Plumber License from New York to New Jersey: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does New Jersey accept a New York plumbing license?
There is no New York state license to carry to New Jersey: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. New Jersey does license this work, so ask the New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (Division of Consumer Affairs) 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 New Jersey to verify or endorse. New Jersey does license plumbers, through the New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (Division of Consumer Affairs), 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 Jersey's master-plumber licensure-by-reciprocity provision (N.J.S.A. 45:14C-19) can waive the NJ Master Plumber examination only for an applicant from a state whose standards the Board finds comparable AND that reciprocates with New Jersey; as of the Board's published reciprocity list (06/18/19) NO state qualifies (every state evaluated was denied, none granted), so in practice all out-of-state plumbers must pass the New Jersey Master Plumber exam. Journeyman applicants are not exam-waived.
What's different between New York and New Jersey
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into New Jersey. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to New Jersey (this page): No state license to transfer.
New Jersey 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 Jersey.
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 Jersey's.
- Exam rules on record
New Jersey and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- New Jersey (this move): New Jersey's master-plumber licensure-by-reciprocity provision (N.J.S.A. 45:14C-19) can waive the NJ Master Plumber examination only for an applicant from a state whose standards the Board finds comparable AND that reciprocates with New Jersey; as of the Board's published reciprocity list (06/18/19) NO state qualifies (every state evaluated was denied, none granted), so in practice all out-of-state plumbers must pass the New Jersey Master Plumber exam. Journeyman applicants are not exam-waived.
- 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 Jersey
| New York (current) | New Jersey (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 | $75–$100 (Journeyman plumber application $75 ($50 with prior NJ apprentice registration); master plumber application $100; master renewal $160 biennial plus a required $3,000 surety bond; payable by check or money order only) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipal licensing authority | Board acknowledges receipt within 72 hours (weekends excluded) but publishes no total application-review time; approval is issued by letter after review |
| Licensing authority | No New York State plumber licensing board — plumbing is licensed municipally (representative program: New York City Department of Buildings) | New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (Division of Consumer Affairs) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New Jersey sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review New Jersey's requirements on the New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (Division of Consumer Affairs) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (Division of Consumer Affairs) 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 Jersey'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-New Jersey move cost and how long does it take?
$75–$100 (Journeyman plumber application $75 ($50 with prior NJ apprentice registration); master plumber application $100; master renewal $160 biennial plus a required $3,000 surety bond; payable by check or money order only), plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant. Processing time: Board acknowledges receipt within 72 hours (weekends excluded) but publishes no total application-review time; approval is issued by letter after review.
What happens to my New York credential after I'm licensed in New Jersey?
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 Jersey license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified New York 2026-10-29, New Jersey 2026-07-21.
- NJ State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (board home) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NJ Board of Master Plumbers — Reciprocity with Other States (as of 06/18/19) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NJ Board of Master Plumbers — Application Process Overview (fees, requirements) ↗ (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 Jersey 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com