New York to New Hampshire: master plumber license reciprocity
New York does not issue a statewide master plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is New Hampshire'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.
Traditional application and New Hampshire master plumbing examination (non-qualifying jurisdictions)
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
An out-of-state master plumber whose origin is not on OPLC's Plc 313.34 qualifying-jurisdiction list applies through the traditional Mechanical Licensing Board process. Saf-Mec 302.14 makes proof of origin-state licensure or certification enough to sit the New Hampshire plumbing licensing examination; it does not waive that exam. Plc 313.34's similarity standard for masters is journeyman experience plus an exam, which is the endorsement bar, not a confirmed hour table for the exam route. After passing, the applicant pays the $330 two-year master plumber fee. A separate $275 mechanical business entity fee is published for firms; treat entity licensure as distinct from the personal master license until the statute and applications page are re-read.
After a browser pass, add Endorsement agreements (exam waived) for listed master origins only; Reciprocity only if a signed exam-waiver agreement is published.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
- Typical processing
- About 14 days
What you must already have
- Your New York license must be active and in good standing.
- Fee, eligibility details, and processing steps are not published in a form we can list here. Please see the sources on this page to find out more.
What you'll do to get licensed in New Hampshire
- 1Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. New Hampshire master plumber licensing examination (Mechanical Licensing Board; Prov candidate bulletin linked from the board home page)..
- 2Application fee. Pay the application fee ($330). Master plumber application / two-year license fee (Plc 1002.25 and OPLC Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board fee table)..
- 3Business license. Obtain a business license ($275) (if applicable). Mechanical business entity application/renewal/reinstatement fee ($275, Plc 1002.25 / OPLC fee table)..
- 4Other. Demonstrate proof of origin-state plumber licensure or certification with the application (Saf-Mec 302.14)..
Published fees on this path total $330, 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
Business registration
If you plan to contract in your own name, budget for a business license or entity registration on top of the trade license.
- Business license · $275 · if applicable
How New Hampshire licenses master plumbers
New Hampshire master plumber · “Master Plumber”
Statewide license
Issued by New Hampshire Mechanical Licensing Board, Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)
New Hampshire issues a statewide Master Plumber license through the same OPLC Mechanical Licensing Board that licenses journeyman and trainee plumbers. The published two-year master plumber fee is $330 (OPLC fee table; Plc 1002.25). RSA 153 lets the board enter reciprocity agreements for plumbers whose requirements are equivalent or greater; no signed master-plumber partner list was confirmed, so none are recorded. Out-of-state masters who are not in a qualifying jurisdiction remain eligible for the New Hampshire master plumbing examination upon proof of licensure (Saf-Mec 302.14).
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 New Hampshire master plumber exam if I'm licensed in New York?
- Yes. New Hampshire requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a New Hampshire master plumber license from New York?
- Published fees on this path total $330, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my New York work hours count in New Hampshire?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward New Hampshire's eligibility requirements.
- How long does the application take?
- The board's published or typical processing time is about 14 days.
- Does it work the other way, from New Hampshire to New York?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from New Hampshire to New York, the mechanism is not applicable.
Sources
- NH OPLC - Mechanical Licensing Board (who we regulate; plumber licenses) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- NH OPLC - License Fees for the Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- OPLC - Reciprocity Licensing (HB 594 overview) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- NH OPLC - New Changes for Reciprocity in New Hampshire (endorsement qualifying jurisdictions by board) · RSA 310:17; Plc 313.34 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- N.H. Code Admin. R. Plc 1002.25 - Mechanical Licensing Board application and licensing fees · Plc 1002.25 · New Hampshire General Court (Administrative Rules) · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- N.H. Code Admin. R. Plc 313.34 - Substantially similar requirements for Mechanical Licensing Board professions · Plc 313.34 (eff. 5-3-24, #13954); Plc 313.01; Plc 313.11 · New Hampshire General Court (Administrative Rules) · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- RSA Chapter 153 - Fire Safety; Mechanical Licensing Board (plumber and fuel gas licensing) · RSA 153:16-b; RSA 153:27-a; RSA 153:28; RSA 153:36, VII · New Hampshire General Court · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- RSA 310:17 - License Reciprocity (OPLC endorsement of out-of-state licenses) · RSA 310:17 (2023, 111:1, eff. Aug. 27, 2023) · New Hampshire General Court · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-Mec 300 - Initial fuel gas fitting and plumbing licensing · Saf-Mec 302.14 · New Hampshire General Court (Administrative Rules) · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.