New Hampshire Plumber License Requirements (2026)

The New Hampshire Plumbers Board, administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) under RSA 329-A, licenses every individual performing plumbing work in the state. The board issues three tiers — Apprentice Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, and Master Plumber. New Hampshire adopts the International Plumbing Code by reference through the State Building Code, and the board administers (or contracts with PSI to administer) a code-based examination for each tier above apprentice.

Regulatory Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — trade boards (OPLC), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under New Hampshire RSA 319-C (Electricians), RSA 329-A (Plumbers), RSA 153 (Mechanical/Gas Fitters); administrative rules Elec 100–600, Plu 100–600, Saf-C 6000 series. New Hampshire does not license general contractors at the state level. Trade boards under the OPLC umbrella license individual electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters statewide. Mechanical/HVAC work intersects the Gas Fitters Board (for fuel gas piping) and local mechanical permitting; pure HVAC ductwork is not separately state-licensed. New Hampshire is unusual in the Northeast for combining strict individual trade licensing with no general contractor license at all — accountability for general construction sits at the municipal building department and through civil contract law. Home improvement contractors are not registered or bonded by the state; consumer protection runs through RSA 358-A (Consumer Protection Act) enforced by the Attorney General. Always confirm current rules with OPLC and the local building official before bidding work. Overview of the New Hampshire licensing landscape: New Hampshire takes a deliberately light-touch approach to construction trades regulation compared to its neighbors. There is no statewide general contractor license, no statewide home improvement contractor registration program (unlike Massachusetts HIC or Rhode Island contractor registration), and no statewide building permit. Instead, the state relies on three pillars. First, the building code: New Hampshire adopted the State Building Code under RSA 155-A, which incorporates the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and the National Electrical Code by reference. The State Fire Marshal enforces the State Building Code in jurisdictions that have not adopted local enforcement, while most populated municipalities run their own building departments and issue their own permits. Second, individual trade licensing: the Electricians Board, the Plumbers Board, and the Mechanical Licensing Board (Gas Fitters) license journeyman and master tradespeople under their respective statutes. These licenses are personal to the individual and follow the worker between jobs and between employers. Third, consumer protection law: home improvement disputes are handled through RSA 358-A and standard contract law, not through a state license bond pool. What this means in practice for contractors: a self-employed builder in New Hampshire can legally bid and build a single-family home without any state-issued license, provided every electrical worker on site holds a current Electricians Board license, every plumber holds a current Plumbers Board license, every gas fitter holds a current Gas Fitters Board license, the project clears the local building department permit, and the work passes all required inspections. The contractor may still need a federal EIN, state business registration with the Secretary of State, business profits and enterprise tax accounts with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, and (if hiring) workers compensation coverage under RSA 281-A. The Department of Labor enforces workers compensation aggressively, and uninsured employers face stop-work orders. Municipal nuances matter. Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, Dover, and Keene each operate full building departments with their own permit application packets, contractor sign-in requirements, and inspection schedules. Some towns require the contractor to be listed on the permit; some require proof of insurance before issuing the permit; a few smaller towns have no building inspector at all and rely on the State Fire Marshal. Always call the building department before assuming a project does not need a permit. Electrical and plumbing permits are typically pulled by the licensed tradesperson, not the general contractor, and the inspection is performed by the municipal inspector or by the State Electrical or State Plumbing inspector in unincorporated areas. Reciprocity is meaningful here. The Electricians Board holds reciprocal agreements with several New England states for master and journeyman credentials, as does the Plumbers Board. The Mechanical Licensing Board recognizes equivalent gas fitter credentials from neighboring states on a case-by-case basis. Reciprocal applicants still pay New Hampshire fees, submit a New Hampshire application, and in most cases sit for the New Hampshire-specific portion or the full New Hampshire exam. Renewal cycles vary by board (electricians and plumbers renew on a three-year cycle; gas fitters renew on a two-year cycle), and continuing education requirements are set by each board. Because New Hampshire publishes most rules and forms only on the OPLC website and the General Court statute pages, contractors should bookmark oplc.nh.gov and gencourt.state.nh.us and check both before paying any fee or scheduling an exam. Rates and fee amounts in this guide should be confirmed directly with the relevant board before submitting payment.

Official portal: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/
Address: 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-2152

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No New Hampshire residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Plumbers Board reviews criminal history disclosures and may deny or condition a license for fraud, violence, or prior license discipline.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is 4 years of apprentice: registered with the board while working under a licensed master. Journeyman: typically four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying plumbing experience under a licensed master, or completion of an approved apprenticeship. Master: typically one to two additional years of journey-level experience after the journeyman credential. Confirm current totals with the board., and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Plumbers Board Experience Verification Form signed by each supervising master plumber
Apprenticeship completion certificate from a US Department of Labor or NH-recognized program
W-2, 1099, or pay records covering the qualifying period
Trade school or community college transcripts for any claimed education credit

Education substitution

Approved apprenticeship programs and accredited plumbing trade school coursework substitute for portions of the experience requirement under board rules. Confirm current substitution ratios with the Plumbers Board.

