Yes, you need a North Dakota plumbing license to work as a plumber in the state. North Dakota licenses plumbers statewide through a three-step ladder: you register as an apprentice, test for journeyman after 4 years and 7,600 hours, then test for master after 2 more years as a licensed journeyman. Some cities can also require their own license on top of the state one.
Who issues the license
Plumbing licenses come from the North Dakota State Plumbing Board, based in Bismarck. It is a standalone state board that also handles sewer and water, water conditioning, and backflow tester licenses.
The rules come from two places. The law is North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-18, and the board’s detailed rules are in North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 62-02-01 (Plumber Licensure). The state license lets you work anywhere in North Dakota, except in cities that have passed an ordinance requiring a municipal license or registration in addition to the state license.
You can reach the board at 701-328-9977 or ndplumb@nd.gov.
Requirements change, so always confirm with the North Dakota State Plumbing Board before you apply. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice.
License types
- Apprentice Plumber. A registration, not a full license. You learn and assist under a master or journeyman plumber.
- Journeyman Plumber. For people whose main job is installing, altering, and repairing plumbing. In cities under 1,000 people and in rural areas, a licensed journeyman can run a plumbing business on their own.
- Master Plumber. Covers planning and supervising plumbing work, not just doing it. In other areas, any business installing plumbing needs a licensed master plumber in charge of the work at all times.
Sewer and water and water conditioning licenses are separate tracks with their own exams.
A few people can do plumbing without a license. State law exempts homeowners working on a home they own and actually live in, and full-time maintenance employees doing repairs where they work.
How to become a plumber in North Dakota
North Dakota counts both years and hours:
- Step 1: Register as an apprentice. You must be at least 18. Register with the board within 30 days of starting work. The board’s FAQ says hours you work after that 30-day window without registering will not count toward your apprenticeship.
- Step 2: Log your apprenticeship. The rules call for a 4-year term with at least 1,900 hours per year and at least 7,600 hours total, worked under a licensed master plumber.
- Step 3: Test for journeyman. Once you can show 4 years in the trade and 7,600 hours, you can apply for the journeyman exam. There is also a 5-year route (1,900 hours a year, 9,500 hours total) for people who worked in places that don’t license plumbers, backed by affidavits and a screening test.
- Step 4: Work as a journeyman, then test for master. Master applicants must be at least 21 and have 2 years (3,400 hours) of experience as a licensed journeyman.
On supervision, the rules cap it at 5 apprentices per master or journeyman on any job. The board’s FAQ says 1st through 3rd year apprentices must be under direct supervision, while 4th and 5th year apprentices may work by themselves. The statute describes apprentices as working under “immediate and personal supervision,” so ask the board how that applies to your situation.
Exams
The board gives its own exams, every other month, in Bismarck and Fargo. You need a current North Dakota license or a submitted application to sit for one. Bring the 2018 North Dakota Plumbing Code and a calculator. Cell phones are not allowed.
- Journeyman exam. 5 parts, 5 hours. Parts 1 and 2 are closed book (100 multiple choice questions, plus drain, waste, and vent pipe sizing). Parts 3 through 5 are open book (40 completion questions, water pipe sizing, and drain, waste, and vent sizing with fixture units).
- Master exam. 4 parts, 5 hours. Part 1 is closed book with 100 multiple choice questions. Parts 2 through 4 are open book (40 completion questions, water pipe sizing, and drain, waste, and vent with fixture units).
The passing grade is 70% for journeyman and 80% for master. If you fail, you have to wait 6 months from your last exam before you can retest. Applications expire if you don’t test within 6 months.
Cost and fees
- Application fee. $50, per the administrative rules.
- Exam fee. $50 each time you test, for journeyman or master.
- Journeyman license. $100.
- Master license. $200.
- Apprentice renewal. $20 (1st year), $30 (2nd year), $40 (3rd year), $50 (4th year), $75 (5th year).
- Late renewal. $50 extra.
- Continuing education. $40 per board CE session or correspondence course.
Paying online by card adds a 2.5% transaction fee.
Renewal and continuing education
Under state law, plumbing licenses expire every year on December 31, and the law says to renew within 30 days after expiration. You can renew online through the board’s member portal or with a paper form. If your license has been expired for a year or more, the board can make you take the exam again.
Journeyman and master plumbers must complete 2 to 4 credit hours of continuing education within each 2-year period. Apprentices are encouraged but not required to attend. You can take board sessions, correspondence courses, or online courses. The board does not publish a topic breakdown.
Bond, insurance, and business registration
Neither the plumbing law nor the board’s plumber rules list a bond or insurance requirement for a journeyman or master license.
Running a business is a separate question. The North Dakota Secretary of State requires a contractor license when the cost of a job is over $4,000, and contractor applicants file proof of liability insurance plus Workforce Safety and Insurance coverage if they have North Dakota employees. The Secretary of State’s contractor page notes that plumbing work needs a license from the State Plumbing Board, separate from contractor licensing. It does not clearly say whether a licensed plumbing business also needs a contractor license, so call the North Dakota Secretary of State before you bid bigger jobs.
Reciprocity
State law lets the board license nonresidents without an exam if their home state’s requirements are substantially equivalent. The board’s FAQ lists written agreements with three states:
- South Dakota. A current South Dakota journeyman license (and South Dakota residency) qualifies you for a North Dakota journeyman license without testing. A current South Dakota contractor license qualifies you for a North Dakota master license without testing.
- Minnesota. If you’ve held a current Minnesota journeyman license for at least 1 year and live in Minnesota, you can get a North Dakota journeyman license without testing. A Minnesota master license held for at least 1 year qualifies you for a North Dakota master license.
- Montana. A current Montana journeyman or master license qualifies you for a North Dakota journeyman license (not master) without testing.
Licensed somewhere else? You can still apply as an out-of-state journeyman or master, and the board decides whether you need to test.
How to apply
- Get the right form. Download the Apprentice, Journeyman, or Master Plumber application from the board’s site.
- Document your experience. Gather proof of your years and hours under a licensed master (or as a licensed journeyman for the master exam).
- Submit it. Email it to ndplumb@nd.gov or mail it to the board’s Bismarck office, with the $50 application fee.
- Pick an exam date. Check the board’s exam schedule and pay the $50 exam fee.
- Pass and pay for the license. After you pass, pay the license fee ($100 journeyman or $200 master).
FAQ
Does North Dakota have a journeyman plumber license?
Yes. North Dakota licenses journeyman and master plumbers and registers apprentices. You need 4 years and 7,600 hours as an apprentice to qualify for the journeyman exam.
Can I use my Minnesota license in North Dakota?
Not directly, but it can get you a North Dakota license without an exam. You need a current Minnesota journeyman license held at least 1 year (plus Minnesota residency), or a Minnesota master license held at least 1 year.
Is the North Dakota plumbing exam open book?
Partly. Both exams start with a closed book multiple choice section, and the later parts are open book using the 2018 North Dakota Plumbing Code.
Do I need a license to fix plumbing in my own house?
No, as long as you own the home and actually live in it. Rentals and homes you don’t live in are not covered.
Next steps
If you’re just starting, find a master plumber to work under and register as an apprentice within your first 30 days so every hour counts. To compare North Dakota with other states, see our plumbing license by state page and the full plumbing license guide. Working both sides of the Red River? Our Minnesota plumbing license page covers the other side. Ready to go out on your own? Read how to start a plumbing business.
