Plumber License from New York to Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Virginia accept a New York plumbing license?
There is no New York state license to carry to Virginia: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. Virginia does license this work, so ask the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Board for Contractors (Tradesman program) 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 Virginia to verify or endorse. Virginia does license plumbers, through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Board for Contractors (Tradesman program), 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. Virginia does not waive its journeyman plumber trade exam for any U.S. state. Under 18VAC50-30-70 an out-of-state journeyman/master plumber whose issuing jurisdiction the Board for Contractors finds 'substantially equivalent' is recognized as meeting Virginia's experience/education requirements, but MUST STILL sit for and pass the Virginia tradesman plumber examination. The only exam exemption is the Board's examination agreement with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), which exempts WSSC-licensed journeyman and master plumbers (and gas fitters) from the Virginia exam.
What's different between New York and Virginia
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Virginia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to Virginia (this page): No state license to transfer.
Virginia 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 Virginia.
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 Virginia's.
- Exam rules on record
Virginia and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Virginia (this move): Virginia does not waive its journeyman plumber trade exam for any U.S. state. Under 18VAC50-30-70 an out-of-state journeyman/master plumber whose issuing jurisdiction the Board for Contractors finds 'substantially equivalent' is recognized as meeting Virginia's experience/education requirements, but MUST STILL sit for and pass the Virginia tradesman plumber examination. The only exam exemption is the Board's examination agreement with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), which exempts WSSC-licensed journeyman and master plumbers (and gas fitters) from the Virginia 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 → Virginia
| New York (current) | Virginia (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 | $171.75 ($171.75 examination or reciprocity application fee on the current DPOR application (apprenticeship-program route $131.75), which includes a $7.25/year technology fee (2026 HB30); fees nonrefundable. Regulation 18VAC50-30-90 historically listed a $130 original fee (superseded by the current application fee)) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipal licensing authority | DPOR does not publish a standard processing time; exams are scheduled through the board's testing vendor (PSI) |
| Licensing authority | No New York State plumber licensing board — plumbing is licensed municipally (representative program: New York City Department of Buildings) | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Board for Contractors (Tradesman program) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Virginia's requirements on the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Board for Contractors (Tradesman program) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Board for Contractors (Tradesman program) 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 Virginia'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 Virginia?
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 Virginia license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified New York 2026-10-29, Virginia 2026-07-21.
- Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors — Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements (the only plumber agreement is the WSSC examination agreement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Virginia DPOR — Tradesman Exam & License Application A501-2710EXLIC (PLB fees $171.75; out-of-state qualifying routes) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 18VAC50-30-70 — out-of-state substantial-equivalency recognition; applicant must still sit for the Virginia examination (Cornell LII mirror; law.lis.virginia.gov unreachable from research host) ↗ (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, Virginia 2026-07-21
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