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New Hampshire Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board · checked 2026-10-20
New Hampshire Plumber License Requirements
Statewide journeyman and master plumber licenses under the Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board's Mec 300 rules. Master Plumber: 4.5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1J · Journeyman Plumber 4 years
- 2M · Master Plumber 4.5 years
License levels in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire path has 2 steps on this page: Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber. The source counts experience in hours and classroom instruction separately; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Journeyman Plumber | 8,000 hours | 600 h | 4 years | Yes, 70% | Not printed |
| M Master Plumber | 6 months at the prior level | — | 4.5 years | Yes, 75% | Not printed |
Journeyman Plumber (J)
Mec 305.01(b): a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship completion certificate, proof of at least 600 hours of educational training and at least 8,000 working hours of on-the-job experience; the journeyman exam is passed by answering at least 70% of questions correctly. Source: N.H. Admin. Rules Mec 300.
Master Plumber (M)
Mec 305.01(a): held a New Hampshire journeyman plumber license for at least 6 months, and pass the master exam with at least 75% of questions correct. Source: N.H. Admin. Rules Mec 300.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber. Published pass marks: 70% on the journeyman plumber exam and 75% on the master plumber exam. OPLC lists two board-approved plumbing exam providers: NH Gasfitters Plumbing Exams and Pro-V. Licensees need 3 hours of code update a year (6 per two-year renewal). (NH OPLC, Mechanical Safety and Licensing education and certification requirements)
Fees
The New Hampshire source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. Fees are set in Saf-Mec 501.03 to 501.05; the OPLC page does not print the amounts.
Reciprocity
Mec 302.12: out-of-state licensees who show licensure where they worked are eligible for the plumbing and fuel gas exams; Mec 305.01(b)(4) accepts prior journeyman licensure in another state with the 70% exam. No partner states are named. Source: N.H. Admin. Rules Mec 300.
How New Hampshire compares
Among the 11 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top plumber credential, New Hampshire ranks 5 of 11 from shortest (3 years) to longest (6 years). No other state here sets exactly 4.5 years. The classroom requirement here peaks at 600 hours.
Same trade elsewhere: Connecticut · Massachusetts · Maine · Vermont · Rhode Island. All states side by side: Plumber license requirements by state.
Other trades in New Hampshire
- Electrician: Master Electrician: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Fuel Gas Service Technician: 1 year of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: New Hampshire trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the plumber license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification). Statewide journeyman and master plumber licenses under the Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board's Mec 300 rules.
How long does it take to qualify for the Master Plumber in New Hampshire?
4.5 years by this site's count. Mec 305.01(a): held a New Hampshire journeyman plumber license for at least 6 months, and pass the master exam with at least 75% of questions correct.
Does New Hampshire have plumber license reciprocity?
Mec 302.12: out-of-state licensees who show licensure where they worked are eligible for the plumbing and fuel gas exams; Mec 305.01(b)(4) accepts prior journeyman licensure in another state with the 70% exam. No partner states are named.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | New Hampshire Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) | 2026-10-20 |
| J requirements | N.H. Admin. Rules Mec 300 | 2026-10-20 |
| M requirements | N.H. Admin. Rules Mec 300 | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | N.H. Admin. Rules Mec 305.01 | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the New Hampshire source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with New Hampshire Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.