MASTER PLUMBER

Summary
Hawai‘i
ranked in the first quintile among the twenty-four states that license master plumbers. Hawai‘i’s
nine year experience requirement and lack of reciprocity placed it among the
top tier of states in requirements for a license.
Requirement
|
Hawai‘i
|
Rank (quintile)
|
National Median
|
OVERALL
RANK (quintile)
|
1
|
|
|
Education
and Experience
|
9 years
experience
|
1
|
5 years
experience
|
Examination
|
State
exam required
|
Not ranked
|
State
exam required
|
License Fees
|
$265
|
4
|
$295
|
Continuing
Education
|
None
|
5
|
None.
Only 5 states require continuing education.
|
Reciprocity
or Endorsement
|
No
|
1
|
Yes.
15 of the 24 states have some form of reciprocity or
endorsement.
|
Notes on master
plumber ranking:
1 = most difficult, most requirements, highest fees.
5 = least difficult, fewest requirements, lowest fees.
Licensing: Twenty-four
states issue a master plumber license that is comparable to Hawai‘i’s. Six
states regulate master plumbers at the local government level.
Education and training: Rank is based on the years of experience required. In states where an applicant is required to obtain
a license or experience as a journeyman plumber, the education or
experience requirement for a journeyman plumber was added to the licensing
requirement for a master plumber.
Examination: This category was not ranked. All states
that license master plumbers require a written examination, and five states require a practical examination.
Fees: Rank is based on the cost of an initial license, an
annualized renewal fee. This reflects the cost of obtaining and renewing a license.
Continuing education: This is expressed as hours per year. Rank is based on whether a state requires
continuing education. Only five states require continuing education.
Reciprocity: Rank is
based on whether a state offers reciprocity or endorsement. A rank of 1 was
assigned for states that do not have reciprocity or endorsement, and a rank of
5 for states that do.
Sources: In addition to state websites, we
referred to Contractor's State Licensing Information Directory, National
Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies, 2005 Edition.