Plumber License from New York to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does South Carolina accept a New York plumbing license?
There is no New York state license to carry to South Carolina: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. South Carolina does license this work, so ask the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission 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 South Carolina to verify or endorse. South Carolina does license plumbers, through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission, 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. South Carolina waives only the technical (Residential Plumbing) portion of its exam for an applicant who holds a residential plumbing license obtained BY EXAMINATION, current and in good standing, in North Carolina or Mississippi — the only two states with a residential-plumbing Exam Waiver Agreement (grandfathered or waived-in licensees do not qualify); every applicant, including waiver applicants, must still pass the South Carolina Business Management and Law exam, and all others must pass both the Residential Plumbing technical exam and the Business/Law exam.
What's different between New York and South Carolina
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into South Carolina. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to South Carolina (this page): No state license to transfer.
South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
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 South Carolina's.
- Exam rules on record
South Carolina and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- South Carolina (this move): South Carolina waives only the technical (Residential Plumbing) portion of its exam for an applicant who holds a residential plumbing license obtained BY EXAMINATION, current and in good standing, in North Carolina or Mississippi — the only two states with a residential-plumbing Exam Waiver Agreement (grandfathered or waived-in licensees do not qualify); every applicant, including waiver applicants, must still pass the South Carolina Business Management and Law exam, and all others must pass both the Residential Plumbing technical exam and the Business/Law 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 → South Carolina
| New York (current) | South Carolina (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 | $135–$355 ($135 application processing fee plus a $220 license fee due after passing the exam(s), both payable to LLR-Residential Builders Commission; PSI exam fees paid separately to PSI; $10,000 surety bond required if work exceeds $5,000; renews biennially by June 30 of odd years) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipal licensing authority | 3–6 weeks (Commission staff review applications within 15 business days; allow another 15 business days if additional information is requested; license issued within 3 business days after approval) |
| Licensing authority | No New York State plumber licensing board — plumbing is licensed municipally (representative program: New York City Department of Buildings) | South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Carolina sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review South Carolina's requirements on the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission 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 South Carolina'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-South Carolina move cost and how long does it take?
$135–$355 ($135 application processing fee plus a $220 license fee due after passing the exam(s), both payable to LLR-Residential Builders Commission; PSI exam fees paid separately to PSI; $10,000 surety bond required if work exceeds $5,000; renews biennially by June 30 of odd years), plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant. Processing: 3–6 weeks (Commission staff review applications within 15 business days; allow another 15 business days if additional information is requested; license issued within 3 business days after approval).
What happens to my New York credential after I'm licensed in South Carolina?
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 South Carolina license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified New York 2026-10-29, South Carolina 2026-07-21.
- SC Residential Builders Commission — Residential Plumbing Contractor FAQ (fees, NC/MS technical-exam waiver, bond, renewal) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC Contractor's Licensing Board — Reciprocity/Waiver Agreements (commercial plumbing PB: Ohio, Tennessee CMC/CMC-A, MASC Master Plumbing) ↗ (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, South Carolina 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com