New Jersey licenses master plumbers and registers apprentices and journeymen. Here is the apprenticeship, the 1,200 hour journeyman year, the three part exam, the board fees and the 10 percent bona fide representative rule.
New Jersey's plumbing credential that matters for running work is the Master Plumber license, granted by the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers. Apprentices and journeymen register with the same board and do the hands-on work, but only a licensed master plumber may plan the work, sign the permit and supervise a crew. To sit for the master exam you must be 21 and finish a four year U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship (or an engineering degree) plus one New Jersey journeyman year of at least 1,200 hours.
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 a qualifying engineering degree, then 1,200 hours of New Jersey journeyman work.
- Exam: three parts (code, practical, law and rules), 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.
In most states you climb a ladder of cards. In New Jersey you spend about five years under a master plumber's supervision, then either become one or keep working for one. New to licensing in this state? Start with the New Jersey contractor license requirements, and 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 does not issue a credential called a plumbing installer license. The people who install plumbing here are registered apprentices and journeymen working under a master plumber, and only the licensed master plumber may plan the work, sign the permit and supervise.
The phrase comes from other states; Texas, for example, issues a Residential Utilities Installer registration that is added to a plumber's apprentice registration. If you are hiring in New Jersey, ask which master plumber supervises the job and whose license number is on the permit.
The one New Jersey credential with "installer" in its name 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 in the ASSE Series 6010 standard and a passing NITC Medical Gas Installer exam (or an AWS brazer exam plus approved producer training).
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 sits at 124 Halsey Street in Newark and answers at 973-504-6420. 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.
The board has nine members appointed by the Governor: three master plumbers, one local plumbing inspector, one journeyman plumber, three public members with no plumbing industry connection, and one State government member.
The board licenses people, not companies. There is no plumbing company license. A plumbing contractor operates legally because a licensed master plumber stands behind it as its registered bona fide representative.
What the Board Issues
| Credential | Who holds it | What it allows | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice plumber (registration) | A person learning the trade in a DOL apprenticeship | Work under constant on-site supervision | N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3, 3.3 |
| Journeyman plumber (registration) | A DOL apprenticeship graduate or engineering graduate | Work under a master plumber, with daily contact | N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3, 3.3 |
| Master plumber (license) | Age 21, experience met, all three exam parts passed | Plan, lay out, install, sign permits, supervise others | N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.1 to 2.5 |
| Medical gas piping installer (certification) | A plumber or fitter who meets 13:32-7.3 | Medical gas piping in health care, dental and veterinary sites | N.J.A.C. 13:32-7.3 |
The rules also recognize a supervisory journeyman plumber: someone who finished a DOL apprenticeship and then worked three more years as a journeyman with tools. A supervisory journeyman can oversee apprentices and journeymen on site for the bona fide representative, but it is still a working stage, not the license.
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 in the installation of plumbing. You become one by being hired into a U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship sponsored by an employer, and you register with the board.
Federal rules set the frame. An apprenticeable occupation requires at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning, and the recommended related instruction is at least 144 hours for each year of the program. The New Jersey master plumber route requires a four year apprenticeship, and it must include propane services education that matches the industry manuals the board names.
A technical school plumbing course is not by itself an apprenticeship, and the board asks for the official DOL completion document when you apply.
Journeyman Plumber
A journeyman plumber works under the supervision of a licensed master plumber or a supervisory journeyman, after finishing either the four year apprenticeship or an engineering degree. Journeymen register with the board. After the apprenticeship 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, because the rule ties the year to New Jersey work.
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 be eligible for the master plumber examination 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 college or university accredited by a regional agency recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education, 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 the DD Form 2586 and a Joint Services Transcript.
