North Carolina Contractor Licenses
State Licenses
Select a license to view its requirements, definition, exams, books, and classes.
North Carolina general contractors can have one of five license classifications: Building, Residential, Highway, Public Utilities, and Specialty. Specialties include asbestos, boring and tunneling, concrete construction, insulation, interior construction, marine construction, masonry construction, railroad construction, roofing, metal erection, swimming pools, and wind turbines, while Public Utilities include communications, electrical – ahead of point of delivery, fuel distribution, water and sewer lines, or water purification and sewage disposal.
North Carolina electrical contractors can have one of ten license classifications: limited electrical, intermediate electrical, unlimited electrical, single family detached, fire alarm low voltage, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning electrical, elevator electrical, ground water pump electrical, electric sign, or swimming pool electrical. The State of North Carolina has electrical endorsements agreements with: California, Colorodo, Georgia, NASCLA®, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.
North Carolina plumbing, heating, and fire sprinkler contractors can have one of the following license classifications: plumbing class I or II; plumbing restricted limited; plumbing tech; fuel piping; fuel piping tech; heating group 1 class I, II or tech; heating group 2 contractor or tech; heating group 3 class I, II, or tech; fire sprinkler installation, inspection technician; fire sprinkler installation residential or limited maintenance technician; and state/local government tech for heating groups 1, 2, or 3 or plumbing.
North Carolina refrigeration contractors can have one of five license classifications: commercial, industrial, service, or transport refrigeration.
NASCLA© exams are accepted in North Carolina. All NASCLA© exams accepted by NC are listed below.
Asbestos
Renovation or demolition of Regulated Asbestos Containing Materials (RACM)
Boring and Tunneling
Digging or Boring for underground or underwater passageways
Building
Commercial and residential building construction
Commercial Refrigeration
Install, service, and maintain commercial refrigeration equipment
Communications
Distribution cable and pole lines for telephone systems, aerial and underground cable for cable TV, fiber optic cable, microwave systems, and cellular telephone towers
Concrete
Foundations, pre-case silos, concrete tanks, pre-stressed components, gunite (does not include bridges, streets, side-walks, curbs, gutters, driveways, parking lots, and highways)
Electrical (NASCLA)
Passing the Electrical NASCLA© exam qualifies a NC contractor to apply for the Unlimited Electrical License
Electric Sign
Electric sign wiring (isolated from the building wiring system)
Electrical- Ahead of Point Delivery
Electrical wiring systems, including sub-stations, to be operated by electric power supplier for the purpose of providing electrical services to one or more customers
Elevator Electrical
Electrical wiring incidental to the operation of elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, or personnel hoists
Fire Alarm/Low Voltage
Low voltage wiring only
Fire Sprinkler Installation
Installation of water-based automatic fire sprinkler system. Must have a current certification by NICET for "Fire Protection Engineering, Level III, Automatic Sprinkler System Layout"
Fire Sprinkler Inspection
Inspection and testing of water-based automatic fire sprinkler system. Must have a current certification by NICET for "Fire Protection Engineering, Level III, Automatic Sprinkler System Layout"
Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician
Inspection and testing of water-based automatic fire sprinkler systems. This is not a contractor’s license. To obtain the license without examination, an applicant must hold a current certification by NICET for "Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems, Level II"
Fire Sprinkler Installation Residential
Residential water-based automatic fire sprinkler systems only
Fire Sprinkler Limited Maintenance Technician
Inspection and maintenance of water-based automatic sprinkler systems on the premises of the employer. This is not a contracting license
Fuel Distribution
Distribution pipelines for petroleum fuels, natural gas, chemicals and slurries. Includes all related excavating, trenching, and backfilling, as well as replacement of fuel storage tanks
Fuel Piping
Fuel gas piping source to any point within premises
Fuel Piping Technician
Fuel gas piping source to any point within premises while employed by a Contractors
General (NASCLA)
Passing the General NASCLA© exam will qualify you for the Building License in North Carolina
Grading and Excavating
Dig, move, place, excavate, grade, trench, and backfill
Groundwater Pump Electrical
Electric water incidental to groundwater pumps (cannot exceed 600 volts, phase-to-phase)
Heating Group 1 Class I
"Wet" or "water-based" comfort heating systems in any building (residential, commercial, industrial)
Heating Group 1 Class II
"Wet" or "water-based" comfort heating systems in single-family detached dwellings only
