Contractor licensing by state
How to Get a Contractor License in North Carolina
North Carolina requires a state license for every trade we track. The main contractor license is the General contractor license, which costs $75 to start and needs the Exam for the chosen classification exam. Of the 10 trades we could rate, electrical work is the easiest to get licensed for and landscape irrigation the hardest.
The North Carolina contractor license
| License | General contractor license (NC Licensing Board for General Contractors), required when the cost of the undertaking is $40,000 or more |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition |
| Fee | $75 (application for a Limited license ($100 Intermediate, $125 Unlimited); renewal is the same amount each year) |
| Exam | Exam for the chosen classification (Building, Residential, Highway, Public Utilities or a Specialty); NASCLA accepted for Building. Given by PSI. |
| Bond | $17,000. Source |
| Background check | Required |
| Continuing education | 8 hours a year for at least one qualifier (2 hour mandatory course plus 6 elective hours). |
| Processing time | The Board says new applications take about 2 weeks for initial processing, about 30 days when submitted with a completed exam. |
| Renewal | Licenses expire January 1 each year; renewal is $75, $100 or $125 by limitation, plus $10 a month late. |
How to apply
- Decide whether any single job will reach $40,000; below that no license is needed.
- Pick the classification (Residential, Building, or a Specialty such as S(Concrete Construction) or S(Roofing)) and the limitation.
- Show the working capital or net worth, or post the surety bond.
- Apply to the Board, consent to the background check, and pass the PSI exam for the classification.
- Renew by January 1 each year with 8 hours of continuing education.
Limited covers single projects up to $750,000, Intermediate up to $1,500,000, Unlimited has no cap. The exam fee may be up to $100 under the statute. A homeowners recovery fund fee is collected on single family residential permits.
State license requirements for each trade in North Carolina
| Foundation repair | Residential classification, or the specialty S(Concrete Construction), for jobs | $75 | Exam for the chosen classification | None listed | Moderate · 35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Residential | $75 | Exam for the chosen classification | None listed | Moderate · 35 |
| Roofing | Specialty S(Roofing), for jobs of $40,000 or more | $75 | Exam for the chosen classification | None listed | Moderate · 35 |
| Plumbing | Plumbing Contractor, Class I | Business and law exam | 2 years | Moderate or harder · 36+ | |
| Electrical | Electrical contractor license, Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited or Special Restr | $100 | Electrical contractor exam for the classification | 1.5 years | Moderate · 31 |
| HVAC | Heating Group 3 Contractor | Business and law exam | 2 years | Moderate or harder · 36+ | |
| Irrigation | Irrigation Contractor license | $100 | NC Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Exam | 3 years | Hard · 51 |
| Concrete flatwork | Residential classification | $75 | Exam for the chosen classification | None listed | Moderate · 35 |
| Drainage and detention | Specialty H(Grading and Excavating), or Building or Highway classification, for | $75 | Exam for the chosen classification | None listed | Moderate · 35 |
| Demolition | Building or Residential classification | $75 | Exam for the chosen classification | None listed | Moderate · 35 |
Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.
Trades ranked from easiest to hardest in North Carolina
- Electrical, moderate (31)
- Concrete flatwork, moderate (35)
- Demolition, moderate (35)
- Drainage and detention, moderate (35)
- Foundation repair, moderate (35)
- General contracting, moderate (35)
- Roofing, moderate (35)
- HVAC, moderate or harder (36+)
- Plumbing, moderate or harder (36+)
- Irrigation, hard (51)
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| License | Residential classification, or the specialty S(Concrete Construction), for jobs of $40,000 or more |
|---|---|
| Board | NC Licensing Board for General Contractors |
S(Concrete Construction) covers construction, demolition and installation of foundations, but excludes sidewalks, driveways and streets. The Residential classification covers construction of residential units built to the Residential Building Code. A foundation repair under $40,000 needs no state general contractor license, though the local building department still issues the permit.
The county or city inspections department issues the permit and decides whether an engineer's design is needed.
- Price the job; at $40,000 or more you need a general contractor license.
