New York to Louisiana: master plumber license reciprocity
New York does not issue a statewide master plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Louisiana'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.
No master reciprocity: obtain a Louisiana journeyman license, then pass the master exam
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
The State Plumbing Board of Louisiana does not recognise out-of-state master plumber licenses at the master level: its licenses page states that the Board 'does not reciprocate Master licenses', the master application contains no out-of-state provision, and the only qualifying credentials for the master exam are a current Journeyman Plumber license or a Louisiana professional engineer license. An out-of-state master therefore first obtains a Louisiana journeyman license, either by reciprocity (Texas or Arkansas journeyman license held two years, $100, no exam) or by using the out-of-state license to qualify for the journeyman exam ($135, written and practical exam), and then applies for the master exam with $110. The master exam is a three-part open-book written test at 70% per part covering the 2021 IPC/IRC, Title 51 Part XIII of the Louisiana sanitary code and the NASCLA Louisiana business-and-law guide, so both a trade exam and a law/business exam are required. After passing, the applicant pays $190 for an active license tied to a company with insurance on file or $40 for an inactive license, renews before December 31 each year and completes 5 CPE hours (3.5 if inactive and working as a journeyman). No minimum time as a journeyman is stated on the pages reviewed.
The licenses page says the master applicant 'must have a current Journeyman Plumbing License' without saying it must be a Louisiana license, but the application asks for a 'Journeyman License No.' and the page adds that master licenses are not reciprocated; treated as requiring the Louisiana journeyman license. R.S. The separate LSLBC commercial contractor licence (plumbing work over $10,000) is a business licence outside this Board and is not covered here. Act 908 of 2026 moves plumbing licensing to the LSLBC; requirements may change after the transfer.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Required
- Out-of-state hours
- Do not count
What you must already have
- Current Louisiana Journeyman Plumber license (obtained by Texas/Arkansas reciprocity or by passing the Louisiana journeyman exam), or a current Louisiana professional engineer license
What you'll do to get licensed in Louisiana
- 1Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($100). Master Plumber Exam Fee payable to SPBLA with the notarized application (forfeited for no-show or cancellation under 30 days; 50% retained for earlier withdrawal).
- 2Application fee. Pay the application fee ($10). Processing Charge added to the exam fee ($110 total).
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Master Plumber exam Parts I and II: 80 open-book multiple-choice questions on the 2021 International Plumbing Code and International Residential Code (3 hours) and a 2-hour part on Title 51 Public Health-Sanitary Code Part XIII Sewage Disposal (December 2022 edition); 70% required in each category; a passed part is kept for one year.
- 4Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Master Plumber exam Part III: 40 questions in 2 hours on the NASCLA Louisiana Master Plumbers and Master Natural Gasfitters Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management, 2nd Edition; 70% required.
- 5License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($190). Initial Active Master Plumber license (associate the license with a current plumbing company or provide proof of insurances for a new company); alternatively $40 for an Inactive license to work as a journeyman under a master company or while not working in the trade; expires December 31 each year.
- 6Insurance. Carry the required insurance (if applicable). Proof of insurances for the employing company, filed and kept current with the Board by the company's designated Responsible Active Master Plumber (types and amounts not stated on the pages reviewed).
- 7Continuing education. Complete continuing education. 5 hours of Continuing Professional Education each year before the December 31 renewal for an active master (3.5 hours for an inactive master working as a journeyman; exempt if inactive and not working in the trade).
Published fees on this path total $300, 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
- Law / code exam
Liability insurance
Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.
- Insurance · if applicable
Continuing education
Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.
- Continuing education
How Louisiana licenses master plumbers
Louisiana master plumber · “Master Plumber”
Statewide license
Issued by State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA)
Louisiana licenses Master Plumbers statewide through the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA). A Master Plumber may perform plumbing work and employ registered apprentices and licensed journeymen; each plumbing company must designate one Responsible Active Master Plumber who keeps the company's insurance on file with the Board under La. R.S. 37:1361 et seq. To sit the master exam an applicant must hold a current Journeyman Plumber license (or a Louisiana professional engineer license) and file a notarized application with $110 ($100 exam + $10 processing). The exam is a three-part open-book written test scored at 70% per part: 80 questions on the 2021 IPC/IRC, a part on Title 51 Public Health-Sanitary Code Part XIII (sewage disposal), and 40 questions on the NASCLA Louisiana Master Plumbers and Master Natural Gasfitters Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management. The initial license is $190 active (associated with a plumbing company that has insurance on file) or $40 inactive; licenses expire December 31 and active masters complete 5 hours of CPE a year (3.5 hours for an inactive master working as a journeyman). The Board states that it 'does not reciprocate Master licenses'; out-of-state masters enter through the journeyman license. Act 908 of the 2026 session transfers plumbing licensing to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, which was holding public discussions on the transition in late 2026.
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 Louisiana master plumber exam if I'm licensed in New York?
- Yes. Louisiana requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
- What does it cost to get a Louisiana master plumber license from New York?
- Published fees on this path total $300, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my New York work hours count in Louisiana?
- No. Louisiana does not credit out-of-state hours on this path.
- Does it work the other way, from Louisiana to New York?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Louisiana to New York, the mechanism is not applicable.
Sources
- SPBLA home page - 'Open Discussion: Plumbing Licensing Transition' (Act 908 of the 2026 Legislative Session) · State Plumbing Board of Louisiana · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- State Plumbing Board of Louisiana - Licenses (Apprentice, Residential Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber, WSPS, Medical Gas, Natural Gas) · State Plumbing Board of Louisiana · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- SPBLA - Master Plumber Exam Application and Candidate Bulletin · State Plumbing Board of Louisiana · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- SPBLA - License Reciprocation (Texas and Arkansas reciprocal journeyman applications) · State Plumbing Board of Louisiana · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.