Yes, New Jersey licenses plumbers at the state level, but there’s only one license: Master Plumber. A plumbing license in New Jersey comes from the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, part of the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. Apprentices and journeymen don’t get a state license. They work under a master. To get your own, you need a 4-year registered apprenticeship (or an engineering degree), 1 year of New Jersey journeyman experience, and passing scores on three PSI exams.
Who issues the license
The State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers reviews applications, approves you for the exam, issues licenses, and handles renewals and CE. It reviews applications at monthly meetings, so don’t expect a same-day answer.
The rules come from the State Plumbing License Law (N.J.S.A. 45:14C) and the board’s regulations at N.J.A.C. 13:32. Under those rules, plumbing can only be done by a master plumber, an authorized plumbing contractor, or W-2 employees working under one. A homeowner doing work on their own single-family home is exempt.
Requirements change, so confirm with the board before you apply. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice.
License types
- Master Plumber. The only state plumbing license. You need it to contract plumbing work, pull permits under your own name, or run a shop.
- Journeyman plumber. Not a license. The rules define a journeyman as someone who finished a 4-year U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship (or a qualifying bachelor’s degree) and works under a licensed master or supervisory journeyman.
- Supervisory journeyman. Also not a license. It’s a journeyman who finished an approved apprenticeship and then put in 3 more years on the tools.
- Apprentice. Someone learning the trade while helping on installs. Your apprenticeship is sponsored by an employer and registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Medical gas piping certification. A separate board certification for medical gas work.
One odd detail: the board’s fee rule lists an apprentice registration fee and journeyman registration fees, but the board doesn’t publish a separate registration process for them. Ask the board if that applies to you.
How to become a plumber in New Jersey
There’s one ladder, and the master license sits at the top. Here’s the path under N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.2:
- Step 1: Get into a registered apprenticeship. An employer has to sponsor you and register you with the U.S. Department of Labor. Just signing up for a plumbing class doesn’t count. And if you switch employers, your new employer has to register you again.
- Step 2: Finish 4 years. The apprenticeship has to include propane education. The other route is a bachelor’s degree in mechanical, plumbing, or sanitary engineering from an accredited school, which also has to cover propane.
- Step 3: Put in 1 year as a journeyman in New Jersey. That’s at least 1,200 hours of hands-on work, done under the state plumbing subcode and inspected by a New Jersey plumbing inspector. Supervising, estimating, or engineering time doesn’t count.
- Step 4: Be at least 21. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or have a Social Security number, per the board’s FAQ.
- Step 5: Apply, get approved, and pass all three exams. Then post your bond and pay the license fee.
Exams
PSI runs the exam for the board. You can’t book it until the board approves you and you get an Examination Eligibility Notice. Per the PSI candidate bulletin (updated March 2026), there are three parts, and first-timers take all three on the same day:
- Master Plumber. 100 questions, 195 minutes, open book with the 2021 National Standard Plumbing Code.
- Business and Law. 50 questions, 130 minutes, open book with the NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, New Jersey 2nd Edition.
- Master Plumber Practical. 25 questions, mostly isometric analysis, 130 minutes, closed book. PSI hands you a sheet of code tables.
You need 70% on each part. You can highlight and tab your books but not write in them. Testing is in person at PSI centers around the state.
Fail a part? The board’s rule says you wait 6 months from the exam date, then retake only the parts you failed, with two more tries. If you still haven’t passed everything after that, you lose your passing scores and start over on the whole exam. PSI’s bulletin calls retakes unlimited, so go by the board rule and ask if you’re unsure.
Renewal
Master plumber licenses renew every 2 years and expire June 30 of odd-numbered years. The board mails a reminder about 60 days ahead. Renewal is $160.
You need 5 credits of board-approved continuing education each 2-year period, and 1 hour has to cover New Jersey plumbing laws and rules. Your first renewal is exempt. Keep your attendance proof for 4 years, because the board can audit you.
Missed the deadline? You get 30 days to renew with a $50 late fee. After that, your license is suspended without a hearing, and working on it counts as unlicensed practice. Getting it back means a $150 reinstatement fee.
Cost
Here’s what the board’s fee rule (N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1) and the PSI bulletin list:
- Application fee: $100, nonrefundable ($50 if you were previously registered).
- PSI exam fees: $87 for Master Plumber, $47 for Business and Law, $106 for the Practical. That’s $240 for all three on a first try.
- Initial license fee: $160 if you’re licensed in the first year of the 2-year cycle, $80 in the second year.
- Bond: a $3,000 surety bond. If you already filed one with the HVACR board, that covers it. Your bond company sets the premium.
- Renewal: $160 every 2 years.
- Late renewal: $50. Reinstatement: $150.
- Pressure seal: $25.
On top of that, budget for your bond premium, the two code books, and any prep course. The board doesn’t publish those costs. See how that stacks up in our plumbing license cost by state table.
Reciprocity
New Jersey doesn’t publish a list of partner states. The board’s FAQ says a plumber licensed in another state can apply if that state’s standards are comparable to New Jersey’s and it reciprocates for New Jersey plumbers, citing 45:14C-19. Whether your state qualifies is up to the board, so ask before you count on it.
There’s also a temporary courtesy license ($80) for military spouses. You have to be a nonresident spouse of an active-duty service member transferred here, hold a current license in an equivalent state, and show 2 of the last 5 years of practice. It lasts 1 year, with one more year possible.
Our plumbing license reciprocity guide shows how other states handle it.
How to apply
- Apply to the board first. Send the exam application with your full street address (a P.O. box alone won’t do), proof of experience, and the $100 fee.
- Get your work experience certified. The board’s Work Experience Certification form goes to your employer or supervising master, who fills it out without you there and returns it to the board in Newark.
- Don’t let it go stale. If the board tells you something’s missing and you don’t send it within a year, it closes your application and you pay again.
- Book with PSI. Once approved, schedule at PSI using your NJ Trades ID number. Your name has to match your photo ID exactly.
- Finish up. After you pass, send the board your $3,000 bond, a pressure seal application, and the license fee. The board says your license shows up about 15 to 20 days after that.
Questions? The board’s number on the PSI bulletin is (973) 504-6420.
Once you’re licensed, you still pull permits through your local construction office, and some towns have their own contractor rules. If you’ll also do remodeling work beyond plumbing, ask the Division of Consumer Affairs whether you need home improvement contractor registration too.
FAQ
Does New Jersey have a journeyman plumber license?
No. Master Plumber is the only state license. Journeymen and apprentices work under a licensed master or an authorized plumbing contractor.
How long does it take to get a plumbing license in New Jersey?
Usually about 5 years: a 4-year registered apprenticeship, then 1 year and at least 1,200 hours as a journeyman in New Jersey.
How much does a New Jersey plumbing license cost?
The $100 application, $240 in PSI fees, and the $160 license fee, plus a $3,000 bond. Then $160 every 2 years to renew.
How much CE do New Jersey plumbers need?
5 credits every 2 years, including 1 hour on state laws and rules. Your first renewal is exempt.
Next steps
If you’re just starting, get an employer to sponsor you in a registered apprenticeship, because your 4 years only count once it’s registered. To compare New Jersey with other states, see our plumbing license by state page and the full plumbing license guide. Working near the border? Check the Pennsylvania plumbing license page too. Ready to set up your own shop as a bona fide representative? Read how to start a plumbing business.
