Massachusetts Plumber License Requirements

Official classification: Plumber License (Journeyman / Master) · Issued by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Division of Occupational Licensure).

🔧 PlumberMA ✔ Verified 2026-06-24

In Massachusetts, plumbers must hold the Plumber License (Journeyman / Master), issued by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Division of Occupational Licensure), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed plumber in Massachusetts

Follow these steps to earn your Plumber License (Journeyman / Master). Every figure is verified against the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Division of Occupational Licensure); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Journeyman: hold a MA apprentice license, 6,800 hours of practical experience as a licensed apprentice, plus 550 hours of board-approved theory and a high-school diploma. Master: hold a MA journeyman license 1+ year, 1,700+ hours of journeyman experience, plus the 110-hour tier five of the Plumber Educational Program (248 CMR 11.02(2)).
Pass the Journeyman Plumber Exam (written + practical) and Master Plumber Exam (written + practical) exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Not a condition of the license itself, but a self-employed plumber or gas fitter cannot be issued a work permit without a current liability insurance policy including completed operations coverage, equivalent indemnity, or a bond (M.G.L. c. 142, 21A). No statutory minimum amount. Property damage: Not separately specified by statute. Workers' compensation: Mandatory for any employer (M.G.L. c. 152).
Clear the background check. CORI check required; submit a notarized CORI acknowledgement form via the eLIPSE portal.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Division of Occupational Licensure) — Journeyman $31; Master $31; Apprentice $14 (per the DPL fee schedule) application fee, plus a Journeyman $52; Master $78; Apprentice: no license fee beyond the $14 application fee license fee. Processing time: Allow about 3 weeks; incomplete applications held 180 days.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 2 years (renewal opens Feb 1 of even years; deadline May 1). Continuing education: 12 hours per 2-year cycle, focused on 248 CMR (248 CMR 11.04).

For the general path in every state, see the Plumber guide →

Massachusetts plumber license lookup

To confirm a plumber is properly licensed in Massachusetts — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official mass.gov database →

License types

Apprentice Plumber — Entry level; works under supervision while completing 550 hours of theory.
Journeyman Plumber — Performs plumbing (and gas-fitting) work; may also do gas-fitter work.
Master Plumber — Runs a plumbing business, pulls permits, and supervises journeymen and apprentices.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Journeyman: hold a MA apprentice license, 6,800 hours of practical experience as a licensed apprentice, plus 550 hours of board-approved theory and a high-school diploma. Master: hold a MA journeyman license 1+ year, 1,700+ hours of journeyman experience, plus the 110-hour tier five of the Plumber Educational Program (248 CMR 11.02(2)).
Application fee	Journeyman $31; Master $31; Apprentice $14 (per the DPL fee schedule)
License fee	Journeyman $52; Master $78; Apprentice: no license fee beyond the $14 application fee
Renewal fee	Journeyman $52; Master $78; Apprentice $40 (every 2 years; late renewal +$57)
Renewal period	Every 2 years (renewal opens Feb 1 of even years; deadline May 1)
Continuing education	12 hours per 2-year cycle, focused on 248 CMR (248 CMR 11.04).
Bond required	No state surety bond is required for the license. M.G.L. c. 142, 21A lets a self-employed plumber or gas fitter show a bond instead of liability insurance to be issued a work permit.
Liability insurance	Not a condition of the license itself, but a self-employed plumber or gas fitter cannot be issued a work permit without a current liability insurance policy including completed operations coverage, equivalent indemnity, or a bond (M.G.L. c. 142, 21A). No statutory minimum amount.
Property damage	Not separately specified by statute
Workers' comp	Mandatory for any employer (M.G.L. c. 152)
Background check	CORI check required; submit a notarized CORI acknowledgement form via the eLIPSE portal.
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	No formal reciprocity. A holder of an equivalent license from another US jurisdiction may apply with documentation that its requirements are substantially equivalent to Massachusetts' and a certified statement of good standing; unless Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with that jurisdiction, the Massachusetts exam is still required (248 CMR 11.02(7)). · other states' agreements
Processing time	Allow about 3 weeks; incomplete applications held 180 days.

