§ 2194. Examinations not required; temporary licenses

(a) Generally.

(1) Reciprocity.

(A) Appropriate licenses without examination may be issued to a person to whom a master plumber‘s license or a journeyman plumber‘s license or a specialty license or equivalent has been previously issued by another state or municipality upon the payment of the required fee if:

(i) that state or municipality maintained a standard of requirements equivalent to those of this State; and

(ii) the applicant presents satisfactory proof to the Board that he or she is a bona fide licensee.

(B) An applicant under this subdivision (1) shall be exempt from examination only if the applicant holds a license from a foreign state or municipality and if under the laws or regulations of the foreign state or municipality issuing the license a like exemption or reciprocal agreement, or both, is granted to licensees under the laws of this State.

(2) Uniform process for endorsement from other states.

(A) The Board shall issue licenses for master plumbers and journeyman plumbers and specialists who have been licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction within the United States for at least three years, regardless of whether that jurisdiction meets the reciprocity requirements of subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(B) If the Board determines that three years of demonstrated practice in another specific jurisdiction is not adequately protective of the public, it shall provide its rationale to the Commissioner, who may propose any necessary statutory or rule amendments in order to implement more restrictive requirements for endorsement for that jurisdiction.

(C) The Commissioner may issue to an endorsement applicant a waiver of the practice requirement if there is a showing that the waiver follows State policy and the public is adequately protected.

(b) Service members and veterans. Except as otherwise provided by law, a journeyman’s license shall be issued without examination and upon payment of the required fee to an applicant who is a service member or veteran who:

(1) submits a complete application and any documentation required by the Board;

(2) has received designation by the U.S. Armed Forces as a 12K Plumber or equivalent; and

(3) has completed a minimum of 8,000 hours and four years of active duty field work as a 12K Plumber or equivalent.

(c) Definitions. As used in this section:

(1) “Service member” means an individual who is an active member of:

(A) the U.S. Armed Forces;

(B) a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces;

(C) the U.S. Coast Guard; or

(D) the National Guard of any state.

(2) “Veteran” means a former service member who received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions from active duty not more than two years prior to submitting an application for licensure. (Added 1959, No. 215, § 12, eff. June 2, 1959; amended 1961, No. 32, §§ 2, 3; 1969, No. 84, § 5, eff. April 18, 1969; 1993, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 2017, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2019, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 22, eff. April 1, 2021.)