To apply for your plumbing license, contact the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors by visiting nclicensing.org.

There are no license reciprocity agreements with any other state. All persons desiring to obtain licensure with this Board must meet the requirements listed herein and satisfactorily complete the applicable examination(s). North Carolina does have an Technical Examination Waiver Agreement with South Carolina for plumbing and HVAC contractors; however, applicants must pass the North Carolina business law exam.

Plumbing and/or Heating Contractor License: To be eligible to take the Plumbing, Heating Group No. 1, Heating Group No. 2 and/or Heating Group No. 3 Contractor examination(s), an applicant must have 2 years (4,000 hours) on-site full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which license is sought, whether or not license was required for the work performed. However, up to one-half (2,000 hours) (45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours) of the experience requirement may be in academic or technical training directly related to the field of endeavor for which the examination is requested.

Plumbing, Heating & Fuel Piping Technician License: To be eligible to take the Plumbing, Heating Group No. 1, Heating Group No. 2 and/or Heating Group No. 3 Technician examination(s), an applicant must have on-site full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which license is sought, whether or not license was required for the work performed. Applicants for Class I licensure must have 18 months (3,000 hours) of the required experience, while an applicant for Class II licensure must have 15 months (2,500 hours) of the required experience.  To be eligible to take the Class I or Class II Fuel Piping Technician examination, an applicant must have 9 months (1,500 hours) of on-site full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service or repair of fuel piping systems.

Plumbing and/or Heating State & Local Government Technician License: To be eligible to take the Plumbing, Heating Group No. 1, Heating Group No. 2 and/or Heating Group No. 3 State & Local Government Technician examination(s), an applicant must have 18 months (3,000 hours) on-site full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which license is sought, whether or not license was required for the work performed. However, applicants for a license as a State & Local Government Technician who currently hold an active Class I plumbing or heating contractor license issued by this Board may qualify for the corresponding State and local government technician license without examination.  Click here for more details.

Plumbing and/or Heating Private Educational Institution Technician License: To be eligible to take the Plumbing, Heating Group No. 1, Heating Group No. 2 and/or Heating Group No. 3 Private Educational Institution Technician examination(s), an applicant must have 18 months (3,000 hours) on-site full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which license is sought, whether or not license was required for the work performed. However, applicants for a license as a Private Educational Technician who currently hold an active Class I plumbing or heating contractor license issued by this Board may qualify for the corresponding Private Educational Institution technician license without examination.

Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor License: To be eligible to take the Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor examination, an applicant must have 9 months (1,500 hours) of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of plumbing systems, whether or not license was required for the work performed. However, up to one-half (750 hours) of the experience requirement may be in academic or technical training directly related to the field of endeavor for which the examination is requested. Current active licensees of the North Carolina Irrigation Contractor Licensing Board, who also hold Backflow Inspector Certification from an approved municipality in the state or demonstrates 500 hours of experience in the maintenance, service or repair of components of plumbing systems may also qualify.

Exam Overview

The North Carolina Plumbing, Class II Contractor Exam is an open book 4 hour exam that requires a 70% score to pass. To use your time efficiently in the exam, it is extremely helpful to prepare in-depth and have your book tabbed and highlighted prior to the exam. Highlighting, tabs and written notes in reference materials are permitted prior to arriving at the test site. However, during the exam you may not write in the reference materials.

Exam Topics

The North Carolina Plumbing, Class II Contractor Exam is designed to assess the knowledge and competency of individuals seeking to become licensed contractors. The exam usually consists of multiple-choice questions that cover various aspects of construction and contracting, including:

• Administration Code and Policies
• Residential Codes
• Board’s Laws and Rules
• Business and Project Management

The exam is timed, and you will need to achieve a passing score to obtain your contractor’s license. Each state may have its own exam structure and content, so it’s essential to check with the Board for Licensing Contractors or the relevant licensing authority for the most up-to-date information on the exam’s specific requirements.

Before taking the exam, it’s advisable to study relevant reference materials and gain practical experience in the construction field to increase your chances of success.

Course Overview

The North Carolina Plumbing Class II Contractor Exam Course includes highlighting guides, practice quizzes, study tips, licensing information, and instructor support. The highlighting guides and quizzes are designed to familiarize students with testing materials. We do not provide students with exact test questions, as the state does not release this information. Highlighting, tabs and written notes in reference materials are permitted prior to arriving at the test site. However, during the exam you may not write in the reference materials.