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North Carolina contractor licenseRequirements, cost, exam

North Carolina licenses general contractors through the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors. A general contractor license is required when the cost of the undertaking is $40,000 or more (G.S. 87-1).1

North Carolina · general contractor

State license required

Experience
No years-of-experience requirement in G.S. 87-10 or in the Board's rules read.1
Exam
The qualifier (the person the license rests on) must pass the Board's exam for each classification, plus NC laws, rules and building code.1
Bond
No bond is required if the applicant shows enough working capital: Limited needs $17,000 working capital or $80,000 net worth.2
Insurance
No general liability insurance requirement for licensure in G.S. 87-10 or in the Board's rules…1
Fees
Application fee $75 (Limited), $100 (Intermediate), $125 (Unlimited) under 21 NCAC 12A.0304, plus an exam fee up to $100.2
Renewal
Licenses expire on the first day of January after issue or renewal and become invalid 60 days later unless renewed.1

NC Licensing Board for General Contractors

How do you get a North Carolina contractor license?

  1. Check that you need a license

    A general contractor license is required when the cost of the undertaking is $40,000 or more (G.S. 87-1).1

  2. Meet the experience rule

    No years-of-experience requirement in G.S. 87-10 or in the Board's rules read.1

  3. Apply to the board$75–$125

    Application fee $75 (Limited), $100 (Intermediate), $125 (Unlimited) under 21 NCAC 12A.0304, plus an exam fee up to $100.2

    NC Licensing Board for General Contractors site
  4. Pass the exam

    The qualifier (the person the license rests on) must pass the Board's exam for each classification, plus NC laws, rules and building code.1

    What's on the exam
  5. File the bond and insurance

    No bond is required if the applicant shows enough working capital: Limited needs $17,000 working capital or $80,000 net worth. No general liability insurance requirement for licensure in G.S. 87-10 or in the Board's rules…2

    North Carolina bond and insurance rules
  6. Get the license, then renew

    Licenses expire on the first day of January after issue or renewal and become invalid 60 days later unless renewed.1

    Renewal and CE

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC licenses in North Carolina

Which license class do you need in North Carolina?

One State Licensing Board for General Contractors license in these classifications: Building, Residential, Highway, Public Utilities (with five subclassifications), and Specialty (roofing, masonry, insulation, grading, etc.).1

Does North Carolina have license reciprocity?

The Board may license holders of other states' licenses without a written exam where the other state offers the same (G.S. 87-15.1), but the applicant must have passed that state's exam or the NASCLA exam and must pass the NC law, rules and building code…1

Do you need workers' comp?

Anyone applying for a building permit on a $40,000+ project must show workers' compensation insurance as required by Chapter 97 (G.S. 87-14(a)(2)).1

North Carolina insurance and bonds

Sources

  1. NC Licensing Board for General Contractors: who needs a license (ncleg.gov, 2026-10-27)
  2. NC Licensing Board for General Contractors: bond (nclbgc.org, 2026-10-27)
  3. NC Licensing Board for General Contractors: Continuing education (nclbgc.org, 2026-10-27)
  4. NC Licensing Board for General Contractors: Reciprocity 06 (www2.myfloridalicense.com, 2026-10-27)
  5. NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (nclbgc.org, 2026-10-27)
  6. NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (ncbeec.org, 2026-10-27)
  7. NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (nclicensing.org, 2026-10-27)