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Plumber · State license

How to get a plumbing license in North Carolina

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 10, 2026

North Carolina does not issue a journeyman plumber license. The state board licenses plumbing contractors (Class I for all buildings, Class II for single-family homes) and offers an optional plumbing technician license, while a worker employed by a licensed contractor needs no license of their own. To take the contractor exam you need two years (4,000 hours) of plumbing experience, and up to half of that can come from school. [1][2][3]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in North Carolina

You don't need a state license or registration to start. A bona fide employee of a licensed plumbing contractor isn't treated as doing plumbing contracting, so your first step is getting hired by a licensed contractor as a helper or apprentice, or finding a registered apprenticeship through ApprenticeshipNC. Keep a record of your hours: they count toward a technician or contractor exam later. [1][2][14][20]

  • High school diploma or GED

    No state rule for workers: employees of a licensed contractor need no license. The Board's exam requirements list experience (up to half of it can be schooling) and don't mention a diploma. ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) Carolinas' registered apprenticeship standards, which list a plumber occupation, require a high school diploma, but ABC says plumbing training may be added later Its current program is electrical. Ask any other sponsor what it requires. [1][2][21][22][23]

  • Minimum age

    The Board may require you to be 18 before you take an exam. Registered apprenticeships in North Carolina can start at 16, but youths under 18 can't do jobs on the NC Department of Labor's hazardous and detrimental list, which includes trenching and excavation, confined spaces, welding, brazing or torch cutting, lead exposure and falls of 10 feet or more, unless an apprenticeship or student-learner exemption applies. [1][24][25]

  • Register before you start work

    No state apprentice or helper registration. The law says registration "is not required at the commencement of the period of experience." [1]

  • Helper jobs

    Allowed: the Board's FAQ (frequently asked questions) says licensed work may be performed by the firm's bona fide W-2 employees, supervised by a listed qualified individual. Your on-site hours count whether or not a license was required for the work. [2][20]

  • Credit for school

    Up to half of the experience for a contractor exam (2,000 hours, or 30 semester hours) can be academic or technical training directly related to the field. [2]

  • Credit for military service

    Current and former military members can use military experience toward the experience requirement, documented with a DD-214 (military discharge papers) and sworn statements from supervisors. GI Bill benefits can be used in VA-approved registered apprenticeships. [2][26]

  • Pay while you learn

    In a registered apprenticeship you're a paid employee from day one, combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. [27]

  • Still in high school?

    A registered apprenticeship can start at 16, while you're still in high school (ApprenticeshipNC youth apprenticeships), and high school students in a qualifying registered apprenticeship can get a community college tuition waiver. NC public schools offer a Plumbing pathway in the Construction career cluster (NC DPI career clusters), and Career & College Promise lets eligible high school students start a community college certificate or diploma program, with tuition paid by the state. State law (G.S. 93B-8.6) lets you apply career technical education hours from NC public schools toward a license in the same occupation Ask the Board how it credits them. [24][28][29][30]

Where to apply in North CarolinaHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors · (919) 875-3612 [4][10]

North Carolina plumbing license at a glance

Who issues licenses
State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors [1][4]
Journeyman license
None Employees of a licensed contractor do not need their own license [1][3]
Contractor experience
4,000 hours (2 years) for Class I or Class II Up to half from approved schooling [2][6]
Technician experience
3,000 hours (Class I) or 2,500 hours Class II [2][7]
Exams
Plumbing technical exam (4 hours) plus a 1.5-hour business and law exam for contractors, given by PSI (a testing company) [6][9]
Fees
$150 per exam application (one per license class) $150 a year for a contractor license, $75 for a technician [6][10][13]
Renewal
Every year by December 31 No continuing education required [1][12]
Reciprocity
No reciprocity South Carolina technical-exam waiver and a neighbor-state law for NC residents [2]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Who needs a plumbing license in North Carolina
  5. The license ladder: no journeyman, then technician or contractor
  6. How much experience you need
  7. The exams
  8. Fees and renewal
  9. Apprenticeships and training in North Carolina
  10. If you're licensed in another state
  11. Military service and recent rule changes
  12. Steps to get licensed
  13. Where to get the hours
  14. Licensed in another state?
  15. Questions people ask

