Get a New Hampshire Plumbing License Easily: Here is How

Whether you are looking to start working as a plumber or want to upgrade to a higher level, this guide will help you with all the details related to the New Hampshire plumbing license. So, let’s get started!

Who Provides Plumbing Licenses in NH?

If you want to get a plumbing license, you need to contact the Mechanical Safely and Licensing Board of New Hampshire. It comes under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Here are its contact details:

• Official website: Click here
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (603) 271-2152
• Address: 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH, 03301
• Hours of operations: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM

What are the Types of Plumbing Licenses in NH?

There are 3 stages a plumber has to go through in his journey in New Hampshire. Each of these stages demands a license for you to move ahead. Here are 3 types of NH plumbing licenses:

1. Trainee/Apprentice registration license
2. Journeyman plumber license
3. Master plumber license

What are the Requirements to Get an NH Plumbing License?

First of all, there are certain general criteria you will need to meet to be eligible. You must:

1. be 18 years of age.
2. have a high school diploma or GED.
3. be a US citizen or have permanent resident status.

If your answer is yes for each of these, then here are the documents you will need for each plumbing license:

1. Trainee/Apprentice

Requirements for apprentice application:

• Check or money order of $90 license fee paid to State of NH – Treasury.
• Photocopy of any government-issued ID card containing the applicant’s photo. For example, driving license, passport, etc.
• Apprentice/Trainee Endorsement letter completed and signed by both – the applicant and the master sponsor.
• Photocopy of your apprentice agreement signed and authorized by the US Department of Labor.

2. Journeyman plumber

Requirements for journeyman application:

• Check or money order of $190 license fee paid to State of NH – Treasury.
• Photocopy of any government-issued ID card containing the applicant’s photo. For example, driving license, passport, etc.
• Testing result with a passing score in your journeyman plumber exam.
• Photocopy of apprentice ID card.
• Photocopy of your criminal background check IF you marked yes in the application form for any criminal offense done by you.
• A letter signed by your supervising master plumber stating that he/she has supervised you during your apprentice employment and that you are competent to be a journeyman plumber.
• Photocopy of your apprenticeship completion certificate from the Department of Labor.

Apart from these documents, you will also need to: 

• Complete 8000 hours or 4 years of on-field work experience as an apprentice plumber.
• Complete 144 hours of classroom training each year of your apprenticeship period.

3. Master plumber

Requirements for master application:

• Check or money order of $310 license fee paid to State of NH – Treasury.
• Photocopy of any government-issued ID card containing the applicant’s photo. For example, driving license, passport, etc.
• Testing result with a passing score in your master plumber exam.
• Photocopy of your New Hampshire journeyman plumber license held for at least 6 months.
• Photocopy of your criminal background check IF you marked yes in the application form for any criminal offense done by you.
• A letter signed by your supervising master plumber stating that he/she has supervised you during your journeyman employment and that you are competent to be a master plumber.

For renewing your journeyman license or master license, you need to show proof of 3 hours of code update every year. That accounts for 6 hours of code update as one renewal cycle lasts for 2 years.

What are the Costs Involved For a Plumbing License in NH?

These are the costs you will need to bear at the various stages of your plumbing journey:

License type	License fee	Renewal fee (every 2 years)	Exam fee
Trainee	$90	$80	–
Journeyman	$190	$180	$80/$100*
Master	$310	$300	$80/$100*

*Your exam fee depends on which one of the two testing organizations you choose to go with. We will discuss this later in the exam section.

If you are required to verify your criminal background, you will also need to send a check of $25 (payable to the State of NH – Criminal Records) along with its form to NH State Police Criminal Records Bureau.

You will also have to pay for the apprentice classroom program or continuing education.

NH Plumbing Exams Details

There are 2 organizations approved by the board to conduct plumbing exams in NH:

1. NH Gasfitter Plumbing Exams

As stated on its official website, here are the details for the plumbing exams it conducts:

• Journeyman plumber exam

This exam will cost you $100. It consists of at least 100 questions for which you will be given 3 hours. You need to score at least 70% to pass. Check out its syllabus:

• Scope & Administration – 10%
• Plumbing Fundamentals – 10%
• Fixtures & Appurtenances – 10%
• Water Distribution – 10%
• Drainage Requirements – 15%
• Venting Requirements – 15%
• Traps, Cleanouts & Interceptors – 10%
• Mathematical Calculations – 15%
• ​RSA-Rules – 5%

• Master plumber exam

This exam will cost you $100. It consists of at least 100 questions for which you will be given 3 hours. You need to score at least 75% to pass. Check out its syllabus:

• Scope & Administration – 10%
• Plumbing Fundamentals – 10%
• Fixtures & Appurtenances – 10%
• Water Distribution – 10%
• Drainage Requirements – 15%
• Venting Requirements – 15%
• Traps & Interceptors – 10%
• Calculations & Math – 15%
• Safe-Mec – 5%

2. Pro-V

As per the official PDF shared by Pro-V, here are the details for the plumbing exams it conducts:

• Journeyman plumber exam

This exam will cost you $80. It consists of 100 questions for which you will be given 3 hours. You need to score at least 70% to pass. Check out its syllabus:

• Calculations – 10
• Drainage Requirements – 20
• Fixtures and Faucets – 10
• Plumbing Fundamentals – 10
• Scope and Administration – 10
• Traps and Interceptors – 10
• Venting Regulations – 20
• Water Distribution – 10

• Master plumber exam

This exam will cost you $80. It consists of 100 questions for which you will be given 3 hours. You need to score at least 75% to pass. Check out its syllabus:

• Calculations – 15
• Drainage Requirements – 15
• Fixtures and Faucets – 10
• Plumbing Fundamentals – 10
• Scope and Administration – 15
• Traps and Interceptors – 10
• Venting Requirements – 15
• Water Distribution – 10

Now let’s see the steps involved to become a licensed plumber in New Hampshire.

Steps to Get Your NH Plumbing License

Follow these steps to get your NH plumber license:

Step 1: Get to 18 years of age and complete a high school diploma or GED.
Step 2: Enroll in an apprenticeship program. Visit the state apprenticeship program for more info.
Step 3: Get employed under a master plumber and ask him/her for an Apprentice Endorsement letter.
Step 4: Complete 4 years or 8000 hours of on-field plumbing experience. Also, gather 144 hours of classroom instruction for each year as an apprentice.
Step 5: Apply for the journeyman exam from one of the two exam organizations in NH (stated above). You must pass the exam to be eligible for a journeyman license.
Step 6: Apply for the journeyman license with the required documents as stated before. Your application will then be reviewed. If found any errors, your application will be rejected, and you will need to correct those first.
Step 7: Congratulations! Now you are a licensed journeyman plumber.
Step 8: Wait for at least 6 months to be eligible for the master plumber license.
Step 9: Apply for the master exam. You will need to pass the exam to be eligible for a master plumber license.
Step 10: Apply for the master license with the required documents, as stated before. Your application will then be reviewed. If found any errors, your application will be rejected, and you will need to correct those first.
Step 11: Congratulations! Now you are a licensed master plumber.

NH Plumbing Trade Schools

Here are some board-approved programs to fulfill the educational requirements for each license:

1. Advanced Trade School
2. Granite State Trade School
3. The NH School of Mechanical Trades

Conclusion

With this information in your hands, you are set to apply for a plumbing license in New Hampshire. A plumber’s average salary in NH is $35.28 currently, as per Indeed. Thus, a lucrative career is waiting for you to take hold of it. Grab it now.