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How to become a plumber in New Hampshire
The license steps in New Hampshire, from apprentice to master or contractor, taken from the official licensing pages – plus pay, apprenticeships and where to apply.
The short answer
In New Hampshire you need an apprentice license (age 16+), then qualify for the Journeyman Plumber license with an apprenticeship completion certificate, 600 hours of education and 8,000 working hours of on-the-job experience plus the journeyman exam (70% to pass), and can take the Master Plumber exam (75% to pass) after holding a New Hampshire journeyman license for at least 6 months.
The steps in New Hampshire
- 1
Start as an apprentice
Plumbing apprentices must hold a current apprentice license from the Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board; the minimum age for an apprentice license is 16, and apprentices work under a licensed plumber's supervision.
- 2
Earn your journeyman (first independent) license
The Journeyman Plumber license requires an apprenticeship completion certificate, at least 600 hours of educational training and at least 8,000 working hours of on-the-job plumbing experience, and the journeyman exam is passed by answering at least 70% of questions correctly.
- 3
Master or contractor license
The Master Plumber license requires holding a New Hampshire journeyman plumber license for at least 6 months and passing the master plumber exam with a score of at least 75%.
- 4
Keep your license current
Plumber licenses expire every 2 years; the statute directs the board to set continuing education by rule, but the number of hours was not confirmed.
Who licenses plumbers in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification). License types we found: Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Plumbing Apprentice.
Licensed in another state?
New Hampshire may license plumbers from states that have a mutual mechanical licensing reciprocity agreement with it, if that state's requirements are equivalent or greater; out-of-state journeymen can also qualify by showing prior licensure and passing the NH journeyman exam.
Finding an apprenticeship
Most plumbers learn the trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus classroom instruction, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeships are paid jobs with progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential; programs are approved by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Search programs at apprenticeship.gov, or ask local plumbing contractors and union locals.
Pay and job outlook
$63,800
Median yearly pay for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025 (BLS).
7%
Projected job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year (BLS).
4-5 years
Typical apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year (BLS).
National figures from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; pay varies by state and city.
Already a plumber in New Hampshire?
20 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in New Hampshire.
Sources
Requirements come from New Hampshire’s official licensing pages and statutes, checked October 2026. Rules change – confirm with the licensing office before you apply.
- gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/mec300.html
- gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XII/153/153-mrg.htm
- oplc.nh.gov/mechanical-safety-and-licensing-board-directory
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
- U.S. Department of Labor – Apprenticeship.gov for career seekers
General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides