Construction / Plumber Continuing Education / Massachusetts
- Massachusetts
- Plumber CE
- Journeyman & Master
- Updated Oct 2026
Massachusetts Plumber Continuing Education: Hours, Deadline and Approved Courses
Massachusetts plumbers need 12 hours of CE every 2 years, covering the state plumbing code and fuel gas code, and renew online by May 1 of every even-numbered year.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters requirements
Hours per cycle
12 hrs
Includes Massachusetts plumbing and fuel gas code topics
Cycle
2 years
Licenses renew every even-numbered year
Deadline
May 1, even years
Renewal opens February 1 of each even-numbered year
Online allowed?
Yes, approved courses
Board-approved online or correspondence courses only, with a provider exam
Who needs CE
Who needs continuing education for a Massachusetts plumber license?
Licensed Massachusetts journeyman and master plumbers need 12 hours of CE before each renewal. Renewal is handled by the state Board, not your city or town. Apprentices don’t need CE.
CE applies to
- Journeyman Plumbers
- Master Plumbers
Exemptions
- Licensees issued their license for the first time during the current renewal cycle (a journeyman who gets a master license that cycle still needs CE)
- Approved instructors who taught enough courses to cover their own requirement
- Appointed plumbing and gas inspectors who completed their own inspector CE
- Active-duty military (finish the hours within 90 days of leaving active duty) and inactive license holders
Renew online only
Renewals go through the eLIPSE platform between February 1 and May 1 of each even-numbered year. Applications mailed to the Board are returned.
Massachusetts plumber CE at a glance
Massachusetts plumber renewal, one box
| Renewed with | Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters |
| CE required? | Yes, before each renewal |
| Hours per cycle | 12 hrs |
| Cycle | 2 years |
| Required topics | Uniform state plumbing code, Mass fuel gas code, NFPA 54 and 58 amendments |
| Online allowed? | Yes, Board-approved online or correspondence courses with a provider exam |
| Deadline | May 1, even-numbered years |
| Who reports | Your CE provider, within five working days |
| Carryover | Not stated |
| Grace period | Not stated |
| Renewal fee | $52 journeyman, $78 master |
| Last updated | October 28, 2026 |
Hours
How many CE hours does a Massachusetts plumber license need?
Massachusetts plumbers need 12 hours of CE before each renewal. The hours cover the uniform state plumbing code, the Massachusetts fuel and gas code, and Massachusetts amendments to NFPA 54 and NFPA 58, along with state rules, law and code changes.
| Class | Total | Required topics | Electives | Delivery limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman & Master Plumber | 12 hrs | Uniform state plumbing code, Mass fuel gas code, NFPA 54 and NFPA 58 amendments | Not stated | Board-approved online or correspondence courses only, with a provider exam |
Continuing education courses focus on 248 CMR, the Board’s rules, and may also cover industry business, law and technology. Apprentices don’t need CE.
Deadline
When is the Massachusetts plumber license renewal deadline?
Massachusetts plumbing licenses all renew on the same schedule. Renewal opens February 1 of every even-numbered year, and your online application is due by May 1 of that year.
| Deadline rule | Renewal opens February 1 of each even-numbered year; apply online by May 1 |
| Cycle | 2 years |
| Next deadlines | May 1, 2028; May 1, 2030 |
| Grace period | Not stated |
| Late penalty | $57 late fee for renewals received after May 1 |
| CE completion deadline | Within the two-year license cycle, before you renew |
Steps
How to renew a Massachusetts plumber license, step by step
- Take approved CEBefore May 1
Complete 12 hours of approved CE covering the state plumbing code, the Mass fuel gas code and the NFPA 54 and 58 amendments. - Get your certificateSame day
Save the certificate of completion for each course you finish. - Confirm it’s reportedWithin 5 working days
Your provider sends your completion to the Board within five working days of the course. Check that it’s on file before you renew. - Pay the renewal fee$52 or $78 fee
Renew online in eLIPSE between February 1 and May 1 of the even-numbered year: $52 for a journeyman plumber or $78 for a master plumber. Mailed applications are returned. - Check your license statusAfter renewal
Confirm with the board that your license shows a new expiration date in the next even-numbered renewal year.