- Qualify for Residential or S(Concrete Construction) and the right limitation.
- Pull the local building permit.
Difficulty 35, moderate (exams 15, fees 2, bond 8, background check 4, continuing education 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against G.S. 87-1; NCLBGC 2026 laws and regulations book.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| License | Residential (or Building) classification, for jobs of $40,000 or more |
|---|---|
| Board | NC Licensing Board for General Contractors |
Residential covers construction and demolition of residential units plus related site work, driveways, sidewalks and water and wastewater systems. Building covers all building construction and demolition.
Permits come from the county or city inspections department.
- Qualify for Residential or Building with the right limitation.
- Pass the PSI exam and meet the financial test.
- Pull local permits.
Difficulty 35, moderate (exams 15, fees 2, bond 8, background check 4, continuing education 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NCLBGC, classifications and limitations.
Roofing
| License | Specialty S(Roofing), for jobs of $40,000 or more |
|---|---|
| Board | NC Licensing Board for General Contractors |
Residential and Building licensees can also do roofing within their classification.
Reroof permit rules are set by the county or city.
- Qualify for S(Roofing) if any job reaches $40,000.
- Pull local permits.
Difficulty 35, moderate (exams 15, fees 2, bond 8, background check 4, continuing education 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NCLBGC, classifications and limitations.
Plumbing
| License | Plumbing Contractor, Class I (all buildings) or Class II (single family detached dwellings) |
|---|---|
| Board | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors |
| Exam | Business and law exam; Plumbing technical exam. Given by NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Exam fee $100. |
| Experience | 4,000 hours (two years) of full time on site plumbing experience; approved education can count for up to half. |
| Background check | Required |
A nationwide criminal record report from CastleBranch must be attached to the application. The exam fee is $100 per exam. The initial license fee was not confirmed.
Plumbing permits come from the county or city inspections department.
- Log 4,000 hours of plumbing experience.
- Apply with the background report and pass both exam parts ($100 per exam).
- Pay the license fee and pull local permits.
Difficulty 36+, moderate or harder (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 2, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NC PHFP exam application (2026).
Electrical
| License | Electrical contractor license, Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited or Special Restricted SP-SFD (single family dwellings) |
|---|---|
| Board | NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors |
| Fee | $100 (Limited license fee ($150 Intermediate, $200 Unlimited, $100 special restricted), plus $125 application and exam fee) |
| Exam | Electrical contractor exam for the classification (100 questions, 6 hours). Given by PSI. Exam fee $125. |
| Experience | Limited needs 3,000 hours (2,000 primary); Intermediate needs 5,750 hours (5,000 primary). |
| Bond | Intermediate and Unlimited applicants submit a bonding ability statement or bank line of credit letter. |
Candidates who passed the NASCLA residential exam may get only the SP-SFD license. Experience hours are from 21 NCAC 18B as summarized by the Board; confirm the SP-SFD hours with the Board.
Electrical permits come from the county or city inspections department.
- Document the experience hours for the classification.
- Apply ($125) and pass the PSI exam.
- Pay the license fee and pull local permits.
Difficulty 31, moderate (exams 15, experience 8, fees 4, bond 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NCBEEC, fees; NCBEEC, 21 NCAC 18B.
HVAC
| License | Heating Group 3 Contractor (H3), Class I or Class II, for forced air heating and cooling up to 15 tons; Heating Group 1 and 2 for hydronic and larger systems |
|---|---|
| Board | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors |
| Exam | Business and law exam; Heating Group 3 technical exam. Given by NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Exam fee $100. |
| Experience | 4,000 hours (two years) of full time on site experience. |
| Background check | Required |
Class II is limited to single family detached dwellings.
Mechanical permits come from the county or city inspections department.
- Log 4,000 hours of HVAC experience.
- Pass both exam parts ($100 per exam).
- Pay the license fee and pull local permits.
Difficulty 36+, moderate or harder (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 2, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NC PHFP exam application (2026).
