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How To Become a Plumber in New Hampshire: License Requirements and Trade Schools

[mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”hpam9sfdycyalzxrxswg” ratio=”16:9″ thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1687391223/dub3x00vp4m0z8ewbg2i.jpg” title=”How To Become a Plumber in New Hampshire: License Requirements and Trade Schools” volume=”70″] If you live in New Hampshire and want to enter a field with high job security and competitive pay, you can’t go wrong with becoming a licensed plumbing contractor. Plumbing will grow 14% by 2028; this means it is growing much faster than other fields, ensuring job availability. Further, with a median pay of $53,910 per year, you’ll earn enough to make a good living. 

Just as general contractors or electricians must do, prospective plumbers must follow New Hampshire’s licensing procedures. The state has a classification system including apprentice, journeyman, and master plumbers. However, the processes involved in becoming an apprentice, journeyman, or master plumber can be confusing — especially as it varies from state to state. How does New Hampshire handle plumbing contractor licensing? 

This guide will provide all the information you need to get started on your career path, including how to qualify and apply to become a plumber. Read on for comprehensive advice on this topic.

A photo of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a historic seaport and tourist destination.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA town skyline on the Piscataqua River.

New Hampshire Plumbing License Reciprocity

Already licensed as a plumbing contractor in another state? If so, you’re likely interested in whether The Granite State has any license reciprocity agreements with other states. Unfortunately, no such agreements exist. Even if you are a journeyman or master plumber in another state, you’ll need to take the test described below, then fill out an application packet. You can read more on both of these steps in this guide.

New Hampshire Master Plumber License Requirements

The state defines a master plumber as a professional who “hires or employs a person to do plumbing work, or without hiring any person does that work as a principal business or auxiliary to a principal business for his or its own account.” They elaborate that, in New Hampshire, “a person must be a Master Plumber in order to be in business, and/or can act in the capacity of a journeyman plumber without a second license.”

To become a master plumber you must be a journeyman for at least six months and pass a plumbing master exam. You can find guidance on this in the “Plumbing Journeyman Exam” section below, as the steps are very similar, including the testing organizations.

If you meet the criteria to become a master plumber, you’re ready to complete the application. When applying you will need:

  • To pay a $310 fee, payable by check to “State of NH – Treasury”;
  • 2” x 2” photograph of yourself with no hat or sunglasses;
  • State-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or photocopy of your current passport;
  • Both your and your employer’s contact information;
  • Any out-of-state license you already have, if applicable;
  • Copy of your current New Hampshire journeyman plumber license;
  • A letter signed by a master plumber attesting to the fact you worked under them and that you are competent to become a journeyman.
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New Hampshire Journeyman Plumber License Requirements

The state of New Hampshire defines a journeyman plumber as someone who “customarily performs the work of installing plumbing and drainage under the direction of a Master Plumber.” To become one, you must be at least 18 years old, have completed a four-year apprenticeship (or have a license from another state), have passed the plumbing journeyman exam (read more on this below), and submit an application.

Ready to apply? Check out the plumbing application. To finish this process, you will need:

  • To pay a $190 fee, payable by check to “State of NH – Treasury”;
  • 2” x 2” photograph of yourself with no hat or sunglasses;
  • State-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or photocopy of your current passport;
  • Both your and your employer’s contact information;
  • Any out-of-state license you already have, if applicable;
  • Copy of your apprentice ID card;
  • A letter signed by a master plumber attesting to the fact you worked under them and that you are competent to become a journeyman;
  • Copy of your apprenticeship completion certificate.

Journeyman Plumber Exam

You must complete the journeyman exam before submitting an application to become a journeyman. Two testing organizations are approved by the state to administer the plumbing journeyman exam:

  • New Hampshire Gasfitters Plumbing Exams: This organization has testing centers in Manchester and Hampton. Apply to take the exam by calling (978) 338-6252 or register online. 
  • Prov, Inc.: This organization has seven testing centers in New Hampshire, which you can find on pages 2 and 3 in the exam info booklet. You can call at (866) 720-7768 to apply or register online.

Regardless of who you choose to test with, you’ll be expected to score a 70% or higher in order to pass. The exam cannot be completed online, so you’ll have to schedule to go to one of the testing centers. Be sure to bring a photo ID with you on test day.

Plumbing Apprenticeship Requirements

In order to become a plumbing contractor in New Hampshire, you must complete an apprenticeship. If you already have previous training or on-the-job work experience, you may be able to get apprenticeship credit. Note that all experience must be documented, and that an affidavit for proof of appropriate field experience must be included with your application. Include this information, as well as transcripts showing any previous education in plumbing, with your apprenticeship application.

However, if you have no experience in the field, you’ll need to get started with a four-year apprenticeship. You can complete an apprenticeship with any plumbing employer who has Standards of Apprenticeship on file with the state. 

Note that you can only participate in such a program once you have completed the application packet to become an apprentice. Only then you can receive an apprentice ID card and begin accruing experience hours that will count toward the requirements to become a journeyman. To apply, you’ll need:

  • To pay a $90 fee, payable by check to “State of NH – Treasury”;
  • 2” x 2” photograph of yourself with no hat or sunglasses;
  • State-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or photocopy of your current passport;
  • Both your and your employer’s contact information.

New Hampshire Plumbing Apprentice Jobs

If you’re not sure where to begin looking, get started by exploring the following apprenticeship opportunities:

When seeking and working at apprenticeships, be sure to convey a professional demeanor, a clear enthusiasm for working in the field, and an eagerness to learn. By making the most of your apprenticeship and leaving a great impact on your apprenticeship sponsor, you may be able to form new professional connections and open job opportunities in the future.

Plumbing Trade Schools in New Hampshire

Another way to learn the basics of plumbing is to enroll in a local trade school. Explore the following programs to learn if they are right for you:

This is a for-profit trade school. Click here to get a cost estimate.

New Hampshire Professional License Search

Once you become a licensed plumber in New Hampshire, you’ll be listed in the New Hampshire Online Licensing database. If you’d like to verify the licensure status of an individual or business, you can do so there. In order to search, you’ll need to select either “person search” or “business search.” 

When searching for an individual, you’ll need to select the license type (listed alphabetically as Apprentice Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, and Master Plumber). You can then search by name or license number. It will tell you each individual’s license status, whether it is active, expired, lapsed, or dissolved. 

If you’re looking up a business’s license status, you’ll need to select the business type, then enter any combination of the business name, license number, owner, “doing business as” name, or address. Search results will reveal whether the business’s license is active or inactive.

 

For More License and Career Guides

To find out how to become a Plumbing Contractor in another state, start here. 

For information on other trades in New Hampshire, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:

 

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