Heating Group 1 Technician
"Wet" or "water-based" comfort heating systems. Must be a sub-licensee of a H1-I or H1-II Contractor. This is not a contracting license
Heating Group 1 State/Local Gov. Technician
"Wet" or "water-based" comfort heating systems. Must be an employee of a state or local government. This is not a contracting license
Heating Group 2
Forced air heating / cooling system with cooling capacity in excess of fifteen (15) tons in any building (residential, commercial, industrial)
Heating Group 2 Technician
Forced air heating / cooling system with cooling capacity in excess of fifteen (15) tons. Must be a sub-licensee of a H2 Contractor
Heating Group 2 State/Local Gov. Technician
Forced air heating / cooling system with cooling capacity in excess of fifteen (15) tons. Must be an employee of a state or local government. This is not a contracting license
Heating Group 3 Class I
Forced air heating / cooling system with cooling capacity of fifteen (15) tons or less in any building (residential, commercial, industrial)
Heating Group 3 Class II
Forced air heating / cooling system with cooling capacity of fifteen (15) tons or less in single-family detached dwellings only
Heating Group 3 Technician
Forced air heating / cooling system with cooling capacity of fifteen (15) tons or less in any building. Must be a sub-licensee of a H3-I or H3-II Contractor. This is not a contracting license
Heating Group 3 State/Local Gov. Technician
Forced air heating / cooling system with cooling capacity of fifteen (15) tons or less. Must be an employee of a state or local government. This is not a contracting license
Highway
Everything involved in highway construction, including grading, all types of paving (including athletic surfaces), and ancillary relocation of public and private utility lines, bridge construction and repair, culvert construction and repair, parking decks, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and storm drainage. It also includes installation and erection of guard rails, fencing, signage and ancillary highway hardware; covers paving and grading of airport and air-field runways, taxiways, and aprons
Industrial Refrigeration
Commercial refrigeration using ammonia as a refrigerant gas
Insulation
Residential and commercial building insulation. It does not include mechanical insulation
Interior Construction
Acoustical ceilings, drywall walls (load bearing and non load-bearing), lathing, plastering, finishing, flooring, interior surfaces (countertops), windows, doors, fixtures, cabinets, and millwork
Intermediate Electrical
Can engage in a single electrical contracting project of no more than $130,000 USD in value
Landscape
Construct, manage, and plant decorative vegetation, including horticulture consultation, planting design, and installation of landscape drainage systems, low-voltage lighting systems, and other ornamental landscape features
Limited Electrical
Can engage in a single electrical contracting project of no more than $50,000 USD in value where the installed equipment is rated at no more than 600 volts
Marine Construction
Pilings, piers, decks, slips, docks, and bulkheads in deep-water installations and in harbors, inlets, sounds, bays, and channels. It does not include other structures required on docks, slips and piers
Masonry
Brick, concrete block, gypsum partition tile, pumice block, other lightweight and facsimile units, fire clay, refractory units, rough cut and dressed stone, marble panels, slate units, structural glazed tile or block, glass brick or block, and solar screen tile or block
Metal Erection
Architectural and structural shapes like tubing, pipe and bars, not limited to steel or aluminum, including curtain walls, tanks of all types, hoppers, structural members for buildings, towers, stairs, conveyor frames, cranes and crane runways, canopies, carports, guard rails, signs, steel scaffolding as a permanent structure, rigging, flagpoles, fences, steel and aluminum siding, bleachers, fire escapes, and seating for stadiums, arenas, and auditoriums
Plumbing Class I
Potable water and drain/waste/vent piping systems in any building (residential, commercial, industrial)
Plumbing Class II
Potable water and drain/waste/vent piping systems in single-family detached dwellings only
Plumbing Restricted Limited
Exterior building sewer piping, exterior water service piping 2 inches or less, exterior backflow preventers on 2 inches or less piping, water filtration systems
Plumbing State/Local Gov. Technician
Potable water and drain / waste / vent piping systems. Must be an employee of a state or local government. This is not a contracting license
Plumbing Technician
Potable water and drain / waste / vent piping systems. Must be a sublicensee of a P-I, P-II or RLP Contractor. This is not a contracting license
Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Electrical
Electrical wiring related to plumbing, heating, and ac equipment where voltage does not exceed 120 volts to ground
Public Utilities
Specialty classifications of S(Boring and Tunneling), PU(Communications), PU(Fuel Distribution), PU(Electrical—Ahead of Point of Delivery), PU (Water Lines and Sewer Lines), PU(Water Purification and Sewage Disposal), and S(Swimming Pools).
