• Pre-approval from the state is required to sit for the examination.
• Please note a separate North Carolina Business and Law exam is not needed, that information is incorporated into the Electrical exam.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must demonstrate to the Board’s satisfaction their good character and adequate technical and practical knowledge concerning the safe and proper installation of electrical work and equipment.
• The applicant must submit with the application written statements from at least 2 responsible persons attesting to the applicant’s good character.
• Experience needed varies depending on the monetary level, which is noted below.

  This license has 3 monetary levels:

• Limited (L): For projects of $40,000 or less and not exceeding 600 volts, all applicants must have 4 years of experience, of which 2 years must be primary. The balance may be primary, secondary, or both.
• Intermediate (I): For projects of $110,000 or less and not exceeding 600 volts, applicant must have 6 years of experience, of which 4 years must be primary experience. The balance may be primary, secondary, or both.
• Unlimited (U): Has no size limits, applicant must have 7 years of experience and 2 recommendations attesting to applicants abilities. 5 of the 7 years must be primary experience and the balance may be primary, secondary, or both.

  Applicants for the Unlimited or Intermediate classifications must submit a financial institution line of credit or verification of bonding capacity (in excess of $110,000 or $40,000 respectively).

  Surety Applicants obtaining the Intermediate or Unlimited classifications are required to obtain a bond. Intermediate must have a bond larger than $40,000. Unlimited must obtain a bond larger than $110,000.

The Electrical classification covers installing, maintaining, altering, or repairing of any electrical work, wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment. It covers both residential and commercial work and is not limited in scope.

To apply, contact State of North Carolina Electrical Licensing Board 1-919-733-9042.

The licensing fees are: Limited $75, Intermediate $115, and Unlimited $165.

Approval for testing normally takes 5-10 business days once the board receives the application.

The licensing period is 1 year from the date of issuance and renewal is subject to continuing education.

North Carolina has a reciprocity agreement for this license with South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

These agreements often include stipulations concerning years and types of experience so you should contact the state licensing board to verify that you qualify for licensing by reciprocity.

North Carolina requires 8 hours of continuing education prior to the expiration of your license each year to renew your license. As of July 1, 2008, all persons must demonstrate that a minimum of ½ the continuing education hours for each annual license period were in-person classroom or seminar attendance.

• The fee for the exam is $90 and a score of at least 75% is required to pass the exams.
• There are 100 questions on the exam with a 6 hour time limit. Only the National Electrical Code book is allowed into the exam. That book will be furnished to you at the testing center.

  Topics covered on the exam are bonding and grounding, over-current protection, boxes and fittings, wiring methods and terminations, motors and control wiring, special occupancies and hazardous locations, service entrances and equipment, load calculations, appliances, equipment and lighting, general knowledge, laws, rules, and basic business practices and practical applications.

• Once you are approved you will receive an eligibility letter to schedule your testing. The eligibility letter is valid for 3 months and for a single administration of the qualifying exam.
• To schedule your exam you must contact Pearson Vue/Promissor at 1-877-224-0225.

  Candidates may only take the exam 2 times within 1 year. There is a waiting period between exams if a person fails.

  The candidate will not be eligible to take another exam in the same classification for 3 months if their score was 74%-65%, or for 6 months if their score was 64 and below.

  If the candidate fails the exam in the same classification 3 times they must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 hours of classroom education on the electrical code provided by a board approved continuing education provider before that person may retake the exam.

  A candidate may review their exam 1 time during the 1 year period that they are held in the Board’s office. The fee for reviewing the exam is $25.

Some of the references listed in the Right-Hand column are permitted to be taken into the examination. These references may be tabbed (with permanent index tabs) and highlighted. Please contact us for a detailed listing. They are available for purchase from our online contractor’s bookstore or by calling our office at 1-800-992-1910.

The Limited Electrical Classification does NOT require the use of the NFPA 72 Fire Alarm Code.

*There are additional downloadable documents for the North Carolina Electrical exam*

General Statutes, Chapter 87.

Title 21, NC Adminstrative Code, Chapter 18B.

American Contractors offers an extensive 2-day seminar to prepare for the North Carolina Electrical contractor license exam. Please contact us for additional information, 1-800-992-1910. American Contractors has been holding Seminars to help contractors pass their exam for over 22 years.