What a Massachusetts plumber license costs

Application fee	Journeyman $31; Master $31; Apprentice $14 (per the DPL fee schedule).
License fee	Journeyman $52; Master $78; Apprentice: no license fee beyond the $14 application fee.
Journeyman Plumber Exam (written + practical)	Paid to PSI (set by the vendor).
Master Plumber Exam (written + practical)	Paid to PSI (set by the vendor).
Surety bond	No state surety bond is required for the license. M.G.L. c. 142, 21A lets a self-employed plumber or gas fitter show a bond instead of liability insurance to be issued a work permit.
Renewal fee	Journeyman $52; Master $78; Apprentice $40 (every 2 years; late renewal +$57).
Renewal period	Every 2 years (renewal opens Feb 1 of even years; deadline May 1).

Exams

Journeyman Plumber Exam (written + practical)	Provider: PSI Services · Passing: 70% · Fee: Paid to PSI (set by the vendor)
Master Plumber Exam (written + practical)	Provider: PSI Services · Passing: 70% · Fee: Paid to PSI (set by the vendor)

Renewing a Massachusetts plumber license

The Plumber License (Journeyman / Master) renews on a fixed cycle set by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Division of Occupational Licensure). Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Every 2 years (renewal opens Feb 1 of even years; deadline May 1)
Renewal fee	Journeyman $52; Master $78; Apprentice $40 (every 2 years; late renewal +$57)
Continuing education	12 hours per 2-year cycle, focused on 248 CMR (248 CMR 11.04).
Where to renew	Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Division of Occupational Licensure)

Local / municipal notes

Statewide license; applications are filed online only via the eLIPSE portal. A master/journeyman plumber may perform gas-fitter work, but a gas fitter may not perform plumber work.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Massachusetts plumber license cost?

Application: Journeyman $31; Master $31; Apprentice $14 (per the DPL fee schedule). License: Journeyman $52; Master $78; Apprentice: no license fee beyond the $14 application fee. Renewal: Journeyman $52; Master $78; Apprentice $40 (every 2 years; late renewal +$57).

How do I look up a plumber license in Massachusetts?

Search the official license database at mass.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do plumbers in Massachusetts need a surety bond?

No state surety bond is required for the license. M.G.L. c. 142, 21A lets a self-employed plumber or gas fitter show a bond instead of liability insurance to be issued a work permit.

What experience is required for a Massachusetts plumber license?

Journeyman: hold a MA apprentice license, 6,800 hours of practical experience as a licensed apprentice, plus 550 hours of board-approved theory and a high-school diploma. Master: hold a MA journeyman license 1+ year, 1,700+ hours of journeyman experience, plus the 110-hour tier five of the Plumber Educational Program (248 CMR 11.02(2)).

Is insurance required for plumbers in Massachusetts?

Liability: Not a condition of the license itself, but a self-employed plumber or gas fitter cannot be issued a work permit without a current liability insurance policy including completed operations coverage, equivalent indemnity, or a bond (M.G.L. c. 142, 21A). No statutory minimum amount. Property damage: Not separately specified by statute. Workers' compensation: Mandatory for any employer (M.G.L. c. 152).

How long does it take to get a Massachusetts plumber license?

Processing time: Allow about 3 weeks; incomplete applications held 180 days.

Is a background check required for plumbers in Massachusetts?

Background check: CORI check required; submit a notarized CORI acknowledgement form via the eLIPSE portal.

How often must a Massachusetts plumber license be renewed?

Every 2 years (renewal opens Feb 1 of even years; deadline May 1). Continuing education: 12 hours per 2-year cycle, focused on 248 CMR (248 CMR 11.04).

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-24 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Division of Occupational Licensure) before applying. This is not legal advice.