Tennessee to Connecticut: master plumber license reciprocity
Tennessee does not issue a statewide master plumber license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Connecticut'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.
Contractor (P-1) by equivalent out-of-state license (all states)
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
A master plumber or plumbing contractor licensed in any other state applies under DCP's 'Plumbing Contractor - Equivalent Out of State License' path. DCP reviews a single out-of-state license for equivalency to the P-1: the hours table requires 576 classroom hours matching Exhibit A and 12,000 on-the-job hours (8,000 plus two years / 4,000 as a licensed journeyperson). The applicant submits a copy of the license, official license verification, the laws and regulations that set the requirements met to obtain it, and the scope of work, with the non-refundable $150 application fee. If approved, CGS 20-333 and 20-334a(a)(1) still require the Connecticut contractor examination before the $150 initial license is issued—the origin license does not waive the trade exam. An applicant whose license is not found equivalent is not approved on this path and must document comparable journeyman service and training instead (CGS 20-334a(a)(1)(A)). No named reciprocal partners appear on the plumbing contractor out-of-state page.
CLASSROOM-HOUR CONFLICT on the contractor out-of-state page: the example sentence says a P-1 equivalent license 'must have required 720 classroom hours and 12,000 hours of on the job training', while the hours table on the same page lists P-1 classroom hours as 576 (with 12,000 OJT). CE, reinstatement and the annual expiration month live on the unfetched Plumbing-and-Pipefitting-Licensing hub.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- Your Tennessee license must be active and in good standing.
- The out-of-state license must be equivalent to the P-1: 576 classroom hours matching Exhibit A and 12,000 OJT hours (8,000 plus two years / 4,000 as a licensed journeyperson)Only one out-of-state license is reviewed. The same page's example paragraph says 720 classroom hours; use the table (576) unless DCP confirms otherwise. Limited contractor tables: P-7 8,000/180, J-1 8,000/288, J-3 8,000/144.
- You must document at least 12,000 hours of qualifying work experience.8,000 hours plus 2 years (4,000 hours) working as a licensed journeyperson. CGS 20-334a(a)(1)(A): journeyman service outside Connecticut counts if DCP finds it comparable to similar service in this state.
What you'll do to get licensed in Connecticut
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($150). Contractor application fee, non-refundable (CGS 20-333); DCP out-of-state page restates that application fees are nonrefundable.
- 2Other. Copy of the out-of-state license, official license verification, the laws/regulations listing the requirements met to obtain it, and the scope of work for that license (one origin license only).
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Connecticut P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor licensure examination after DCP determines eligibility (scope of work: two years as an unlimited licensed journeyperson or equivalent, then the license examination; CGS 20-333 / 20-334a)..
- 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee. Examination vendor fee per portion, due at exam registration..
- 5Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam (if applicable). 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..
- 6License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($150). Initial license fee for a contractor's license after passing the exam (CGS 20-335); renews annually for $150. Plumbing expiration month not confirmed on pages retrieved..
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.
- Trade exam
- Exam fee
- Law / code exam · if applicable
How Connecticut licenses master plumbers
Connecticut master plumber · “P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor”
Statewide license
Issued by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Occupational and Professional Licensing
Connecticut has no license titled 'master plumber'; the top-tier personal credential is the P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor, issued by DCP to an individual and permitting all plumbing and piping work under CGS 20-330 (permits and contracting with the public). Limited contractor classes cover narrower scopes (J-1, J-3, P-7, P-9, PP-1, SP-1). A new P-1 applicant needs two years as an unlimited licensed journeyperson or equivalent experience and training; the out-of-state equivalency table is 12,000 OJT hours (8,000 plus two years / 4,000) and 576 classroom hours matching Exhibit A. CGS 20-334a(a)(1)(A) lets out-of-state journeyman service count if DCP finds it comparable, and still requires the contractor examination. CGS 20-333a would allow an exam waiver only if the origin state reciprocates; the P-1 out-of-state page names no partners. Fees are a $150 application fee and a $150 initial/renewal license fee; licenses expire annually.
