Plumber License from New York to Alaska: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Alaska accept a New York plumbing license?
There is no New York state license to carry to Alaska: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. Alaska does license this work, so ask the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license — plumbing there is regulated at the contractor level or by cities and counties — so there is no New York state license for Alaska to verify or endorse. Alaska does license plumbers, through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section, and it reviews out-of-state plumbers for endorsement, but that route starts from a state license. Ask the board, in writing, whether it credits a local New York license, a contractor-level credential or your documented hours; otherwise plan to qualify as a new journeyman applicant. Alaska waives its plumber journeyman exam for an applicant who holds a plumbing journeyman certificate or license from any U.S. jurisdiction the department finds has substantially similar requirements (judged on required work hours, a testing requirement, and registered-apprenticeship membership); an applicant from a jurisdiction that is not substantially similar must document 8,000 hours and pass the Alaska journeyman exam (70% to pass). No bilateral agreement is required — any qualifying jurisdiction is eligible (per 8 AAC 90.111/.112, effective Aug 8, 2025).
What's different between New York and Alaska
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Alaska. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to Alaska (this page): No state license to transfer.
Alaska to New York (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from New York matter?
Coming from New York matters here: only 9 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Alaska.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (41).
- Fee and processing
New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is no New York state license application fee or processing time to compare with Alaska's.
- Exam rules on record
Alaska and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Alaska (this move): Alaska waives its plumber journeyman exam for an applicant who holds a plumbing journeyman certificate or license from any U.S. jurisdiction the department finds has substantially similar requirements (judged on required work hours, a testing requirement, and registered-apprenticeship membership); an applicant from a jurisdiction that is not substantially similar must document 8,000 hours and pass the Alaska journeyman exam (70% to pass). No bilateral agreement is required — any qualifying jurisdiction is eligible (per 8 AAC 90.111/.112, effective Aug 8, 2025).
- New York (the reverse move): Not applicable at the state level — New York issues no statewide plumber license, so there is no state journeyman exam to waive or transfer. Each municipality (e.g., New York City) sets and administers its own plumber licensing and exams and generally does not recognize licenses issued by other jurisdictions.
What changes, New York → Alaska
| New York (current) | Alaska (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Set locally and varies by municipality; e.g., New York City charges a $585 Master Plumber written-exam fee and a separate $530 practical-exam fee (both paid through DOB NOW; the practical is applied for only after passing the written exam), then a $500 background-investigation fee and a $200 license fee — other cities/counties differ | $50–$250 ($50 nonrefundable application fee + $200 journeyman certificate fee (2-year term) for a full reciprocal COF ($250 total); a one-year provisional COF is $50 application + $100 certificate ($150)) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipal licensing authority | Board states 7-10 business days for trainee certificates and renewals; no processing time stated for reciprocal/journeyman applications, and the division notes delays from an outdated system and limited staff |
| Licensing authority | No New York State plumber licensing board — plumbing is licensed municipally (representative program: New York City Department of Buildings) | Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Alaska sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Alaska's requirements on the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section whether it credits a local New York license or your documented experience: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet Alaska's education/experience requirements and pass the exams it requires.
- Submit the application with fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What does the New York-to-Alaska move cost and how long does it take?
$50–$250 ($50 nonrefundable application fee + $200 journeyman certificate fee (2-year term) for a full reciprocal COF ($250 total); a one-year provisional COF is $50 application + $100 certificate ($150)), plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant. Processing time: Board states 7-10 business days for trainee certificates and renewals; no processing time stated for reciprocal/journeyman applications, and the division notes delays from an outdated system and limited staff.
What happens to my New York credential after I'm licensed in Alaska?
Nothing changes it. New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so any local or contractor-level New York credential you hold runs on its own authority's renewal rules, independently of your Alaska license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified New York 2026-10-29, Alaska 2026-07-21.
- Alaska DOLWD Mechanical Inspection — Certificates of Fitness Statutes & Regulations, Aug 2025 (8 AAC 90.111 reciprocity; 90.112 provisional; 90.130 journeyman; AS 18.62.030 fees; FAQ) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alaska DOLWD Mechanical Inspection — home page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYC Department of Buildings — Obtain a Master Plumber License (7-yr experience, written+practical exams, $585 written / $530 practical exam fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NYC Department of Buildings — DOB NOW: Licensing Fees by License Type (Master Plumber: $585 written, $530 practical, $500 background, $200 license issuance) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NYC Department of Buildings — Obtain a Journeyman Plumber Registration ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources New York 2026-10-29, Alaska 2026-07-21
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