New Jersey licenses plumbers through a single Master Plumber exam after a four year apprenticeship and a New Jersey journeyman year, and runs plumbing businesses through a bona fide representative who must own at least 10 percent of the company.
New Jersey licenses plumbers at three levels, but only the Master Plumber license lets a person contract, sign permits and supervise the work. The State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers issues it to applicants who are at least 21, who finish a four year apprenticeship or a qualifying engineering degree, who complete a New Jersey journeyman year of at least 1,200 hours, and who pass a three part exam.
At a glance
- Issued by: State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, Division of Consumer Affairs, Newark.
- Eligibility: age 21, a four year DOL apprenticeship or qualifying engineering degree, then 1,200 hours of New Jersey journeyman work.
- Exam: three PSI exams (trade, practical, business and law), a score of 70 on each.
- Board fees: $100 application, $160 license, plus a $3,000 surety bond.
- Renewal: every two years, five continuing education credits.
New Jersey does not stack a ladder of cards the way most states do. You spend about five years under a master plumber's supervision, first as an apprentice and then as a journeyman, before you can test for the license yourself. If you are new to licensing in this state, start with the New Jersey contractor license requirements; for every other state, see how to get a contractor license in each state.
Is There a Licensed Plumbing Installer in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey has no credential called a plumbing installer license. The people who install plumbing here are registered apprentices and journeymen working under a master plumber, and only that master plumber may plan the work, sign the permit and supervise the crew.
The phrase travels in from other states. Texas, for example, issues a Residential Utilities Installer registration layered onto a plumber's apprentice registration; New Jersey has no equivalent credential. If you are hiring in New Jersey, ask which master plumber supervises the job and whose license number sits on the permit.
The one New Jersey credential that does use the word installer is the medical gas piping installer certification. Under N.J.A.C. 13:32-7.1, no one may install, improve, repair or maintain medical gas piping in a licensed health care facility, a dental office or clinic, or a veterinary facility without board certification.
Master plumbers, DOL trained journeymen, apprentices with three years of a DOL apprenticeship, fitters employed by a plumbing contractor and NFPA certificate holders may apply. Each needs 32 classroom hours under the ASSE Series 6010 standard, taught by a board certified instructor, and a passing score on the NITC Medical Gas Installer exam, or an AWS brazer exam plus installer training approved by a major medical gas producer.
Who Regulates Plumbing in New Jersey?
Plumbing is regulated statewide by the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, part of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General. The board's office sits at 124 Halsey Street in Newark and answers at 973-504-6420; mail goes to P.O. Box 45008, Newark, NJ 07101. It operates under the State Plumbing Licensing Law of 1968, N.J.S.A. 45:14C-1 et seq., with rules at N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.1 et seq., last readopted effective February 28, 2022 and due to expire February 28, 2029.
Seven members sit on the board, all appointed by the Governor: three master plumbers with at least 10 years of experience, one local plumbing inspector with at least 10 years in that post, one journeyman plumber with at least 10 years of experience, and two public members with no plumbing industry connection.
The board licenses people, not companies. There is no plumbing company license in New Jersey. A plumbing contractor operates legally because a licensed master plumber stands behind it as its registered bona fide representative, a structure covered later in this guide.
What the Board Issues
| Credential | Who holds it | What it allows | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice plumber (registration) | Learning the trade in a DOL apprenticeship | Work under constant supervision | N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3, 3.3 |
| Journeyman plumber (registration) | Apprenticeship or engineering graduate | Work under a master, daily contact | N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3, 3.3 |
| Master plumber (license) | Age 21+, experience and exam complete | Plan, sign permits, supervise | N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.1 to 2.5 |
| Medical gas piping installer (cert) | Plumber or fitter meeting 13:32-7.3 | Medical gas piping in covered sites | N.J.A.C. 13:32-7.3 |
Notes on the table:
- The rules also recognize a supervisory journeyman: someone who finished the DOL apprenticeship and then worked three more years as a journeyman with tools. That is a working stage, not a separate license, and it lets that person oversee apprentices and journeymen on site for the bona fide representative.
