State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors

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Frequently Asked Questions

Exam Information 

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE BEGINNING THE APPLICATION PROCESS!
 If you are applying for a license, please read the information on this page, the information contained in the links,  and the information in the application for the appropriate license carefully and throughly. The Board is currently receiving over 250 applications per month, and our limited staff resources are working dilligently to return calls and emails, which decreases overall efficiency and increases processing times for everyone. Most of the questions that we are receiving can be easily answered by reading the information that is provided here.

Responding to these emails and voicemails takes valuable time from the staff’s workday and delays processing for everyone, especially if applicants are sending multiple emails or leaving multiple voicemails. The time to process applications is currently averaging six weeks, and applicants are notified by email when the review has been completed.

APPLICANTS WHO CALL OR EMAIL WITH QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ANSWERED BY READING THE MATERIAL PROVIDED ON THIS PAGE, IN THE LINKS, AND IN THE APPLICATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD STAFF. 

The following information is available in Adobe PDF format.
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Application and Examination Process

  1. Read all information contained on this page, in the links, and in the application packet.
  2. If eligibility requirements are met, download and print the appropriate application.
  3. Complete the application, making sure that signatures are notarized where required.Experience hours from other states can be submitted.
  4. Order the required reference books indicated in the Book Reference List & Requirements.
  5. Obtain background check information from the approved provider per the instructions in the application.
  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.
    If application is approved, you will receive notification of exam eligibility by mail or e-mail with instructions for contacting the exam provider.
  8. Contact the exam provider for scheduling. The exam must be taken within 90 days of the notification date and examinees must bring all allowed reference materials to the testing center. Materials will be checked for compliance with the Board’s requirements, which are included in the Book Reference List and Requirements.
  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. You will be notified of a passing / failing grade immediately following the exam.
  11. Passing applicants will need to submit the completed License Activation Form and fee within 45 days of passing the exam. If this step is not completed, the applicant will have to retest.
  12. Failing applicants must wait 90 days before retesting, and must submit a Re-Examination Application.

*These are general steps and apply to the majority of licensees. Certain licenses may have slightly different procedures.

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.

Eligibility Requirements

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. Additional information is contained in the application, available on the Forms page. Current and former military personnel or spouses may receive credit for experience gained during active service. Certified Code Enforcement Official experience does not meet the experience requirements for licensure. Certificates in engineering or any other field not directly related to the license being applied for do not meet the experience requirements for licensure. Click here for more information.

Per the Book Reference List, applicants who are required to obtain a current copy of the Board’s Laws and Rules book or the Contractor’s Guide to Business and Project Management may order these online directly from the Board. 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.

License Definitions: The Board currently offers 31 different license qualifications. Click the links below for desctiptions of each (by group and class).
Contractor License Definitions
Technician License Definitions (employed by contractors or firms)
Technician License Definitions (employed by State & Local Governments or Private Educational Institutions)

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.

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. We anticipate holding the next course in the Fall of 2025. All eligible plumbing contractors will be notified by email, and the registration information will be published in the May 2025 newsletter.

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 ninety (90) days of the date of the notification letter. Click here for a listing of examinations and time limits.