Master Electrician/Plumber/Gas Fitter
Scope: Statewide trade contracting
Testing: PSI exams referencing NEC 2023, National Standard Plumbing Code, and NFPA 54
New Hampshire Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)
Granite State projects range from Portsmouth floodplains to White Mountain ski towns. New Hampshire lacks a statewide GC license, but trade boards and local officials require ICC-level code knowledge, frost-depth detailing, and radon mitigation expertise.
Last verified: May 2026 via NH Office of Professional Licensing & Certification. Official source: New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
- Trade ExamsElectrical/Plumbing/Gas
- $200K BondLead/asbestos work
- LocalGC licensing
How New Hampshire licenses contractors
OPLC licenses master electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters statewide via PSI exams. Cities such as Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth issue general-contractor permits that often require ICC credentials or documented experience.
Expect minus-ten design temps, 90-psf snow loads, salt spray along the Seacoast, and ledge basements that demand radon ventilation. Municipal exams stress frost walls, energy code, and flood-resistant detailing.
Official source: New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
New Hampshire licensing at a glance
- Trade Exams — Electrical/Plumbing/Gas
- $200K Bond — Lead/asbestos work
- Typical cost: $150-$200 trade license fees plus PSI exam fees
- State-specific trade exam required (NASCLA not accepted for primary licensing path)
- Common license path: Master Electrician/Plumber/Gas Fitter
New Hampshire contractor license types
Municipal General Contractor
Scope: City-issued building permits
Testing: ICC Class A/B/C or municipal experience review
Lead/Asbestos Abatement Contractor
Scope: Hazard removal statewide
Testing: EPA/state exams plus bonding and insurance
Even without a statewide GC license, contractors must register businesses, carry liability and workers-comp coverage, and comply with local energy and mechanical code adoptions.
What's on the New Hampshire contractor exam
PSI delivers trade exams in Concord, Nashua, Portsmouth, Littleton, and via remote proctoring; ICC exams are available through Pearson VUE centers.
What New Hampshire exam questions emphasize
- Frost depth footings (48-60 inches) and ice-dam mitigation
- Radon rough-ins per IRC Appendix AF
- Flood-resistant construction in coastal AE zones
- Lien law requirements under RSA 447
Exam-day logistics
- Bring approval letters, two IDs, and only the references listed in the PSI bulletin
- ICC exams permit IBC/IRC and the Contractor Business & Law manual with tabs
- Results upload to OPLC or city permit portals within 24 to 48 hours
New Hampshire contractor exam blueprint (verified July 2026)
| Licensing authority | NH Office of Professional Licensing & Certification (OPLC); municipalities for GC credentials |
|---|---|
| What is licensed | Statewide electrical, plumbing, and gas-fitter licenses; local GC/building contractor licenses |
| Exams | PSI trade exams for OPLC credentials; ICC/local exams for municipal GC paths |
| NASCLA | Not used |
| Money | Trade licenses typically $150–$200 plus PSI fees; municipal GC license/bond often $100–$300 |
| Key gotcha | A statewide electrical license does not replace a city GC registration for building scopes |
What trips New Hampshire applicants up
OPLC covers master electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters statewide, while Manchester, Nashua, and other cities license GCs locally. NASCLA is not the New Hampshire path.
Verified sources: New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
Who needs a New Hampshire contractor credential (and who does not)
OPLC covers master trades statewide. Manchester, Nashua, and other cities license GCs locally—plan both layers.
| Master electrician / plumber / gas fitter | Covers: Statewide regulated trade contracting Authority: NH OPLC — PSI exams + license fees |
|---|---|
| Municipal general contractor | Covers: Building contractor work inside city programs Authority: City/town building departments — ICC or local exams |
| Lead / asbestos abatement | Covers: Abatement contracting requiring specialty credentials Authority: Specialty programs — separate from GC or master trade licenses |
Most-missed New Hampshire contractor exam topics
Deep frost footings, ice-dam mitigation, and coastal flood detailing show up beyond generic national quizzes.
- Frost-depth footings (often 48–60 inches) and ice-dam mitigation
- Radon rough-ins per IRC Appendix AF
- Flood-resistant construction in coastal AE zones
- OPLC trade license vs municipal GC registration mix-ups
- Reference editions listed in the current PSI/city bulletin
Trade-specific exam guides
If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the New Hampshire general contractor classification, the dedicated trade hub will get you to the right code book and exam structure faster.
