LicensebyState

Moving to New Hampshire as a master plumber: every state's rule

New Hampshire has reciprocity agreements with 0 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: experience credit.

New Hampshire master plumber · “Master Plumber”

Statewide license

Verified September 23, 2026· 9 sources

Issued by New Hampshire Mechanical Licensing Board, Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)

New Hampshire issues a statewide Master Plumber license through the same OPLC Mechanical Licensing Board that licenses journeyman and trainee plumbers. The published two-year master plumber fee is $330 (OPLC fee table; Plc 1002.25). RSA 153:28, V lets the board enter mutual reciprocity agreements for plumbers, but the board publishes none. Since 3 May 2024, masters licensed in the jurisdictions OPLC lists under Plc 313.34 (Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont) may be licensed by endorsement instead. Out-of-state masters who are not in a qualifying jurisdiction remain eligible for the New Hampshire plumbing examination upon proof of licensure (Mec 302.12).

Every origin state

Experience credit 38No credit 12
Every state's path into New Hampshire
StateMechanismNoteVerified
AlabamaExperience credit2026-09-23
AlaskaExperience credit2026-09-23
ArizonaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
ArkansasExperience credit2026-09-23
CaliforniaExperience credit2026-09-23
ColoradoExperience credit2026-09-23
ConnecticutExperience credit2026-09-23
DelawareExperience credit2026-09-23
District of ColumbiaExperience credit2026-09-23
FloridaExperience credit2026-09-23
GeorgiaExperience credit2026-09-23
HawaiiExperience credit2026-09-23
IdahoExperience credit2026-09-23
IllinoisExperience credit2026-09-23
IndianaExperience credit2026-09-23
IowaExperience credit2026-09-23
KansasNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
KentuckyExperience credit2026-09-23
LouisianaExperience credit2026-09-23
MaineExperience credit2026-09-23
MarylandExperience credit2026-09-23
MassachusettsExperience credit2026-09-23
MichiganExperience credit2026-09-23
MinnesotaExperience credit2026-09-23
MississippiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
MissouriNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
MontanaExperience credit2026-09-23
NebraskaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
NevadaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
New JerseyExperience credit2026-09-23
New MexicoExperience credit2026-09-23
New YorkNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
North CarolinaExperience credit2026-09-23
North DakotaExperience credit2026-09-23
OhioExperience credit2026-09-23
OklahomaExperience credit2026-09-23
OregonNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
PennsylvaniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
Rhode IslandExperience credit2026-09-23
South CarolinaExperience credit2026-09-23
South DakotaExperience credit2026-09-23
TennesseeNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
TexasExperience credit2026-09-23
UtahExperience credit2026-09-23
VermontExperience credit2026-09-23
VirginiaExperience credit2026-09-23
WashingtonNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23
West VirginiaExperience credit2026-09-23
WisconsinExperience credit2026-09-23
WyomingNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-23

Getting licensed in New Hampshire from scratch

No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how New Hampshire issues a master plumber license to a first-time applicant.

Verified September 23, 2026· 10 sources

Master plumber by examination

A New Hampshire master plumber must have held a New Hampshire journeyman plumber license for at least 6 months, with no consumer complaints resulting in board disciplinary sanctions in the past year, and pass the state master exam with at least 75 percent. Candidates schedule the open-book master exam directly with Prov, then mail the same two paper forms used for the journeyman license with the fee and a letter from a licensed plumber who supervised their journeyman work. The master license is personal; a plumbing company also needs a separate mechanical business entity license, qualified by an officer or responsible managing employee who holds a New Hampshire master plumber license.

The master exam has 100 multiple-choice questions with a 3-hour limit, including 15 questions on scope and administration; the board's rule also lists New Hampshire plumbing law among the exam topics, so there is no separate law exam. The 75 percent pass mark comes from Mec 305.01(a) and OPLC's January 2026 checklist; Prov's June 2025 bulletin states a general 70 percent cut score, so confirm with OPLC (603-271-2152) if in doubt. The bulletin lists the 2018 International Plumbing Code and the board's rules as permitted references, while the board states that New Hampshire adopted the 2021 codes on July 1, 2024. A mechanical business entity license ($275 for two years) requires proof of good standing with the New Hampshire Secretary of State and proof of liability insurance; a sole proprietor with no employees is exempt from the business fee.

