Construction / Plumber License / New Jersey
- New Jersey
- Plumber License
- Journeyman & Master
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your New Jersey Master Plumber License
What the New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers asks for, the three exams Master applicants sit, and what it takes to renew.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers requirements
Application fee
$100
Master Plumber; Journeyman $75. Plus $240 in PSI exam fees
Exam time
5.4+ hrs
Trade 195 min + practical 130 min; B&L time not stated
Time to get license
~5 yrs
4-year apprenticeship plus 1 year as a journeyman
Continuing ed
5 hrs
Required before each renewal
Overview
Do you need a New Jersey plumber license?
Plumbing in New Jersey is regulated by the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers. Journeymen work under a Master’s supervision, and only Master Plumber applicants take the state exams.
License required when
- You plan, lay out, install or repair plumbing apparatus and equipment
- You supervise others doing plumbing work
- You install, alter, repair or renovate plumbing as a journeyman under a Master
Common exceptions
- Apprentices learning under a master or supervisory journeyman plumber
- Our source doesn’t list owner or minor-repair exemptions, so ask the Board before relying on one
Penalties for unlicensed work
The Board can discipline licensees and take action against unlicensed plumbing. Our source doesn’t list fine amounts, so check with the Board before taking on work.
Your fast-track New Jersey plumber license checklist
The New Jersey application, one page
- DOL apprenticeship certificate or engineering degree
- Proof of 1 year of journeyman experience
- Application to the Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers
- Examination Eligibility Notice
- All three exams booked with PSI for the same day
- 5 hrs of CE before each renewal
Types
New Jersey plumber license types and classifications
New Jersey recognizes Journeyman and Master Plumbers. Only Master applicants take the three state exams.
JRY
Start here
Journeyman Plumber
Installs, alters, repairs and renovates plumbing under the supervision of a Master Plumber.
Exam
No state exam
Limit
Not stated
MST
Supervise & plan
Master Plumber
Plans, lays out, installs and repairs plumbing apparatus and equipment, and supervises others doing the work.
Exam
B&L + trade + practical
Limit
Not stated
Requirements
New Jersey plumber license requirements, class by class
The Journeyman path is about supervised experience. The Master path needs an apprenticeship or engineering degree plus a year of journeyman work, then three exams.
| Requirement | Journeyman Plumber | Master Plumber |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | 4 years assisting under a master or supervisory journeyman | 4-year DOL apprenticeship, or a bachelor’s in mechanical, plumbing or sanitary engineering |
| Journeyman time | Not applicable | 1 year of practical journeyman experience |
| Minimum age | 21 | Not stated |
| Bond | $3,000 | Not stated |
| Board approval | Required | Required (Examination Eligibility Notice) |
| Exams | Not required | Business & Law, Master Plumber, Master Practical |
| Continuing ed | 5 hrs per renewal | 5 hrs per renewal |
Steps
How to get your New Jersey plumber license, step by step
- Complete your training~4 years
Finish a US Department of Labor approved 4-year apprenticeship, or a bachelor’s degree in mechanical, plumbing or sanitary engineering. - Work a year as a journeyman1 year
Log one year of practical journeyman experience. Degree holders must work under a licensed Master Plumber. - Apply to the BoardBefore you test
Apply through the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers. If you’re eligible, you’ll get an Examination Eligibility Notice. - Schedule with PSIAfter approval
Your notice explains how to schedule and pay for the exams through PSI. - Pass all three examsExam day
Take Business & Law, Master Plumber and the Master Practical. On your first attempt, all three must be on the same day. - Receive your licenseAfter you pass
The Board issues your Master Plumber license once everything is approved.
Exam
What to expect on the New Jersey plumber exam
Master applicants sit three exams with PSI, all on the same day the first time. The trade exam is open book, and the practical is closed book.
