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LicenseReciprocity

Plumber License from Hawaii to New Hampshire: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board ↗

Yes — New Hampshire has a reciprocity arrangement covering Hawaii license holders. Apply to the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.

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Verdict

Reciprocity agreement

Hawaii is on New Hampshire's reciprocity list, which puts this move on the streamlined track — on two conditions. Your Hawaii license must have been earned by examination, not grandfathered in, and be active and in good standing; where it is, New Hampshire waives its journeyman exam and the requirements below are what it still insists on. New Hampshire licenses a journeyman plumber by endorsement — without requiring its own plumbing examination — when the applicant holds an active, good-standing journeyman plumber license from one of 33 'qualifying jurisdictions' whose requirements OPLC deems substantially similar (RSA 310:17 / HB 594, rule Plc 313.34); applicants from any other state must qualify through New Hampshire's apprenticeship route and pass the New Hampshire plumbing examination. One caution: these agreements are directional and revocable. This page's verification date is when we last confirmed Hawaii on New Hampshire's list; the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board link is the live truth.

What changes, Hawaii → New Hampshire

Side-by-side: Hawaii vs New Hampshire (Plumber (journeyman/master)), verified 2026-07-21
Hawaii (current)New Hampshire (destination)
Application fee$130–$436 ($40 application + $90 examination = $130 to apply; the triennial license fee is prorated $102-$306 depending on the year of the triennium in which the license is issued (billed on approval; a license issued in calendar 2026 falls in the 3rd year = $102). Same fees for all applicants — no reduced reciprocity fee. Figures from the DCCA Electricians & Plumbers FAQ)$190–$210 (Journeyman Plumber application fee $190 plus $20 certificate fee; the fingerprint / criminal background check fee is additional and paid separately. (Master Plumber application fee is $310))
Processing timeNo board-stated processing time in weeks; examinations are scheduled periodically and licensure follows passing the examNo board-stated processing time; under Plc 313.07(c) OPLC may issue an 'Active-Provisional' license once the application, fee, and fingerprints are submitted and the applicant qualifies by endorsement, pending background-check results
Licensing authorityHawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and PlumbersNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board

The destination column is what you must satisfy — New Hampshire sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm New Hampshire's current requirements on the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the reciprocity application to the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Hold an active, good-standing journeyman plumber license from one of the 33 qualifying jurisdictions listed in OPLC rule Plc 313.34.
  5. Complete a New Hampshire criminal history records check (fingerprint-based), required for the Journeyman Plumber license type.
  6. Maintain continuing education of 3 hours of code update per year (6 hours per two-year renewal cycle).
  7. Applicants from non-qualifying states must complete a New Hampshire plumbing apprenticeship and pass the New Hampshire plumbing examination.
  8. Pay the fees ($190–$210 (Journeyman Plumber application fee $190 plus $20 certificate fee; the fingerprint / criminal background check fee is additional and paid separately. (Master Plumber application fee is $310))) and allow No board-stated processing time; under Plc 313.07(c) OPLC may issue an 'Active-Provisional' license once the application, fee, and fingerprints are submitted and the applicant qualifies by endorsement, pending background-check results.

Official links

New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board ↗New Hampshire application ↗License verification ↗

Related guides

Plumber in HawaiiPlumber in New HampshireAll plumber states

Frequently asked questions

Does New Hampshire accept a Hawaii plumbing license?

Yes — New Hampshire has a reciprocity arrangement covering Hawaii license holders. Apply to the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.

Which exam applies moving from Hawaii to New Hampshire?

New Hampshire licenses a journeyman plumber by endorsement — without requiring its own plumbing examination — when the applicant holds an active, good-standing journeyman plumber license from one of 33 'qualifying jurisdictions' whose requirements OPLC deems substantially similar (RSA 310:17 / HB 594, rule Plc 313.34); applicants from any other state must qualify through New Hampshire's apprenticeship route and pass the New Hampshire plumbing examination.

What does the Hawaii-to-New Hampshire move cost and how long does it take?

$190–$210 (Journeyman Plumber application fee $190 plus $20 certificate fee; the fingerprint / criminal background check fee is additional and paid separately. (Master Plumber application fee is $310)); processing No board-stated processing time; under Plc 313.07(c) OPLC may issue an 'Active-Provisional' license once the application, fee, and fingerprints are submitted and the applicant qualifies by endorsement, pending background-check results.

Can I keep my Hawaii plumbing license after I'm licensed in New Hampshire?

Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Hawaii 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.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]