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How to become a plumber in New York

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

The short answer

New York has no statewide plumber license; in New York City you need at least 7 years of plumbing experience in the past 10 under a licensed master plumber (including 2 as a registered journeyman), must be 18 or older, and must pass the city's written and practical exams to get a Master Plumber license.

Note: New York does not issue a statewide plumber license; cities or counties do. The steps below describe the largest local program we could confirm – check the rules where you will work.

The steps in New York

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    The official pages we checked do not set out a separate apprentice registration in New York. 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

    The official pages we checked do not describe a statewide journeyman license in New York. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    In New York City a Master Plumber applicant must be at least 18 and have at least seven years of experience in the ten years before applying under a licensed master plumber, at least two of them as a registered journeyman plumber, then pass a written exam (70% to pass) and a practical exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Before each renewal, an NYC master plumber must complete a Department of Buildings-approved continuing education course of at least seven hours within the prior year.

Who licenses plumbers in New York

the local licensing office. License types we found: see the agency.

Official application page

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 York?

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

Sources

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

  1. nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/obtain-a-master-plumber-license.page
  2. nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/7_hour_plumbing_fire_sup_renewal.pdf
  3. portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01739
  4. dos.ny.gov/licensing-services
  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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