Plumber License Requirements in New York
- Training hours
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- Upfront cost
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- Exam
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- Renewal cycle
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- Issuing board
- New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (no plumber/plumbing contractor license exists among its ~35 regulated license types; licensing for this trade is delegated entirely to individual municipalities)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No statewide prerequisites exist for plumbing work in New York because there is no statewide license. Local jurisdictions that license plumbers, such as New York City, set their own eligibility rules — e.g. NYC requires Master Plumber applicants to be at least 21 years old with at least seven years of supervised plumbing experience within the prior ten years, including at least two years as a registered NYC Journeyman Plumber. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete the required training. New York State has no statewide occupational license, board, or training-hour requirement for plumbers or plumbing contractors. The Department of State's Division of Licensing Services regulates roughly 35 occupations (cosmetology/barbering, real estate, security guards, home inspectors, etc.) and plumbing is not among them. Licensing is instead handled entirely at the municipal level: New York City's Department of Buildings issues Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber licenses, and Buffalo issues its own journeyman and master plumber licenses through its Examining Board of Plumbers, but requirements vary by city and many smaller municipalities have no local licensing requirement at all. [1]
- 3
Submit your application
Submit your application to New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (no plumber/plumbing contractor license exists among its ~35 regulated license types; licensing for this trade is delegated entirely to individual municipalities). [1]
- 4
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (no plumber/plumbing contractor license exists among its ~35 regulated license types; licensing for this trade is delegated entirely to individual municipalities) issues your No statewide license — regulated at the city/county level for New York.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | None specified |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | None specified |
No statewide plumber license exists, so there is no state application, license, or renewal fee. Any license fees for plumbing work are set locally by individual cities — for example, New York City's Master Plumber written exam application (LIC41) costs $585, and Buffalo's journeyman plumber exam costs $40 while its master plumber exam costs $210.
Renewal & continuing education
Renewal cycle not specified.
No statewide license means no statewide renewal cycle or continuing-education requirement. Renewal terms for plumbing licenses, where a local jurisdiction requires one, are set by that city.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
Not applicable — there is no statewide New York plumber license to reciprocate into or out of. No interstate compact covers plumbing licensing.
2 state-approved training providers in New York — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Frequently asked questions
Does New York require a state plumber license?
No. The New York Department of State's Division of Licensing Services regulates around 35 occupations, but plumbing/plumbing contracting is not one of them — there is no statewide plumber license.
How is plumbing work regulated in New York, then?
Entirely at the city/county level. New York City's Department of Buildings issues its own Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber licenses, and Buffalo issues journeyman and master plumber licenses through its Examining Board of Plumbers — but requirements vary widely by municipality, and many smaller jurisdictions have no local plumbing licensing requirement at all.
What does it take to become a Master Plumber in New York City?
NYC requires applicants to be at least 21 years old with at least seven years of supervised plumbing experience within the prior ten years — including at least two years as a registered NYC Journeyman Plumber — plus passing written and practical exams administered by the Department of Buildings.
Is there a New York state exam for plumbing work?
No — since there is no statewide plumber license, there is no associated statewide exam. Any exam requirement is set by a local licensing jurisdiction, such as New York City's DOB or Buffalo's Examining Board of Plumbers, if one exists.
Sources
- [1] dos.ny.gov/division-licensing-services — accessed 2026-07-12