All examinees must bring all reference materials to the examination site.
Click here for more information. All materials will be checked for compliance with Board's requirements.
The following information is available in Adobe PDF format.
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Application and Examination Process
1. Review all information contained on this page (Exam Information page).
2. If eligibility requirements are met, download and print the appropriate application.
3. Complete the application, making sure that signatures are notarized where required.
4. Order the required reference books indicated in the Book Reference List & Requirements.
5. Obtain background check information from approved provider.
6. Send completed application with required documents and fee to the Board's office. Applications and documents may be submitted electronically.
7. If application is denied or requires additional information, you will be notified of the issues.
8. Contact the exam provider for scheduling. The exam must be taken
within 60 days of the notification date.
9. You will be notified of a pass/fail at the exam center following
your exam. Failing applicants may attend an exam review in
Raleigh prior to retesting.
10. Passing applicants will need to submit the completed
Licensing Activation form and fee in order to obtain the
license.
**These are general steps and apply to the majority of licensees.
Please note: Applications may be mailed to our
office, delivered in person, or submitted online. Applicants
who wish to visit the office in person to speak with the Exam Coordinator regarding the application
may do so on Thursday or Friday only. Applicants
must
have an appointment to do so, as no one will be seen without an
appointment. Appointments can be made by calling the Exam
Coordinator at 984-884-5753, and must be requested at
least three (3) days in advance of the desired date.
There are no 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).
Current and former military personnel or spouses may receive credit for
experience gained during active service.
Click here for more information.
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 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. To be eligible to take the Fuel Piping
Technician examination, an applicant must have 9 months
(1,500 hours) on-site full-time experience in th intallation,
maintenance, servive 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.
Fuel Piping Contractor License: To be eligible to take the Fuel Piping
Contractor examination, an applicant must have 1 year (2,000 hours) of experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of fuel piping. However, up to one-half (1,000 hours) (22 quarter hours or 15 semester hours) of the experience may be in academic or technical training directly related to fuel piping. Fuel piping privileges are included in the Plumbing and Heating Group 1, 2, and 3 licenses, and do not require a separate examination for persons applying for or currently holding one or more of these licenses. Fire Sprinkler Installation and/or Inspection Contractor license: To be eligible to take the Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor examination, an applicant must hold a current certification by NICET for "Fire Protection Engineering, Level III, Automatic Sprinkler System Layout".
To be eligible to take the Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor examination, an applicant must hold a current certification by NICET for "Inspection
and Testing of Water-Based Systems, Level III".
Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor license: To
be eligible to take the Residential Fire Sprinkler Contractor
examination, an applicant must have held an active Plumbing
Contractor license issued by this Board for a minimum of 2
years, and must complete a 16 hours course approved by the
Board. If you are interested in attending a future class, please
contact the Board office.
Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician
license: To be eligible to take the Fire Sprinkler Inspection
Technician examination, an applicant must have 2 years (4,000
hours) of full-time experience in the inspection and testing of
previously installed fire sprinkler systems, the installation of
fire sprinkler systems, or a combination of inspection, testing
and installation. To obtain the
license without examination, an applicant must hold a current
certification by NICET for "Inspection and Testing of
Water-Based Systems, Level II".
Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician license: To be eligible to
take the Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician
examination, an applicant must have 1 year (2,000 hours) of
full-time experience at the place for which license is sought as
a full-time maintenance employee with exposure to periodic
maintenance of fire sprinkler systems.
Military Experience for Experience
Qualification for Licensure Current or former military personnel who submit
applications for license may use military experience in
accordance with the experience requirements listed in our
statutes and rules.
Military experience shall be documented by submission of the
following documents: - The applicant’s DD214 noting the
military experience that is applicable to the type of license
the applicant is seeking to obtain, - Sworn statements from direct
supervisor(s) who supervised the applicant, detailing the type
and hours of experience the applicant has in the
classification of license being sought Current or former military spouses who submit applications
for license may submit the following items as documentation of
experience applicable to the type of license they wish to obtain
in accordance with the experience requirements listed in our
statutes and rules: - Copies of
licensure from other state(s) along with a sworn statement from
the licensing authority acknowledging that the applicant
obtained the licensure by examination and detailing the
experience the licensing authority required from the licensee in
order to obtain the license, and - Sworn
statements from direct supervisors who supervised the applicant,
detailing the type and hours of experience the applicant has in
the classification of license being sought.
Examination Information:
Examinations are given on a daily basis at seven testing centers
throughout the state (Asheville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh,
Fayetteville, Greenville, Wilmington). Upon application
approval, the applicant will receive written notification which will
include instructions for scheduling the examination, which must be
taken within thirty (30) days of the date of the notification
letter.
Click here for a listing of examinations
and time limits.
If application is approved, you will receive notification of exam eligibility by mail or e-mail with instructions for contacting the exam provider.
Certain
licenses may have slightly different procedures.
All applicants are required to obtain a current copy of the Board's Laws and Rules book prior to making application to the Board for any examination or license.
Click here for the book order form.
Please Note: The following eligibility requirements are provided as a general outline, and may not be detailed or inclusive of all eligibility requirements. Please consult the examination application form and the Board's Laws and Rules book for complete eligibility requirements.
Click here for
License Definitions (by Group and Class)
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.