Plumber License from New York to New Hampshire: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does New Hampshire accept a New York plumbing license?
There is no New York state license to carry to New Hampshire: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. New Hampshire does license this work, so ask the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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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 New Hampshire to verify or endorse. New Hampshire does license plumbers, through the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board, 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. New Hampshire licenses a journeyman plumber by endorsement — without requiring its own plumbing examination — when the applicant holds an active, good-standing journeyman plumber license from one of 33 'qualifying jurisdictions' whose requirements OPLC deems substantially similar (RSA 310:17 / HB 594, rule Plc 313.34); applicants from any other state must qualify through New Hampshire's apprenticeship route and pass the New Hampshire plumbing examination.
What's different between New York and New Hampshire
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into New Hampshire. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to New Hampshire (this page): No state license to transfer.
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire.
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 New Hampshire's.
- Exam rules on record
New Hampshire and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- New Hampshire (this move): New Hampshire licenses a journeyman plumber by endorsement — without requiring its own plumbing examination — when the applicant holds an active, good-standing journeyman plumber license from one of 33 'qualifying jurisdictions' whose requirements OPLC deems substantially similar (RSA 310:17 / HB 594, rule Plc 313.34); applicants from any other state must qualify through New Hampshire's apprenticeship route and pass the New Hampshire plumbing examination
- 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 → New Hampshire
| New York (current) | New Hampshire (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 | $190–$210 (Journeyman Plumber application fee $190 plus $20 certificate fee; the fingerprint / criminal background check fee is additional and paid separately. (Master Plumber application fee is $310)) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipal licensing authority | No board-stated processing time; under Plc 313.07(c) OPLC may issue an 'Active-Provisional' license once the application, fee, and fingerprints are submitted and the applicant qualifies by endorsement, pending background-check results |
| Licensing authority | No New York State plumber licensing board — plumbing is licensed municipally (representative program: New York City Department of Buildings) | New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New Hampshire sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review New Hampshire's requirements on the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board 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 New Hampshire'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 New Hampshire?
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 New Hampshire license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified New York 2026-10-29, New Hampshire 2026-07-21.
- NH OPLC — New Changes for Reciprocity in New Hampshire (Mechanical Licensing Board Plc 313.34: 33 qualifying jurisdictions for Journeyman Plumber; RSA 310:17 / HB 594) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NH OPLC — License Fees for the Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (Journeyman Plumber $190 application + $20 certificate) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NH OPLC — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (governing board for plumbers; RSA 153:27-153:38) ↗ (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, New Hampshire 2026-07-21
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