The license pathway in North Carolina

  1. 1

    Helper or employee of a licensed contractor

    You can work as a plumber's helper or installer without a state license if you are a real employee of a licensed contractor. Your hours on the job count toward the experience you need for a license later. [1][6]

  2. 2

    Plumbing technician (Class I or Class II)

    • 3,000 hours on the job
    • Up to half of the experience may be academic or technical training
    • Yes: 4-hour plumbing technical exam (no business and law exam)
    • $150 exam; $75 a year license
    • Yearly; expires December 31

    An optional license that is not a contracting license. You must be listed under a plumbing contractor and can help supervise work within both licenses' limits. Class II requires 2,500 hours and is limited to single-family detached homes. [2][3][7][8][9][10]

  3. 3

    Restricted limited plumbing contractor

    • 1,500 hours on the job
    • Up to half (750 hours) may be academic or technical training
    • Yes: 2-hour technical exam plus 1.5-hour business and law exam
    • $150 exam application; $150 a year license
    • Yearly; expires December 31

    A narrow contractor license for exterior building sewer piping, exterior water service piping 2 inches or less, exterior backflow preventers on that piping, and water filtration systems. [2][5][6][9][10]

  4. 4

    Plumbing contractor, Class II

    • 4,000 hours on the job
    • 2 years of experience
    • Up to half (2,000 hours, or 30 semester hours) may be academic or technical training
    • Yes: 4-hour plumbing exam plus 1.5-hour business and law exam (PSI)
    • $150 exam application; $150 a year license
    • Yearly; expires December 31

    Lets you contract for plumbing in single-family detached homes only. [2][5][6][9][10]

  5. 5

    Plumbing contractor, Class I

    • 4,000 hours on the job
    • 2 years of experience
    • Up to half (2,000 hours, or 30 semester hours) may be academic or technical training
    • Yes: 4-hour plumbing exam plus 1.5-hour business and law exam (PSI)
    • $150 exam application; $150 a year license
    • Yearly; expires December 31

    The full license: lets you contract for plumbing in any building, residential, commercial or industrial. [1][2][5][6][9][10]

Who needs a plumbing license in North Carolina

North Carolina licenses plumbing contractors, not individual workers. Under state law, anyone who for pay installs, alters or repairs plumbing, or offers to, is "engaged in the business of plumbing" and needs a license from the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors.

The law also says that an employee "in the course of his work as a bona fide employee of a licensee of the Board shall not be construed to have engaged in the business of plumbing." In practice, that means you can start working for a licensed plumbing company with no license of your own.

The law does not cover people who only clean drains or make minor repairs, such as replacing parts without changing piping size or routing. Look up any contractor with the Board's license search. [1][4]

The license ladder: no journeyman, then technician or contractor

Many states move you from apprentice to journeyman to master. North Carolina has no journeyman or master plumber license. The Board offers:

If you pass the technical part of a Class I or Class II contractor exam but fail the business part, you can ask for the matching technician license. [1][3][5][6]

How much experience you need

The Board's rule requires "two years of full-time experience" for a plumbing contractor exam, and its applicant page lists this as 4,000 hours for Class I or Class II. The experience counts "whether or not a license was required for the work performed."

Up to half the experience may come from academic or technical training in a college, community college or technical institute certificate, diploma or degree program. The Board gives 66.66 hours of credit per approved semester hour. Part-time work under 40 hours a week is prorated. Completing an apprenticeship does not lower these hour requirements.

State law caps the experience the Board may require at two years, and says you may be asked to show you are at least 18. [1][2][6][7][8]

The exams

State law requires the exam to come in two parts: a business and law portion and a technical portion. The Board's exam provider is PSI, and exams are given daily at seven testing centers: Asheville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greenville and Wilmington.

