Maine Plumber Exam: Journeyman and Master Test Logistics

You Cannot Schedule the Exam Without Board Approval First

This is where many candidates trip up. You cannot contact Prov, Inc. and book a Maine plumber exam on your own. The Plumbers' Examining Board must review and approve your Examination Application before you receive authorization to schedule.

The sequence works like this: submit your completed Journeyman & Master Plumber Examination Application to the Board along with your notarized Supervisor's Affidavits of Experience. The Board reviews the package for completeness and verifies your qualifying hours. If approved, they update your status to "Pending Exam" and send an authorization email containing instructions for scheduling and your Known Candidate ID, which matches your Maine License ID.

Only after receiving that authorization email can you log into the Prov, Inc. scheduling portal to book your test.

Testing Format and Passing Scores

Both the journeyman and master exams are administered by Prov, Inc. and follow the same general format: closed-book, timed, multiple-choice.

Journeyman Plumber Exam — requires a minimum passing score of 70%. The exam covers the Maine-adopted 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (with state amendments), fixture unit calculations, DWV sizing, and water supply design.

Master Plumber Exam — requires a higher passing score of 75%. Beyond the journeyman-level technical content, expect questions on system planning, permit responsibilities, supervision requirements, and the regulatory boundaries between plumbing, fuel, and electrical work.

You receive your score immediately at the testing center after completing the exam. If you fail, budget for another exam fee and check the current Board and Prov instructions before scheduling another attempt.

Where to Take the Test

Prov operates physical testing centers at five locations across Maine: Auburn, Bangor, Calais, Portland, and Presque Isle. The geographic spread means most candidates in southern or central Maine can reach a testing center within an hour's drive.

Prov also offers a remote proctoring option, which lets you take the exam from a computer at home or work. The remote option requires a stable internet connection, a webcam, and a clean workspace free of reference materials. The proctoring software monitors your screen and camera throughout the session.

Exam Fees

The exam fee ranges from $65 to $90 per attempt, paid directly to Prov at scheduling — not to the Board. This is separate from your license application fee ($200) and background check fee ($21), which you pay to OPOR after passing.

Budget for the possibility of a second attempt. Before booking, check Prov's current cancellation and rescheduling policy so you know when a fee may be forfeited.

Preparing Without Exam Prep Courses

Maine's Plumbers' Examining Board does not endorse or recommend any commercial exam preparation company. The exam tests your knowledge of the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted by the Board, with Maine-specific amendments documented in Chapter 71 of the Board Rules.

The most effective preparation is reading the actual code the exam covers. The Board publishes its complete list of exclusions and amendments — sections on gas piping (regulated by the Fuel Board), medical gas systems, and water heater energy connections are excluded from the plumbing code. Check the current exam bulletin before treating a code exclusion as an exam-topic exclusion.

Understanding the practical application matters more than memorizing code section numbers. The exam tests whether you can size a DWV system for a given fixture count, identify proper backflow prevention, and apply the correct venting method — real jobsite scenarios, not abstract rule recitation.

For a complete breakdown of the exam timeline alongside every other step from trainee registration to master licensure, see the Maine Plumber License Guide.

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