The Three Working Stages
Apprentice Plumber
New Jersey defines an apprentice plumber as a person, other than a master or journeyman, whose principal occupation is learning and assisting with plumbing installation. You become one by being hired into a U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship sponsored by an employer, then registering with the board.
Federal rules set the floor. An apprenticeable occupation needs at least 2,000 hours of on the job learning, with recommended related instruction of at least 144 hours per program year, under 29 CFR Part 29. New Jersey's master plumber route sits on top of that floor: a four year apprenticeship that includes propane services education matching the manuals the board names.
A technical school plumbing course is not by itself an apprenticeship. The board asks for the official U.S. Department of Labor completion document when you apply.
Journeyman Plumber
A journeyman plumber works under a licensed master plumber or a supervisory journeyman, after finishing either the four year apprenticeship or a qualifying engineering degree. Journeymen register with the board. After the apprenticeship or degree ends, the board requires one year of practical hands-on journeyman experience in New Jersey, consisting of at least 1,200 hours, before the master exam; out of state journeyman time does not count toward it.
The rule also narrows what counts. Since December 21, 2016, the hands-on hours must be work done under the New Jersey plumbing subcode and inspected by a licensed New Jersey plumbing inspector. Time spent supervising, engineering or estimating does not count toward the 1,200 hours.
Master Plumber Eligibility
To sit for the master plumber exam you must be at least 21 years old and meet one of two routes under N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.2:
- The apprenticeship route. Complete a four year DOL approved apprenticeship that includes propane services education, then one year, at least 1,200 hours, of practical hands-on journeyman experience in New Jersey after the apprenticeship ends.
- The engineering degree route. Earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical, plumbing, or sanitary engineering from a regionally accredited college or university, with propane services education included, then complete the same New Jersey journeyman year after the degree.
Veterans may ask the board to credit military training under N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.7 by filing DD Form 2586 and a Joint Services Transcript.
The Master Plumber Exam
The board has contracted PSI Services LLC to run the exam program, through computer testing centers around New Jersey; only the board grants the license itself. Exams run at least four times a year, and a first time candidate must take all three parts together.
| Part | Questions | Time allowed | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade exam (plumbing code) | 100 | 195 minutes | 70 (70 correct) |
| Business and law exam | 50 | 130 minutes | 70 (35 correct) |
| Practical exam | 25 | 130 minutes | 70 (18 correct) |
Notes on the table:
- PSI charges its own fee, separate from the board's: $87 for the trade exam, $47 for business and law and $106 for the practical exam, per PSI's New Jersey candidate bulletin updated March 2026.
- The trade and business and law exams are open book; candidates bring their own copy of the National Standard Plumbing Code and, for business and law, the NASCLA Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management for New Jersey.
- The practical exam is closed book; the test center supplies a code table handout you cannot write on.
For live class prep on the business and law side, see our exam prep tour.
If you fail a part, you wait six months before retesting; you may retake the failed parts two more times before you forfeit every passing score and must start over. Under N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.4A, if you have not submitted every document the board asked for and one year passes since the board's first notice of what is missing, the board closes the application as abandoned without further notice; you may reapply under N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.1 and pay the application fee again.
New Jersey Plumbing License Fees
These are the board's own fees from N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1, last amended effective July 17, 2017. PSI's exam fees above are separate and paid directly to the vendor.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Master plumber application, no prior registration | $100 | 13:32-5.1(a)1 |
| Master plumber application, with prior registration | $50 | 13:32-5.1(a)2 |
| Initial license, first year of biennial period | $160 | 13:32-5.1(a)3 |
| Initial license, second year of biennial period | $80 | 13:32-5.1(a)3 |
| Biennial renewal | $160 | 13:32-5.1(a)4 |
| Apprentice registration | $50 | 13:32-5.1(a)5 |
| Journeyman registration, no prior registration | $75 | 13:32-5.1(a)6 |
| Journeyman registration, prior apprentice registration | $50 | 13:32-5.1(a)7 |
| Late renewal | $50 | 13:32-5.1(a)8 |
| Reinstatement | $150 | 13:32-5.1(a)9 |
| Pressure seal | $25 | 13:32-5.1(a)10 |
| Temporary courtesy license | $80 | 13:32-5.1(a)16 |
| Surety bond (not a board fee) | $3,000 | 13:32-2.5 |
Notes on the table:
- Pay by check or money order; the board takes no cash.
