New York to Idaho: master plumber license reciprocity
New York does not issue a statewide master plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Idaho'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.
Out-of-state master plumbers and plumbing contractors (Idaho journeyman prerequisite plus contractor exam)
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
An out-of-state master plumber or plumbing contractor receives no credit toward Idaho's Plumbing Contractor certificate. The applicant must first hold an active Idaho Plumbing Journeyman certificate - obtained either through the journeyman Reciprocity Pathway (Montana, Oregon, Washington) or by passing the Idaho journeyman exam with out-of-state hours credited - and then file the contractor application ($22.50), receive exam approval, and pass the four-hour Idaho Plumbing Contractor examination through PSI (100 questions: 60 from the DOPL Contractors' Business and Law Reference Manual, 40 code and sizing points from the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code / 2015 UPC; 75% to pass; $75 fee). After passing, the applicant files proof of a $2,000 surety (compliance) bond and pays the $147 certificate fee. Idaho Code 67-9409 lets DOPL require its examination of universal-licensure applicants, and the Plumbing Board has adopted no procedure that waives the contractor exam. Applications expire one year after filing if the exam is not passed.
Exam flags: the contractor examination is a single test whose content is 60% business/law and 40% plumbing code and sizing, so both flags are set. Fee conflict: Idaho Code 54-2616 lists the contractor certificate fee as $75 initial / $36 renewal, but DOPL's fee table and form charge $147 / $108. Military members, veterans and spouses holding an out-of-state contractor or master license may instead apply for licensure by endorsement under Idaho Code 67-9406. A DOPL contractor registration under Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 52 may additionally be needed to contract for work; it is separate from this Plumbing Board certificate.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Required
- Out-of-state hours
- Do not count
What you must already have
- Must hold an active Idaho Plumbing Journeyman certificate of competency before applying (IDAPA 24.39.20.100.03).
What you'll do to get licensed in Idaho
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($22.50). DOPL contractor application processing fee (Idaho Code 54-2614).
- 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($75). Plumbing Contractor examination fee, paid per attempt.
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Idaho Plumbing Contractor examination (4 hours, 100 questions, open book; 8 code questions plus 8 sizing questions worth 4 points each from the 2017 ISPC / 2015 UPC; 75% to pass).
- 4Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Business and law portion of the same contractor examination: 60 questions drawn from the DOPL Contractors' Business and Law Reference Manual.
- 5Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($2,000). Compliance (surety) bond of $2,000 filed after passing the exam and kept in force for the whole certificate period; proof of renewal is required to renew the certificate.
- 6License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($147). Initial Plumbing Contractor certificate fee, three-year term (renewal $108; inactive renewal capped at $36 by statute).
Published fees on this path total $244.50, 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
- Law / code exam
Surety bond
A license or contractor bond is bought from a surety, not the state. Price is a small percentage of the bond amount and depends on your credit.
- Surety bond · $2,000
How Idaho licenses master plumbers
Idaho master plumber · “Plumbing Contractor (Certificate of Competency)”
Statewide license
Issued by Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho State Plumbing Board)
Idaho has no master plumber title. The level above journeyman is the Plumbing Contractor certificate of competency, which Idaho Code 54-2611 defines as a person ('any person, or a member, representative or agent of a firm') who has passed the contractor examination; the contractor application confirms 'a plumbing contractor may be licensed as an individual', so it is treated here as the master-equivalent credential. IDAPA 24.39.20.100.03 requires the applicant to hold an active Idaho Plumbing Journeyman certificate, pass the Board-designated contractor exam (60% business and law, 40% code and sizing, 75% to pass), and file a $2,000 compliance bond; the initial certificate fee is $147 for a three-year term. A contractor may represent only one business at a time. No out-of-state contractor or master license is reciprocated at this level: the form has no reciprocal application type and the Montana, Oregon and Washington agreements cover journeymen only.