Irrigation
| License | Irrigation Contractor license |
|---|---|
| Board | NC Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board |
| Fee | $100 (application fee; first exam is $340 and the study guide $100) |
| Exam | NC Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Exam (water efficiency, irrigation construction, business; 70 percent per section). Given by NC Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board. Exam fee $340. |
| Experience | Three years of irrigation related experience or the educational equivalent. |
| Bond | $10,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit, kept for the life of the license. |
| Continuing education | 10 hours a year (6 irrigation, 4 business), as summarized by the Board. |
| Renewal | Annual. |
Holders of the Irrigation Association's CIC certification, or a current Texas or New Jersey irrigation license, can skip the state exam.
Irrigation permits and backflow rules come from the local government and water system.
- Document three years of experience.
- Apply ($100) and pass the three section exam ($340).
- Post the $10,000 bond and get the license.
Difficulty 51, hard (exams 15, experience 15, fees 9, bond 8, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NCICLB, licensing.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| License | Residential classification (residential driveways and sidewalks) or Highway classification (public sidewalks, curbs and gutters), for jobs of $40,000 or more |
|---|---|
| Board | NC Licensing Board for General Contractors |
S(Concrete Construction) excludes sidewalks, curbs, gutters, driveways and parking lots, so flatwork is not covered by that specialty.
Ask the road owner, city or state, what permit work in the right of way needs.
- Check the job value against $40,000.
- Qualify in Residential or Highway if needed.
- Ask the road owner about a right of way permit.
Difficulty 35, moderate (exams 15, fees 2, bond 8, background check 4, continuing education 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NCLBGC 2026 laws and regulations book.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| License | Specialty H(Grading and Excavating), or Building or Highway classification, for jobs of $40,000 or more |
|---|---|
| Board | NC Licensing Board for General Contractors |
H(Grading and Excavating) covers cut, fill, excavation, grade, trench and backfill and work on earthen dams. The Building classification includes site work, drainage and retaining walls; Highway includes storm drainage.
Grading and stormwater approvals come from the local government; state stormwater rules are not covered here.
- Check the job value against $40,000.
- Qualify in H(Grading and Excavating) or Building.
Difficulty 35, moderate (exams 15, fees 2, bond 8, background check 4, continuing education 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NCLBGC 2026 laws and regulations book.
Demolition
| License | Building or Residential classification (both include demolition), for jobs of $40,000 or more; S(Asbestos) for asbestos work |
|---|---|
| Board | NC Licensing Board for General Contractors |
There is no separate demolition specialty; demolition is part of the Building, Residential, Highway and Public Utilities classifications. State asbestos notice rules are not covered here.
Demolition permits come from the county or city inspections department.
- Check the job value against $40,000.
- Qualify in Building or Residential.
- Pull the local demolition permit.
Difficulty 35, moderate (exams 15, fees 2, bond 8, background check 4, continuing education 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against NCLBGC, classifications and limitations.
Exams for a North Carolina license
| NC Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Board business and law | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors | $100 per exam | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC plumbing technical exam | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors | $100 per exam | |||||
| North Carolina electrical contractor (Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited) | PSI, for the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors | Paid to the Board with the exam application; no fee to PSI | Apply to the Board again (each approval covers one attempt); wait 3 months after a failed exam | Open book | 100 | 6 hours | |
| NC Heating Group 3 technical exam | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors | $100 per exam | |||||
| NC Irrigation Contractor | NC Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board | $340 first exam, plus a $100 application fee and a one-time $100 study guide fee | $240 |
Tap a column to sort. Each exam name opens the provider's bulletin or exam page. A blank cell is a fact not confirmed from the provider, and the linked bulletin has the full rules.
Checked October 18, 2026 against NC PHFP Board exam application, 2026; PSI NC electrical contractor examination bulletin; NCICLB licensing.
Official sources
- G.S. 87-1, general contractor definition ($40,000 threshold)
- NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, classifications and limitations
- NCLBGC, FAQ for contractors
- NCLBGC, 2026 laws and regulations book
- NC Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, exam application (2026)
- NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, fees
- NC Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board, licensing
Licensing pages for nearby states cover South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.