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to the New Hampshire Plumbers Board (where applicable); board-administered exams in some cases, breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

New Hampshire Journeyman Plumber Examination — International Plumbing Code, NH plumbing rules, theory — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
New Hampshire Master Plumber Examination — IPC, NH plumbing rules, business and law (Master applicants only) — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: Examination fees are set by PSI or the Plumbers Board and posted in the candidate information bulletin. Confirm the current fee before scheduling.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new exam fee. Each application remains valid for the period stated by the board (typically one year).

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

The Plumbers Board does not impose a state-level general liability minimum on individual licensees. Self-employed plumbers typically carry $1,000,000 per occurrence as a market standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation coverage is mandatory under RSA 281-A for any employer with one or more employees. Sole proprietors with no employees are exempt but may elect coverage.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement is required by the Plumbers Board.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$150
Examination	$100
Initial license	$150
Renewal (every 3 years)	$150

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The New Hampshire Master Plumber (Apprentice, Journeyman, Master) runs on a 3 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $150. New Hampshire plumber licenses renew on a three-year cycle. Lapsed licenses may require reinstatement fees and reapplication.

Continuing education: Continuing education in the IPC and NH plumbing rules is required each renewal cycle. The exact hour total is set by the Plumbers Board — confirm current requirements before renewal.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, New Hampshire does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Maine	Master and Journeyman exams	Reciprocal recognition of Maine Plumbers Examining Board credentials in good standing. Confirm current terms with the NH board.
Vermont	Master and Journeyman exams	Reciprocal recognition of Vermont Plumbing Examining Board credentials in good standing.

New Hampshire historically maintains reciprocal arrangements with neighboring New England states for master and journeyman plumbers. Reciprocal applicants still file an NH application, pay NH fees, and may sit for the NH-specific portion. Confirm current terms with the Plumbers Board.

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 Application Roadmap

Register as an Apprentice Plumber. File the apprentice registration with the Plumbers Board before performing plumbing work. Apprentices must work under direct supervision of a licensed master.
Accumulate qualifying hours. Log experience under a licensed master, typically four years and 8,000 hours for the Journeyman path, or complete a recognized apprenticeship program.
Submit the Journeyman application. File the Journeyman application with experience verification, education records, and the application fee.
Pass the Journeyman examination. Score at the board-set passing percentage on the IPC-based Journeyman exam.
Work as a Journeyman to qualify for Master. Accumulate the additional journey-level hours required for the Master Plumber credential.
Pass the Master examination. Score at the board-set passing percentage on the Master exam, which adds business and law content to the IPC and NH rules portions.
Receive the Master Plumber license. OPLC issues the license after the exam is passed. Renew on the board's three-year cycle.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to OPLC, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Apprentice Plumber registration filed with the Plumbers Board
☐ Documented qualifying hours under a licensed master
☐ Application form, application fee, and experience verification
☐ Journeyman or Master exam pass certificate
☐ Workers compensation policy if employing other workers
☐ Continuing education tracking for renewal

Where Applications Stall

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a New Hampshire Plumber application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Working before registering as an apprentice

Apprentices must be registered with the board before performing plumbing work. Unregistered work counts against future applications.

Studying UPC instead of IPC

New Hampshire uses the IPC. Candidates from UPC states often arrive with the wrong reference book.

Confusing plumbing with gas fitting

Fuel gas piping is regulated by the Mechanical Licensing Board (Gas Fitters), not the Plumbers Board. A master plumber must hold a separate gas fitter credential to do gas work.

Missing continuing education

IPC continuing education is mandatory for renewal. Missing it blocks renewal.

Letting the master license lapse mid-project

A lapsed master license invalidates permits and supervision. Renew on time and confirm via the OPLC license lookup.

Recommended Study Materials

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.

International Plumbing Code (New Hampshire-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center where applicable.
New Hampshire State Building Code (RSA 155-A) — New Hampshire State Fire Marshal. Adopts the IPC by reference with NH amendments.
New Hampshire RSA 329-A and Plumbers Board administrative rules — New Hampshire General Court / OPLC. Licensing law and rules.

Other New Hampshire Trade Licenses

For a different New Hampshire credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Common Questions

Who licenses plumbers in New Hampshire?

The New Hampshire Plumbers Board, administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) under RSA 329-A, licenses all plumbers statewide.

What are the New Hampshire plumber license tiers?

Apprentice (registered, working under direct supervision), Journeyman Plumber (independent installer working under a master's license), and Master Plumber (may design, supervise, and pull permits).

What plumbing code does New Hampshire use?

New Hampshire adopts the International Plumbing Code (IPC) by reference through the State Building Code under RSA 155-A.

Does New Hampshire reciprocate plumber licenses?

New Hampshire historically maintains reciprocal arrangements with neighboring New England states. Reciprocal applicants still file an NH application and may need to sit for the NH portion.

How often does the New Hampshire plumber license renew?

On a three-year cycle set by the Plumbers Board, with continuing education in the IPC as required by board rules.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-06 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-04