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Trades license portability
Plumber license reciprocity by state
Plumber licenses are broadly portable across the US — 35 of 51 states accept transfers with either direct recognition or licensure by endorsement. Tier classifications below come from each state's licensing board; click into any row for the source language and current fees.
assignment_turned_in
35 via endorsement
edit_note
7 require exam
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7 not recognized
remove_circle_outline
1 no license required
Reciprocity tier legend
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Recognized
Existing license or national cert accepted directly.
assignment_turned_in
Endorsement
Apply for a new license — paperwork, fees, no re-exam.
edit_note
Exam required
Must retake the state exam or complete state-specific training.
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Not recognized
No reciprocity pathway. Satisfy state requirements from scratch.
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No license required
State does not license this profession.
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Unclear
State policy ambiguous or silent. Contact licensing board.
All 50 states + DC
Each row links to the full plumber profile for that state — exam costs, application fees, licensing board contact, and the source language behind the tier classification.
| State | Reciprocity tier | Summary | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | edit_note Exam required | Alabama generally lacks reciprocity; out-of-state licensees may be eligible to take the Alabama examination. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Alaska | edit_note Exam required | Alaska lacks reciprocity; out-of-state apprentices must pass the Alaska licensing exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Arizona | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Arizona offers reciprocity with California, Nevada, and Utah, waiving the trade exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Arkansas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Arkansas has reciprocity agreements for Journeyman Plumber licenses with Oklahoma and Texas. | Full page arrow_outward |
| California | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | California offers reciprocity with Arizona, Louisiana, and Nevada, potentially waiving the trade exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Colorado | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Colorado offers licensure by endorsement for applicants with substantially equivalent out-of-state credentials. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Connecticut | block Not recognized | Connecticut does not offer reciprocity for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Delaware | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Delaware offers reciprocity for Master Plumbers from many states, with varying experience requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| District of Columbia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | District of Columbia has reciprocity with Maryland for Journeyman and Master Plumbers. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Florida | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Florida offers endorsement for out-of-state plumbers licensed 10+ years if requirements are equivalent. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Georgia | block Not recognized | Georgia does not offer reciprocity for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Hawaii | block Not recognized | Hawaii does not offer reciprocity for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Idaho | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Idaho offers reciprocity with Montana, Oregon, and Washington for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Illinois | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Illinois lacks formal reciprocity, but Chicago licensees may obtain a state license without examination. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Indiana | block Not recognized | Indiana does not offer any reciprocity for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Iowa | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Iowa has reciprocity with South Dakota for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Kansas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Kansas offers case-by-case endorsement for out-of-state plumbers, with some local agreements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Kentucky | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Kentucky offers case-by-case reciprocity if other state's standards and exams are equivalent. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Louisiana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Louisiana has reciprocity agreements with Arkansas and Texas for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Maine | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maine offers reciprocity if other states' licensing standards and experience are equivalent. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Maryland | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maryland has reciprocity with Delaware, Baltimore County, WSSC, and District of Columbia. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Massachusetts | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington, and Oregon. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Michigan | edit_note Exam required | Michigan requires out-of-state plumbers to take its exam, offering partial experience credit. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Minnesota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Minnesota has reciprocity agreements with North Dakota and South Dakota for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Mississippi | edit_note Exam required | Mississippi waives trade exams for some states, but requires its Business and Law exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Missouri | block Not recognized | Missouri does not offer statewide plumbing license reciprocity with other states. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Montana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Montana has reciprocity with Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota for journeyman plumbers. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Nebraska | block Not recognized | Nebraska does not offer statewide plumbing license reciprocity with other states. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Nevada | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Nevada recognizes journeyman plumber licenses from many states and waives contractor exams for some. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Hampshire | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New Hampshire recognizes journeyman and master plumber licenses from many states, often automatically. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Jersey | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New Jersey may grant licenses through reciprocity if other states' standards are comparable. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Mexico | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New Mexico has reciprocity with several states for journeyman plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New York | block Not recognized | New York does not have statewide plumbing license reciprocity; local agreements may exist. | Full page arrow_outward |
| North Carolina | edit_note Exam required | North Carolina waives trade exams for some states, but requires its business law exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| North Dakota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | North Dakota has reciprocity with South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Ohio | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Ohio has reciprocity agreements with Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Oklahoma | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Oklahoma has a reciprocity agreement with Arkansas for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Oregon | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Oregon has reciprocity agreements with Idaho and Montana for plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Pennsylvania | help_outline Unclear | Plumbing license reciprocity in Pennsylvania varies by local jurisdiction, making it unclear statewide. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Rhode Island | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Rhode Island allows licensure by endorsement if out-of-state training and requirements are equivalent. | Full page arrow_outward |
| South Carolina | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | South Carolina has reciprocity agreements with North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi. | Full page arrow_outward |
| South Dakota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | South Dakota has reciprocity with Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, and Iowa. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Tennessee | edit_note Exam required | Tennessee waives trade exams for some states, but requires its Business and Law exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Texas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Texas has reciprocity with Louisiana and Arkansas for journeyman plumbing licenses. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Utah | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Utah offers licensure by endorsement for various plumber levels from many approved states. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Vermont | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Vermont may exempt out-of-state plumbers from exams if requirements are similar. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Virginia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Virginia offers Universal License Recognition and examination agreements for qualified out-of-state plumbers. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Washington | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Washington has reciprocity with Idaho for journeyman plumbers; others must pass the state exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| West Virginia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | West Virginia may waive exams for journeyman/master plumbers and has contractor reciprocity. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Wisconsin | edit_note Exam required | Wisconsin requires out-of-state plumbers to pass its state plumbing exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Wyoming | remove_circle_outline No license | Wyoming does not issue a state plumbing license; local requirements vary. | Full page arrow_outward |
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