Maine Journeyman Plumber License
What a Journeyman License Lets You Do
A Maine Journeyman Plumber is licensed to perform plumbing installations and repairs under the employment and direction of a Master Plumber. You can also do minor plumbing repair work as a regular part-time occupation independently.
What you can't do: pull municipal permits, serve as the license of record on a permitted project, or operate an independent plumbing contracting business. Those require a Master Plumber license.
Four Pathways to Qualify
The Plumbers' Examining Board accepts four experience pathways for the Journeyman exam:
Pathway A — Licensed Trainee. Document at least 4,000 hours of plumbing installation work over a minimum of two years as a licensed Trainee, all under the direct on-site supervision of a Master Plumber. Your supervising Master must sign a notarized Experience Affidavit verifying the hours.
Pathway B — Journeyman-in-Training. Document 2,000 hours of supervised plumbing work as a licensed JIT. The JIT credential is a non-renewable four-year license — all 2,000 hours must be completed within that window. Available to graduates of approved programs.
Pathway C — Secondary trade school. Submit a certified transcript proving graduation from an approved two-year secondary career and technical education plumbing program.
Pathway D — Community college. Submit a certified transcript from an accredited one-year community college plumbing program.
Pathways C and D still require you to pass the Journeyman exam. They satisfy the education prerequisite, not the examination requirement.
The Exam Process
Once you've met your pathway's requirements, submit the Journeyman Plumber Examination Application to the Board with your signed affidavits (or transcripts) and the application fee. The Board reviews your package for completeness and eligibility.
If approved, you'll receive an email from the Board with your "Known Candidate ID" (which matches your Maine License ID) and instructions for scheduling with Prov, Inc. The exam fee ranges from $65 to $90, paid directly to Prov.
Testing centers are in Auburn, Bangor, Calais, Portland, and Presque Isle. Remote proctoring is also available. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The exam is closed-book and timed. You need a 70% score to pass, and you'll receive your result immediately at the testing center.
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Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Trainee license (initial) | $100 |
| JIT license (initial) | $200 |
| Background check fee | $21 |
| Exam fee (to Prov) | $65–$90 |
| Journeyman license (initial) | $200 |
| Biennial renewal | $200 |
Common Stall Points
Affidavit problems are the most frequent cause of delays. If your former supervisor is unreachable, the Board may accept alternative documentation — but you'll need to contact them directly to discuss your situation. Keeping affidavits signed throughout your training, not just at the end, prevents this.
Lapsed trainee license. Hours worked while your trainee registration is not active don't count. If you let it lapse between renewal cycles, those months are dead time.
Supervision ratio violations. A Master Plumber can supervise a maximum of three trainees simultaneously. If your employer had more trainees than that ratio allows, the Board may reject those hours.
The Maine Plumber License Guide includes an hour-tracking template and application checklists for each pathway.
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Download the Maine — Plumber License Path Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.