Montana to Connecticut: master plumber license reciprocity
Connecticut has no reciprocity agreement with Montana. A Montana master plumber applies by endorsement.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Contractor (P-1) by equivalent out-of-state license (all states)
The board reviews your out-of-state credentials case by case. Some exam is usually still required, often only a law or code exam.
A master plumber or plumbing contractor licensed in any other state applies under DCP's 'Plumbing Contractor - Equivalent Out of State License' path. DCP reviews a single out-of-state license for equivalency to the P-1: the hours table requires 576 classroom hours matching Exhibit A and 12,000 on-the-job hours (8,000 plus two years / 4,000 as a licensed journeyperson). The applicant submits a copy of the license, official license verification, the laws and regulations that set the requirements met to obtain it, and the scope of work, with the non-refundable $150 application fee. If approved, CGS 20-333 and 20-334a(a)(1) still require the Connecticut contractor examination before the $150 initial license is issued—the origin license does not waive the trade exam. An applicant whose license is not found equivalent is not approved on this path and must document comparable journeyman service and training instead (CGS 20-334a(a)(1)(A)). DCP states that Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction.
DCP's contractor out-of-state page gives two classroom-hour figures for the P-1: its example sentence says an equivalent license 'must have required 720 classroom hours and 12,000 hours of on the job training', while its hours table lists 576 classroom hours with 12,000 on-the-job hours. DCP's Exhibit A course list for the P-2 apprenticeship totals 720 hours (20 courses of 36 hours). Confirm the figure that applies to your license with DCP at [email protected]. The PSI candidate bulletin states that every contractor must pass both a trade exam and the Business and Law exam; a passed exam stays valid for two years.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- Your Montana license must be active and in good standing.
- The out-of-state license must be equivalent to the P-1: 576 classroom hours matching Exhibit A and 12,000 OJT hours (8,000 plus two years / 4,000 as a licensed journeyperson)Only one out-of-state license is reviewed. The same page's example paragraph says 720 classroom hours; use the table (576) unless DCP confirms otherwise. Limited contractor tables: P-7 8,000/180, J-1 8,000/288, J-3 8,000/144.
- You must document at least 12,000 hours of qualifying work experience.8,000 hours plus 2 years (4,000 hours) working as a licensed journeyperson. CGS 20-334a(a)(1)(A): journeyman service outside Connecticut counts if DCP finds it comparable to similar service in this state.
What you'll do to get licensed in Connecticut
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($150). Contractor application fee, non-refundable (CGS 20-333); DCP out-of-state page restates that application fees are nonrefundable.
- 2Other. Copy of the out-of-state license, official license verification, the laws/regulations listing the requirements met to obtain it, and the scope of work for that license (one origin license only).
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Connecticut P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor trade exam administered by PSI after DCP determines eligibility: 80 questions, 3 hours, 70% to pass, open book (CGS 20-333 / 20-334a)..
- 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($59). PSI fee for the trade exam, per attempt including retakes; not refundable or transferable.
- 5Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Connecticut Business and Law exam (PSI): 50 questions, 2 hours, 70% to pass, open book, based on the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Connecticut 6th edition.
- 6Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($59). PSI fee for the Business and Law exam, per attempt including retakes.
- 7License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($150). Initial license fee for a contractor's license after passing the exam (CGS 20-335); renews annually for $150; plumbing licenses expire October 31..
Published fees on this path total $418, 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 · $59
- Law / code exam
- Exam fee · $59
How Connecticut licenses master plumbers
Connecticut master plumber · “P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor”
Statewide license
Issued by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Occupational and Professional Licensing
Connecticut has no license titled 'master plumber'; the top-tier personal credential is the P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor, issued by DCP to an individual and permitting all plumbing and piping work under CGS 20-330 (permits and contracting with the public). Limited contractor classes cover narrower scopes (J-1, J-3, P-7, P-9, PP-1, SP-1). A new P-1 applicant needs two years as an unlimited licensed journeyperson or equivalent experience and training; the out-of-state equivalency table is 12,000 OJT hours (8,000 plus two years / 4,000) and 576 classroom hours matching Exhibit A. CGS 20-334a(a)(1)(A) lets out-of-state journeyman service count if DCP finds it comparable, and still requires the contractor examination. CGS 20-333a would allow an exam waiver only if the origin state reciprocates, and DCP states that Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction. Fees are a $150 application fee and a $150 initial/renewal license fee; licenses expire annually on October 31.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Connecticut master plumber exam if I'm licensed in Montana?
- Yes. Connecticut requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
- What does it cost to get a Connecticut master plumber license from Montana?
- Published fees on this path total $418, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Montana work hours count in Connecticut?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Connecticut's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Connecticut to Montana?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Connecticut to Montana, the mechanism is experience credit.
Sources
- Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 393 - Occupational Licensing (Electrical, Plumbing and Piping, Heating, Cooling...) · CGS §§ 20-333, 20-333a, 20-334a, 20-335 · Connecticut General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Plumbing Contractor: Equivalent Out of State License · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP Exhibit A - Required Courses for Plumbing License Types · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Plumbing and Pipefitting Licensing (renewal, reinstatement and CE hub linked from the contractor out-of-state page) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Plumbing Licenses and Scope of Work · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin - Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Occupational Licensing, Plumbing Trades · PSI Services LLC · Form · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.