License applicants

Anyone seeking to be licensed as a general contractor in North Carolina shall submit an application and meet the following requirements.

1. be at least 18 years old,
2. possess good moral character, as determined by the Board
3. provide evidence of financial responsibility, as determined by the Board
4. submit the appropriate application fee.

An applicant shall identify an individual who has successfully passed an examination approved by the Board who, for purposes of this section, shall be known as the “qualifier” or the “qualifying party” of the applicant. If the qualifier or the qualifying party seeks to take an examination the examination shall establish (i) the ability of the applicant to make a practical application of the applicant’s knowledge of the profession of contracting; (ii) the qualifications of the applicant in reading plans and specifications, knowledge of relevant matters contained in the North Carolina State Building Code, knowledge of estimating costs, construction , ethics, and other similar matters pertaining to the contracting business; (iii) the knowledge of the applicant as to the responsibilities of a contractor to the public and of the requirements of the laws of the State of North Carolina relating to contractors, construction, and liens; and (iv) the applicant’s knowledge of requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973, Article 4 of Chapter 113A of the General Statutes, and the rules adopted pursuant to that Article. If the qualifier or qualifying party passes the examination, upon review of the application and all relevant information, the Board shall issue a license to the applicant to engage in general contracting in the State of North Carolina, which may be limited as follows:

(1) Building contractor, which shall include private, public, commercial, industrial and residential buildings of all types.

(1a) Residential contractor, which shall include any general contractor constructing only residences which are required to conform to the residential building code adopted by the Building Code Council pursuant to G.S. 143-138.

(2) Highway contractor.

(3) Public utilities contractors, which shall include those whose operations are the performance of construction work on the following subclassifications of facilities:

a. Water and sewer mains, water service lines, and house and building sewer lines as defined in the North Carolina State Building Code, and water storage tanks, lift stations, pumping stations, and appurtenances to water storage tanks, lift stations, and pumping stations.

b. Water and wastewater treatment facilities and appurtenances thereto.

c. Electrical power transmission facilities, and primary and secondary distribution facilities ahead of the point of delivery of electric service to the customer.

d. Public communication distribution facilities.

e. Natural gas and other petroleum products distribution facilities; provided the General Contractors Licensing Board may issue license to a public utilities contractor limited to any of the above subclassifications for which the general contractor qualifies.

(4) Specialty contractor, which shall include those whose operations as such are the performance of construction work requiring special skill and involving the use of specialized building trades or crafts, but which shall not include any operations now or hereafter under the jurisdiction, for the issuance of license by any board or commission pursuant to the laws of the State of North Carolina.

See NCAC Title 21 Chapter 12A .0202 for detailed descriptions of classifications.

Computerized-based examinations for the Licensing Board for General Contractors are administered by PSI Examination Services. PSI publishes a Candidate Information Bulletin.