Format
Open + closed book
Questions
100 + 25 + 50
Passing score
70% (trade)
Exam vendor
PSI
Scoring & content
- Master Plumbing trade: 100 questions, 195 minutes, 70% to pass, open book
- Master Practical: 25 questions, 130 minutes, closed book, isometric and figure analysis
- Business & Law: 50 questions on licensing, contracts, lien law, safety and finance
- Trade reference: 2018 National Standard Plumbing Code; B&L reference: NASCLA Contractors Guide
Retake policy
- All three exams must be taken on the same day on your first attempt
- Retake waiting period: Not stated
- Retake fee: Not stated
- Scheduling and payment instructions come with your Examination Eligibility Notice
Exam references · Varies
The New Jersey Master Plumbing trade exam and the Business and Law exam are open book, and you can tab and highlight the approved references and bring them in. The Master Plumber practical exam is closed book, and the study-only books below aren’t allowed in any exam.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| National Standard Plumbing Code Illustrated (NSPC) — Master Plumbing trade exam | 2018 | Allowed in exam |
| New Jersey NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Business and Law exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters | 8th edition | Study only |
| OSHA 1926 Construction Industry Regulations | Not stated | Study only |
| Modern Plumbing | 9th edition | Study only |
| Plumbing Design and Installation | Not stated | Study only |
Prep
Best New Jersey plumber exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a New Jersey plumber license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (Master Plumber) | Fixed | $100 |
| Application fee (Journeyman Plumber) | Fixed | $75 |
| PSI exam fees (3 exams) | Fixed | $240 ($87 trade, $47 Business & Law, $106 practical) |
| Bond (journeyman) | Fixed | $3,000 bond amount |
| Code books and references | Variable | Varies |
| Continuing education | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | Master Plumber application and all 3 PSI exams; excludes the license fee, bond and books | $340 |
Fees from the Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers application overview and FAQ and the PSI candidate bulletin, checked October 2026. The $3,000 figure is the bond amount, not what the bond costs you.
Reciprocity
Does New Jersey accept out-of-state plumber licenses?
New Jersey has no reciprocity agreements for plumbing licenses.
No reciprocity agreements
Apply as a new applicant, meet the experience requirements and pass all three New Jersey exams.
Local
Do New Jersey cities and counties have their own plumber licensing rules?
Your license comes from the state Board. Municipal construction offices still handle permits and inspections.
State handles
- Journeyman and Master Plumber approval
- Exam eligibility and scheduling through PSI
- Continuing education rules
- Discipline of licensees
City & county handle
- Plumbing permits
- Inspections
- Local business registration where required
Governance
Who regulates plumbers in New Jersey
Licensing authority
New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers
973-504-6420
Oversight responsibilities
- Approves Journeyman and Master Plumber applicants
- Issues Examination Eligibility Notices
- Sets plumbing standards, rules and regulations
- Requires 5 hours of CE before each renewal
Maintenance
How to renew your New Jersey plumber license and keep it active
New Jersey master plumber licenses renew every 2 years for $160, and you need 5 hours of continuing education before each renewal.
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
CE hours
5
Renewal fee
$160
Late penalty
Not stated
Renewing your license?
See the New Jersey CE guide: hours, deadline, required topics and how to renew.
FAQ
New Jersey plumber license FAQs
How long does it take to become a master plumber in New Jersey?
About 5 years: a 4-year DOL-approved apprenticeship plus 1 year of journeyman experience. An engineering degree plus 1 year under a Master also qualifies.
What exams do New Jersey master plumbers take?
Three: Business & Law, the Master Plumber trade exam and the Master Practical. On your first attempt, all three are taken the same day.
Is the New Jersey plumbing exam open book?
The trade exam is open book with the 2018 National Standard Plumbing Code. The Master Practical is closed book.
Do journeyman plumbers take a state exam in New Jersey?
No. Only Master Plumber applicants take the state exams. Journeymen need Board approval, 4 years of supervised experience, a $3,000 bond and must be 21 or older.
How much continuing education do New Jersey plumbers need?
5 hours before each renewal.
Does New Jersey have plumbing reciprocity?
No. New Jersey has no reciprocity agreements, so out-of-state plumbers apply as new applicants.
Sources
Official sources for the New Jersey plumber license
- New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers
- PSI candidate portal
- 2018 National Standard Plumbing Code
- NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (New Jersey)
- Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, application process overview (PDF)
- Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, FAQ
- PSI, New Jersey Master Plumber candidate information bulletin
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers.