Moving to Georgia as a master plumber: every state's rule
Georgia has reciprocity agreements with 0 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: experience credit.
Georgia master plumber · “Master Plumber Class II (Unrestricted)”
Statewide license
Georgia issues statewide Master Plumber licenses in two classes through the Construction Industry Licensing Board's Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers. Class I is limited to single-family dwellings, one-level dwellings designed for not more than two families, and commercial structures not exceeding 10,000 square feet; Class II is unrestricted and is the master-level equivalent used here. A master applicant must document five years of plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code, including at least two years licensed as a Journeyman Plumber; Class II also requires commercial or industrial plumbing experience. The applicant scores at least 70 on the appropriate master examination, names three licensed-plumber references (Class I: at least one master; Class II: at least two masters), and pays the Board's published fee. Rule 121-2-.03 authorizes the Division to issue a master license by reciprocity or endorsement under a formal written agreement with another state board whose exam is substantially equal and who offer a similar privilege to Georgia licensees; the Division's FAQ states that Georgia has no reciprocity with any other state for master or journeyman plumbers. Everyone therefore applies by examination, with out-of-state journeyman time counting toward the two licensed years and other plumbing work counting toward the five-year total.
Every origin state
| State | Mechanism | Note | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Alaska | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Arizona | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Arkansas | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| California | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Colorado | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Connecticut | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Delaware | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| District of Columbia | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Florida | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Hawaii | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Idaho | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Illinois | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Indiana | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Iowa | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Kansas | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Kentucky | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Louisiana | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Maine | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Maryland | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Massachusetts | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Michigan | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Minnesota | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Mississippi | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Missouri | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Montana | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Nebraska | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Nevada | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| New Hampshire | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| New Jersey | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| New Mexico | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| New York | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| North Carolina | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| North Dakota | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Ohio | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Oklahoma | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Oregon | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Pennsylvania | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Rhode Island | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| South Carolina | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| South Dakota | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Tennessee | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| Texas | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Utah | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Vermont | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Virginia | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Washington | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
| West Virginia | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Wisconsin | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Wyoming | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-16 |
Getting licensed in Georgia from scratch
No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how Georgia issues a master plumber license to a first-time applicant.
Master Plumber Class II (Unrestricted) license by examination
A plumber becomes a Georgia Class II (unrestricted) Master Plumber by documenting five years of plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code, at least two of them as a licensed Journeyman Plumber and including commercial or industrial plumbing, and then scoring at least 70 on the Class II master exam. You apply in the GOALS portal with a notarized application, a copy of your journeyman license, three licensed-plumber references (at least two of them Master Plumbers), a local law-enforcement background check and the application fee. After the Board approves the application, PSI contacts you to register for the closed-book Class II exam, which includes a 40-question business and administration section. The license is held by the individual; the Board does not register plumbing companies, and only a licensed Master Plumber may operate a plumbing business.
The Class II exam has 140 scored questions plus 28 unscored pretest questions and is given in two parts of 3.5 hours each; no reference materials may be used. Besides trade content, it covers general laws, regulations and a 40-question business section on workers' compensation, taxes, lien rights, bonding, insurance, estimating, contracts and scheduling. From May 1, 2026 the exam is based only on the 2024 Georgia Plumbing Code (2024 International Plumbing Code with Georgia amendments) and the 2024 Georgia Gas Code. If you fail twice, you must complete a Board-approved review course before a third attempt. Class I (Restricted), limited to single-family dwellings, one-level dwellings for up to two families and commercial buildings up to 10,000 square feet, uses the same five-year requirement without the commercial or industrial experience, needs only one Master Plumber among the three references, and has a 120-question exam. Medical gas piping work needs a separate state certification (Rule 121-2-.11).
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Exam given by
- PSI
- Exam format
- Closed book
- Passing score
- 70%
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- 8 hours per cycle
Who can apply
- Hold a Journeyman Plumber license for at least 2 years first.At least two of the five years of experience must have been spent licensed as a Journeyman Plumber (Rule 121-3-.02(4)). The Board asks master applicants for a copy of the journeyman license.
- You must document at least 5 years of qualifying work experience.The two licensed journeyman years count toward the five.
Steps to get licensed
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee. Application and processing fee, paid in the GOALS portal (goals.sos.ga.gov) with the notarized application; non-refundable. The Board publishes the current amount only on its GOALS fee schedule..
- 2Background check. Complete a background check. Criminal background check obtained through your local law enforcement agency, plus court documents and a letter of explanation for any conviction or disciplinary action.
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Georgia Master Plumber Class II (Unrestricted) exam given by PSI after Board approval: 140 scored questions, including 40 on business and administration, in two 3.5-hour parts; closed book; scaled score of 70 to pass.
- 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee. PSI examination fee, paid to PSI when you register after Board approval. The Board does not publish the amount; PSI quotes it at registration (test-takers.psiexams.com/gaco, 855-898-0711)..
- 5Other. Three references from licensed plumbers who can attest to your experience, at least two of them licensed Master Plumbers (Rule 121-3-.02(3)).
- 6Other. Affidavit of Citizenship with a secure and verifiable identity document, such as a driver's license or passport.
Keeping it active
Every 2 years with 8 hours of continuing education per cycle.
Eight hours within the 24 months before the license expires (4 hours per year), in plumbing installation, design, state codes, products, new techniques, tools and materials, safety or work-related legal issues; master plumbers may also count environmental or business courses. Courses must come from a college, a vocational-technical school, or a trade, technical or professional organization. At the first renewal, no hours are due if you have been licensed less than one year, and 4 hours if licensed less than two years.
Licenses expire in even-numbered years and are renewed online in GOALS by November 30; late renewal with a late fee runs December 1 to 31. The renewal fee is listed on the Board's GOALS fee schedule.
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
Continuing education
Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.
- Continuing education
Sources for this section
- Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers: Licensure Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin · PSI Services LLC for the Georgia Professional Licensing Boards Division · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121-2 - Qualifications for Licensure (Construction Industry Licensing Board) · Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 121-2-.01, 121-2-.03, 121-2-.06, 121-2-.11 · Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121-3 - Application for Licensure (Construction Industry Licensing Board) · Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 121-3-.02, 121-3-.03 · Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 121-3-.02 - Statewide Master and Journeyman Plumber License · Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 121-3-.02; O.C.G.A. §§ 43-14-5, 43-14-6 · Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121-4 - License Issuance, Renewal, Reinstatement, Expiration, and Activation (Construction Industry Licensing Board) · Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 121-4-.01, 121-4-.02, 121-4-.04 · Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- How-To Guide: Plumber License · Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers · Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Georgia Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers FAQ · Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division · Faq · verified September 23, 2026