Maryland State Board of Plumbing · checked 2026-10-21
Maryland Plumber License Requirements
Statewide apprentice, journey and master plumber licenses issued by the State Board of Plumbing under Title 12 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article. Master plumber: 6 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1JP · Journey plumber 4 years
- 2MP · Master plumber 6 years
License levels in Maryland
The Maryland path has 2 steps on this page: Journey plumber and Master plumber. The source counts experience in hours; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP Journey plumber | 7,500 hours | — | 4 years | Yes | Not printed |
| MP Master plumber | 3,750 hours at the prior level | — | 6 years | Yes | Not printed |
Journey plumber (JP)
An apprentice plumber license held for at least four years (or an equivalent out-of-state license) and at least 7,500 hours of training under a licensed master plumber during that time; the board may count up to 1,500 hours of approved school study toward the 7,500. Source: Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-302.
Master plumber (MP)
At least 3,750 hours of training as a journey plumber; Maryland residents must also have held the journey plumber license for two years. Journey plumbers licensed in another state qualify with 7,500 hours under a master plumber and an equivalent exam. Source: Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-302.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journey plumber and Master plumber. The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees
The Maryland source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. The plumbing board's pages could not be read in this run, so no fee amounts are shown.
Reciprocity
The Maryland sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
How Maryland compares
Among the 25 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top plumber credential, Maryland ranks 23 of 25 from shortest (2 years) to longest (9 years). Texas sets the same 6 years.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Texas · Florida · Illinois · Ohio. All states side by side: Plumber license requirements by state.
Other trades in Maryland
- Electrician: Master electrician: 7 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- HVAC: HVACR master: 7 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Home improvement contractor: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Maryland trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the plumber license in Maryland?
Maryland State Board of Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor. Statewide apprentice, journey and master plumber licenses issued by the State Board of Plumbing under Title 12 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article.
How long does it take to qualify for the Master plumber in Maryland?
6 years by this site's count. At least 3,750 hours of training as a journey plumber; Maryland residents must also have held the journey plumber license for two years. Journey plumbers licensed in another state qualify with 7,500 hours under a master plumber and an equivalent exam.
Does Maryland have plumber license reciprocity?
The Maryland sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Maryland State Board of Plumbing, Maryland Department of Labor | 2026-10-21 |
| JP requirements | Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-302 | 2026-10-21 |
| MP requirements | Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-302 | 2026-10-21 |
| Law cited | Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-302 | 2026-10-21 |
This page summarises what the Maryland source said on 2026-10-21. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Maryland State Board of Plumbing before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.