Why New York has nothing to transfer
New York master plumber · “Master Plumber (municipal)”
Licensed by cities and counties
Issued by New York cities and counties (no statewide plumber licence)
New York does not issue a statewide master plumber licence. The Department of State Division of Licensing Services' 35 occupations do not include plumber. The person-held contracting credential is municipal. Westchester County requires a Master Plumber trade licence to contract in the county (exam application $50, licence and renewal $600; Restricted Master renewal $50 per municipality up to $600); Yonkers sits inside that county. Rochester lists Plumbing Licensing on its Licensed Trades portal without publishing fees.
How local licensing works in New York
How local licensing works. Master plumber licensing is entirely local. A Master Plumber licence from one New York city or county does not authorise work in another, and New York State has no endorsement or reciprocity programme for plumbers. There is no defaultPath and no agreements array at this level.
New York City. 'Master Plumbers are licensed to perform plumbing work in New York City.' Fees on the DOB master-plumbers page: licence $200.00, renewal $150.00, late $50.00 (1–30 days) or $100.00 (31 days or more), seal $50.00 new / $75.00 renewal, term 3 years. Written exam application LIC41 $585; practical exam application LIC42 $530. A separate Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor licence uses the same fee/term schedule but does not cover plumbing work as defined in NYC Admin. Code §28-401.3. How-to: Obtain a Master Plumber License; renew a licence; DPL-1 form; business-address verification. All new applications online via DOB NOW since 7 September 2021. Nothing on the landing page describes reciprocity.
Westchester County (including Yonkers). County law: plumbers must hold a Westchester trade licence; first step is the licensing examination. Master Plumber exam application $50.00; Master Plumber licence $600.00; Master Plumber renewal $600.00. Restricted Master Plumber renewal $50.00 per municipality, $600.00 maximum. Certificate of Competency (shelving) $50.00 per year. Late Master / Restricted Master renewals: $50 (1 Nov–31 Dec), $100 (1 Jan–30 Apr), $200 (1 May–31 Dec); after 31 December appearance before the Licensing Board. Exam/re-exam paid to the testing company (amount unpublished). The plumbing fee table has no 'reciprocal plumber' line (unlike electrical's 'Master and Reciprocal Electrician' on the same page). Yonkers work requires this county Master (or Restricted Master) plumber licence.
Rochester. Plumbing Licensing is a listed Licensed Trade with online apply/pay/renew. For NYC, budget the $585 written and $530 practical exams plus $200 licence / $50 seal and apply in DOB NOW; confirm experience and insurance on the obtain checklist before sitting. For Westchester, file the $50 exam application and $600 licence. For Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany, contact the local board — published inbound rules were not verified here.
- New York City (Department of Buildings — Master Plumber)
- Westchester County (Department of Consumer Protection — Master Plumber)
- Yonkers (Westchester County Master / Restricted Master plumber licence)
- Rochester (Licensed Trades — Plumbing Licensing)
- Syracuse (Division of Code Enforcement; plumber licence unconfirmed on 2026 notice)
- Buffalo (plumbing landing page HTTP 404; master plumber licence unconfirmed)
- Albany (plumber examining board not verified this session)
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Idaho master plumber exam if I'm licensed in New York?
- Yes. Idaho requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
- What does it cost to get a Idaho master plumber license from New York?
- Published fees on this path total $244.50, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my New York work hours count in Idaho?
- No. Idaho does not credit out-of-state hours on this path.
- Does it work the other way, from Idaho to New York?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Idaho to New York, the mechanism is not applicable.
Sources
- Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 26 - Plumbing and Plumbers · Idaho Code 54-2610, 54-2611, 54-2614, 54-2616, 54-2617 · Idaho Legislature · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- Idaho Code 67-9406 - Licensure by Endorsement - Members of the Military, Veterans, and Spouses · Idaho Code 67-9406 · Idaho Legislature · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- Idaho Code 67-9409 - Universal Licensure · Idaho Code 67-9409 · Idaho Legislature · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- Idaho State Plumbing Board - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Idaho State Plumbing Board - Program Information and Exams · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- IDAPA 24.39.20 - Rules Governing Plumbing · IDAPA 24.39.20.100 · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- Idaho Plumbing Contractor Application and Instructions (revised July 1, 2023) · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- Idaho DOPL Plumbing Exams Information Bulletin (updated September 23, 2024) · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · 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.