, available online with remote proctoring since February 2026) and the license issues on passing. The only exam waiver is for service members, veterans and their dependents holding an active plumbing license in another state.
Unresolved: MCL 339.6113(1)(d) literally requires a Michigan-issued journey plumber license (under Article 11 or former 2002 PA 733) held while gaining the 4,000 hours; no official page states whether an out-of-state journey or master license satisfies this, so a non-Michigan master may be routed to the journey exam first. The 90-day timeline is an estimate based on quarterly board review. No official Michigan page names any partner state, so no agreements are authored.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
- Typical processing
- About 90 days
What you must already have
- You must document at least 4,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Work as a journey plumber over a period of not less than two years immediately preceding the application, with no lapse in licensure during those two years (MCL 339.6113(1)(d); LARA plumbing page); out-of-state journey-level experience is credited only if the board accepts it as equivalent under MCL 339.6109.
- Holds a journey plumber license issued under Article 11 or former 2002 PA 733 (MCL 339.6113(1)(d)); acceptance of an out-of-state journey or master license in lieu of a Michigan journey license is at the board's discretion and not confirmed by any official page
- At least 18 years old
- Your Illinois license must be active and in good standing.
What you'll do to get licensed in Michigan
- 1License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($300). Master Plumber initial license fee for a term of up to three years, paid at application (MCL 339.6121(7)); prorated by year if issued outside the April 30-June 30 renewal window; not charged if the applicant also holds the plumbing contractor license (MCL 339.6113(4)).
- 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($100). PSI examination fee, paid to PSI after LARA approves the application; non-refundable, valid one year, paid again for each attempt (MCL 339.6121(5)).
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Michigan Master Plumber examination administered by PSI: 130 questions including a material take-off portion from a drawing, 180 minutes, 75% to pass, open book on the 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code; available at PSI test centers or online with a remote proctor.
- 4Other. Out-of-State License Verification form completed by the issuing state board(s), plus a copy of the current license and that state's licensing requirements.
- 5Other. Notarized letter(s) from employers and master plumbers documenting 4,000 hours of journey-level work over the preceding two years (MCL 339.6109).
- 6Continuing education. Complete continuing education. Renewal condition: board-approved course on any update or change to the state construction code, completed within 12 months after the change (MCL 339.6113(2)); three-year renewal fee $300.
- 7Contractor license. Hold or obtain a contractor license (if applicable). Plumbing Contractor license (Form BCC-329, $300 non-refundable fee, 50-question PSI exam at 75%) is required only to contract for and permit plumbing work; it must be represented by a master plumber and a master may qualify only one contractor.
Published fees on this path total $400, 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.
- Exam fee · $100
- Trade exam
Continuing education
Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.
- Continuing education
How Michigan licenses master plumbers
Michigan master plumber · “Master Plumber”
Statewide license
Michigan issues a statewide, person-held Master Plumber license through LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes under MCL 339.6113; the Plumbing Contractor license (Form BCC-329, $300, MCL 339.6111) is the separate business credential that must be represented by a master plumber, and a master may represent only one contractor at a time. Local plumber licensing is preempted by MCL 339.6125(1). A new master applicant must be at least 18, hold a journey plumber license and have gained 4,000 hours of experience as a journey plumber over at least two years immediately preceding the application with no lapse in licensure, document that experience with notarized employer letters, pay the license fee at application ($300 for a licence term of up to three years, prorated outside the April 30-June 30 renewal window), be approved by LARA, and pass the PSI Master Plumber exam (130 questions, 180 minutes, 75% to pass, open book on the 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code, available in person or online; $100 fee). The license renews every three years for $300, and renewal requires a board-approved code-update course within 12 months after each state construction code change. Michigan has no reciprocity with any state; an out-of-state master must pass the Michigan exam, with out-of-state experience credited only after State Plumbing Board review.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Michigan master plumber exam if I'm licensed in Illinois?
- Yes. Michigan requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a Michigan master plumber license from Illinois?
- Published fees on this path total $400, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Illinois work hours count in Michigan?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Michigan's eligibility requirements.
- How long does the application take?
- The board's published or typical processing time is about 90 days.
- Does it work the other way, from Michigan to Illinois?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Michigan to Illinois, the mechanism is endorsement.
Sources
- Michigan LARA Form BCC-329 - Application for Plumbing Contractor Examination & License (Rev. 7/2026) · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Division · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- Michigan LARA BCC - Out-of-State License Verification Form and Instructions for Examination and Licensure Applicants with Out-of-State Experience/License (Rev. 3/22) · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes, Skilled Trades Licensing Section · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes - Plumbing Examination, Licensing/Registration & Application Information · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Michigan LARA BCC - Obtaining a Plumbing Master License in the State of Michigan (licensure pathway map); companion Plumbing Journeyperson map at Licensing-Requirements/Plumbing-JP.pdf · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes - PSI Examinations · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Michigan Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407, Article 11 - Plumbers (MCL 339.6101 to 339.6133) · MCL 339.6107, 339.6109, 339.6111, 339.6113, 339.6115, 339.6117, 339.6119, 339.6121, 339.6125 · Michigan Legislature · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- PSI - Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes Plumbing Candidate Information Bulletin (Journey Plumber, Master Plumber, Plumbing Contractor), effective 4/29/2026 · PSI Services LLC for Michigan LARA · Other · verified September 16, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.