Plumber License from Pennsylvania to Minnesota: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Minnesota accept a Pennsylvania plumbing license?
There is no Pennsylvania state license to carry to Minnesota: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. Minnesota does license this work, so ask the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license — plumbing there is regulated at the contractor level or by cities and counties — so there is no Pennsylvania state license for Minnesota to verify or endorse. Minnesota does license plumbers, through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD), 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 Pennsylvania license, a contractor-level credential or your documented hours; otherwise plan to qualify as a new journeyman applicant. 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's different between Pennsylvania and Minnesota
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Minnesota. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Pennsylvania to Minnesota (this page): No state license to transfer.
Minnesota to Pennsylvania (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from Pennsylvania matter?
Coming from Pennsylvania matters here: only 9 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Minnesota.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (39) and reciprocity agreement (2).
- Reciprocity agreements
Minnesota's reciprocity agreement list names 2 states (North Dakota and South Dakota), not including Pennsylvania.
- Fee and processing
Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is no Pennsylvania state license application fee or processing time to compare with Minnesota's.
- Exam rules on record
Minnesota and Pennsylvania carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Minnesota (this move): 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.
- Pennsylvania (the reverse move): Not applicable — Pennsylvania has no state-level plumber license, so there is no statewide exam to waive or transfer; each municipality sets its own plumber licensing and exam rules (for example, Philadelphia requires passing the ICC-based Journeyman Plumber Examination on the Philadelphia Code)
What changes, Pennsylvania → Minnesota
| Pennsylvania (current) | Minnesota (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide fee. Fees are set locally; for example, Philadelphia's journeyman plumber license is $126 initial (including a $25 non-refundable application fee) and $126 annual renewal | $50–$103 ($50 reciprocity/exam application fee; journeyworker license fee ~$53 (biennial) due within 180 days of approval; master renewal ~$93.) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; processing time is set by each municipality | No board-stated processing time; the license fee must be paid within 180 days of approval |
| Licensing authority | No statewide board — plumber licensing is handled by Pennsylvania municipalities (e.g., Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections; Allegheny County Health Department for the Pittsburgh area) | 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
- Review Minnesota's requirements on the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) whether it credits a local Pennsylvania license or your documented experience: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet Minnesota'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 Pennsylvania-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.), plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant. Processing time: No board-stated processing time; the license fee must be paid within 180 days of approval.
What happens to my Pennsylvania credential after I'm licensed in Minnesota?
Nothing changes it. Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so any local or contractor-level Pennsylvania credential you hold runs on its own authority's renewal rules, independently of your Minnesota license.
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)
- City of Philadelphia — Get a Journeyman Plumber License (representative municipal program; requirements and fees; no state license) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com