Plumber License from California to Connecticut: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board ↗
A plumbing license transfers from California to Connecticut by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board, verify your California license, and meet Connecticut's endorsement requirements. Connecticut has no reciprocity agreements and does not waive its plumbing examination; every applicant, including one qualifying through an equivalent out-of-state license, must pass the Connecticut P-2 journeyperson examination. An equivalent out-of-state license only substitutes for a Connecticut-registered apprenticeship in meeting the 576 classroom-hour + 8,000 on-the-job-training-hour requirement.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
California is not among the states Connecticut names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board's individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. Connecticut has no reciprocity agreements and does not waive its plumbing examination; every applicant, including one qualifying through an equivalent out-of-state license, must pass the Connecticut P-2 journeyperson examination. An equivalent out-of-state license only substitutes for a Connecticut-registered apprenticeship in meeting the 576 classroom-hour + 8,000 on-the-job-training-hour requirement. Bring your California license, proof that it is active and in good standing, and your apprenticeship and exam records — and get any discretionary exam or experience credit in writing before you rely on it.
What changes, California → Connecticut
| California (current) | Connecticut (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | — | 576 |
| Application fee | No state journeyman plumber license exists, so there is no journeyman fee. For reference, the CSLB C-36 plumbing CONTRACTOR license (contractor tier, out of scope) is $450 original application + $200 initial license fee (sole owner) / $350 (non-sole owner), plus a bond and Live Scan fingerprint fee. | $90 ($90 non-refundable journeyperson application fee; license renews annually (all plumbing/pipefitting licenses expire October 31) with a $120 journeyperson renewal fee; a separate examination fee is paid to the exam vendor at registration. The contractor (P-1) application fee is $150) |
| Processing time | Not applicable — no state journeyman plumber license is issued | No board-stated processing time |
| Licensing authority | California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Connecticut sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Connecticut's current requirements on the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold ONE equivalent out-of-state license that required 576 classroom hours and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (classroom curriculum equivalent to Connecticut's Exhibit A).
- Pass the Connecticut P-2 plumbing journeyperson examination administered by the state's exam vendor.
- Apply through the Department of Consumer Protection (only ONE out-of-state license is reviewed for equivalency).
- Pay the fees ($90 ($90 non-refundable journeyperson application fee; license renews annually (all plumbing/pipefitting licenses expire October 31) with a $120 journeyperson renewal fee; a separate examination fee is paid to the exam vendor at registration. The contractor (P-1) application fee is $150)) and allow No board-stated processing time.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Connecticut accept a California plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from California to Connecticut by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board, verify your California license, and meet Connecticut's endorsement requirements. Connecticut has no reciprocity agreements and does not waive its plumbing examination; every applicant, including one qualifying through an equivalent out-of-state license, must pass the Connecticut P-2 journeyperson examination. An equivalent out-of-state license only substitutes for a Connecticut-registered apprenticeship in meeting the 576 classroom-hour + 8,000 on-the-job-training-hour requirement.
Which exam applies moving from California to Connecticut?
Connecticut has no reciprocity agreements and does not waive its plumbing examination; every applicant, including one qualifying through an equivalent out-of-state license, must pass the Connecticut P-2 journeyperson examination. An equivalent out-of-state license only substitutes for a Connecticut-registered apprenticeship in meeting the 576 classroom-hour + 8,000 on-the-job-training-hour requirement.
What does the California-to-Connecticut move cost and how long does it take?
$90 ($90 non-refundable journeyperson application fee; license renews annually (all plumbing/pipefitting licenses expire October 31) with a $120 journeyperson renewal fee; a separate examination fee is paid to the exam vendor at registration. The contractor (P-1) application fee is $150); processing No board-stated processing time.
Can I keep my California plumbing license after I'm licensed in Connecticut?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the California credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- CT DCP — Plumbing Journeyperson: Equivalent Out of State License (576 classroom + 8,000 OJT hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- CT DCP — Plumbing and Pipefitting Licensing (fees; exam required for all; no reciprocity) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- CSLB — C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification detail (plumbing licensed only at contractor level) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- CSLB — Reciprocal Classifications List (C-36 reciprocity maps only to Arizona C-37/C-37R) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- CSLB — Reciprocity Exam Requirements (trade portion may be waived; Law & Business exam still required; 5-year license) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]