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Find a sponsoring employer with a DOL registered plumbing apprenticeship, and register with the board as an apprentice.
- Finish the four year apprenticeship, including the propane services education, and get the official DOL completion document.
- Work one New Jersey journeyman year of at least 1,200 inspected hands-on hours, registered with the board as a journeyman.
- Turn 21 if you have not already; the board will not approve a younger candidate.
- Apply to the board by mail at P.O. Box 45008, Newark, NJ 07101, with the application fee, sealed work certifications from supervising master plumbers, W-2s for the apprenticeship and the journeyman year, and a full street address. The board emails an acknowledgment within 72 hours, weekends excluded.
- Answer every character question completely. A yes on criminal history needs a notarized statement and court records for each arrest.
- Schedule and pass all three PSI exam parts once the board's approval letter arrives.
- Post the $3,000 surety bond, apply for your pressure seal, and pay the license fee.
- Register as a bona fide representative within 30 days if you will stand behind a plumbing contractor.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Master plumber licenses run two years and expire June 30 of odd numbered years, the end of each biennial period under N.J.A.C. 13:32-6.3(d). Renewal runs online at $160, with the $3,000 bond running concurrent, and the board sends notice at least 60 days ahead.
Every licensee completes five credits of continuing education per biennial period, including one hour on plumbing laws and rules; the first renewal is exempt. A master plumber who completed plumbing inspector continuing education under N.J.A.C. 5:23-5.21 owes only the law and rules hour that cycle.
Miss the deadline and you have 30 days to renew with a $50 late fee, during which the license stays valid. After 30 days the license is suspended without a hearing, and practicing on a suspended license is unlicensed practice under N.J.S.A. 45:14C-12.3. You may also renew as inactive by returning your pressure seal.
The Bona Fide Representative Rule
Here New Jersey diverges sharply from most states; for the plumbing and HVACR versions side by side, see what a bona fide representative is in New Jersey. Because the board licenses individuals, a plumbing business operates through a bona fide representative (BFR): a licensed master plumber who holds not less than 10 percent of the plumbing contractor. The rule defines 10 percent ownership as a right to 10 percent of net profits, a 10 percent equity interest, and 10 percent of the net proceeds of a sale; in a corporation, the stock must be the highest voting class.
Within 30 days of taking the role, the master plumber must, under N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.2:
- Register with the board, giving the contractor's name, its New Jersey business address and, for a corporation, its officers of record.
- Provide documentary proof of ownership in the business.
- Prove the contractor consents to the BFR acting as its agent for service of process in New Jersey.
- File the contractor's acceptance of liability for monetary penalties, restitution of fees paid by consumers, amounts owed for consumer delays, and costs assessed against the BFR while acting within the role.
- Name the previous bona fide representative, if there was one.
The board may, at any time, demand the federal, state or local tax documentation the contractor files, specifically to test the ownership claim.
| Entity type | Ownership documents the board asks for |
|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | Trade name certificate from the county clerk |
| Limited liability company | Members agreement or certificate of formation |
| Corporation or S corporation | Certificate of incorporation and stock certificate |
| Partnership or joint venture | Formation or operating agreement, stock certificate |
Notes on the table:
- A foreign entity also files an authority to do business document. New Jersey requires documented equity, not just employment, and it keeps the right to check the claim.
What the BFR Must Do Every Day
Under N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.3, the BFR serves one plumbing contractor only, keeps a place of business in New Jersey, reports a name or address change within 10 days, and answers for violations by the crews it must supervise. Supervision scales with the worker's level.
| Worker on the job | Required supervision |
|---|---|
| Licensed master plumber employee | Initial report, then a final report |
| Supervisory journeyman | Daily recorded contact with the BFR |
| Journeyman | Daily recorded contact, plus inspection |
| Apprentice | Constant on site supervision |
When the BFR Leaves
If the BFR withdraws, the company may keep operating for 60 days while a licensee supervises all work, as long as the board hears about the withdrawal and the supervising licensee within 10 days, under N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.2(c). If the BFR dies or cannot serve because of illness or disability, the window is six months under 13:32-3.2(d), with the same 10 day notices. The new BFR's registration must name the person who held the role before.
Permits, Vehicles and Advertising
Every plumbing permit must be signed by a licensed master plumber. The BFR may send an authorized employee to apply, carrying a letter with the BFR's seal that is good for no more than 60 days.
Commercial vehicles must show the master plumber's name and Plumbing Lic. # with the number in letters at least one inch high, and the owner's name and municipality in letters at least three inches high. Invoices, stationery and ads carry the same license line and a New Jersey street address. A contractor that subcontracts more than one third of its work must say so in its advertising.
Where This Leaves an Expanding Contractor
For a plumbing company entering New Jersey, the honest sequence is:
- Identify your master plumber first. Everything downstream depends on that person.
- Decide how the 10 percent will work. The New Jersey entity's cap table is a licensing document, not a formality, so bring in your attorney and accountant early.
- Open a New Jersey place of business, because the BFR must maintain one.
- Register within 30 days of that person taking the role, with the documents that match your entity type.
- Build the supervision records the rule expects, including supervisory journeyman ID cards that expire within one year.
If you are a New Jersey master plumber, a company cannot meet this rule simply by hiring you, so the terms deserve real negotiation. Know the liability first: you are the agent for service of process, with the contractor's written acceptance of liability as your backstop.
Where a Qualifying Agent Fits
Most states let a contracting company qualify through a licensed individual employed full time in the business: a licensed professional hired as a full time W-2 employee who genuinely supervises the licensed work. See how the qualifying agent model works and how to hire a qualifying agent for how that structure runs in states that allow it.
New Jersey plumbing asks for more. The board requires the bona fide representative to hold at least 10 percent of the plumbing contractor, supervise every job, and serve that one company, so any qualifying agent arrangement here has to include real equity on top of real supervision. That is why we built contractor qualifier services around states like this one: Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, who lead The Licensing Company, map these state by state differences for contractors every week, and we would rather tell you up front than hand you a structure the board rejects.
If New Jersey is one stop in a multi-state expansion, solve it on its own terms and use the qualifier model where it fits. To map which states take a qualifying agent and which demand ownership, browse licensing requirements by state or see how to become a qualifying agent if you are the master plumber on the other side of that match.
New Jersey Is Changing Its Contractor Rules
On January 8, 2024, the Governor signed P.L. 2023, c. 237, creating the Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractor Licensing Act and a new board, moving residential remodelers from registration toward licensing. If your plumbing work touches residential remodeling, read what New Jersey's 2026 contractor licensing law changed, and see the national 2026 contractor license law changes roundup.
Related New Jersey Trades
New Jersey licenses electricians and HVACR contractors through separate boards with similar rules. The HVACR board uses a bona fide representative structure much like the plumbing one, and a $3,000 bond already filed with the HVACR board satisfies the plumbing bond rule.
- How to get an electrician license in New Jersey
- How to get an HVAC license in New Jersey
- Journeyman vs. master plumber: what actually changes
- How to get a plumbing contractor license
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Jersey issue a journeyman plumber license? New Jersey registers journeymen and apprentices with the board, and the board's own overview describes all three levels as licensed, but only the master plumber license lets a person contract, sign permits and supervise. A registered journeyman works under a master plumber or supervisory journeyman and cannot contract or sign permits. You need a year and at least 1,200 hours of New Jersey journeyman work before the master exam.
