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How to become a plumber in New Jersey

The license steps in New Jersey, from apprentice to master or contractor, taken from the official licensing pages – plus pay, apprenticeships and where to apply.

The short answer

New Jersey licenses only master plumbers: complete a four-year U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship (or a qualifying engineering degree), work at least one year (1,200 hours) as a journeyman in New Jersey, then pass the three-part state exam.

The steps in New Jersey

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    The official pages we checked do not set out a separate apprentice registration in New Jersey. Most plumbers still start in an apprenticeship – see below. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    New Jersey does not issue a separate journeyman license; under board rules a journeyman is someone who has completed an approved four-year apprenticeship (or an accredited engineering degree) and works under a licensed master plumber.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    To take the master plumber exam you need a four-year U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship (or a bachelor's in mechanical, plumbing or sanitary engineering) plus at least one year and 1,200 hours as a journeyman in New Jersey; the exam has written code, practical and law sections, each needing a 70, and is given by a third-party vendor.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Master plumber licenses renew every two years, with five continuing education credits required per two-year period.

Who licenses plumbers in New Jersey

New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers (Division of Consumer Affairs). License types we found: Master Plumber.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on newjersey.mylicense.com.

Licensed in another state?

New Jersey has no general reciprocity; a one-year temporary courtesy license is available only to out-of-state licensed plumbers who are spouses of active-duty military members transferred to New Jersey.

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 Jersey?

27 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in New Jersey.

Sources

Requirements come from New Jersey’s official licensing pages and statutes, checked October 2026. Rules change – confirm with the licensing office before you apply.

  1. njconsumeraffairs.gov/regulations/Chapter-32-State-Board-of-Examiners-of
  2. njconsumeraffairs.gov/plu
  3. njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/Consumer%20Briefs/state-board-of-examiners-of
  4. newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  6. U.S. Department of Labor – Apprenticeship.gov for career seekers

General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides

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