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How to get a boiler operator license in New York

Requirements, license levels, and the issuing authority, sourced from New York's official board.

New York State does not license boiler operators or stationary engineers; the Department of Labor's Boiler Safety Bureau inspects boilers and certifies inspectors, and the operating engineer license is a municipal credential, most prominently the New York City Department of Buildings High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license.

Issuing authority: New York State Department of Labor, Division of Safety and Health, Boiler Safety Bureau. Official page: https://dol.ny.gov/boiler-safety-bureau

License levels in New York

New York boiler operator licensing at a glance

RequirementsThe only boiler credential New York State itself issues is the Boiler Inspector Certificate of Competency, which the Boiler Safety Bureau grants to inspectors, including insurance company inspectors, who perform inspections in New York State. The state's occupational licensing entry for that credential requires the applicant to be at least 21 years old and to have five years of practical experience in areas such as boilermaking, boiler installation, operation or inspection, or equivalent technical education and training; private sector inspectors must work for an insurance company licensed to write machinery insurance in New York. The Bureau also reviews, approves and certifies boiler repair facilities' welded repair programs every three years. Boiler operating engineers are licensed at the municipal level instead. In New York City, the Department of Buildings issues the High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license in Stationary and Portable types; applicants must be at least 18, be able to read and write English, and satisfy one of several experience routes, including five years as a fireman, oiler, general assistant, journeyman boilermaker or machinist under a licensed engineer within the prior seven years, a mechanical engineering degree plus one year of high pressure boiler operation, a US Coast Guard marine engineer certificate plus one year of New York City boiler experience, five years operating governmental building steam plants of 150 horsepower or more plus one year of supervised high pressure work, a completed two year registered apprenticeship plus three years of supervised operating experience, a seven year National Board commission with five years of relevant experience, ASME QFO certification with five years of relevant experience, or a five year high pressure license from an ASME compliant jurisdiction with employment for five of the last seven years. New York City applicants must pass a written exam (application fee $585, passing score 70 percent) and then a practical exam (application fee $530) within 24 months of passing the written exam, and apply through DOB NOW.
ReciprocityNew York State's Department of Labor does not issue an operator credential, so there is nothing for it to reciprocate. For the New York City license, the Department of Buildings recognizes a five year high pressure operating engineer license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the ASME code as one of its qualifying experience routes, provided the applicant was employed under it for five of the last seven years.
RenewalThe state Boiler Inspector Certificate of Competency must be renewed annually. The New York City High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license carries a three year term, with a $50 initial license fee, a $45 renewal fee and a $50 late renewal fee. No continuing education requirement is stated on the state Bureau's published pages.
NotesNew York State does not license boiler operators or stationary engineers; the Department of Labor's Boiler Safety Bureau inspects boilers and certifies inspectors, and the operating engineer license is a municipal credential, most prominently the New York City Department of Buildings High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license.

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Common questions

Do you need a license to work as a boiler operator in New York?
New York State does not license boiler operators or stationary engineers; the Department of Labor's Boiler Safety Bureau inspects boilers and certifies inspectors, and the operating engineer license is a municipal credential, most prominently the New York City Department of Buildings High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license.
What boiler operator license levels does New York have?
The levels are Boiler Inspector Certificate of Competency.
How do you get licensed as a boiler operator in New York?
The only boiler credential New York State itself issues is the Boiler Inspector Certificate of Competency, which the Boiler Safety Bureau grants to inspectors, including insurance company inspectors, who perform inspections in New York State. The state's occupational licensing entry for that credential requires the applicant to be at least 21 years old and to have five years of practical experience in areas such as boilermaking, boiler installation, operation or inspection, or equivalent technical education and training; private sector inspectors must work for an insurance company licensed to write machinery insurance in New York. The Bureau also reviews, approves and certifies boiler repair facilities' welded repair programs every three years. Boiler operating engineers are licensed at the municipal level instead. In New York City, the Department of Buildings issues the High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license in Stationary and Portable types; applicants must be at least 18, be able to read and write English, and satisfy one of several experience routes, including five years as a fireman, oiler, general assistant, journeyman boilermaker or machinist under a licensed engineer within the prior seven years, a mechanical engineering degree plus one year of high pressure boiler operation, a US Coast Guard marine engineer certificate plus one year of New York City boiler experience, five years operating governmental building steam plants of 150 horsepower or more plus one year of supervised high pressure work, a completed two year registered apprenticeship plus three years of supervised operating experience, a seven year National Board commission with five years of relevant experience, ASME QFO certification with five years of relevant experience, or a five year high pressure license from an ASME compliant jurisdiction with employment for five of the last seven years. New York City applicants must pass a written exam (application fee $585, passing score 70 percent) and then a practical exam (application fee $530) within 24 months of passing the written exam, and apply through DOB NOW.
Does New York have boiler operator license reciprocity?
New York State's Department of Labor does not issue an operator credential, so there is nothing for it to reciprocate. For the New York City license, the Department of Buildings recognizes a five year high pressure operating engineer license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the ASME code as one of its qualifying experience routes, provided the applicant was employed under it for five of the last seven years.

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Sources: dol.ny.gov, dol.ny.gov, statistics.labor.ny.gov, www.nyc.gov. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing authority.

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