You must bring the required reference books, which are checked at the test center. You get your pass or fail result right after the exam. If you fail, you must wait 90 days to retest, and you may retake only the failed portion within six months. You must take the exam within 90 days of your approval notice. [1][2][6][9]

Fees and renewal

All licenses expire on December 31 each year. If you pass an exam on or after October 1, you pay half the usual license fee for the rest of that year. The Board says there is "NO GRACE PERIOD" after a license expires, and you must stop licensed work until you renew. If you do not renew within three years, you must pass the exams again.

North Carolina dropped mandatory continuing education (CE, yearly classes to keep a license) for these licenses in 2012. [1][6][10][11][12][13]

Apprenticeships and training in North Carolina

Because helpers need no license, many people start by taking a job with a licensed plumbing contractor and logging hours. If you want a structured program, ApprenticeshipNC, the state apprenticeship agency, works with employers on registered apprenticeships that combine paid work with classroom instruction.

Community college plumbing programs, such as those at Cape Fear Community College and Wake Tech, can count toward up to half of the Board's experience requirement if the courses are part of a certificate, diploma or degree program directly related to plumbing.

To compare union and non-union routes, see union vs. non-union apprenticeships. [1][6][14][15][16]

If you're licensed in another state

The Board says: "There are no license reciprocity agreements with any other state." There are two narrower options:

State law also lets the Board, at its discretion, license out-of-state contractors without the written exam if their qualifications are "substantially equivalent." See our license reciprocity guide. [1][2][6][17]

Military service and recent rule changes

Current and former military members may count military experience, documented with a DD214 (military discharge papers) and sworn statements from supervisors. Veterans who held a substantially equal military specialty and practiced it for two of the last five years may be licensed without examination, with a $30 application fee and the $150 annual license fee. Military spouses licensed in another state may also qualify.

The Board has proposed changing its application rule (21 NCAC 50 .0306), effective March 1, 2027, to give licensed well contractors a path to the restricted limited plumbing license. A public hearing is set for November 4, 2026. [2][6][7]

Steps to get licensed in North Carolina

  1. Get two years of plumbing experience

    Work full time in plumbing installation, maintenance, service or repair, usually as an employee of a licensed contractor. You need 4,000 hours for a Class I or Class II contractor exam (3,000 for a Class I technician exam). Community college plumbing courses can cover up to half. [1][2][6]

  2. Buy the required books

    You must own the current North Carolina code books, the Board's Laws and Rules book, and its business and project management book when you apply. See the Book Reference List. [2][6]

  3. Apply to the Board

    Send the contractor exam application with tax records, notarized experience forms from each employer, a criminal background report and the $150 exam fee. Processing takes about four to six weeks. [2][6]

  4. Schedule and pass the exams with PSI

    Once approved, schedule with PSI and test within 90 days at one of seven testing centers. Contractor candidates take a 4-hour plumbing exam and a 1.5-hour business and law exam. [2][6][9]

  5. Activate your license

    Send the License Activation Form and the $150 license fee within 45 days of passing, or you must retest. [2][10]

  6. Renew every year

    Licenses expire December 31. Renew on time; the Board says there is no grace period, and a license not renewed within three years requires re-examination. [1][11]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train plumbers in or for North Carolina, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

Licensed in another state?

  • Plumbing contractor (Class I or Class II): SC

    A technical exam waiver, not full reciprocity: if you passed South Carolina's plumbing exam and hold a South Carolina commercial plumbing (PB) or residential plumbing license, the technical exam is waived for the matching NC class. You must still meet NC's experience rules and pass the NC business and law exam. [2][6]

  • Equivalent contractor license (North Carolina residents): GA, SC, TN, VA, WV

    Under the Neighbor State License Recognition Act, a North Carolina resident licensed for at least one year in one of these states may get an equivalent NC license after a records review, a background check and a free four-hour Board laws and rules class. [2][17]

Also listed by: Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, South Carolina (their own boards list North Carolina as a partner; check both sides before you move).