Providers
Approved Massachusetts plumber license CE providers
We haven’t compared CE providers for this license yet. Use the board’s approved provider list to confirm a course counts before you pay.
Approval
How to check a Massachusetts plumber CE course is approved
Only board-approved courses count toward Massachusetts plumber CE. An approved program totals 12 hours and covers the state plumbing and fuel gas code topics. It’s your responsibility to make sure your provider is authorized by the Board, and online or correspondence courses must also be Board approved.
- Confirm the course is approved by the board before you pay.
- Check that your courses add up to 12 hours.
- Make sure they cover the plumbing code, fuel gas code and NFPA 54 and 58 amendments.
Reporting
How Massachusetts plumber CE is reported, and what happens in an audit
Your Board-approved provider reports for you. It has to send the Board electronic proof of your completion within five working days of the course date. You still keep your own certificate.
- Your provider must send the Board your completion within five working days of the course.
- Keep your certificates of completion for at least three renewal cycles.
- The Board can ask you for your certificates to verify your hours. Missing proof can mean non-renewal or discipline.
- If you lose a certificate, ask the original provider for a duplicate.
Cost
How much does Massachusetts plumber license renewal cost?
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman plumber renewal | $52 | Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters |
| Master plumber renewal | $78 | Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters |
| Late fee (received after May 1) | $57 | Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters |
| CE course | Varies by provider | CE provider |
Fees from the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters renewal page, checked October 2026. Renewal fees are non-refundable.
Late or lapsed
Late, expired or inactive Massachusetts plumber license
Renewals received after May 1 pay a late fee. If you miss CE in a cycle you have to take makeup classes and may face Board discipline, including fines or denial of renewal.
Makeup CE
If you don’t finish your 12 hours in the cycle, you have to complete makeup classes covering the missed material.
Expired six years or less
Complete all the missed continuing education hours before you apply to reinstate, and pay any back or late fees.
Expired more than six years
Complete the CE for the current renewal cycle and pass the full Board exam for your highest license level before you’re reinstated.
Inactive license
You can apply for an inactive license. It’s renewed every two years and needs no CE, but you can’t work in the trade until you reinstate it under the expired-license rules.
Who controls
Who controls Massachusetts plumber license renewal?
Renewal authority
Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters
Phone: 617-701-8798
Email: Plumbingboard@mass.gov
Responsibilities
- Issues and renews Massachusetts plumbing licenses
- Sets the 12-hour CE requirement and required topics
- Receives CE completion records
Getting licensed
Getting a Massachusetts plumber license
Need the license first? Our Massachusetts guide covers who needs a license, the classes, exams, fees and the steps to apply.
FAQ
Massachusetts plumber license CE FAQs
How many CE hours does a Massachusetts plumber need?
12 hours before each renewal, covering the uniform state plumbing code, the Mass fuel and gas code and the NFPA 54 and 58 amendments.
When is the deadline?
Renewal opens February 1 of every even-numbered year, and your online application is due May 1 of that year. The next deadline is May 1, 2028.
Can I take CE online?
Yes, but only Board-approved online or correspondence courses count. Each one ends with a provider exam, and you get two attempts to pass. After a second failure you have to take that session in a live classroom.
Who reports my hours?
Your Board-approved provider sends your completion to the Board within five working days of the course. Keep your certificate for at least three renewal cycles.
Do hours carry over?
No carryover is stated in the Board’s rule, so plan on 12 new hours each two-year cycle.
Will the state remind me?
Don’t count on a reminder. Renewal opens online in eLIPSE on February 1 of every even-numbered year and closes May 1.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Renewals received after May 1 pay a $57 late fee. If your license expires, you’ll need to finish the missed CE (and pass the Board exam if it’s been expired more than six years) before you’re reinstated.
Do I need CE if my license is inactive?
No. An inactive license is renewed every two years without CE, but you can’t work in the trade while it’s inactive.
Sources
Official sources for Massachusetts plumber CE rules
- Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters
- Massachusetts Uniform State Plumbing Code
- Massachusetts Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54 and NFPA 58 amendments)
- Renew a plumber, gas fitter, or liquified petroleum installer license (Mass.gov)
- 248 CMR 11.00, Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters.