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Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters · checked 2026-10-20
Massachusetts Plumber License Requirements
Statewide journeyman and master plumber licenses, with separate journeyman and master gas fitter licenses. Master Plumber: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1J · Journeyman Plumber 4 years
- 2M · Master Plumber 5 years
License levels in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts path has 2 steps on this page: Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber. The source counts experience in hours and classroom instruction separately; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Journeyman Plumber | 6,800 hours | 550 h | 4 years | Yes | Not printed |
| M Master Plumber | 1,700 hours at the prior level | 110 h | 5 years | Yes | Not printed |
Journeyman Plumber (J)
No less than 6,800 clock hours as a licensed apprentice and 550 clock hours of plumbing and gas fitting theory taken over no less than four years (at most 165 education hours credited per calendar year). 248 CMR 11.02(1). Source: 248 CMR 11.00, Education and experience standards.
Master Plumber (M)
No less than one year of practical experience, at least 1,700 clock hours, as a licensed journeyman plumber, plus the 110-hour tier five of the Plumber Educational Program. 248 CMR 11.02(2). Source: 248 CMR 11.00, Education and experience standards.
Massachusetts also issues narrower classes on the same page: Journeyman gas fitter: 5,100 clock hours and 330 hours of theory over at least three years and Master gas fitter: one year and 1,700 hours as a journeyman gas fitter plus 50 hours.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber. The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees
The Massachusetts source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. 248 CMR 11 sets education and experience, not fees.
Reciprocity
248 CMR 11.02(7): applicants must pass the examination unless Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with their jurisdiction; out-of-state licensees must document requirements substantially equivalent to Massachusetts' and a good-standing statement. No partner states are named. Source: 248 CMR 11.02(7).
How Massachusetts compares
Among the 11 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top plumber credential, Massachusetts ranks 6 of 11 from shortest (3 years) to longest (6 years). Rhode Island, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan set the same 5 years. The classroom requirement here peaks at 550 hours.
Same trade elsewhere: Connecticut · New Hampshire · Maine · Vermont · Rhode Island. All states side by side: Plumber license requirements by state.
Other trades in Massachusetts
- Electrician: Master Electrician: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Refrigeration Technician: 3 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Unrestricted Construction Supervisor: 3 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. Statewide journeyman and master plumber licenses, with separate journeyman and master gas fitter licenses.
How long does it take to qualify for the Master Plumber in Massachusetts?
5 years by this site's count. No less than one year of practical experience, at least 1,700 clock hours, as a licensed journeyman plumber, plus the 110-hour tier five of the Plumber Educational Program. 248 CMR 11.02(2).
Does Massachusetts have plumber license reciprocity?
248 CMR 11.02(7): applicants must pass the examination unless Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with their jurisdiction; out-of-state licensees must document requirements substantially equivalent to Massachusetts' and a good-standing statement. No partner states are named.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters | 2026-10-20 |
| J requirements | 248 CMR 11.00, Education and experience standards | 2026-10-20 |
| M requirements | 248 CMR 11.00, Education and experience standards | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | 248 CMR 11.02 | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the Massachusetts source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.