The Master Plumber Exam
A third party vendor prepares and gives the exam, but only the board grants the license. Exams run at least four times a year, and a first time candidate must take all three parts.
| Part | What it covers | Passing score |
|---|---|---|
| Written trade exam | The National Standard Plumbing Code as adopted under the Uniform Construction Code | 70 |
| Practical exam | Hands-on plumbing practice | 70 |
| Written law exam | Laws and rules governing the occupation and business of plumbing | 70 |
If you fail a part, you wait six months before retesting. You may retake the failed parts two more times; after that you forfeit every passing score and start over. You must sit within two years of approval and pass all parts within five years, or the application is closed as abandoned.
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 (49 N.J.R. 2285(a)). The exam vendor charges its own fee, which you pay to the vendor.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Master plumber application, no prior registration | $100 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)1 |
| Master plumber application, with prior registration | $50 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)2 |
| Initial license, first year of the biennial period | $160 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)3 |
| Initial license, second year of the biennial period | $80 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)3 |
| Biennial renewal | $160 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)4 |
| Apprentice registration | $50 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)5 |
| Journeyman registration, no prior registration | $75 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)6 |
| Journeyman registration, prior apprentice registration | $50 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)7 |
| Late renewal | $50 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)8 |
| Reinstatement | $150 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)9 |
| Pressure seal | $25 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)10 |
| Temporary courtesy license | $80 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1(a)16 |
| Surety bond (not a board fee) | $3,000 | N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.5 |
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 to P.O. Box 45008, Newark, NJ 07101, with the application fee ($100, or $50 if you already hold a board registration), sealed work certifications from your 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.
- Schedule and pass all three exam parts with the vendor once the board's approval letter arrives.
- Post the $3,000 surety bond, apply for your pressure seal, and pay the $160 license fee ($80 in the second year of the biennial period).
- 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 is 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 the 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. The registration form carries a board approval line, so expect the documents to be read.
| Entity type | Ownership documents the board asks for |
|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | Trade name certificate from the county clerk |
| Limited liability company | LLC members agreement (joint ownership) or certificate of formation (self owned) |
| Corporation or S corporation | Stamped certificate of incorporation and a stock certificate |
| Partnership | Formation agreement and stock certificate |
| Joint venture | Operating agreement and stock certificate |
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.
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 at the start, final report at the end |
| Supervisory journeyman | Daily contact with the BFR or an employed master, recorded |
| Journeyman | Daily recorded contact, and inspection on completion of permit work |
| Apprentice | Constant on-site supervision by a master or supervisory journeyman |
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. If the BFR dies or cannot serve because of illness or disability, the window is six months, 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. That is the structure we build: a licensed professional hired as a full time W-2 employee who genuinely supervises the licensed work. See how the qualifying agent model works.
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. 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, talk to us about a qualifying agent or browse licensing requirements by state. Master plumbers interested in the qualifier side can learn about becoming a qualifying agent.
New Jersey Is Changing Its Contractor Rules
On January 8, 2024, the Governor signed P.L. 2023, c. 237, which created 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 separate 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 (as of 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.
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 the exam vendor's fee. 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 nine 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 and the Division of Consumer Affairs 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. 13:32-1.1, purpose and scope, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3, definitions, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.1, eligibility for examinations, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.2, experience requirements, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.3, examinations, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.4, retaking the examination, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.5, licensure and surety bond, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.6, license renewal, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.7, military credit, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-2.8, temporary courtesy license, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.1, vehicles and advertising, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.2, bona fide representative registration, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.3, bona fide representative duties, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-5.1, fee schedule, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-6.1, continuing education, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-6.3, required law and rules hour, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-7.1, medical gas piping certification, retrieved 2026-09-27
- N.J.A.C. 13:32-7.3, medical gas piping installer eligibility, retrieved 2026-09-27
- State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, Application Process Overview, retrieved 2026-09-27
- State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, Reciprocity with Other States (as of 06/18/19), retrieved 2026-09-27
- State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, Registration of Bona Fide Representative form, retrieved 2026-09-27
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, consumer brief on the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, retrieved 2026-09-27
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- 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.