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Plumber
Total cost: $260
Governing Authority
State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (under NJ Division of Consumer Affairs)
Official website →Yes
State Licensed?
10,000
Apprentice Hours
3
License Levels
$260
Total Fees
5 hrs
CE Hours
National Standard Plumbing Code
Code Version
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Get the Roadmap — $20Apprentice Registration Fee
$50
Apprentice registration fee
Master Plumber License Fee
$160
License fee; application: $100; surety bond: $3,000; $500K liability insurance required
Renewal Fee
$160
Biennial; expires June 30 of odd-numbered years; first-time renewals exempt from CE
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (under NJ Division of Consumer Affairs)
Apprenticeship Program
10,000
Total Hours
5 yrs
Duration
800
Classroom Hours
9,200
OJT Hours
Registered Apprenticeship Program Required
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Experience Required
Registration required; no prior experience
No exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
Complete 4-year US DOL-approved apprenticeship (including education in propane services); work under supervision of a master plumber. No exam required — registration only.
No exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
4-year DOL-approved apprenticeship + 1 year (at least 1,200 hours) as journeyman under licensed master plumber; OR Bachelor's degree in mechanical/plumbing/sanitary engineering from accredited college + 1 year practical experience. Must be 21+, US citizen or legal resident.
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
Prometric
Plumbing Code Version
National Standard Plumbing Code
Passing Score
70%
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Overall licensing difficulty: 33/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
Not sure if you need a plumber license? Check whether your state requires one.
New Jersey has 29% below average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
New Jersey has below-average plumbers density — strong demand for new plumbers.
New Jersey ranks #47 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Apprentice registration fee | $50 |
Master License License fee; application: $100; surety bond: $3,000; $500K liability insurance required | $160 |
Renewal Fee Biennial; expires June 30 of odd-numbered years; first-time renewals exempt from CE | $160 |
Total Initial Fees Master: application ($100) + license ($160) = $260 (plus bond and insurance costs) | $260 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years (biennial)
Renewal Period
5
CE Hours Required
$160
Renewal Fee
Continuing Education Required
Regulatory Board
Renewal fee per 2-year cycle, expires June 30 of odd-numbered years
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedDoes Not Accept Out-of-State Licenses
Transfer Type
Very limited — case-by-case evaluation
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Most states require plumbers to pass the local exam or apply for endorsement when transferring an out-of-state license. Requirements vary by state.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare New Jersey with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
New Jersey issues only a Master Plumber License at the state level (journeyman and apprentice are registrations, not licenses). The 3-part master exam must all be taken on the same day for the first attempt. Min age is 21. $3,000 surety bond required.
CRITICAL: NJ issues ONLY the Master Plumber License at state level — journeyman is a registration with NO exam
Three-part master exam: Trade (4 hrs) + Business & Law (2.5 hrs) + Practical
Must be 21+, US citizen or legal resident
$3,000 surety bond + $500,000 minimum general liability insurance required
Uses National Standard Plumbing Code (not IPC or UPC)
CE: 5 hours per biennial renewal; first-time renewals exempt
No reciprocity — all out-of-state plumbers must start from scratch
Biennial renewal; expires June 30 of odd-numbered years
Apprentice must enroll in US DOL-approved program
Journeyman apprenticeship must include education in propane services
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Plumber requirements in New Jersey verified against State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (under NJ Division of Consumer Affairs), April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-24
Accessed 2026-03-06