Railroad Construction
Includes the clearing and filling of rights-of-way, setting of road beds, setting ties, tie plates, rails, connectors, frogs, switch plates, switches, signal markers, retaining walls, dikes, fences, and gates. Also includes the construction and repair of tool sheds and platforms
Residential
Construction of residential units, including sitework, driveways, sidewalks, and water/waste water systems, insulation, interiors, masonry, roofing and swimming pools
Residential Dwelling (Single Family Detached) Electrical
Electrical work on single-family detached residential dwellings
Roofing
Installation and repair of roofs and decks on residential and commercial buildings. It covers cedar, cement, asbestos, clay tile and composition shingles, all types of metal coverings, wood shakes, single ply and built-up roofing, protective and reflective roof and deck coatings, sheet metal valleys, flashings, gravel stops, gutters and downspouts, and bituminous waterproofing
Service Refrigeration
Service of refrigeration equipment
Swimming Pools
Construction, service and repair of swimming pools. Includes concrete, gunite, plastic-type pools, pool decks, walkways, tiling and coping, and installation of pumps, filters and chemical feeders
Swimming Pool Electrical
Swimming pool electrical bonding work, including a common bonding grid, as well as forming shells for lighting fixtures and underwater audio equipment, and junction boxes
Transport Refrigeration
Installation, maintenance, and repair of transport refrigeration
Unlimited Electrical
Can engage in any electrical contracting project regardless of value
Water Lines and Sewer Lines
Water and sewer mains, water service lines, house and building sewer lines, water storage tanks, lift stations, pumping stations, and appurtenances to water storage tanks, lift stations and pumping stations. Includes incidental patching and backfill
Water Purification and Sewage Disposal
Water and wastewater systems, including treatment facilities. Includes incidental grading, paving, sidewalk, curb and gutter work, as well as work specific to waste water treatment facilities like concrete, insulation, interior construction, masonry, roofing, and metal erection
Wind Turbine
Wind turbines, generators, and power units. It also includes ancillary foundation work, field fabrication of metal equipment, and structural support components
North Carolina General Contractor's Board Contact Information
Office of the Board
5400 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612
Telephone: 919 571-4183
Fax: 919 571-4703
Which licenses Are Issued by the NC General Contractor's Board?
- Asbestos
- Boring and Tunneling
- Building
- Communications
- Concrete Construction
- Electrical – Ahead of Point of Delivery
- Fuel Distribution
- Grading and Excavating
- Highway
- Insulation
- Interior
- Marine
- Masonry
- Metal Erection
- Public Utilities
- Railroad
- Residential
- Roofing
- Swimming Pools
- Water and Sewer Lines
- Water Purification and Sewage Disposal
- Wind Turbine
What's the Difference Between Unlimited, Intermediate, and Limited Licenses?
Unlimited, intermediate, and limited are all limitations on the license, you can select which type of limitation you want on your license when you submit your application to the General Contractor’s Board. Unlimited contractors have no restrictions as to the value of any single project; intermediate contractors can work single projects with a value of up to $1 million; and limited contractors can work on single projects with a value of up to $500,000.
What determines which of those limitation status you can get is the amount of working capital in your financial statements. The working capital requirements are $17,000, $75,000, and $150,000 for Limited, Intermediate, and unlimited respectively.