How long does it take to become a master plumber in New Jersey? Realistically about five years: a four year DOL apprenticeship plus one New Jersey journeyman year of at least 1,200 hours, then the exam. The engineering route swaps the apprenticeship for a qualifying bachelor's degree.
How old do you have to be to get a plumbing license in New Jersey? You must be 21 or older to sit for the master plumber exam under N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.1.
Can I use my out of state master plumber license in New Jersey? Not directly, and out of state journeyman time does not satisfy the New Jersey journeyman year. N.J.S.A. 45:14C-19 lets the board grant reciprocity only when another state's standards are comparable and that state reciprocates with New Jersey; the board's reciprocity list, last updated June 18, 2019, shows no state granted and twelve denied, including New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Separately, a nonresident military spouse licensed in an equivalent state who has practiced at least two of the last five years may get a one year temporary courtesy license under N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.8.
Who administers the master plumber exam? PSI Services LLC, under contract to the board, through computer testing centers around New Jersey; the board still issues the license once you pass. PSI's candidate bulletin lists the current fees and reference materials for each of the three parts.
Can a master plumber be my company's qualifier without owning part of the business? Not under the New Jersey plumbing rule. The bona fide representative must hold at least 10 percent of the plumbing contractor and prove it, which is stricter than the employment based model many states use.
How much does it cost to get licensed in New Jersey? The board charges a $100 application, a $160 license (or $80 in the second year of the cycle) and a $160 renewal every two years, plus the $3,000 surety bond and PSI's exam fees. For a company, the larger costs are structural: the ownership stake and corporate work behind the BFR registration.
What happens if our master plumber leaves? The company may keep working for 60 days if a licensee supervises all work and the board is told within 10 days; after a death, illness or disability the window is six months. The new BFR's registration must name the prior one. See the contractor qualifier contingency plan for how replacement deadlines work across states.
Who licenses plumbing inspectors in New Jersey? Plumbing inspectors work under the Uniform Construction Code and complete continuing education required by the Department of Community Affairs under N.J.A.C. 5:23-5.21. The plumbing board seats one local plumbing inspector among its seven members.
Talk to Us About Your New Jersey Plumbing Plans
If New Jersey is on your map, call us at 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent. We will walk through the bona fide representative rule, the ownership question and the timeline with you before you commit.
Fees, exam formats and board requirements are set by the New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, the Division of Consumer Affairs and PSI Services LLC, and can change. Verify current requirements with the board before applying. This guide explains the licensing process and is not legal advice.
Sources
- N.J.A.C. 13:32, chapter overview and readoption history, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3, definitions, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.4, scope of practice, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.1, eligibility for examinations, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.2, experience requirements, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.3, examinations, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.4, retaking the examination, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.4A, abandonment of application for licensure, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.5, licensure and surety bond, retrieved 2026-10-18
- P.L. 2019, c. 342, amending N.J.S.A. 45:14C-3 (board composition), retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.7, military credit, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.8, temporary courtesy license, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.2, bona fide representative registration, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.3, bona fide representative duties, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1, fee schedule, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-6.3, required law and rules hour, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-7.1, medical gas piping certification, retrieved 2026-10-18
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-7.3, medical gas piping installer eligibility, retrieved 2026-10-18
- PSI Services LLC, New Jersey Master Plumber Licensure Examination Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 3/9/2026, retrieved 2026-10-18
- State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, Application Process Overview, retrieved 2026-10-18
- State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, Reciprocity with Other States (as of 06/18/19), retrieved 2026-10-18
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, notice on P.L. 2023, c. 237, retrieved 2026-10-18
- U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship rules, 29 CFR Part 29, retrieved 2026-09-27
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, license types, retrieved 2026-09-27
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.