NorthCarolina

To work as a general contractor on projects costing more than $30,000 in North Carolina, you must get a license from the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Electrical, plumbing, heating and fire sprinkler contractors must be licensed.

If your company is a partnership or corporation you must register with the North Carolina Secretary of State and include the registration with your application to the Board. You can contact the Secretary of State at:

North Carolina Secretary of State
2 South Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27601-2903
Mailing address: P.O. Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 227626-0622
(919) 807-2225
Fax: (919) 807-2039
http://www.secstate.state.nc.us/

You must furnish proof of financial responsibility on your application. The Board issues a limited, intermediate, or unlimited license according to a company's working capital. Working capital is current assets minus current liabilities. Here's the working capital the Board requires for each license limitation:

	Minimum required
License limitation	working capital	Cost per project
Limited	$17,000	less than $350,000
Intermediate	$75,000	less than $700,000
Unlimited	$150,000	no limit

You must also include three letters of reference that are less than six months old with your application.

The Board issues several types of contractor licenses. You must pass an exam to get any type of license. Here are the types of contractor licenses the Board uses:

Water and sewer lines	Boring and tunneling
Water purification and sewage disposal	Concrete construction
Grading and excavating	Interior construction
Asbestos	Marine construction
Insulation	Masonry construction
Roofing	Railroad construction
Electrical (ahead of point of delivery)	Metal erection
Communications	Swimming pools
Fuel distribution

General contractor's license fees: It costs $50 nonrefundable for each exam you apply for. It costs $100 to apply for an unlimited license. The application fee for an intermediate license is $75 and the limited license application fee is $50. The application fee includes the first year's license fee. All licenses expire on December 31 each year.

At this time the Board has an examination waiver agreement with the state of South Carolina. You won't have to take an exam but you will have to pay whatever fee the Board requires for the license.

To be a Fire Protection Sprinkler contractor you must get a license from the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. To get an application packet, you can contact them at:

Class I - covers all plumbing, heating, and fire sprinkler systems for all structures. To qualify for the exam, you need two years related experience (up to half can be academic or technical training).

Class II - covers plumbing and heating systems in single-family detached residential dwellings. To qualify for the exam you need two years related experience (up to half can be academic or technical training).

Fuel piping license - contracts or installs fuel piping extending from an approved fuel source at or near the premises, which piping is used or may be used to supply fuel to any systems, equipment, or appliances located inside the premises. To qualify for the exam, you need one year related experience (up to half can be academic or technical training).

Fire protection sprinkler contractor's license fees: It will cost you $75 nonrefundable to file an application. The exam costs $150. The plumbing/heating license is $150. The Fire Sprinkler license is $300. Licenses are good until the last day of December each year following the year you get it.

To do electrical contracting work in North Carolina you must get a license from the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. To get an application, contact:

State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
1200 Front St., Suite 105
P. O. Box 18727
Raleigh, NC 27619
(919) 733-9042
Exam application voicemail: 800-392-6102
Fax: (919) 733-6105
http://www.ncbeec.org

The Board issues Limited, Intermediate, and Unlimited licenses and these special restricted licenses:

Single-family detached residences
Low voltage
Plumbing and heating
Electric sign
Elevator
Groundwater pump
Swimming pool bonding

A statement of bonding ability is required to activate a license in both the Intermediate and Unlimited classifications. Intermediate must show bond ability in excess of $25,000.00. Unlimited must show bond ability in excess of $75,000.00.

The Board reciprocates license with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Reciprocity applications are available at http://www.ncbeec.org/reciprocity.htm. You won't have to take an exam but you will have to pay whatever fee the Board requires for the license. All other applicants must take an exam.

Electrical license fees: The fee for Limited and Special Restricted licenses is $60. The fee for an Intermediate license is $100. For an Unlimited license, it cost will cost $150. The exams cost $75. Licenses expire one year after date of issuance.

Recommended Reading for the Electrical Contractor's Exams

National Electrical Code, current edition, National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, P. O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269

National Fire Alarm Code, current edition, National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, P. O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269

Business and Project Management for Contractors, North Carolina Electrical Contractor's Edition, available from the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors

Laws on electrical contracting in North Carolina Administrative Code, Chapter 18B, North Carolina General Statues, Chapter 87, Article 4, and North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors Rules, Title 21.

You have to be prequalified to bid on North Carolina Department of Transportation projects. To get an application, contact:

Some of the details the Department will ask you about are your organization, personnel, financial condition, equipment, and experience. If you want to bid on projects over $50,000, you must prove your company can obtain a payment and performance bond. Also to bid on projects over $30,000 you need a license from the North Carolina Licensing Board for Contractors.

Out-of-state corporations must get a Certificate of Authority from the North Carolina Secretary of State to do business in North Carolina. To apply for this certificate, contact:

For information and forms necessary for conducting business in North Carolina, try the North Carolina Business License Information Office's web page at http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/blio/.