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Exam given by
Prov
Exam format
Open book
Passing score
75%
Renewal
Every 2 years
Continuing education
6 hours per cycle

Who can apply

  • Hold a New Hampshire journeyman plumber license, held for at least 6 months for at least 6 months first.
  • No consumer complaints resulting in board disciplinary sanctions within the past year

Steps to get licensed

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($330). Master plumber application processing and licensing fee, which covers the first two-year license (Plc 1002.25). Nonrefundable; paid by personal check, money order or cashier's check to the State of NH - Treasurer with the paper application..
  2. 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($90). Master plumber exam fee, paid to Prov when scheduling (Plc 1004.11). The same fee applies to each retake..
  3. 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. New Hampshire Master Plumber exam (Prov): 100 questions, 3 hours, open book, 75 percent to pass under the board's rule.
  4. 4Background check. Complete a background check. New Hampshire criminal history records check. OPLC's initial application checklist lists it for master applicants; under Mec 304.01(b), an applicant convicted as an adult of a felony, an offense against another person or an offense involving dishonesty must also submit a records check from every state where they have a criminal history..
  5. 5Other. A signed letter from the licensed plumber who supervised the applicant's journeyman work (or military plumbing service) stating that the applicant is competent to be a master plumber (Mec 304.04(b))..
  6. 6Business license. Obtain a business license ($275) (if applicable). Mechanical business entity license, two years (Plc 1002.25), required for a company that performs plumbing, with a New Hampshire master plumber as its qualifying officer or responsible managing employee. Needs proof of good standing with the Secretary of State and a list of licensed employees; a sole proprietor with no employees pays no fee..
  7. 7Insurance. Carry the required insurance (if applicable). Proof of liability insurance, required for the mechanical business entity license (RSA 153:29-a, V; Mec 307.02). No minimum amount is set in the statute or rules..

Published fees on this path total $420, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

Keeping it active

Every 2 years with 6 hours of continuing education per cycle and a $330 renewal fee.

6 hours of continuing education per two-year cycle, which OPLC describes as 3 hours of code update each year. Courses are classroom seminars of at least 3 hours from board-approved seminar providers, covering New Hampshire's adopted plumbing codes and the current licensing laws and rules. Completion is tracked in CE Broker.

Licenses expire two years after issue, on the last day of the month issued, and renew online. Business entity licenses renew separately every two years.

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

Business registration

If you plan to contract in your own name, budget for a business license or entity registration on top of the trade license.

  • Business license · $275 · if applicable

Liability insurance

Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.

  • Insurance · if applicable

Continuing education

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

  • Continuing education

Sources for this section

  1. N.H. Code Admin. R. Mec 300 - Initial fuel gas fitting, plumbing, trainee, apprentice and business entity licensing · Mec 302.02; Mec 302.12; Mec 304.01; Mec 304.04; Mec 305.01; Mec 306.01; Mec 307 · New Hampshire General Court (Administrative Rules) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  2. N.H. Code Admin. R. Mec 400 - Renewal, continuing education and reinstatement of mechanical licenses · Mec 402.01; Mec 403.01; Mec 404.01; Mec 404.03 · New Hampshire General Court (Administrative Rules) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  3. NH OPLC - Mechanical Licensing Applications (new license, renewal, reinstatement) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  4. NH OPLC - Mechanical Licensing Board (who we regulate; plumber licenses) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  5. OPLC Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board - Initial Application Checklist (rev. 01/2026) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  6. NH OPLC - Mechanical Licensing Education Requirements (CE and plumbing exam) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  7. OPLC - Examination Information effective 5/12/2025 (Prov partnership notice) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  8. N.H. Code Admin. R. Plc 1002.25 and Plc 1004.11 - Mechanical Licensing Board licensing and examination fees · Plc 1002.25; Plc 1004.11 · New Hampshire General Court (Administrative Rules) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  9. Prov - State of New Hampshire Mechanical Board Plumbing Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB 2025.06.23) · Prov, Inc. for the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  10. RSA Chapter 153 - Fire Safety; Mechanical Licensing Board (plumber and fuel gas licensing) · RSA 153:27-a; RSA 153:28; RSA 153:29-a; RSA 153:36, VII · New Hampshire General Court · Statute · verified September 23, 2026

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