New York to Wisconsin: master plumber license reciprocity
New York does not issue a statewide master plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Wisconsin'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 plumber (no reciprocity; exam required, journeyman experience credited toward eligibility)
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
DSPS publishes no plumbing reciprocity partners and no exam-waiver route for out-of-state master plumbers, so a master licensed in another state applies through LicensE under Form 3129 like a first-time candidate and must pass the Wisconsin master plumber examination. Wisconsin's master qualification is a period of experience as a licensed journeyman plumber, documented on the Form 3129T experience table; an out-of-state applicant documents that journeyman-level experience and licence history to become eligible to sit the exam. Wisconsin has no separate law or business exam for individual plumbers. Fees are calculated in LicensE.
SPS 305.91 requires at least 1,000 hours of plumbing work per year for 3 years as a licensed journeyman plumber, or an approved engineering degree. Restricted master is a separate DSPS credential. Fee amounts are in SPS 305.02 Table 305.02 (PDF), not on the DSPS plumber pages: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/MasterPlumber/Default.aspx
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 1,000 hours of qualifying work experience.At least 1,000 hours of plumbing work per year (SPS 305.91).
- You must have held your New York license for at least 3 years.Those 1,000 hours per year for 3 years as a licensed journeyman plumber, or an approved engineering degree in lieu of that experience (SPS 305.91).
What you'll do to get licensed in Wisconsin
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee. Application fee calculated in LicensE when you file Form 3129. Dollar amounts are in SPS 305.02 Table 305.02 (PDF), not on the DSPS plumber pages: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/MasterPlumber/Default.aspx.
- 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee. Examination fee calculated in LicensE. Dollar amounts are in SPS 305.02 Table 305.02 (PDF), not on the DSPS plumber pages..
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Wisconsin Master Plumber examination (open book on Wis. Stat. ch. 145, SPS 305 and the SPS 381-387 plumbing code; given at DSPS or Pearson locations).
- 4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee. License fee calculated in LicensE after you pass. Dollar amounts are in SPS 305.02 Table 305.02 (PDF), not on the DSPS plumber pages..
- 5Other. Form 3129T experience table and copy of the journeyman plumber licence(s) relied on, uploaded to LicensE.
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
- Trade exam
How Wisconsin licenses master plumbers
Wisconsin master plumber · “Master Plumber”
Statewide license
Issued by Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
Wisconsin issues a statewide, person-held Master Plumber license through DSPS under Wis. Stat. ch. 145; no person may work at plumbing without a DSPS license (Wis. Stat. 145.06), and under SPS 305.91 a master plumber responsible for an installation must use appropriately credentialed persons to do the work. A new applicant files Form 3129 (with the Form 3129T experience table) in the LicensE portal, is made eligible to test, and must pass the DSPS master plumber examination, an open-book exam on Wis. Stat. ch. 145, SPS 305 and the SPS 381-387 plumbing code (the updated code applies to exams from October 1, 2026). DSPS's plumber pages name no reciprocity states.
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 Wisconsin master plumber exam if I'm licensed in New York?
- Yes. Wisconsin requires the trade exam on this path.
- How long do I need to have held my New York license?
- At least 3 years before applying.
- Do my New York work hours count in Wisconsin?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Wisconsin's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Wisconsin to New York?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Wisconsin to New York, the mechanism is not applicable.
Sources
- Wisconsin DSPS Form 3129 - Master Plumber License Application Information (including Form 3129T) · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- Wisconsin DSPS - Journeyman Plumber Exam Information · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Wisconsin DSPS - Master Plumber · Wis. Stat. 145.06; Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.91 · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 305 - Licenses, Certifications and Registrations (Table 305.02 fees; Subch. VII Plumbing; SPS 305.91, 305.93) · Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.02 Table 305.02; SPS 305.60-305.66; SPS 305.91; SPS 305.93 · Wisconsin Legislature · Admin Rule · verified September 16, 2026
- Wis. Stat. 145.06 - Licenses and registration (plumbing) · Wis. Stat. 145.06 · Wisconsin Legislature · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.