North Dakota Plumber License Requirements (2026)

The North Dakota State Plumbing Board (NDPB) licenses plumbers statewide under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-18. The state issues two individual credentials — Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber — plus a Plumbing Contractor registration for businesses. North Dakota adopts the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as the technical standard. Examinations are administered by NDPB or its contracted testing vendor and cover the UPC, North Dakota plumbing rules, and plumbing theory.

Regulatory Body Profile

Authority over this credential rests with North Dakota State Plumbing Board (NDPB), which issues and polices it under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-18 (Plumbers). The North Dakota State Plumbing Board licenses master and journeyman plumbers, certifies plumbing contractors, adopts the Uniform Plumbing Code, and inspects plumbing installations under NDCC 43-18.

Official portal: https://www.nd.gov/ndpb/
Address: 1707 N 9th Street, Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone: (701) 328-9977

The Eligibility Audit

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No North Dakota residency requirement.

Good moral character

NDPB reviews disciplinary history from any jurisdiction. Felony convictions are evaluated individually.

Background investigation

Disclosure of criminal history is required on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least 4 years of Journeyman: four years (8,000 hours) of plumbing work under a licensed Master Plumber, or completion of an approved plumbing apprenticeship. Master: two additional years (4,000 hours) 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

NDPB Experience Affidavit signed by each supervising Master Plumber
Payroll records, W-2s, or 1099s covering the qualifying hours
Approved plumbing apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Approved plumbing apprenticeship programs and accredited plumbing trade school programs substitute for portions of the experience requirement on a sliding scale set by NDPB rule.

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by North Dakota State Plumbing Board (in-house or contracted vendor), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

NDPB Journeyman Plumber Examination — Uniform Plumbing Code, North Dakota plumbing rules — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%
NDPB Master Plumber Examination — UPC, North Dakota rules, plumbing theory and design — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $75 examination fee per attempt paid to NDPB.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be re-taken after a 30-day waiting period with a new $75 fee.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

A $1,000 surety bond, in the form prescribed by the NDPB, must be posted as a condition of licensure.

General liability

Plumbing Contractor registration requires proof of general liability insurance per NDPB rule.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation coverage through North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) is mandatory for any business with employees. North Dakota is a monopolistic state.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement is required for individual plumber credentials. Plumbing Contractor registrants must post a $1,000 surety bond per NDPB rule.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$75
Examination	$75
Initial license	$150
Renewal (every year)	$150

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The North Dakota Master Plumber or Journeyman Plumber runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $150. NDPB licenses renew annually. Late renewals incur additional fees.

Continuing education: NDPB requires continuing education on UPC updates each renewal cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 North Dakota 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, North Dakota does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Minnesota	Trade exam waived	NDPB reciprocity for active Minnesota Master and Journeyman plumbers in good standing.
South Dakota	Trade exam waived	NDPB reciprocity for active South Dakota plumber credentials.
Montana	Trade exam waived	NDPB reciprocity for active Montana plumber credentials.

NDPB maintains regional reciprocity with neighboring plains states. Reciprocal applicants must verify active good standing in the home state.

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

Document four years of qualifying plumbing work. Eight thousand hours under a licensed Master Plumber, or completion of an approved plumbing apprenticeship.
Submit the NDPB Journeyman application. File experience affidavits and exam fee with the Board.
Pass the Journeyman examination at 70%. Covers Uniform Plumbing Code and North Dakota plumbing rules.
Work two additional years as a Journeyman. Four thousand hours of journey-level plumbing work under a Master Plumber.
Submit the Master Plumber application. File experience documentation and exam fee.
Pass the Master Plumber examination at 70%. Covers UPC, theory, design, and North Dakota plumbing rules.
Register as a Plumbing Contractor (if self-employed). Required to bid and contract plumbing work as a business; requires $1,000 surety bond and liability insurance.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to NDPB, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Four years (8,000 hours) of documented plumbing work or approved apprenticeship
☐ NDPB Journeyman application and $75 exam fee
☐ Passing score of 70% on the Journeyman examination
☐ Two additional years as a Journeyman before applying for Master
☐ NDPB Master Plumber application and exam fee
☐ Plumbing Contractor registration (if self-employed)
☐ $1,000 surety bond (Plumbing Contractor only)
☐ General liability insurance certificate (Plumbing Contractor only)

Where Applications Stall

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost North Dakota Plumber applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Skipping the journeyman step

The Master Plumber path requires the Journeyman credential plus two additional years of journey-level work. Direct-entry to Master is not allowed.

Studying the IPC instead of the UPC

North Dakota uses the Uniform Plumbing Code, not the International Plumbing Code. Candidates from IPC states often study the wrong reference.

Operating as a contractor without registration

Holding a Master Plumber credential does not authorize you to bid as a business. The separate Plumbing Contractor registration with bond is required.

Forgetting the surety bond

Plumbing Contractor registration requires a $1,000 surety bond. Applications without the bond are rejected.

Buying workers comp from a private carrier

North Dakota is monopolistic. Coverage must come from WSI for any plumbing business with employees.

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

Uniform Plumbing Code (current ND-adopted edition) — International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. Primary technical reference for the NDPB exams.
North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-18 — State of North Dakota. Licensing law for plumbers.
NDPB Plumbing Rules and Amendments — North Dakota State Plumbing Board. State-specific amendments to the UPC.

Other North Dakota Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

What plumber credentials does North Dakota issue?

Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber. Businesses also need a separate Plumbing Contractor registration with NDPB.

How many hours does North Dakota require for a Journeyman Plumber?

Four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying work under a licensed Master Plumber, or completion of an approved plumbing apprenticeship program.

What plumbing code does North Dakota use?

The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board, with state amendments.

Does North Dakota reciprocate plumber credentials?

Yes. NDPB maintains reciprocity agreements with Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana.

How often does the North Dakota plumber license renew?

Annually. NDPB licenses expire each year and require continuing education on UPC updates.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-21 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-20