Plumber License from North Dakota to Minnesota: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) ↗
Yes — Minnesota has a reciprocity arrangement covering North Dakota license holders. Apply to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
North Dakota is on Minnesota's reciprocity list, which puts this move on the streamlined track — on two conditions. Your North Dakota license must have been earned by examination, not grandfathered in, and be active and in good standing; where it is, Minnesota waives its journeyman exam and the requirements below are what it still insists on. Minnesota waives its journeyworker plumber exam only for applicants licensed by examination at the state level in North Dakota or South Dakota; every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Minnesota journeyworker exam.. One caution: these agreements are directional and revocable. This page's verification date is when we last confirmed North Dakota on Minnesota's list; the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) link is the live truth.
What changes, North Dakota → Minnesota
| North Dakota (current) | Minnesota (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $150–$250 ($50 application fee (N.D. Admin. Code 62-02-01-01) plus the license fee — journeyman $100 (total $150) or master $200 (total $250, statutory maximums under NDCC ch. 43-18); a separate $50 examination fee applies only to applicants who must test, so reciprocity (endorsement) applicants avoid it) | $50–$103 ($50 reciprocity/exam application fee; journeyworker license fee ~$53 (biennial) due within 180 days of approval; master renewal ~$93.) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time; examination applicants are tested at the next regular board meeting | No board-stated processing time; the license fee must be paid within 180 days of approval. |
| Licensing authority | North Dakota State Plumbing Board | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Minnesota sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Minnesota's current requirements on the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold the same or higher class of license, obtained by state-level examination, in North Dakota or South Dakota.
- Have held that qualifying license for at least one year, current and in good standing.
- The qualifying license must not have been obtained through a reciprocal agreement with a city or other political subdivision.
- Not have previously failed the same or higher class Minnesota plumber examination.
- Pay the fees ($50–$103 ($50 reciprocity/exam application fee; journeyworker license fee ~$53 (biennial) due within 180 days of approval; master renewal ~$93.)) and allow No board-stated processing time; the license fee must be paid within 180 days of approval..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Minnesota accept a North Dakota plumbing license?
Yes — Minnesota has a reciprocity arrangement covering North Dakota license holders. Apply to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
Which exam applies moving from North Dakota to Minnesota?
Minnesota waives its journeyworker plumber exam only for applicants licensed by examination at the state level in North Dakota or South Dakota; every other out-of-state plumber must pass the Minnesota journeyworker exam..
What does the North Dakota-to-Minnesota move cost and how long does it take?
$50–$103 ($50 reciprocity/exam application fee; journeyworker license fee ~$53 (biennial) due within 180 days of approval; master renewal ~$93.); processing No board-stated processing time; the license fee must be paid within 180 days of approval..
Can I keep my North Dakota plumbing license after I'm licensed in Minnesota?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the North Dakota credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Minnesota DLI — Plumbing reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Minnesota DLI — Plumbing license basics (fees, license types) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ND State Plumbing Board — FAQ (reciprocity with MN/MT/SD; exam fees; experience) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ND State Plumbing Board — Plumber Licensure (reciprocity statute; license fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ND State Plumbing Board — License/Renewal Fees (journeyman $100, master $200) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- N.D. Admin. Code Article 62-02-01 Plumber Licensure ($50 application fee 62-02-01-01, $100 journeyman license fee, $50 examination fee 62-02-01-02) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]