Requirements, license levels, and the issuing authority, sourced from New York's official board.
The operative license is local, so a credential from one jurisdiction does not carry into another: NYC licenses the Master Plumber and separately registers journeymen, while Nassau County states that plumbers are licensed by its towns and villages rather than the county, and Suffolk County runs its own master plumber license. Gas piping work in NYC additionally requires a Department of Buildings Gas Work Qualification, and fire suppression piping is a separate license that does not authorize plumbing work.
| Requirements | Set by the licensing municipality. NYC Master Plumber: at least 18 years old and one of: 7 years of experience within the prior 10 in the installation and design of plumbing systems under a Licensed Master Plumber, at least 2 of them as a registered journeyman plumber; a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering plus 5 years within the prior 7, at least 2 in NYC; a New York State licensed architect or professional engineer with 3 years within the prior 5, at least 1 in NYC; or 7 years within the prior 10 with 2 years in plumbing installation and design. Inspection-agency employment counts at 50 percent, capped at 2.5 years. A written exam ($585, passing score 70 percent) and a practical exam ($530, within 24 months of the written) are both required, and the business must carry general liability, workers' compensation and disability insurance. |
| Reciprocity | Not applicable at state level, since no state license exists. The NYC Department of Buildings master plumber pages do not address reciprocity. |
| Renewal | Set by the licensing municipality. The NYC Master Plumber license is valid for 3 years and renews for $225 ($150 license plus $75 seal), requiring a 7-hour continuing education certificate and a LIC62 physical examination form completed within the prior 90 days. |
| Notes | The operative license is local, so a credential from one jurisdiction does not carry into another: NYC licenses the Master Plumber and separately registers journeymen, while Nassau County states that plumbers are licensed by its towns and villages rather than the county, and Suffolk County runs its own master plumber license. Gas piping work in NYC additionally requires a Department of Buildings Gas Work Qualification, and fire suppression piping is a separate license that does not authorize plumbing work. |
A free report on your market: what the trade pays, how that compares with nearby counties, and where your credential sits against the local licensed workforce. No account needed.
Sources: www.nyc.gov, www.nyc.gov, dos.ny.gov, op.nysed.gov. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing authority.
This page is a free snapshot of New York. Track the same market every night and see which contractors just got licensed, added a trade, or dropped off, and pull the full record, with contact details, on any of them. Ask it anything, track what matters, and get the weekly intelligence email. Free trial, cancel anytime.