Plumber License from New Hampshire to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) ↗
A plumbing license transfers from New Hampshire to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your New Hampshire license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
New Hampshire is not among the states Florida names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)'s individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam. Bring your New Hampshire 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, New Hampshire → Florida
| New Hampshire (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $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)) | $350 ($350 certification-by-endorsement application fee (CILB 10). The standard exam-route Certified Plumbing Contractor application is $245 (May 1 even year–Aug 31 odd year) or $145 (Sep 1 odd year–Apr 30 even year). A separate electronic-fingerprint fee applies) |
| Processing time | 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 | No board-stated processing time |
| Licensing authority | New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- No state journeyman plumber license: the state (DBPR / Construction Industry Licensing Board) licenses plumbing contractors, while journeyman plumbers are licensed locally by counties and municipalities.
- Certify by endorsement (form CILB 10) via a substantially-equivalent exam, a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license, or at least 10 years of active licensure.
- Submit electronic fingerprints for a state (FDLE) and federal (FBI) background check.
- Provide a credit report with a FICO score of 660+ (or complete a 14-hour financial-responsibility course) and carry required liability and workers'-compensation insurance.
- Pay the fees ($350 ($350 certification-by-endorsement application fee (CILB 10). The standard exam-route Certified Plumbing Contractor application is $245 (May 1 even year–Aug 31 odd year) or $145 (Sep 1 odd year–Apr 30 even year). A separate electronic-fingerprint fee applies)) and allow No board-stated processing time.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida accept a New Hampshire plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from New Hampshire to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your New Hampshire license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam.
Which exam applies moving from New Hampshire to Florida?
Florida licenses plumbing CONTRACTORS, not journeymen (journeyman/tradesworker plumbers are licensed by county and municipal governments). Its Certified Plumbing Contractor examination is waived for out-of-state applicants who certify by endorsement under s. 489.115(3): by passing a national/regional/state exam the board deems substantially equivalent (Option A), holding a license issued under substantially equivalent criteria (Option B), or holding an active license for at least 10 years (Option C); the board warns endorsement based on comparing a state-specific exam is rarely approved. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must pass the Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor exam.
What does the New Hampshire-to-Florida move cost and how long does it take?
$350 ($350 certification-by-endorsement application fee (CILB 10). The standard exam-route Certified Plumbing Contractor application is $245 (May 1 even year–Aug 31 odd year) or $145 (Sep 1 odd year–Apr 30 even year). A separate electronic-fingerprint fee applies); processing No board-stated processing time.
Can I keep my New Hampshire plumbing license after I'm licensed in Florida?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the New Hampshire 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.
- Florida DBPR CILB 10 — Application for Certification by Endorsement (s.489.115(3); $350 fee; licensure without state exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida DBPR CILB 5-M — Application for Certified Plumbing Contractor as an Individual (contractor-level license; $145/$245 fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida Statutes 489.115 — certification and registration; endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NH OPLC — New Changes for Reciprocity in New Hampshire (Mechanical Licensing Board Plc 313.34: 33 qualifying jurisdictions for Journeyman Plumber; RSA 310:17 / HB 594) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NH OPLC — License Fees for the Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (Journeyman Plumber $190 application + $20 certificate) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NH OPLC — Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (governing board for plumbers; RSA 153:27-153:38) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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