Maine Plumber License Requirements (2026)

The Maine Plumbers Examining Board, within the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) at the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, licenses all plumbers statewide under 32 MRSA Chapter 49. Maine issues three classes of individual plumber licenses: Trainee, Journeyman, and Master. All installation work must follow the Maine Internal Plumbing Code — Maine's amended version of the International Plumbing Code — as adopted by the Board. There is no separate plumbing contractor business license; the Master Plumber credential authorizes its holder to contract for plumbing work.

The Licensing Authority

Licensing for this trade is governed by Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under 10 MRSA Chapter 219-A (Home Construction Contracts); 32 MRSA Chapter 17 (Electricians); 32 MRSA Chapter 49 (Plumbers). OPOR, within the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, houses the Electricians Examining Board and the Plumbers Examining Board. Maine does not license general contractors or HVAC contractors at the state level; the Home Construction Contracts Act regulates residential contracts of $3,000 or more and the Maine Fuel Board licenses oil and solid fuel technicians.

Official portal: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/
Address: 35 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0035
Phone: (207) 624-8603

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Maine residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Board reviews criminal history disclosures and may deny, condition, or revoke a license based on convictions related to honesty or public safety.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Requirements

At least 4 years of for Journeyman: 6,000 hours of practical work under a licensed Master Plumber plus 400 hours of approved classroom instruction. For Master: an additional 2,000 hours (one year) of work as a licensed Journeyman Plumber. has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board Experience Affidavit signed by each supervising Master Plumber
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying hours
Approved apprenticeship or technical school classroom-hour transcripts

Education substitution

Graduates of Board-approved plumbing programs (community college or registered apprenticeship) may apply classroom hours against the 400-hour instruction requirement.

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by Prometric under contract to the Maine Plumbers Examining Board, breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Maine Journeyman Plumber Examination — Maine Internal Plumbing Code, statutes and rules — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
Maine Master Plumber Examination — Maine Internal Plumbing Code, business law, statutes and rules — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: Prometric charges an examination fee of approximately $90 per sitting payable at scheduling.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by scheduling a new appointment and paying a new fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

No state-mandated general liability minimum. Most clients contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Maine requires workers compensation for any business with employees under 39-A MRSA §401.

Additional financial requirements

No state financial statement required.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$21
Examination	$90
Initial license	$120
Renewal (every year)	$120

License Renewal

The Maine Master Plumber (Trainee, Journeyman, and Master classes) must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $120. Maine plumber licenses renew annually on the licensee's birth month.

Continuing education: Board-approved continuing education each year, including code-update training when a new Maine Internal Plumbing Code edition is adopted.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Maine Plumber License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Maine grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
New Hampshire	Journeyman and Master exams considered for endorsement	Case-by-case endorsement for active New Hampshire Journeyman and Master Plumbers in good standing.
Vermont	Journeyman and Master exams considered for endorsement	Case-by-case endorsement for active Vermont Journeyman and Master Plumbers.

Maine does not maintain broad plumbing reciprocity. Endorsement is granted on a case-by-case basis after Board review of the other state's standards and the applicant's record.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Plumber license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Register as a Trainee. File with the Plumbers Examining Board. Trainees may perform plumbing work only under direct supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master.
Accumulate 6,000 hours of supervised work. All hours must be under a licensed Maine Master Plumber. Maintain contemporaneous affidavits.
Complete 400 hours of classroom instruction. Through a Board-approved apprenticeship or community college plumbing program.
Pass the Journeyman examination. Prometric-administered Maine Internal Plumbing Code exam. 70% passing score.
Work 2,000 additional hours as a licensed Journeyman. One year of journey-level experience before applying for the Master examination.
Pass the Master examination. Prometric-administered Maine Internal Plumbing Code and business law exam. 75% passing score.
Receive the Master Plumber license. The Board issues the license; it must be renewed annually.

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Maine Plumber application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Logging hours under an unlicensed supervisor

Only hours under a licensed Maine Master Plumber count. Out-of-state supervision is not accepted unless pre-approved by the Board.

Studying the generic IPC instead of the Maine Internal Plumbing Code

Maine amends the IPC substantially. The exam tests the Maine amendments, not the base code alone.

Missing the 400 classroom hours

Field hours alone do not qualify. Classroom instruction is strictly enforced.

Letting the annual license lapse

Maine renewals are annual. A lapsed license means no legal plumbing work until reinstated.

Assuming reciprocity will transfer automatically

Maine reviews plumbing endorsements case-by-case. Budget time for Board review if coming from another state.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to OPOR:

☐ Trainee registration with the Plumbers Examining Board
☐ 6,000 supervised hours affidavit signed by Master Plumber supervisors
☐ 400 classroom hours completion from a Board-approved program
☐ Journeyman examination pass certificate (70%)
☐ 2,000 additional journey-level hours affidavit
☐ Master examination pass certificate (75%)
☐ Annual license fee
☐ Workers compensation coverage if operating as an employer

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

Maine Internal Plumbing Code (current edition) — Maine Plumbers Examining Board. Primary technical reference — IPC with Maine amendments.
32 MRSA Chapter 49 and Board rules (Chapter 02-238) — State of Maine. Licensing statute and administrative rules.
International Plumbing Code study guide — International Code Council. Background reference for the IPC provisions adopted by Maine.

Other Maine Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Maine trades; the published ones are listed here:

Answers to Common Questions

What classes of plumber license does Maine issue?

Trainee, Journeyman, and Master. All are issued by the Plumbers Examining Board within OPOR.

How many hours are required to become a Maine Journeyman Plumber?

6,000 hours (about four years) of supervised practical work under a licensed Master Plumber plus 400 hours of Board-approved classroom instruction.

How do I become a Maine Master Plumber?

Hold an active Maine Journeyman Plumber license, accumulate 2,000 additional hours of journey-level work, then pass the Master Plumber examination at 75%.

What plumbing code does Maine use?

The Maine Internal Plumbing Code, which is an amended version of the International Plumbing Code adopted by the Plumbers Examining Board.

How often does the Maine plumber license renew?

Annually. Renewal requires Board-approved continuing education covering current code updates.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-17 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-16