Plumber License from Michigan to Nevada: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County ↗
No — Nevada has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Michigan plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County as a new applicant and meet Nevada's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
Nevada has no plumbing reciprocity or endorsement covering Michigan, so this is a full journeyman application either way. No exam transfer or reciprocity — NBOPE waives its journeyman examination for no one; every applicant, including out-of-state plumbers, must document four years of apprenticeship or 8,000 hours of experience and pass the two-part NBOPE Journeyman Plumber examination. The productive plan: gather proof of the apprenticeship or on-the-job hours you logged in Michigan, register for Nevada's journeyman exam, and treat your experience as exam preparation and as credit toward Nevada's experience requirement. Budget a new-applicant timeline and order your certified license history early — it is the long-lead item.
What changes, Michigan → Nevada
| Michigan (current) | Nevada (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $40–$90 ($40 journey plumber license/application fee plus $50 examination fee (MCL 339.6121, Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407). The same fees apply to out-of-state applicants; the exam is administered by PSI.) | $250–$340 ($250 exam/application fee (computer or paper); $340 if taken at a Prometric test center (additional $90). No separate reciprocity fee — NBOPE offers no reciprocity. Reschedule/cancel penalties of $35-$50 may apply) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time; the application, out-of-state verification, and license fee are mailed to LARA BCC and the exam is scheduled through PSI. | ~4 weeks (NBOPE/NITC directs applicants to allow up to 4 weeks to process the application and payment before an exam may be scheduled) |
| Licensing authority | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Plumbing | Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Nevada sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Nevada's initial-licensure requirements on the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Nevada's education/experience requirements and pass its required exams — prior out-of-state licensure may still count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees ($250–$340 ($250 exam/application fee (computer or paper); $340 if taken at a Prometric test center (additional $90). No separate reciprocity fee — NBOPE offers no reciprocity. Reschedule/cancel penalties of $35-$50 may apply)).
- Allow ~4 weeks (NBOPE/NITC directs applicants to allow up to 4 weeks to process the application and payment before an exam may be scheduled).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Nevada accept a Michigan plumbing license?
No — Nevada has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Michigan plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) — nonprofit statewide plumbing examiners board, in partnership with Clark County as a new applicant and meet Nevada's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam applies moving from Michigan to Nevada?
No exam transfer or reciprocity — NBOPE waives its journeyman examination for no one; every applicant, including out-of-state plumbers, must document four years of apprenticeship or 8,000 hours of experience and pass the two-part NBOPE Journeyman Plumber examination.
What does the Michigan-to-Nevada move cost and how long does it take?
$250–$340 ($250 exam/application fee (computer or paper); $340 if taken at a Prometric test center (additional $90). No separate reciprocity fee — NBOPE offers no reciprocity. Reschedule/cancel penalties of $35-$50 may apply); processing ~4 weeks (NBOPE/NITC directs applicants to allow up to 4 weeks to process the application and payment before an exam may be scheduled), plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant.
Can I keep my Michigan plumbing license after I'm licensed in Nevada?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Michigan credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- NBOPE — Journeyman Plumber certification requirements (4 yrs / 8,000 hrs; allow up to 4 weeks) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NBOPE — Exam Information (2024 UPC, two-part exam, 75% / 113 points, 3-year validity) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NBOPE — Certification Application for Journeyman and Master Plumber (Form 850-06 Rev 02-12-26; $250 exam / $340 Prometric) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Michigan LARA BCC — Plumbing Examination, Licensing/Registration & Application Information ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MCL 339.6115 — Journey plumber's license requirements (6,000 hours / 3 years) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MCL 339.6121 — License and registration fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Michigan LARA BCC — Out of State License Verification form ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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