Moving to Maryland as a master plumber: every state's rule
Maryland has reciprocity agreements with 2 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: experience credit.
Maryland master plumber · “Master Plumber/Gas Fitter”
State license plus local requirements
Issued by Maryland State Board of Plumbing (Department of Labor)
Maryland issues a statewide Master Plumber/Gas Fitter license through the State Board of Plumbing. By statute a master plumber is licensed to provide plumbing services and natural gas services. Qualification on the Board's License Requirements page is two years as a journey plumber plus 3,750 hours of work as a journey plumber under a master, then the PSI master exam. The original Master Plumber/Gas Fitter license fee is $87.50 (updated July 1, 2025; renewal is also $87.50). Masters who contract to provide plumbing services must carry general liability of at least $300,000 and property damage of at least $100,000 ($400,000 per occurrence), with the Board named as certificate holder; umbrella policies are not accepted. Reciprocal Master Plumber/Gas Fitter licenses are issued to holders licensed by the District of Columbia, Delaware (master only), WSSC, or Baltimore County (WSSC and Baltimore County applicants must hold both plumbing and gas licenses obtained by examination).
How local licensing works in Maryland
Same territorial split as the journeyman level: the State Board license is not the license for Baltimore County or for WSSC territory in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Those jurisdictions license plumbers separately and enforce their own plumbing codes. A master who will contract in WSSC territory needs the WSSC plumber license; work only in Baltimore County needs the county license. Propane-gas-fitter certificates from the State Board are valid in the entire state. The reciprocal-license page states the Board may issue a State master plumber license to a person already licensed by WSSC or Baltimore County if that person holds both plumbing and gas licenses obtained by examination.
- Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Montgomery County)
- Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Prince George's County)
- Baltimore County
States Maryland reciprocates with
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 | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-16 |
| District of Columbia | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-16 |
| Florida | Experience credit | 2026-09-16 | |
| Georgia | 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 | |
| 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 Maryland from scratch
No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how Maryland issues a master plumber license to a first-time applicant.
Master Plumber/Gas Fitter license by examination
A Maryland journey plumber becomes a master after holding the Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter license for at least two years and completing at least 3,750 hours of training as a journey plumber under the direction and control of a licensed master plumber, with a current 32-hour backflow certificate. The PSI master exam has 100 open-book questions on plumbing and fuel gas work, and you need 70% to pass; there is no separate law or business exam. After passing you apply to the Board and pay the $87.50 license fee. A master who will contract to provide plumbing services must also file proof of liability insurance of at least $300,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage; a master who does not contract can be licensed as not insured.
The exam allows 240 minutes and draws on the 2018 International Plumbing Code, the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, OSHA construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926), Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters and any standard backflow text; books may be tabbed and highlighted but not written in. Gas appliances and piping make up 40 of the 100 questions. A passing score stays valid for one year for applying for the license. After a failed attempt you register and pay again, and you may not retest within 30 days. The Board says the license arrives by mail within two weeks of the license application. A conviction does not automatically disqualify you: disclose each one with true test copies of the court docket and a letter explaining the offense. Your license states whether you are insured to contract; you can change a not-insured license by sending the Board a current certificate of insurance. Insurance bought by an employer covers you only for work done for that employer. The master license covers plumbing and natural gas work. Baltimore County and the WSSC service area (Montgomery and Prince George's Counties) license plumbers separately.
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Exam given by
- PSI
- Exam format
- Open book
- Passing score
- 70%
- Typical processing
- About 14 days
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- None required
Who can apply
- Hold a Maryland Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter license for at least 2 years first.Held for at least two years (Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-302(d)).
- You must document at least 3,750 hours of qualifying work experience.Training as a licensed journey plumber under the direction and control of a licensed master plumber.
- Unexpired certificate from a Board-approved 32-hour backflow prevention device testing course
Other ways to qualify
Each of these replaces the requirements above. You only need one.
Journey plumber licensed in another state
A journey plumber licensed in another state may qualify if that license was issued after at least 7,500 hours of training under a master plumber and a written exam equivalent to Maryland's journey exam, followed by at least 3,750 hours as a licensed journey plumber under a master over at least two years. PSI requires original verification letters showing that your journey license and each supervising master's license were obtained by written exam.
- Journey plumber license from another state, issued after at least 7,500 hours of training under a master plumber and a written exam equivalent to Maryland's journey exam
- You must document at least 3,750 hours of qualifying work experience.As a licensed journey plumber, over at least two years, under the direction and control of a master plumber licensed by written exam.
- Unexpired certificate from a Board-approved 32-hour backflow prevention device testing course
Master plumber from an area that does not license journey plumbers
If your home jurisdiction licenses master plumbers but not journey plumbers, PSI accepts 7,500 hours of training under a master plumber licensed by exam, a verification letter showing your own master license was obtained by written exam and has been held in good standing for at least two years, and 3,750 hours worked as a licensed master over a two-year period.
- Master plumber license obtained by written exam and held in good standing for at least two years in a jurisdiction that does not license journey plumbers
- You must document at least 7,500 hours of qualifying work experience.Under the direction and control of a master plumber licensed by written exam.
- You must document at least 3,750 hours of qualifying work experience.Worked as a licensed master plumber over a two-year period since receiving the master license.
- Unexpired certificate from a Board-approved 32-hour backflow prevention device testing course
Steps to get licensed
- 1Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Maryland Master Plumber/Gas Fitter exam (PSI): 100 questions, 240 minutes, open book, 70% to pass.
- 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($65). PSI examination fee per attempt, paid after PSI approves your eligibility; nonrefundable and valid for one year.
- 3License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($87.50). Original Master Plumber/Gas Fitter license fee (Board fee schedule updated July 1, 2025).
- 4Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($400,000) (if applicable). Required only to contract to provide plumbing services: liability insurance including completed operations, at least $300,000 bodily injury and $100,000 property damage per occurrence, from an insurer approved in Maryland; umbrella policies are not accepted. The certificate names the Maryland State Board of Plumbing as certificate holder and is filed with the license application..
- 5Other. Upload proof of hours certified by each supervising master plumber, your backflow certificate and a copy of your driver's license to PSI's online portal.
Published fees on this path total $152.50, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
Keeping it active
Every 2 years with no continuing education required and a $87.50 renewal fee.
The Board requires no continuing education to renew a plumber license; its eight-hour annual requirement applies only to plumbing inspectors.
Licenses expire two years from the date of issue, and the Board sends a renewal notice about 60 days before. A master who contracts must keep the liability insurance in force to renew, and the insurer must give the Board 10 days' notice of cancellation. A license expired for more than four years requires a new application and the exam again.
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 · $65
Liability insurance
Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.
- Insurance · $400,000 · if applicable
Sources for this section
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-302 - Qualifications of applicants · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-302 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-303 - Applications and examination fee · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-303 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-306 - Issuance of licenses · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-306 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-308 - Term and renewal of licenses · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-308 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-309 - Reinstatement of expired licenses · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-309 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §12-501 - Liability insurance for master plumbers · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §12-501 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Education · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Taking the Exam (PSI) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Forms and Fees (updated July 1, 2025) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Insurance Requirements · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Licensing Frequently Asked Questions · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Faq · verified September 23, 2026
- PSI Qualification Information Bulletin - Maryland State Board of Plumbing (Master/Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter, Master/Journey Natural Gas Fitter) · PSI Services LLC for the Maryland State Board of Plumbing · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - Renew Your License · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Plumbing - License Requirements · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026