Reciprocity is an agreement between one or more state licensing authorities that makes it easier for a qualified plumber in one state to transfer their license to another.
For plumbers, many of these arrangements simplify the initial application process by waiving certain prerequisite requirements, like the trade exam.
Use the interactive map to see if any reciprocity agreements apply to you.
Exam Still Required? We Can Help
You may qualify for a trade exam waiver, but most licensing boards still expect applicants to pass a state-specific code and/or law examination.
If you need to complete any exams to transfer your license, the online exam prep courses at Plumbers Training Institute will help you pass! Simple video lessons describe everything you'll need to know about international codes, plumbing math, and more!
Select your state under the Exam Prep drop-down menu to get started.
Reciprocity Agreements
Select your state from the list below to start check if your state has reciprocity
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Alabama
The Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board has no active reciprocal agreements.
If you are currently certified/licensed in another state, you may be eligible to test for the equivalent AL journeyman or master classification.
Alaska
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development may reciprocate a plumbing certificate of fitness with any jurisdiction with similar requirements.
Department considerations include the number of work hours, testing, apprenticeship programs, and any other factors considered relevant.
Arizona
According to Arizona Revised Statutes 32-4302, plumbers from another jurisdiction may obtain an equivalent AZ residential or commercial license if they have:
- Been certified for at least 12 months
- Met the minimum education and work requirements
- Passed an exam
- Never had a license revoked
- Never been disciplined by their licensing authority
- No active unprofessional conduct complaints against them
- No disqualifying criminal history
Arkansas
The Department of Health removes exam requirements for journeymen from Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas and for master plumbers from Ohio.
California
The Contractors State License Board formally recognizes licensees from Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, and North Carolina.
Applicants must:
- Have held an active license in good standing for five years
- Submit a completed Request for Verification of License form
- Complete an original contractor license application
Colorado
The Department of Regulatory Agencies does not recognize any outside journeyman or master-level licenses.
Connecticut
The State Department of Consumer Protection lets licensees who have completed the same classroom hours and on-the-job training submit an equivalent plumbing contractor application.
If you don't qualify, you must complete a standard application.
Delaware
Master plumbers from Connecticut, Iowa, and Maryland are automatically recognized by the Division of Professional Regulation.
If you're coming from Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, or West Virginia, you must include proof that you have at least seven years of master-level work experience.
The board of examiners will review the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction not listed to decide if they qualify.
Florida
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) uses an endorsement application.
Nonresident licensees can skip Florida's certification exam if:
- They meet all FL requirements
- They passed a substantially similar exam
- They are already licensed in a state with similar requirements
Note: The DBPR states that endorsement applications are rarely approved by the licensing board.
Georgia
Everyone must submit standard journeyman or master plumber applications.
Hawaii
The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs does not reciprocate, and every applicant must meet the same licensing requirements.
Idaho
The Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses recognizes journeyman from Montana, Oregon, and Washington if they can prove that they have passed an exam and completed four years of schooling and on-the-job training.
Illinois
The Department of Public Health does not have statewide agreements. However, licensed plumbers in Chicago may work in other districts using a Chicago-specific reciprocity application.
Indiana
All applicants must go through the standard Professional Licensing Agency process. Out-of-state work may be used as proof of experience, however.
Iowa
The Department of Public Health lets plumbers from South Dakota skip the IA licensing exam if they are in good standing and prove that they passed a written exam.
Kansas
Since there is no statewide licensing board, we recommend checking local licensing requirements.
Journeyman plumbers from Arkansas and Texas who have been licensed for at least two years may submit a reciprocal application to the State Plumbing Board.
Kentucky
Licensees may apply for reciprocity through the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction if they:
- Meet all KY qualifications for journeyman and master licenses
- Are licensed by a jurisdiction with its own plumbing code that agrees to reciprocate
- Passed an equivalent exam
Louisiana
Journeyman plumbers from Arkansas and Texas who have been licensed for at least two years may submit a reciprocal application to the State Plumbing Board.
Maine
The Plumbers' Examining Board will issue a license to anyone from outside Maine who applies under specific conditions.
The applicant's licensing standards and experience requirements must be equivalent to those in ME.
Maryland
Master or journey license holders from Delaware and Washington D.C. may apply online through the Department of Labor.
Massachusetts
The Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters will accept education and work experience from other states if it's considered substantially equivalent. All applicants must still pass the MA licensing exam.
Michigan
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs requires all applicants to pass the MI journeyman and master license exams.
Nonresident plumbers can use their previous work experience by submitting the following:
- The Out of State License Verification form
- A copy of their current license and their previous licensing requirements
- A signed and notarized letter from a former supervisor describing relevant work experience
Minnesota
The Department of Labor and Industry waives its exam requirements for plumbers from North Dakota and South Dakota who have been licensed for at least one year. Licenses can complete a reciprocity application and then apply for licensure online.
Mississippi
Trade exam requirements are waived for plumbers from Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee. All other applicants must apply through the State Board of Contractors.
