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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.

PSI© Testing for the NC General Contractor's Board

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

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