New York City Master Plumber Exam Practice Exam
Free Practice Exam
Test your knowledge with 10 questions from our pool of 20 free questions.
- 10 questions per attempt
- 30 minute time limit
- Unlimited attempts
- A new mix each time
- Instant results
Full Practice Exam
Complete exam simulation matching the real CPS HR Consulting test format.
- 100 questions (same as real exam)
- 240 minute time limit
- 5 topic areas covered
- 434 questions in pool
- Detailed explanations
Texts preferred · 9am–9pm Central
New York City Master Plumber Exam Practice Exam Guide
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 100The written exam is closed book and has 100 questions. Its outline topics are Drainage (21 items), Equipment (23 items), Gas Piping (29 items), Water Supply (17 items), and Fire Protection (10 items). Our practice questions reference the 2022 NYC Construction Codes and rules.
You have two options. The free practice exam gives 10 questions per attempt from its own separate set of questions, and you can retake it as often as you like. The full practice exam gives 100 questions on a 4 hours clock, with a fresh draw from our question bank every attempt.
Drainage 21 items
Our study breakdown for this topic covers installation, maintenance, inspection requirements, permits, indirect and special waste, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, and vents. Our practice questions teach that cleanouts for 6-inch and smaller piping require not less than 18 inches of clearance, while cleanouts for 8-inch and larger piping require not less than 36 inches measured perpendicular to the face of the opening (NYC Plumbing Code 2022, Section 708.1.9).
Equipment 23 items
Our study breakdown for this topic covers installation, maintenance, inspection requirements, permits, materials, limited alterations, applicability, and fixtures, faucets, and fittings. Our practice questions teach that Category 1 limited plumbing alterations permit the addition of not more than five plumbing fixtures or fixture connections in a building within any 12-month period (NYC Administrative Code Title 28 (2022), Art. 101, definition of "Limited Plumbing Alterations," Category 1).
Gas Piping 29 items
Our study breakdown for this topic covers installation, maintenance, inspection requirements, permits, materials, sizing, gas appliances, and drips and sloped piping. Our practice questions teach that a building's gas piping system subject to periodic inspection must be inspected at intervals set by rule of the commissioner, but in no case less often than once every five years (NYC Administrative Code Title 28 (2022), § 28-318.2).
Water Supply 17 items
Our study breakdown for this topic covers installation, maintenance, inspection requirements, permits, water recycling systems, water distribution, potable water protection and cross-connection control, and backflow preventer types, standards, and testing requirements. Our practice questions teach that a low-pressure cutoff is required on all house pumps filling a water tank and on booster pumps, set to prevent creation of a vacuum or negative pressure when a positive pressure of 10 psi or less occurs on the suction side (NYC Plumbing Code 2022, Section 606.5.5).
Fire Protection 10 items
Our study breakdown for this topic covers standpipe and sprinkler installation and maintenance, inspection requirements, permits, fire protection during construction and demolition, stationary fire pump installation requirements, fire department connections, and standpipe system design requirements. Our practice questions teach that in altering existing sprinkler systems containing 3/4-inch pipe, the existing 3/4-inch pipe shall be removed and replaced with pipe having a minimum diameter of 1 inch, except as provided in the listed exceptions (NYC Building Code 2022, Section Q102 (NFPA 13 as modified), §8.15.20.4.4).
Sample 1 — Gas Piping
Question: As the licensed master plumber of record, you are running ferrous metal gas piping that will be buried outside the building. Which pair of corrosion-protection methods is acceptable for piping installed in buried locations?
- A. Bonded coatings or protective wrappings
- B. Protective coatings or zinc coatings
- C. Zinc coatings or protective wrappings
- D. Bonded coatings or protective coatings
Correct Answer: A
FGC 404.11.3 limits corrosion protection of ferrous metal installed in buried locations to bonded coatings (404.11.4) or protective wrappings (404.11.6). Zinc coating (galvanizing) and protective coatings under 404.11.5 are listed in 404.11.2 for ferrous metal exposed in exterior locations, not for buried piping. Where dissimilar metals are joined underground, an insulating coupling or fitting is also required, and the piping may not be laid in contact with cinders. (NYC Fuel Gas Code 2022, Section 404.11.3)
Sample 2 — Equipment
Question: You are sizing the service and distribution piping for a building. The minimum pressure available at the main is 65 psi; the highest fixture outlet is 40 feet above the main; the highest pressure required at a fixture is 15 psi (flushometer valves); meter loss is 8 psi; tap-in-main loss is 1.1 psi; there are no filters, softeners or backflow preventers. What pressure remains available to overcome pipe friction?
- A. 58.22 psi
- B. 23.58 psi
- C. 40.90 psi
- D. 41.42 psi
Correct Answer: B
Static head loss = 40 ft x 0.433 = 17.32 psi. Total losses and requirements = 15 + 8 + 1.1 + 17.32 = 41.42 psi. Subtracting that sum from the 65 psi available at the main leaves 23.58 psi to overcome pipe friction. (NYC Plumbing Code 2022, Section E103.3, Steps 2 through 4)
Sample 3 — Drainage
Question: You are connecting a horizontal branch to the building drain downstream of the base of a 5-inch drainage stack. What is the minimum distance downstream from the stack at which that branch may connect?
- A. 20 inches
- B. 30 inches
- C. 50 inches
- D. 40 inches
Correct Answer: C
Per NYC PC 704.3, horizontal branches shall connect to the base of a stack at a point not less than 10 times the diameter of the drainage stack downstream from the stack: 10 x 5 inches = 50 inches. (NYC Plumbing Code 2022, Section 704.3)
Treat a first attempt as a diagnostic, not a verdict. After every attempt, the results page breaks your score down by outline topic, so you can see which areas need another pass through the codes. Gas Piping is the heaviest topic at 29 items; Fire Protection is the lightest at 10 items. The real written exam's pass mark is 70% correct; keep retaking and reviewing the topics where your score is weakest.
- Fresh air inlet size and location: A sanitary or combined building drain requires a fresh air inlet connected immediately upstream of and within 4 feet of the building trap, at least one-half the diameter of the building drain at the point of connection, but not less than 3 inches (NYC Plumbing Code 2022, Section 703.7.1).
- Cleanout size: Cleanouts shall be the same size as the piping served, except that cleanouts for piping larger than 4 inches need not be larger than 4 inches (NYC Plumbing Code 2022, Section 708.1.5).
- Gas pipe joints: Threaded piping is permitted only up to 4 inches in diameter and only at pressures no greater than 1/2 psig; all piping greater than 4 inches must be welded regardless of operating pressure, and welded piping 2-1/2 inches or greater in diameter must be butt-welded (NYC Fuel Gas Code 2022, Section 403.1.1).
- Hot water piping length: The developed length of hot or tempered water piping from the source to the fixture is limited to 20 feet, or the maximum length permitted by the New York City Energy Conservation Code, whichever applies (NYC Plumbing Code 2022, Section 607.2).
- Water service near a sewer: The 5-foot earth separation is waived where the bottom of the water service pipe within 5 feet of the sewer or drain is a minimum of 12 inches above the top of the highest point of the sewer or drain and the pipe materials conform to Section 703.1 (NYC Plumbing Code 2022, Section 603.2, Exception 1).
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Closed book (no books in the room) |
- Written examination results are given as a printed score report immediately after testing showing overall score, grade and pass/fail, while practical results are mailed within four to six weeks.
Source: Candidate Information Bulletin – Master Plumber License Examinations, Last Updated 06.24.2025. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.