Why Tennessee has nothing to transfer
Tennessee master plumber · “Master plumber (city or county card); state CMC-A plumbing contractor is a business license”
Licensed by cities and counties
Tennessee does not issue a master plumber license. The state-level plumbing credentials are (1) the Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP), a personal license for work under $25,000 where the Division of Fire Prevention inspects, which the Board does not treat as a master equivalent and for which it has no exam-waiver agreements, and (2) a contractor license with the CMC-A (plumbing) or CMC (full mechanical: plumbing and HVAC) classification, issued to a business that names a qualifying agent and required for plumbing projects of $25,000 or more. CMC-A and CMC candidates need Board pre-approval ($50) before the plumbing or full-mechanical trade exam; every contractor also takes the Tennessee Business and Law exam (Prov from 2026-07-01; scores typically valid two years). Initial contractor application fee $250. The Board's trade-exam-waiver form lets a contractor whose origin board verifies a comparable plumbing or mechanical exam skip the Tennessee trade exam but not Business and Law, and it cannot be used for the LLP: Ohio plumbing maps to CMC-A, South Carolina plumbing to CMC-A, and Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia mechanical licenses to CMC. That waiver is contractor-to-contractor only (Ohio's OCILB listing of Tennessee as a plumbing-contractor partner is the same relationship from Ohio's side). Master plumber licenses proper exist only locally; Nashville's MPE Board issues a master plumber certificate. An out-of-state master plumber has no statewide personal recognition: to contract for $25,000 or more they need the CMC-A or CMC contractor license; to pull small-job permits they need the LLP where it is accepted, or the local master card where it is not.
How local licensing works in Tennessee
State contractor route (CMC-A / CMC) — business license, not a personal master. Required statewide to bid or contract plumbing of $25,000 or more (subcontractor plumbing portion counted with materials, equipment and labor). Qualifying agent (owner, officer or full-time employee) takes the Tennessee Business and Law exam and the CMC-A or CMC trade exam after a $50 pre-approval request to [email protected]. Up to two people may take each exam; Business and Law and the trade exam need not be the same person. Application $250 at core.tn.gov. From 2026-07-01 a contractors' surety bond of at least 50% of the requested monetary limit may replace a CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement. General liability and workers' compensation (or exemption) are required on the contractor application. Trade exam waiver (not Reciprocity for a master plumber card): origin board completes the Request for Contractor License Verification in lieu of the Tennessee trade exam score. Plumbing rows: Ohio Plumbing -> CMC-A; South Carolina Plumbing -> CMC-A; Louisiana Mechanical -> CMC; Mississippi Mechanical -> CMC; West Virginia Mechanical -> CMC. Business and Law is never waived. Ineligible if discipline, open complaints or felony convictions. Cannot be used for LLP, LLE or home improvement. NASCLA accredited exams on the Board exam page are commercial building and electrical, not plumbing.
State LLP (personal, limited, not master). $75 initial, Prov LLP exam, under $25,000, Fire Prevention jurisdictions only, no exam waiver. A Tennessee CMC-A/CMC firm may still need Metro registration to pull permits; confirm with Codes (615-862-6500).
Knoxville. State Contractor registration (CMC-A/CMC) or Unlicensed/State Limited License (LLP) registration to pull permits.
- Nashville / Davidson County (Codes and Building Safety)
- Knoxville (Plans Review & Inspections)
- Chattanooga (Land Development Office)
- Memphis / Shelby County (Office of Construction Code Enforcement)
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Connecticut master plumber exam if I'm licensed in Tennessee?
- Yes. Connecticut requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a Connecticut master plumber license from Tennessee?
- Published fees on this path total $300, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Tennessee work hours count in Connecticut?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Connecticut's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Connecticut to Tennessee?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Connecticut to Tennessee, the mechanism is not applicable.
Sources
- Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 393 - Occupational Licensing (Electrical, Plumbing and Piping, Heating, Cooling...) · CGS §§ 20-330, 20-333, 20-333a, 20-334a, 20-335 · Connecticut General Assembly · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Plumbing Contractor: Equivalent Out of State License · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Connecticut DCP Exhibit A - Required Courses for Plumbing License Types · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Form · verified September 16, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Plumbing and Pipefitting Licensing (renewal, reinstatement and CE hub linked from the contractor out-of-state page) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Plumbing Licenses and Scope of Work · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · 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.