To register as a Journeyman Plumber or Fire Suppression Piping Installer, or a Gas Work Qualification (Full or Limited) you must:
Be at least eighteen (18) years old
Be able to read, write and understand the English language
Be fit to perform the work authorized by the qualification/registration
Have good moral character so as to not adversely impact upon fitness to perform the duties and responsibilities of a Journeyman Plumber, Fire Suppression Piping Installer, or Gas Work Qualification Holder
Have a progressive understanding, proficiency and competence in the plumbing or fire suppression piping trade, including:
A working familiarity with the Code and technical standards and the ability to apply the Code requirements correctly
The application of basic plumbing/fire suppression theory and using trade skills on the job site
A working knowledge of the tools of the trade and the ability to properly use them
An ability to draft simple diagrams and interpret drawings for the plumbing/fire suppression work in which the applicant is engag
Has demonstrated an understanding of and proficiency and competency with gas work, including:
A working familiarity with the Fuel Gas Code and the ability to apply the requirements of such Code correctly
The application of skills relating to gas work on the job site
A working knowledge of the tools for gas work and the ability to utilize such tools properly
An ability to draft simple diagrams and interpret from drawings for the purpose of performing gas work, by satisfying a requirement that the Commissioner shall establish by rule
Meet the Registration Qualifications (see Section 2)
Submit your registration application (see Section 3)
Must have at minimum of six months full-time experience performing plumbing work under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed Master Plumber (LMP). A statement attesting to this experience must be included with the application submission in DOB NOW: Licensing in addition to a $15.00 fee.
Meet the Registration Qualifications (see Section 2)
Submit your registration application (see Section 3)
To obtain a Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer you must meet at least one (1) of the following:
Have at least Five (5) years of full-time experience* performing plumbing or fire suppression piping under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed Master Plumber or a licensed Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor or equivalent, where at least one (1) year of experience was in New York City.
*Note: Qualifying experience must be specifically Plumbing or Fire Suppression. Plumbing experience cannot be used to qualify for the Journeyman Fire Suppression registration, and Fire Suppression experience cannot be used to qualify for the Journeyman Plumber registration.*
Have satisfactorily completed a New York State registered training program with one (1) year experience in New York City.
*Note: One (1) year of experience in New York City is required to obtain a Journeyman registration.*
To obtain a Gas Work Qualification you must meet at least one (1) of the following:
Applicants must provide proof of passing a Department-sponsored Gas Work Qualification exam and:
Be a Department Registered Journeyman Plumber or;
Have satisfactorily completed a New York State registered training program with one (1) year experience in New York City or;
Have Five (5) years of full-time experience* (minimum) performing plumbing work under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed Master Plumber, where at least one (1) year of experience was in New York City.
*Note: Any experience gained from a license outside of New York City must be accompanied by an additional verification letter from the jurisdiction in which the license was issued confirming the status of that license.*
You must complete the exam application (LIC41), check the box that indicates you are a Gas Work Qualification candidate and submit the application with the $525.00 fee to the Department, see contact information below.
If your application is accepted, you will receive an email from the exam administrator in two (2) to three (3) weeks with instructions on how to schedule your exam. Exams are given at several different locations in the State.
Gas Work Qualification candidates must submit the LIC41 application with the $525.00 fee, payable by money order only, to:
NYC Department of Buildings
Licensing & Exams Unit - Exams
280 Broadway, 1st Floor
New York, NY 10007
Subject Area | # Items | References |
Gas Detection Testing | 10 | NYC FGC Chapter 1, Chapter 4; NYC PC Chapter 1 |
Common Utility Processes and Procedures | 10 | NYC FGC Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Appendix E; NYC ADC Articles 216 and 318 |
Gas Work Business Practices | 6 | NYC FGC Chapter 1, Chapter 4; NYC PC Chapter 3, Chapter 5; NYC ADC Chapter 1, Articles 204 and Chapter 4 |
Gas Work Safety | 10 | NYC FGC Chapter 3, Chapter 4; NYC PC Chapter 3 |
Gas Work New Technology | 4 | NYC FGC Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 6, Appendix G; NYC ADC Article 113 |
Gas Work Hazards and Violations | 10 | NYC FGC Chapter 1, Chapter 3, Chapter 4 |
NOTE: NYC Construction Codes - NYC ADC (NYC Administrative Code); NYC FGC (NYC Fuel Gas Code); NYC PC (NYC Plumbing Code)
Have at least six (6) months of full-time experience performing plumbing work under the direct and continuing supervision of a LMP; and
Have satisfactorily completed a DOB Approved training program of at least 16 hours that relates to gas work or;
Is registered in a plumbing apprenticeship program approved by the NYS Department of Labor or;
Satisfies a demonstrated competence with gas work (TBD)
Applications for Journeyman Plumber, Journeyman Fire Suppression Piping Contractor, and Gas Work Qualification must be submitted through DOB NOW: Licensing. To complete your submission you must upload copies of the following documents:
Photo Identification (driver’s license, passport or green card)
Original Social Security Card
Department of Labor approved apprenticeship/training program certificate
Completion of 16-hour training course certificate – Limited Gas Work
Exam Score Report - Full Gas Work
Typed notarized affidavits from all past or current employers you have indicated that will attest to your experience and qualification. Affidavits from New York City Licensees must be sealed. Affidavits must include the following information and must be an exact match to what was submitted in your online application:
Your job title (Helper, Journeyman, etc.)
Name of the company
A detailed description of your duties
Your employment dates for each licensee you worked with (mm/dd/yyyy format required)
Whether your employment was full- or part-time
A statement by the licensee that he or she directly supervised you
Social Security History of Earnings for the years you are claiming as experience. You must request the report to be run by company name. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration website at http://ssa.gov/online/ssa-7050.html.
Child Support Form (mandatory)
Registration fee of $50.00 – payable during application submission
*NOTE: Documents must be scanned PDFs, pictures will not be accepted. You must submit only the required document for each category. For example: The Experience Affidavit should just be the Experience Affidavit. Please do not submit a combination of documents as this will result in an application being rejected.
Your registration will not be granted without verification of the above qualifications.
Once your submission has been approved you will be notified via email to make an appointment to pick up your registration/qualification at:
NYC Department of Buildings
Licensing & Exams Unit
280 Broadway, 1st Floor
New York, NY 10007
licensingDOB@buildings.nyc.gov