Do I have to take the North Dakota master plumber exam if I'm licensed in New York?

Yes. North Dakota requires the trade exam on this path.

What does it cost to get a North Dakota 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 North Dakota?

Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward North Dakota's eligibility requirements.

Does it work the other way, from North Dakota to New York?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from North Dakota to New York, the mechanism is not applicable.

New York to North Dakota: master plumber license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 16, 2026· 9 sources

New York does not issue a statewide master plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is North Dakota'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 without a reciprocal agreement: application for the North Dakota master examination (all states except MN and SD)

Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.

NDAC 62-02-01-01(4) provides that 'Applicants who are master plumbers in other states who desire to work in this state in localities where a state master license is required may make application for a master examination and license,' with the origin master license 'vouched for as provided on the application blank.' Eligibility follows 62-02-01-01(3): the applicant must be 21 and have two years and 3,400 hours of experience as a journeyman plumber licensed by North Dakota 'or any other state that has a state licensing law', so time worked under an out-of-state state journeyman license counts in full. The Board's FAQ requires the out-of-state license to be verified 'by state endorsed letter which must state the type of license held, issue date of said license, whether the license was obtained through examination and whether or not the license is current.' The applicant pays the $50 application fee and $50 exam fee, must sit within six months of approval, and needs 80% on the four-part board-administered master exam (2018 North Dakota Plumbing Code); the $200 master license fee is paid on passing and the license renews every December 31 for $200. NDCC 43-18-13.1 permits no-exam registration of nonresidents from substantially equivalent states that reciprocate, but the Board's published practice limits that to Minnesota and South Dakota at the master level.

No separate law or rules exam; the master exam covers the plumbing code and principles of plumbing (NDAC 62-02-01-03) and the passing grade is 80% (journeyman 70%). Because the 3,400 journeyman hours must have been earned under a license from 'a state that has a state licensing law', journeyman time under a city-only license does not qualify, hence acceptsMunicipalOriginLicenses is false. A Montana Master licensee gets the North Dakota Journeyman license without examination under the MT agreement but must take the master exam.

At a glance

Trade exam: Required
Law / code exam: Not required
Out-of-state hours: Count toward eligibility

What you must already have

You must document at least 3,400 hours of qualifying work experience.Two years and 3,400 hours of experience as a journeyman plumber licensed by North Dakota or any other state with a state licensing law (NDAC 62-02-01-01(3); FAQ)
Applicant must be at least 21 years of age
State-endorsed letter (Certificate of Endorsement) from the origin licensing agency stating the type of license held, its issue date, whether it was obtained through examination and whether it is current; the origin journeyman or master license is vouched for on the application blank

What you'll do to get licensed in North Dakota

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($50). Application fee for the master examination and license (NDAC 62-02-01-01).
2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($50). Master exam fee, one examination per fee paid (NDAC 62-02-01-02; Board exam-fees page); six-month wait and new fee after a failure.
3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Board-administered North Dakota Master Plumber exam: four parts (100 closed-book multiple-choice questions; open-book 40 completion questions, water pipe sizing and DWV with fixture units), five hours, based on the 2018 North Dakota Plumbing Code; 80% to pass; given every other month in Bismarck and Fargo; must be taken within six months of application approval.
4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($200). Master plumber license fee on passing (NDAC 62-02-01-01(3)); expires December 31 and renews annually for $200 (late renewal $50); a master may hold the journeyman license without the journeyman fee (NDCC 43-18-13).
5Continuing education. Complete continuing education. 2 to 4 credit hours of plumbing-related continuing education within each two-year period to renew (NDCC 43-18-17.1); Board CE session or correspondence course $40.

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 · $50
Trade exam

Continuing education

Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.

Continuing education

How North Dakota licenses master plumbers

North Dakota master plumber · “Master Plumber”

Statewide license

Verified September 16, 2026· 8 sources

Issued by North Dakota State Plumbing Board

North Dakota issues a statewide Master Plumber certificate and license through the North Dakota State Plumbing Board under NDCC chapter 43-18 and NDAC chapter 62-02-01. Any firm installing plumbing where there is a public water or sewer system must have a licensed master plumber in charge (NDCC 43-18-10). A new applicant must be at least 21 and have two years and 3,400 hours of experience 'as a journeyman plumber licensed by the state of North Dakota or any other state that has a state licensing law', then pass the board-administered master exam - four parts, one closed book and three open book, five hours, on the 2018 North Dakota Plumbing Code - with 80%. Fees are a $50 application fee, a $50 exam fee and a $200 master license fee; licenses expire every December 31 and renew for $200, with 2 to 4 hours of continuing education required in each two-year period. A master may also hold the journeyman license without paying the journeyman fee. Masters from Minnesota (license held one year) and South Dakota Contractor licensees may be licensed without examination under the Board's written agreements; other out-of-state masters apply for the North Dakota master examination with their journeyman or master license vouched for.

Moving to North Dakota Leaving North Dakota

Why New York has nothing to transfer

New York master plumber · “Master Plumber (municipal)”

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 16, 2026· 7 sources

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)

Moving to New York Leaving New York

Common questions

Do I have to take the North Dakota master plumber exam if I'm licensed in New York?: Yes. North Dakota requires the trade exam on this path.
What does it cost to get a North Dakota 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 North Dakota?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward North Dakota's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from North Dakota to New York?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from North Dakota to New York, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 62-02-01 - Plumber Licensure · NDAC 62-02-01-01, 62-02-01-01.1, 62-02-01-02, 62-02-01-03, 62-02-01-04, 62-02-01-06, 62-02-01-07 · North Dakota Legislative Branch (State Board of Plumbing rules) · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-18 - Plumbers · NDCC 43-18-08, 43-18-10, 43-18-11, 43-18-13, 43-18-13.1, 43-18-15, 43-18-16, 43-18-17, 43-18-17.1 · North Dakota Legislative Branch · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
North Dakota State Plumbing Board - Licensing Applications · North Dakota State Plumbing Board · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
North Dakota State Plumbing Board - Continuing Education Requirements Overview · NDCC 43-18-17.1 · North Dakota State Plumbing Board · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
North Dakota State Plumbing Board - Exam Fees · NDAC 62-02-01-02 · North Dakota State Plumbing Board · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
North Dakota State Plumbing Board - Exams: General Information · North Dakota State Plumbing Board · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
North Dakota State Plumbing Board - FAQ (reciprocal licensing with South Dakota) · NDCC 43-18-13.1 · North Dakota State Plumbing Board · Faq · verified September 16, 2026
North Dakota State Plumbing Board - Home · North Dakota State Plumbing Board · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
North Dakota State Plumbing Board - Laws and Rules · NDCC ch. 43-18; NDAC Title 62 · North Dakota State Plumbing Board · 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.

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