Plumber License from New York to Wisconsin: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Wisconsin accept a New York plumbing license?
There is no New York state license to carry to Wisconsin: New York issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. Wisconsin does license this work, so ask the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Division of Professional Credentialing 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 Wisconsin to verify or endorse. Wisconsin does license plumbers, through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Division of Professional Credentialing, 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. Wisconsin does NOT waive its journeyman plumber examination for any out-of-state applicant and has no reciprocity agreements; every applicant must pass the Wisconsin journeyman plumber exam. Out-of-state plumbers qualify to sit that exam by 'comity' — documenting an out-of-state 5-year apprenticeship (minimum 576 hours of related instruction), or having passed a journeyman exam in another state and practiced at least 5 years under a license the Department finds substantially similar to Wis. Stat. ch. 145 — so no fresh Wisconsin apprenticeship is required, but the Wisconsin exam is mandatory.
What's different between New York and Wisconsin
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Wisconsin. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to Wisconsin (this page): No state license to transfer.
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.
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 Wisconsin's.
- Exam rules on record
Wisconsin and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Wisconsin (this move): Wisconsin does NOT waive its journeyman plumber examination for any out-of-state applicant and has no reciprocity agreements; every applicant must pass the Wisconsin journeyman plumber exam. Out-of-state plumbers qualify to sit that exam by 'comity' — documenting an out-of-state 5-year apprenticeship (minimum 576 hours of related instruction), or having passed a journeyman exam in another state and practiced at least 5 years under a license the Department finds substantially similar to Wis. Stat. ch. 145 — so no fresh Wisconsin apprenticeship is required, but the Wisconsin exam is mandatory
- 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 → Wisconsin
| New York (current) | Wisconsin (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 | $180 ($180 journeyman plumber credential fee (4-year term) per the DSPS Trades fee schedule; a nonrefundable application fee and a journeyman examination fee are also collected and are calculated within LicensE (not itemized on the fee schedule). Master plumber term fee is $500) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipal licensing authority | DSPS does not publish a fixed processing time; the applicant is made exam-eligible after DSPS reviews the submitted application and documents |
| Licensing authority | No New York State plumber licensing board — plumbing is licensed municipally (representative program: New York City Department of Buildings) | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Division of Professional Credentialing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Wisconsin sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Wisconsin's requirements on the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Division of Professional Credentialing website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Division of Professional Credentialing 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 Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin?
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 Wisconsin license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified New York 2026-10-29, Wisconsin 2026-07-21.
- Wisconsin DSPS Form #3126 — Journeyman Plumber Application Information (comity / out-of-state pathways; every pathway still requires passing the Wisconsin exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Wisconsin DSPS — Trades Renewal Dates and Fees (Journeyman Plumber $180, 4-year term) ↗ (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, Wisconsin 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com