Open the reciprocity map · How reciprocity works

AlaskaAK MaineME VermontVT New HampshireNH WashingtonWA IdahoID MontanaMT North DakotaND MinnesotaMN IllinoisIL WisconsinWI MichiganMI New YorkNY Rhode IslandRI MassachusettsMA OregonOR NevadaNV WyomingWY South DakotaSD IowaIA IndianaIN OhioOH PennsylvaniaPA New JerseyNJ ConnecticutCT CaliforniaCA UtahUT ColoradoCO NebraskaNE MissouriMO KentuckyKY West VirginiaWV VirginiaVA MarylandMD DelawareDE ArizonaAZ New MexicoNM KansasKS ArkansasAR TennesseeTN North CarolinaNC South CarolinaSC District of ColumbiaDC OklahomaOK LouisianaLA MississippiMS AlabamaAL GeorgiaGA HawaiiHI TexasTX FloridaFL
NC Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists NC

Questions people ask

Does North Carolina have a journeyman plumber license?

No. The Board licenses plumbing contractors (Class I and Class II) and offers an optional technician license. If you work as a real employee of a licensed contractor, you do not need a license of your own. [1][3][5]

How many hours do I need for a North Carolina plumbing license?

4,000 hours (two years) of full-time plumbing experience for the Class I or Class II contractor exam. Up to half can come from related college or technical courses. [2][6]

What is the difference between a Class I and Class II plumbing license in NC?

Class II covers plumbing in single-family detached homes only. Class I covers plumbing in any building, including commercial and industrial. Both need the same 4,000 hours. [1][5][6]

How much does a North Carolina plumbing license cost?

The exam fee is $150 for each license classification you apply for, not refundable. The license costs $150 a year for a contractor or $75 a year for a technician listed under a contractor. [6][10][13]

Does North Carolina accept plumbing licenses from other states?

There is no reciprocity. South Carolina licensees who passed SC's exam can skip the NC technical exam, and NC residents licensed in GA, SC, TN, VA or WV may qualify under the Neighbor State License Recognition Act. [2][6][17]

Do NC plumbing contractors need continuing education?

No. The Board ended mandatory continuing education in 2012, though it encourages licensees to keep taking courses. [12]

Sources (30)
  1. N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 87, Article 2: Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, North Carolina General Assembly. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  2. Applicant Information, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  3. License Definitions: Technician, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  4. State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  5. License Definitions: Contractor, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  6. Application Packet for Persons Applying for Plumbing, Heating or Fuel Piping Contractor License (2026-06), NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  7. Notice of proposed amendment, 21 NCAC 50 .0306 Applications: Issuance of License, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  8. Plumbing, Heating and Fuel Piping Technician Application (2026-06), NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  9. Examinations and Time Limits (2026), NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  10. License Activation Form (valid through 9/30/2026), NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  11. License Renewal, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  12. Education, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  13. 21 NCAC 50: State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors rules, North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  14. Registered Apprenticeship: ApprenticeshipNC, North Carolina Community College System. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  15. Plumbing, Cape Fear Community College. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  16. Plumbing, Wake Technical Community College. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  17. Neighbor State License Recognition for North Carolina Residents, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  18. Apprenticeship Finder, U.S. Department of Labor, Apprenticeship.gov. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  19. Find a Local Union, United Association (UA). Accessed October 10, 2026.
  20. FAQ, NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. ABC of the Carolinas registered apprenticeship program standards (RA-000928, approved by ApprenticeshipNC 1/28/2026), ABC of the Carolinas / ApprenticeshipNC. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. Apprenticeship and Craft Education, ABC of the Carolinas. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. Construction Training, ABC of the Carolinas. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  24. Youth Apprenticeships, ApprenticeshipNC, North Carolina Community College System. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  25. Hazardous and Detrimental Occupations for Youths, North Carolina Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  26. Apprenticeships for Veterans, ApprenticeshipNC, North Carolina Community College System. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  27. Discover a Career Path that Works for You (apprentices overview), ApprenticeshipNC, North Carolina Community College System. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  28. Career Clusters and Pathways, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  29. Career and College Promise, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  30. G.S. 93B-8.6: Recognition of apprenticeships and training, North Carolina General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.