Plumber License from New York to Maine: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Maine accept a New York plumbing license?
There is no New York state license to carry to Maine: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. Maine does license this work, so ask the Maine Plumbers' Examining Board (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
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 Maine to verify or endorse. Maine does license plumbers, through the Maine Plumbers' Examining Board (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation), 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. Maine may issue a journeyman plumber license without its exam to an applicant licensed in another state whose licensing standards and experience requirements are at least equivalent to Maine's and that grants Maine plumbers the same privilege (Title 32 sec. 3504-A); no partner states are named, and an applicant who does not meet that equivalency/reciprocal test must pass the Maine journeyman exam.
What's different between New York and Maine
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Maine. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to Maine (this page): No state license to transfer.
Maine 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 Maine.
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 Maine's.
- Exam rules on record
Maine and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Maine (this move): Maine may issue a journeyman plumber license without its exam to an applicant licensed in another state whose licensing standards and experience requirements are at least equivalent to Maine's and that grants Maine plumbers the same privilege (Title 32 sec. 3504-A); no partner states are named, and an applicant who does not meet that equivalency/reciprocal test must pass the Maine journeyman exam
- 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 → Maine
| New York (current) | Maine (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 | $200 ($200 journeyman plumber license fee (biennial renewal also $200); +$21 criminal background check fee (surcharge, not in the range). A separate examination fee applies on the exam track but was not listed on the official fee schedule.) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipal licensing authority | No board-stated processing time; since 2024 all applications, exams, and renewals are filed through Maine's online licensing system |
| Licensing authority | No New York State plumber licensing board — plumbing is licensed municipally (representative program: New York City Department of Buildings) | Maine Plumbers' Examining Board (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Maine sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Maine's requirements on the Maine Plumbers' Examining Board (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Maine Plumbers' Examining Board (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) 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 Maine'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 happens to my New York credential after I'm licensed in Maine?
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 Maine license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified New York 2026-10-29, Maine 2026-07-21.
- Maine Revised Statutes Title 32 sec. 3504-A — Reciprocity (Plumbers' Examining Board) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maine OPOR — Plumbers' Examining Board individual licenses (fees, experience hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maine OPOR — Plumbers' Examining Board online license verification lookup (ALMS) ↗ (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, Maine 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com