No, there’s no statewide plumbing license in New York, because plumbers are licensed by cities and counties, not the state. That means the rules depend on where you work. The biggest system by far is New York City, where the Department of Buildings issues the Licensed Master Plumber license. Westchester County, Buffalo, Suffolk County, and other local governments run their own programs.
Who issues the license
In New York City, it’s the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). The rules sit in Title 28 of the NYC Administrative Code (Article 408 for master plumbers, Article 409 for journeymen). Under the code, nobody can do plumbing work in the city unless they’re a licensed master plumber or working under one’s direct and continuing supervision.
Outside the city, licensing is local. State law in General City Law section 40-a sets up examining boards of plumbers in cities, and some counties license by local law. A few examples:
- Westchester County. The Department of Consumer Protection and the County Board of Plumbing Examiners issue a countywide master plumber license.
- Buffalo. The Plumbing Division of Permit & Inspection Services works with the Examining Board of Plumbers.
- Suffolk County. Suffolk County Consumer Affairs licenses master plumbers and restricted plumbers.
Anywhere else, call the local building department.
Requirements change, so always confirm with the NYC Department of Buildings or your local licensing office before you apply. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice.
License types
In New York City you’ll deal with three levels:
- Licensed Master Plumber (LMP). The only license that lets you do plumbing work on your own, pull permits, and run a plumbing business.
- Journeyman Plumber Registration. This is a registration, not a license. The card literally says you can’t do plumbing work in the city except under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master plumber. It never expires.
- Apprentice / helper. No DOB credential. You build hours under a master.
Westchester County has master plumber, restricted master plumber, and journey-level plumber credentials. Buffalo has master, journeyman, and journeyman repair plumber exams.
How to become a plumber in New York
Since there’s no state license, your path depends on where you work. Here’s how it goes in NYC under the Administrative Code and the DOB’s own pages:
- Step 1: Get hired under a master. Start as an apprentice or helper for a licensed master plumber, or enter a New York State registered training program.
- Step 2: Register as a journeyman. You need 5 years of full-time plumbing experience under a licensed master plumber, with at least 1 year in NYC. Completing a state-registered training program plus 1 year of NYC experience also works. The fee is $50.
- Step 3: Qualify for master. The standard route is at least 7 years of experience within the 10 years before you apply, under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master plumber in the U.S., with at least 2 of those years as a registered NYC journeyman.
There are shortcuts if you have the schooling. With a bachelor’s in engineering or engineering technology, you need 5 years within the last 7 (2 in NYC). A licensed architect or engineer needs 3 years within the last 5 (1 in NYC). Inspection work for a government agency can count at half credit, up to 2.5 years. You also need to be at least 18, read and write English, and show good moral character.
Outside NYC, the numbers are different. Westchester’s exam application asks for 10 years of full-time experience under a licensed master plumber for the master exam, and 5 years (or a five-year apprenticeship) for journey level. Buffalo’s master application asks for 6,000 hours as a journeyman employed by a licensed master plumber.
Exams
NYC uses two exams, and you have to pass the written one first:
- Written exam. Multiple choice on the NYC Construction Codes, rules, and regulations. No reference materials allowed, and you need 70% to pass. The exam vendor’s bulletin lists 100 questions in 4 hours.
- Practical exam. A hands-on test. The vendor bulletin describes a black steel piping assembly and a copper sweat assembly, with 4 hours for both. First-time takers apply within 60 days of passing the written, and you get 24 months from the written exam notice to pass the practical.
Westchester gives written exams for master and journey level. Buffalo posts its exam dates on the Plumbing Division page.
Renewal
An NYC master plumber license is good for 3 years. You renew through DOB NOW: Licensing, ideally 30 to 90 days before the date on your card. Each renewal needs:
- 7 hours of continuing education. A DOB-approved course taken during the year right before renewal.
- A physical exam form. The LIC62 form, completed within 90 days before you renew.
- Current insurance. General liability, workers’ comp, and disability (more below).
Miss the date and you pay a late fee. Under the code, the DOB can reinstate an expired license without a new exam for up to 5 years after expiration. After that, it’s gone.
Journeyman registrations never need renewal. In Westchester, master and restricted master plumbers need 4 hours of approved CE every year before renewing.
Cost
NYC fees, per the DOB’s license pages and fee chart:
- Written exam: $585.
- Practical exam: $530.
- Background investigation: $500.
- License (certificate of competence): $200, plus $75 for the plate and $50 for the seal.
- Renewal: $225 every 3 years ($150 license plus $75 seal).
- Late renewal: $50 extra if up to 30 days late, $100 extra if later.
- Journeyman registration: $50, one time.
In Westchester, the master plumber exam application is $50 and the license and renewal are $600 each.
Insurance and business requirements
NYC Administrative Code section 28-401.9 requires general liability insurance of $1 million (or another amount the commissioner sets), naming the DOB as certificate holder, plus proof of workers’ comp and disability coverage. You also need a place of business in NYC that meets zoning rules. If you run the business as a company, licensed master plumbers must own at least 51% of it.
Reciprocity
There’s no reciprocity into an NYC master plumber license. Every applicant takes the DOB’s written and practical exams, whether you’re licensed in New Jersey, Westchester, or anywhere else. What can help: experience under a licensed master plumber anywhere in the U.S. counts toward the 7 years. But you still need 2 years as a registered NYC journeyman on the standard route.
Local licenses don’t carry over automatically either. An NYC license doesn’t cover work in Westchester or Buffalo. Buffalo’s application says master licenses from other municipalities can be used toward the experience requirement. Westchester asks for letters of good standing from other places you’re licensed. See our plumbing license reciprocity guide for how other states handle it.
How to apply
For NYC, everything runs through DOB NOW: Licensing, and you’ll need an NYC.ID account.
- Apply for the written exam. Pay the $585 fee and schedule.
- Pass, then apply for the practical. Pay $530 and pass within the 24-month window.
- File the background application. You have 1 year from your practical exam notice. Include your score report, the LIC62 physical form, the experience verification form signed by every supervisor, your Social Security earnings history, ID, and a recent pay stub or W-2.
- Show your business setup. Proof of insurance, plus a phone bill in the business name and a utility bill or notarized lease for your NYC location.
- Pick up your license. You have 1 year from approval.
Questions go to DOB Licensing at (212) 393-2259 or licensingdob@buildings.nyc.gov.
FAQ
Does New York have a statewide plumbing license?
No. Plumbers are licensed by cities and counties, so the rules and the license depend on where you work.
How long does it take to become a master plumber in NYC?
Usually at least 7 years: 7 years under a licensed master within the last 10, including 2 as a registered NYC journeyman.
How much does an NYC master plumber license cost?
Plan on about $1,940 in DOB fees for the exams, background check, license, plate, and seal, plus $225 every 3 years to renew. Insurance and the CE course are extra.
Can I use my New Jersey or upstate license in NYC?
No. NYC doesn’t offer reciprocity, so you have to pass its written and practical exams. Your U.S. experience under a licensed master can count toward the experience requirement.
Next steps
Pin down where you’ll work and get that jurisdiction’s rules. In NYC, start logging your hours and get your journeyman registration as soon as you qualify, because those 2 journeyman years are the clock you can’t skip. To compare New York with other states, see our plumbing license by state page and the full plumbing license guide. If you work near the river, check the New Jersey plumbing license page too. Ready to go out on your own? Read how to start a plumbing business.