Missouri
Licensure is regulated at the city and county levels, meaning no nonresident agreements are available. Every city with a population of 15,000 or more must establish rules for certifying plumbers. Check local requirements, like the ones for St. Louis County, to learn more.
Every city with a population of 15,000 or more must establish rules for certifying plumbers.
Check local requirements, like the ones for St. Louis County, to learn more.
Montana
The Department of Labor and Industry reciprocates journeyman licenses for plumbers (with active licenses and no professional complaints) from Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Everyone must still apply for an MT license.
Everyone must still apply for an MT license.
Nebraska
There are no statewide agreements because licenses are issued by individual cities, each with their own unique requirements. For example, in Omaha, a plumber licensed in another city must meet Omaha's specific exam and experience standards before being allowed to work legally within the city limits.
Contractors and subcontractors doing business in Nebraska must register with the Department of Labor.
Nevada
The State Contractors Board may waive the trade exam requirement for plumbers from Arizona, California, Florida, and Tennessee who have maintained an active license in good standing for the past four years.
Qualified licensees may apply for licensure by endorsement.
New Hampshire
House Bill 594 allows the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification to accept licenses from any jurisdiction with substantially similar requirements.
Additionally, qualified journeyman and master plumbers pursuing equivalent licensure through endorsement no longer need to supply transcripts, exam results, evidence of experience, and letters of reference.
New Jersey
The State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers accepts non-resident plumbers if their licensure standards are comparable to NJ and their state agrees to reciprocate.
New Mexico
The Regulation and Licensing Department requires everyone to submit a standard application.
New York
Local municipalities regulate the requirements for working legally, so no agreements are in place for nonresidents. NYC master applicants, for example, must meet strict experience requirements and pass an exam.
NYC master applicants, for example, must meet strict experience requirements and pass an exam.
North Carolina
Plumbing and HVAC contractors from South Carolina may be eligible to skip the trade exam. Current residents who previously worked in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia may be eligible for licensure through the Neighbor State Licensing Recognition Act.
All others must follow the standard requirements set by the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors.
North Dakota
The State Plumbing Board recognizes plumbers from South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. Some plumbers may be exempt from taking the exam, but all applications must include a Certificate of Endorsement.
Ohio
The Department of Commerce accepts plumbers who have passed a recognized test in Arkansas, Mississippi*, South Carolina*, Tennessee*, and West Virginia.
*Passing the OH Business and Law exam is still required.
Oklahoma
The Construction Industries Board signed a multi-year agreement with Arkansas. Eligible plumbers who apply for an OK license are exempt from taking the journeyman test.
Oregon
The Building Codes Division accepts journeyman plumbers from Idaho and Montana.
Learn more about OR requirements on this page.
Pennsylvania
No agreements are available because licenses are regulated by cities.
Check local requirements to learn how to apply. To become a journeyman in Philadelphia, for example, you must complete a four-year apprenticeship and pass an exam.
Rhode Island
The Department of Labor and Training states that all out-of-state licensees must still complete the appropriate journeyperson and master application process with proof of current licensure and a letter of good standing.
South Carolina
The Contractor's Licensing Board recognizes professionals from North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Residential and commercial licensees in good standing may waive the trade exam, but must still meet all other licensing requirements and pass the Business, Law, and Project Management exam.
South Dakota
The Department of Labor and Regulation can reciprocate and waive the exam if the nonresident applicant pays the required fee and originally entered the trade by fulfilling substantially equivalent requirements.
Tennessee
The Department of Commerce and Insurance has a trade exam waiver (reciprocal) agreement with plumbers in Ohio and South Carolina.
All applicants must still pass the TN Business and Law exam and complete the entire application process.
Texas
The State Board of Plumbing Examiners acknowledges plumbers from Louisiana and Arkansas. Journeyman and master-level professionals from anywhere else must take an out-of-state exam.
Utah
The Department of Commerce grants endorsements to journeyman and master plumbers from select jurisdictions with equivalent requirements.
Vermont
The Department of Public Safety lets nonresident journeyman and master plumbers apply without taking an exam if their initial requirements are equivalent and they prove their current licensure.
Virginia
The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation only offers exam exemptions for journeyman and master plumbers and gas fitters from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
Washington
The State Department of Labor and Industries offers reciprocal certification with Idaho journey-level plumbers who provide copies of their photo ID and current license.
All other applicants must pass the WA plumber examination.
West Virginia
The Division of Labor may grant licenses to out-of-state plumbers without an exam if the applicant can prove their qualifications (including WV requirements) and pay the applicable registration fee.
Wisconsin
The Department of Safety and Professional Services does not recognize any outside licenses.
Wyoming
Plumbing licenses are provided at the city or county level, meaning reciprocity only applies to different areas within the state. Check local regulatory authorities to learn how to apply.
Applicants in Cheyenne, for example, must pass an exam and attend a Contractor Licensing Board meeting.