Scheduling and Taking Your Exam(s)
Title 1 of the Rules of City of New York § 104-01 License Qualifications (c) (2) (iv) & (v) https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/rules/1_RCNY_104-01.pdf, specifies important examination procedures. Several key points will be summarized here; however, it is all candidates’ responsibility to be aware of these procedures and their related requirements.
For all exams, candidates must complete their examination within six (6) months of the date they are notified of their approval to test examination. If a candidate does not take the examination within six (6) months of notification of approval for testing, then they will need to reapply through the Department and pay the corresponding examination fee.
When a practical examination is required after passing a written examination, candidates must submit their LIC42 (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/applications-forms.page) application within two (2) months of passing the written examination, and candidates must pass the practical examination within twenty-four (24) months of passing the written examination, or the candidates must first retake and pass the written examination (including reapplying with the LIC41 [https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/applications-forms.page] form and paying all associated fees).
After your examination application with the Department has been accepted, you will receive an Admission Notice via email that you may schedule your written licensure examination. This Admission Notice will provide the information you need to schedule your examination, including a link to the scheduling website. You may only test one time per notification of eligibility. Each time you fail, you must reapply with the Department.
After scheduling the examination, you will receive a confirmation email with appointment details. Visit the CPS HR website at (https://nycdob.cpshr.us) for more information.
To ensure that all candidates are tested under equal and favorable conditions, the regulations and procedures outlined below will be observed. Failure to follow these procedures may result in disqualification from licensure.
CPS HR reserves the right to audiotape and videotape any written examination session.
Please note that the following security procedures will apply during the examination:
- No smoking, eating, or drinking is allowed in the examination center.
- You are not permitted to bring any visitors to the test facility (e.g., children are not allowed in the examination area).
- Copying or communicating examination content is a violation of security regulations and may result in the cancellation of your examination results and/or legal action taken under copyright laws.
Required Identification Documentation for Examination Site Check-in
Upon arrival, you will be required to present two forms of identification in order to take your examination.
The first form of identification must be a current and valid, government-issued identification with a photo. In addition, it must contain your signature and the name on the identification must match the name you used to register for your examination. Acceptable forms of identification that meet these standards include the following:
- State Issued Driver’s License
- State Issued Identification Card
- Current U.S. Government Issued Passport
- U.S. Government Issued Military Identification Card
- U.S. Permanent Resident card with a photo (“Green Card”)
The second form of identification may be any non-expired identification with a photo.
If you arrive at the test center without IDs that meet the above requirements, you will not be permitted to test, and you will have to reapply with the department in order to schedule another examination appointment.
Personal Items
We recommend that you do not bring any unnecessary personal items to your examination appointment as storage may not be available.
- Notes, books, calculators, pens and pencils are not permitted. You will have access to an online calculator and scratch paper, pens, and pencils will be provided for you.
- Electronic equipment (e.g., cameras, tape recorders, cellular telephones, PDAs, pagers) are not permitted in the testing areas.
- No hats, scarves, or other non-essential garments are allowed in the testing center.
- Pocket items beyond keys or a wallet are not permitted in the testing center.
- Other personal items (e.g., briefcases, backpacks) are not permitted in the testing center.
Breaks
Once you have been seated and the examination begins, breaks are not permitted. You may leave the examination center only to use the restroom, and only after obtaining permission from the proctor. In this case, you must also sign out/in on the roster and you will not receive extra time to complete the examination.
Misconduct or Disruptive Behavior
Candidates who engage in any kind of misconduct, disruptive, or offensive behavior may be dismissed from the examination. Such behavior includes giving or receiving help, sharing supplies, taking part in an act of impersonation, removing test materials or notes from the testing room, using rude or offensive language and behavior that delays or interrupts testing.
Any candidate seen giving or receiving assistance, found with unauthorized materials, or who violates any security regulations will be asked to surrender all examination materials and to leave the examination center. All such instances will be reported to the Department and you may be denied licensure.
Weapons
Weapons are not allowed at the testing center.
Exam Security
All test questions are the copyrighted property of the Department. It is forbidden under federal copyright law to copy, reproduce, record, distribute or display these test questions by any means, in whole or in part, without the Department’s written permission. Doing so may subject you to severe civil and criminal penalties, including up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine for criminal violations.
By registering for the exam, you agree to comply with all testing regulations required by NYC DOB and/or NYC DOB’s authorized contractors administering the Licensing Exam(s). Furthermore, you agree without limitation that you will help maintain exam security by not: cheating; providing or accepting improper assistance; using unauthorized materials that are in any way related to the licensing requirements; allowing other persons to use any of your licensing exam answers or personal registration information; disclosing, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting any confidential information, in any form, to any third party (including those who have also taken the test); requesting any other individual to disclose any test or any part thereof to you; bringing in or taking out any materials from the examination area without permission; nor any other unauthorized behavior that violates exam security. Failure to comply, may result in fines; civil action; denial, suspension, or revocation of license; indefinite ban from seeking a license; or any other action that NYC DOB view as appropriate.
Holidays
Testing generally does not occur on the following holidays:
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Important Written Exam Scheduling Information
The written examination is administered by CPS HR’s partner, Pearson VUE, at one of their several convenient test centers in and around the City. You may schedule via the Internet by clicking on the link found in your eligibility confirmation email. When registering for your examination, you will be provided with a list of available test locations and availability options. You will be able to choose the center that is most convenient for you.
For the written examination, the Proctor will give you a printed score report immediately following completion of the examination. The report indicates overall score and grade and whether you passed or failed. Proctors do not have any information about these tests or scoring methods.
Whether you pass or fail, you will receive a printed score report following completion of the examination. The Department requires you to submit the original pass score report as part of the submission of your background investigation documents.
