StateLicensed

Plumber License Requirements in North Dakota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
7600 hrs
Upfront cost
$200
Exam
Journeyman Plumber Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
North Dakota State Plumbing Board

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old. The 18-year minimum applies at the apprentice-registration stage (62-02-01-01.1); no separate minimum age is stated for the journeyman exam itself (master plumber applicants must be 21, per 62-02-01-01(3)). No criminal background check requirement is mentioned in the admin code or the Board's FAQ/application materials. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 7600 hours of training. Registered Apprentice Plumbers must be at least 18 and serve a 4-year apprenticeship of at least 1,900 hours/year (7,600 hours total) under direct supervision of a licensed master or journeyman plumber (N.D. Admin. Code 62-02-01-01.1), before becoming eligible for the journeyman exam under 62-02-01-01(1). The Board may grant hourly credit for prior trade experience or for graduating a 9-month/1,020-hour accredited plumbing course (credit scaled by grade average, e.g. 2 hours credit per course hour for an A average). Applicants working in localities with no state license requirement may instead qualify via 5 years/9,500 hours plus a Board screening test. No formal school program is mandatory — on-the-job apprenticeship is the standard path. [1]

  3. 3

    Journeyman Plumber Examination

    Pass the Journeyman Plumber Examination (fee: $50). Written exam covering basic plumbing principles and the plumbing code, plus a drawing/design section (stacks, wastes, vents, minimum pipe sizes); passing grade is 70% Application fee (N.D. Admin. Code 62-02-01-01) and examination fee (62-02-01-02) are each $50, both nonrefundable per exam attempt; a failed candidate must wait at least 6 months to retest (62-02-01-04). [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Dakota State Plumbing Board with the $50 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Dakota State Plumbing Board issues your Journeyman Plumber License for North Dakota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $50
License fee [1] $100
Renewal fee [1] $100
Journeyman Plumber Examination [1] $50
Master Plumber license (initial) [1] $200
Master Plumber renewal (in addition to journeyman renewal) [1] $200
Late renewal fee (license expired, within 1 year) [1] $50

Application fee is $50 (62-02-01-01), separate from the $50 examination fee already recorded in the exams entry. Journeyman license/renewal fee is $100; a master's certificate holder renews the journeyman portion for $100 and pays the $100 difference to reinstate the master portion (total $200) per 62-02-01-06.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

License renewal is biennial (the Board issued "2026 License Renewal Forms" consistent with a 2-year cycle). Continuing education is required, but the Board's own materials describe it only as "two (2) to four (4) credit hours within a two (2) year period" for journeyman and master plumbers rather than one fixed number, so ceHours is left null; in-person CE sessions cost $40 each. A license expired more than 1 year may require re-examination at the Board's discretion (62-02-01-07).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

The Board offers licensure without examination by endorsement for out-of-state journeyman/master plumbers from South Dakota (current license holders who are ND residents), Minnesota (journeyman license held at least 1 year, ND resident), and Montana (current journeyman or master license holders). All endorsement applicants must submit a Certificate of Endorsement from their licensing state, not just a copy of the license. Plumbers licensed in other states generally may also apply for an ND journeyman/master exam and license per 62-02-01-01(2) and (4). No interstate compact covers plumbing licensure.

1 state-approved training provider in North Dakota — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $100
  • $50
Total$200

Frequently asked questions

How long is the North Dakota plumbing apprenticeship?

Four years, with at least 1,900 hours per year for a total of at least 7,600 hours, working under the direct supervision of a licensed master or journeyman plumber. Apprentices must be at least 18 years old to register.

Who administers the journeyman plumber exam in North Dakota?

The North Dakota State Plumbing Board writes and administers the exam directly — there is no third-party test vendor like PSI or Prometric involved. The exam covers plumbing code principles and a technical drawing section, with a 70% passing grade for journeyman (80% for master).

What does it cost to get a North Dakota journeyman plumber license?

A $50 application fee, a $50 examination fee, and a $100 license fee once you pass — roughly $200 total for a first-time journeyman license.

Is continuing education required to renew?

Yes. Journeyman and master plumbers must complete continuing education (the Board describes it as 2 to 4 credit hours) within each 2-year renewal cycle; in-person sessions cost $40.

Can I transfer my out-of-state plumbing license to North Dakota?

Yes, by endorsement, if you hold a current journeyman or master license from South Dakota, Minnesota, or Montana meeting the Board's residency/experience conditions — you'll need a Certificate of Endorsement from your home state's board. Plumbers licensed elsewhere can also apply to sit for the ND exam directly.

Sources

  1. [1] ndlegis.gov/prod/acdata/pdf/62-02-01.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] ndplumbingboard.gov/continuing-education-requirements-overview — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] ndplumbingboard.gov/faq — accessed 2026-07-12