- Two years (4,000 hours) of full-time, on-site plumbing experience. Up to half (2,000 hours) can be related school or technical training.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Every year. Licenses expire on the last day of December and must be renewed.
Do you need a state license in North Carolina?
North Carolina licenses plumbing work at the state level through the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
North Carolina license types for plumbing work
North Carolina splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Class I | Plumbing work in all types of buildings |
| Class II | Plumbing work in single-family detached homes only |
| Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor | A restricted plumbing license with its own shorter exam |
Steps to get licensed in North Carolina
- Get two years (4,000 hours) of full-time plumbing experience.
- Download the plumbing contractor exam application from the board and complete it, with notarized signatures where required.
- Order the reference books on the board's book list and complete the background check.
- Send the application, documents and $150 exam fee to the board.
- Once approved, schedule and take the plumbing exam and the Business and Law exam within 90 days.
- Send the License Activation Form and fee within 45 days of passing.
- Renew every year before the end of December.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Two years (4,000 hours) of full-time, on-site plumbing experience. Up to half (2,000 hours) can be related school or technical training.
The license to apply for. Plumbing Contractor, Class I (all buildings) or Class II (single-family homes).
North Carolina plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. A plumbing contractor exam of about 4 hours. Bring the required reference books.
Business and law exam. Yes. A Business and Law exam of about 1.5 hours, unless you already hold an active contractor license from this board and passed its Business and Law exam after August 2003.
What it costs in North Carolina
The board lists 2 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam fee, per exam | $150 |
| Annual license fee (maximum set by law) | $150 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Licenses expire on the last day of December and must be renewed.
Reciprocity. No reciprocity with any other state. North Carolina has a technical exam waiver agreement with South Carolina for plumbing contractors, but you still must pass the North Carolina business and law exam.
Good to know in North Carolina
- Technician licenses exist for plumbers who work for a contractor. Class I technicians need 18 months (3,000 hours) of experience.
- After you pass the exam, send the License Activation Form and fee within 45 days or you must retest.
- Residents licensed in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia or West Virginia may qualify under the Neighbor State License Recognition Act.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a plumber near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how plumbing companies run on Koira.