- To apply for master plumber you send a copy of a New Hampshire journeyman plumbing license held at least 6 months, plus a letter from the licensed plumber who supervised your journeyman work.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every 2 years. You need at least 6 hours of continuing education per plumbing endorsement in each 2 year cycle.
Do you need a state license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire licenses plumbing work at the state level through the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, Mechanical Licensing Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
New Hampshire license types for plumbing work
New Hampshire splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Master Plumber | Runs a plumbing business, or does plumbing as a principal business on their own account. Also qualifies as a journeyman. |
| Journeyman Plumber | Installs, maintains and repairs plumbing under the direction of a master plumber |
| Apprentice Plumber | Registration license for people learning the trade under supervision |
| Mechanical Business Entity | License for a corporation, partnership or LLC with a licensed master plumber as an officer, member or designee |
Steps to get licensed in New Hampshire
- Register as an apprentice plumber and learn the trade under supervision.
- Pass the journeyman exam and get your journeyman license.
- After at least 6 months as a licensed journeyman, apply for master plumber with a supervisor letter and pass the master exam.
- Pay the $330 two year master license fee.
- If you operate as a company, get a mechanical business entity license, register with the Secretary of State and carry liability insurance.
- Renew every 2 years with 6 hours of continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. To apply for master plumber you send a copy of a New Hampshire journeyman plumbing license held at least 6 months, plus a letter from the licensed plumber who supervised your journeyman work.
The license to apply for. Master Plumber.
New Hampshire plumbing exams
Trade exam. Board approved exam. The master plumber exam fee is $90.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in New Hampshire
The board lists 5 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master plumber license, 2 years (initial or renewal) | $330 |
| Journeyman plumber license, 2 years | $198 |
| Apprentice plumber license, 2 years | $88 |
| Master plumber exam | $90 |
| Mechanical business entity license, 2 years | $275 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Business entities must show proof of liability insurance before the license is issued and at each renewal.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every 2 years. You need at least 6 hours of continuing education per plumbing endorsement in each 2 year cycle.
Reciprocity. The state may license plumbers from states that have a mutual reciprocity agreement and equivalent or stricter requirements.
Good to know in New Hampshire
- A licensed business entity can get permits from any town or city in the state.
- Plumbing businesses must be registered with the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
- You must be at least 18 for a plumbing license, and 16 for an apprentice registration.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a plumber near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, Mechanical Licensing Board and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how plumbing companies run on Koira.