Duplicate Score Reports
You can get a duplicate score report through your personal Pearson Vue web account any time after completing the examination or email your request for a duplicate score report to [email protected] .
If You Need to Reschedule/Cancel a Written Examination Appointment
You may cancel and reschedule an examination appointment within your personal Pearson VUE web account without forfeiting your fee if your cancellation occurs more than two (2) calendar days before the scheduled examination date. For example, for a Monday appointment, the cancellation notice would need to be received on or before the previous Saturday. The website link to cancel appointments is provided in all examination scheduling confirmation emails.
Please note that you may also use the automated system 24 hours a day in order to cancel and reschedule your appointment. If you do not cancel or reschedule your examination more than two (2) calendar days in advance, you will have to submit another examination application and pay an additional fee.
Cancellations do not extend the original six (6) month deadline to take the written examination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you take the written examination within the six (6) month period of eligibility.
If You Missed or Were Late to Your Written Examination Appointment
Your application will be invalid, you will not be able to take the examination as scheduled, and you will forfeit your examination fee if you:
- Do not cancel your appointment at least two calendar days before the scheduled examination date.
- Do not appear for your examination appointment.
- Arrive after examination start time.
- Do not present proper identification when you arrive for the examination.
EXCEPTION: Excused absences and reschedules within two days of the examination appointment are permissible if, and only if, required by an emergency situation. Relevant documentation MUST be submitted with any emergency reschedule request.
The following are acceptable emergencies with examples of the relevant documentation accepted:
- Illness
Of the candidate or the candidate’s immediate family (i.e., Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Brother, Sister, Mother in- law, Father in- law, Stepchildren, Children, or Spouse only)- Example documentation accepted – A doctor’s note, medical center admittance/discharge paperwork that includes medical center name, address, signature of physician, candidate name, and the date of the exam.
- Death
In the immediate family (i.e., Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Brother, Sister, Mother in- law, Father in- law, Stepchildren, Children, or Spouse only)- Example documents accepted- Obituary, Death Certificate, or funeral program that list the candidate’s family member that passed away.
- Disabling Traffic Accident
- Example documents accepted- Police report, Tow Receipt, or Repair receipt.
- Court Appearance or Jury Duty
- Example documents accepted- Court Summons, Jury Summons, court filing papers.
- Military Duty
- Example documents accepted- Copy of “Orders.”
- Weather Emergency
- Example document accepted- Weather advisory, weather state of emergency declaration, or official department of transportation documentation.
Important Practical Exam Scheduling Information
If you pass the written examination, you will be notified immediately, and you will be eligible to apply for the practical examination. You must complete and submit the practical examination application as outlined on the Department’s website, located at http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/lic42.pdf. Check the box that indicates you are a Master Plumber candidate and submit the application with the $350 fee (as noted above). You must submit your practical examination application within two (2) months of the date you receive notification of passing the written examination.
The Department will transmit your information to CPS HR. CPS HR will schedule you for a practical examination administration within approximately two (2) months of receiving your information from the Department. When your examination administration has been scheduled, you will receive an Admission Notice from CPS HR. At that time, you may confirm your attendance or request to be rescheduled to a future exam date, if your eligibility window allows. All confirmations are final.
You must bring a hard copy of your Admission Notice to your practical examination. Candidates appearing for the examination without a hard copy of their Admission Notice will not be allowed to take the practical examination and you will not be reimbursed for the exam fee.
Duplicate Score Reports
To request a duplicate score report, email your request to [email protected].
If You Need to Reschedule/Cancel a Practical Examination Appointment
If you receive your Admission Notice from CPS HR and confirm your availability, your confirmation is considered final. However, excused reschedules and absences are permissible if, and only if, required by an emergency situation. Relevant documentation MUST be submitted with any emergency reschedule request.
The following are acceptable emergencies with examples of the relevant documentation accepted:
- Illness
Of the candidate or the candidate’s immediate family (i.e., Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Brother, Sister, Mother in- law, Father in- law, Stepchildren, Children, or Spouse only)- Example documentation accepted – A doctor’s note, medical center admittance/discharge paperwork that includes medical center name, address, signature of physician, candidate name, and the date of the exam.
- Death
In the immediate family (i.e., Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Brother, Sister, Mother in- law, Father in- law, Stepchildren, Children, or Spouse only)- Example documents accepted- Obituary, Death Certificate, or funeral program that list the candidate’s family member that passed away.
- Disabling Traffic Accident
- Example documents accepted- Police report, Tow Receipt, or Repair receipt.
- Court Appearance or Jury Duty
- Example documents accepted- Court Summons, Jury Summons, court filing papers.
- Military Duty
- Example documents accepted- Copy of “Orders.”
- Weather Emergency
- Example document accepted- Weather advisory, weather state of emergency declaration, or official department of transportation documentation.
If you are unable to attend the practical examination on the date stated in your Admission Notice due to a reason that is NOT approved, you will be required to reapply for the practical examination (including paying another practical examination fee).
Rescheduling will not extend the original six (6) month deadline to take the practical examination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you take the examination within your six (6) month period of eligibility.
If You Missed or Were Late to Your Practical Examination Appointment
Your application will be invalid, you will not be able to take the examination as scheduled, and you will forfeit your examination fee if you:
- Do not appear for your examination appointment.
- Arrive more than 15 minutes after the examination call time stated in your Admission Notice.
- Do not present proper identification when you arrive for the examination.
- Do not have a hard copy of your Admission Notice.
EXCEPTION: If a candidate experiences an emergency, as defined above, then the examination appointment can be rescheduled, contingent on Departmental approval based on their review of the request and all available supporting documentation.