- General contractor exam guide — IBC/IRC, NASCLA acceptance, and Business & Law.
- Electrical contractor exam guide — NEC (NFPA 70) calculations and grounding/bonding.
- Plumbing contractor exam guide — IPC/UPC drainage sizing, venting, and backflow.
- HVAC contractor exam guide — IMC ventilation, refrigerant management, and load calcs.
New Hampshire code books & approved references (2026)
Always confirm the exact editions and tab rules in your candidate bulletin before exam day. Editions can change between license cycles.
- 2023 National Electrical Code
- 2018 National Standard Plumbing Code
- NFPA 54 and 58
- 2018 International Residential Code and IECC (NH amendments)
- RSA 447 Mechanics Lien Law
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926
Fees & timeline for the New Hampshire contractor license
- $150-$200 trade license fees plus PSI exam fees
- $100-$300 municipal GC license/bond costs
- $200,000 bonding requirement for lead/asbestos contractors
- Liability and workers-comp insurance premiums
- ICC exam fees (about $150) for local GC credentials
Use the All States hub for budgeting; confirm fees with OPLC and local building departments.
New Hampshire Business & Law focus
Trade exams cover contracts, liens, insurance, and OSHA/EPA obligations. Municipal licensing also checks for insurance certificates, bonds, and knowledge of local ordinances.
- Understand RSA 447 mechanics lien filings and owner notification
- Register with the Department of Revenue Administration and Department of Labor
- Maintain OSHA-compliant cold-weather safety plans and EPA RRP certifications
- Document change orders and cancellation rights per state consumer laws
Practice with our NH trade & municipal prep and the national Business & Law exam hub for cross-state baseline rules.
NASCLA acceptance in New Hampshire
New Hampshire does not use NASCLA. OPLC electrical/plumbing/gas licenses require PSI exams, and municipalities rely on ICC or local GC tests—out-of-state NASCLA credentials do not waive either layer. Confirm the current candidate bulletin for your classification, then use timed state-specific practice instead of assuming an out-of-state NASCLA letter will transfer. Use timed practice to rehearse the modules and paperwork that still apply after any out-of-state credential review.
More: National NASCLA exam guide and our in-depth NASCLA Accredited Exam study walkthrough.
A focused 4-week study plan for the New Hampshire exam
Because Expect minus-ten design temps, 90-psf snow loads, salt spray along the Seacoast, and ledge basements that demand radon ventilation, this four-week outline targets what New Hampshire field inspectors and your licensing board exam items actually test—not generic national prep.
- Week 1 — Map the exam. Pull your current candidate bulletin, list every reference, and confirm the modules you have to pass. Start a one-page error log. Spend extra time on: Frost depth footings (48-60 inches) and ice-dam mitigation.
- Week 2 — Code book navigation. Drill open-book lookups (or memorisation drills if your module is closed-book) until you can find any answer in under 60 seconds. Anchor practice around: Radon rough-ins per IRC Appendix AF.
- Week 3 — Business & Law. Trade exams cover contracts, liens, insurance, and OSHA/EPA obligations. Municipal licensing also checks for insurance certificates, bonds, and knowledge of local ordinances. Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
- Week 4 — Full simulations. PSI delivers trade exams in Concord, Nashua, Portsmouth, Littleton, and via remote proctoring; ICC exams are available through Pearson VUE centers. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.
FAQs - New Hampshire contractor exam
Does NH have a statewide GC license?
No. Trades are licensed statewide and GCs are handled locally.
Which trades require exams?
Electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters test via PSI.
Does New Hampshire accept NASCLA?
No. OPLC trade licenses require PSI exams, and municipal GC credentials use ICC or local tests. NASCLA does not replace either layer.
What climate topics appear?
Frost depth, radon mitigation, coastal flooding, and heavy snow loads.
What insurance is required?
Most municipalities require liability and workers-comp, with bonds for hazard abatement.
How often do I renew trade licenses?
Every two years with CE for electricians and gas fitters.
Where are exams offered?
PSI centers statewide and Pearson VUE for ICC exams.
More New Hampshire contractor exam prep resources
Core resources
Exam-day reading
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