In lieu of demonstrating the level of working capital as required, an applicant may obtain a surety bond. Surety bonds must meet the following requirements.
- Be provided by a surety authorized to transact surety business North Carolina.
- The surety provider shall maintain an AM Best rating of Superior (A++ or A+) or Excellent (A or A-).
- The bond shall be continuous and maintained for as long as the applicant maintains the license. If the bond is cancelled, the license will go invalid after 30 days unless an Agreed-Upon Procedure Report, an audit or a bond is submitted.
- List the State of North Carolina as the oblige.
- Be for the Benefit of any person who is damaged by an act or omission of the applicant constituting a breach of construction contract, breach of a contract for the furnishing of labor, materials, or professional services to be undertaken by the applicant, or by an unlawful act or omission of the applicant in the performance of a construction contract.
- Be for the following amounts based on limitation.
- Limited: $175,000
- Intermediate: $500,000
- Unlimited: $1,000,000
How to Apply for a General Contractor's License in North Carolina
You must submit the License Application to the board so they can send you an approval so you can sit for examination. Once you have been approved you will recieve an Examination Eligibility Letter with instructions to schedule your exam. You only need a Trade exam, Business is not required in North Carolina through the General Contractors Board. Keep in mind that North Carolina requires that anyone who contracts with another person or entity to construct or make improvements to any building, highway, or public utilities, including grading, or who undertakes to superintend or manage such activities, be licensed as a general contractor if the work costs $30,000 or more.
License Applications are now done through an Online Portal.
Reciprocity for NC General Contractors
North Carolina has reciprocity with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia. Click a state below to view the License by Reciprocity Application for that state.
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Ohio
- Virginia
- West Virginia
PSI© Testing for the NC General Contractor's Board
General Contractor's Candidate Bulletin Information
PSI© Examination Services, Construction Programs
100 Broadway, Suite 1100, Glendale, CA 91210
Telephone: (800) 733-9267 (toll free)
Fax: (818) 247-3853
More information can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions
Electrical Contractor's Board Contact Information
North Carolina Electrical Contractors Board
3101 Industrial Drive, Suite 206 Raleigh, NC 27609
Telephone: (919) 733-9042
Fax: (800) 691-8399
Which Licenses Are Issued by the Electrical Contractor's Board in North Carolina?
- Limited Electrical
- Intermediate Electrical
- Unlimited Electrical
- Single Family Detached (SP-SFD) (Residential Dwelling Electrical)
- Fire Alarm Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV)
- Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Electrical (SP-PH)
- Elevator Electrical (SP-EL)
- Ground Water Pump Electrical (SP-WP)
- Electric Sign (SP-ES)
- Swimming Pool Electrical (SP-SP)
Application Process for Electrical Contractors in North Carolina
You must first submit the Examination Application Form and successfully pass the qualifying examination. Then you must submit the application for the desired Electrical Classification. For the fastest and most convenient examination scheduling process, PSI recommends that you register for your examinations using the Internet. You register online by accessing PSI’s registration website at www.psiexams.com.
Reciprocity Agreements for Electrical Contractors in NC
You can find the reciprocity agreement here. They have reciprocity with Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, Mississippi, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
PSI© testing
PSI© Examination Services, Construction Programs
100 Broadway, Suite 1100, Glendale, CA 91210
Telephone: (800) 733-9267 (toll free)
Fax: (818) 247-3853
More information can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Information for Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractor's Board
Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractor Board
1109 Dresser Court, Raleigh, NC 27609
Telephone: 919-875-3612
Fax: 919-875-3616
E-mail:
Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors Board Website
Which Licenses Are Issued by the Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors Board in North Carolina?
