- No state license needed for a job under $40,000.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- You must show financial strength. A limited license needs $17,000 in working capital or $80,000 net worth. A surety bond can be used instead: $175,000 for limited, $500,000 for intermediate, $1,000,000 for unlimited.
- Every year. A license expires on January 1 after it is issued or renewed.
Do you need a state license in North Carolina?
North Carolina licenses some roofing work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No state license needed for a job under $40,000.
North Carolina license types for roofing 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 |
|---|---|
| Specialty Contractor, S(Roofing) | Roofing work under a specialty license |
| Building Contractor | All building types; also covers work in the S(Roofing) specialty |
| Residential Contractor | Homes under the residential code; also covers roofing work on those homes |
Steps to get licensed in North Carolina
- Check if your roofing jobs will be $40,000 or more.
- Name a qualifier who will take the board exam.
- Show financial responsibility with working capital, net worth or a surety bond.
- Apply online through the board and pay the application fee.
- Pass the PSI exam for your classification.
- Renew every year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The board's pages do not list one.
The license to apply for. General Contractor license with the S(Roofing) specialty classification (for jobs of $40,000 or more).
North Carolina roofing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The qualifier must pass an exam approved by the board. Exams are computer based and given by PSI.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in North Carolina
The board lists 4 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 |
|---|---|
| Application fee, limited license (maximum set by law) | $75 |
| Application fee, intermediate license (maximum set by law) | $100 |
| Application fee, unlimited license (maximum set by law) | $125 |
| Exam fee (maximum set by law) | $100 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. You must show financial strength. A limited license needs $17,000 in working capital or $80,000 net worth. A surety bond can be used instead: $175,000 for limited, $500,000 for intermediate, $1,000,000 for unlimited.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. A license expires on January 1 after it is issued or renewed.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in North Carolina
- License limits by job size: limited up to $750,000, intermediate up to $1,500,000, unlimited with no limit.
- You must be at least 18 to apply.
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 roofer 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 Licensing Board for General 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 roofing companies run on Koira.