- Plumbing Class I (P-I)
- Plumbing Class II (P-II)
- Restricted Limited Plumbing (RLP)
- Plumbing Technician
- Fuel Piping Technician (FP)
- Heating Group 1 Class I (H1-I)
- Heating Group 1 Class II (H1-II)
- Heating Group 1 Technician (H1-T)
- Heating Group 2 (H2)
- Heating Group 2 Technician (H2-T)
- Heating Group 3 Class I (H3-I)
- Heating Group 3 Class II (H3-II)
- Heating Group 3 Technician (H3-T)
- Fire Sprinkler Installation (FS)
- Fire Sprinkler Inspection
- Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician (FS-IT))
- Plumbing State/Local Gov. Technician (SLGT-P)
- Heating Group 1 State/Local Government Technician (SLGT-H1)
- Heating Group 2 State/Local Government Technician (SLGT-H2)
- Heating Group 3 State/Local Government Technician (SLGT-H3)
- Fire Sprinkler Installation Residential (RFSIC)
- Fire Sprinkler Limited Maintenance Technician (FS-M)
- Fuel Piping (FP)
Application and Examination Process for NC Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
All applicants are required to obtain a current copy of the Board's Laws and Rules Book prior to making application to the Board for any examination or license. Once you order the Board's Laws and Rules Book you must submit your application to the Board. There are different applications for the different licenses, they can all be found. Once you pass your exams (This board requires some licenses to take a Business and Law Exam) you need to send a License Activation Application Form to Activate your license. Send the activation form within 45 days of passing the exam. It is much faster to email the form to
Reciprocity for Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors in NC
There are no reciprocity agreements with any other state. All persons desiring to obtain licensure with this Board must meet the requirements listed herein and satisfactorily complete the applicable examination(s). For more information please go to NC Exam Information.
NC Refrigeration Contractor's Board Contact Information
Refrigeration Contractors Board
1027 US 70 Hwy W, Suite 221 Garner, NC 27529
Telephone: (919)779-4711
Fax: (919)779-4733
E-mail:
Which licenses are issued by the Refrigeration Contractor’s Board?
The refrigeration contractor’s board in NC issues the following licenses:
- Commercial Refrigeration Contractor
- Industrial Refrigeration Contractor
- Service Refrigeration Contractor
- Transport Refrigeration Contractor
Application and Examination Information
In order to pass the qualifying examination, an applicant is required to pass all parts of the examination within the same one-year period and within no more than three consecutive attempts. Each time an applicant takes the examination, he shall take all parts for which he does not have currently valid passing grades. If the applicant fails to pass all parts within one year or within three consecutive attempts (whichever period is shorter), any passing grades for individual parts shall no longer be valid and the applicant must start over by re-taking all parts of the examination. You can find the application for refrigeration examination by visiting the NC refrigeration examination page.
Reciprocity for North Carolina Refrigeration Contractors
This type of Certifications is valid in all 50 states and US territories and they do not expire
CFC Testing Centers
Their testing is done through community colleges, click here for a list of colleges and testing centers that offer the CFC Certification tests.
More information can be found here in the Frequently Asked Questions
North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board
The North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board is responsible for monitoring violations, conducting exams, issuing licenses, and maintaining records of licensees. The Board consists of nine appointed members whose primary objective is to ensure that no individual practices landscape construction or contracting, advertises using any title or description that implies licensure as a landscape contractor, or uses the designation “landscape contractor” unless they possess a valid license from the NCLCLB. As regulated by the Landscape Contractors Law (Chapter 89D), the Board aims to maintain a high professional standard for the landscape industry and safeguard the life, health, and property of consumers.
Which Licenses are Issued by the Landscape Contractor's Board?
The Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board in NC issues the following licenses:
Application and Examination Information
- Meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Possess a good moral character
- Submit an Application along with its corresponding fee
- Provide evidence of business identification, letters of reference, a Surety Compliance Bond, an Irrevocable Letter of Credit from a financial institution, or any other requested document
- Pass an examination administered by the Board. The exam must be taken and passed within a year from the date of approval of the application.
For more information on how to apply for this license Please visit the NCLCLB Application Process.
Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board Contact Information
Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board
3901 Barrett Dr., Ste 202, Raleigh, NC 27609
Telephone: (919) 266-8070
Fax: (919) 782-9470
E-mail:
Helpful Links
North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board
NCLCLB Licensing
NCLCLB Application Process
NCLCLB Education
Licensee Search
NCLCLB Frequently Asked Questions
