How to Get a Plumbing License in North Carolina: Contractor, Restricted and Technician Licenses
By BRIX Editorial Team · Updated
North Carolina plumbers are licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. A plumbing contractor license needs 4,000 hours of experience and a PSI exam; Class II limits you to single-family detached homes. Plumbing technicians working under a contractor need 2,500 or 3,000 hours. Licenses cost $150 a year.
Key takeaways
- Plumbing contractor, Class I (all buildings) or Class II (single-family detached dwellings): 4,000 hours of on-site experience.
- A Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor license needs only 1,500 hours.
- Technicians who work under a licensed contractor can hold a technician license: Class I at 3,000 hours, Class II at 2,500.
- Drain cleaning and minor repairs that don't change piping, venting or fuel type are exempt from licensing under G.S. 87-21(c).
- No continuing education is required. Every license expires December 31 and costs $25 more if you're late.
Who licenses plumbers in North Carolina?
One state board handles plumbing, heating, fuel piping and fire sprinkler work: the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. It offers 31 license qualifications (board). Unlike many states, North Carolina doesn't use the apprentice-journeyman-master ladder. Instead there are contractor licenses, sorted by class, and technician licenses for people who work under a contractor.
What plumbing licenses does North Carolina issue?
| License | What it covers | Experience | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Contractor, Class I | Plumbing in all structures (G.S. 87-21) | 4,000 hours (2 years); up to 2,000 from training (board) | $150 (21 NCAC 50 .1102) |
| Plumbing Contractor, Class II | Plumbing in "single-family detached residential dwellings" (G.S. 87-21) | 4,000 hours (exam application) | $150 (21 NCAC 50 .1102) |
| Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor | See board | 1,500 hours (9 months); up to 750 from training (board) | $150 (21 NCAC 50 .1102) |
| Fuel Piping Contractor | Fuel gas piping (board) | 2,000 hours (1 year); up to 1,000 from training (board) | $150 (21 NCAC 50 .1102) |
| Plumbing, Heating & Fuel Piping Technician | Works under a licensed contractor (21 NCAC 50 .1102) | Class I 3,000 hours (18 months); Class II 2,500 hours (15 months) (board) | $75 when listed under a contractor (21 NCAC 50 .1102) |
| Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor | Residential sprinkler systems (board) | An active plumbing contractor license for at least 2 years plus a 16-hour board-approved course (board) | $150 (21 NCAC 50 .1102) |
How do you get a plumbing contractor license in North Carolina, step by step?
- 1
Work two years on real plumbing jobs
The board wants verified, hands-on experience installing, maintaining, servicing or repairing plumbing systems: 4,000 hours for a contractor license (exam application). If you already hold a technician license, that's 3,000 or 2,500 of them behind you.
- 2
Count your coursework
Courses at a college, community college or technical institute that are part of a certificate, diploma or degree program and directly related to plumbing can cover up to half the hours, at 66.66 hours per semester hour (exam application).
- 3
Choose Class I or Class II
Class II keeps you to single-family detached homes; Class I opens apartments, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. Each classification needs its own application.
- 4
Send the packet
Include proof of earnings (W-2s, 1099s or Social Security records), a Castlebranch background report, notarized experience forms and payment. The 2026 form lists $100 per exam; the board's FAQ still says $150, so confirm before you mail it (exam application; FAQ). Expect 4–6 weeks of processing.
- 5
Take the PSI exam within 90 days
Exams are computer-based through PSI Services (FAQ). The board requires the current NC State Building Code books, its Laws & Rules book and its business and project management book, so study from those (exam application).
- 6
What plumbing work doesn't need a license in North Carolina?
G.S. 87-21(c) exempts "those who clean plumbing drains," and people doing minor repairs or replacements that don't change the energy source, fuel type, or the routing or sizing of venting or piping (G.S. 87-21). Other subsections cover narrow cases like manufactured home drain assembly and water heater retailers. Fire sprinkler repairs aren't exempt. The statute has no general dollar threshold and no general homeowner exemption, so check the wording before you rely on one.
Do North Carolina plumbers need continuing education?
No. The board's FAQ says "The requirement for continuing education as a condition of renewal was eliminated on December 31, 2012" (FAQ). That makes North Carolina one of the easier states to stay licensed in, but the code still changes, so most shops keep training anyway.
Can you get a North Carolina plumbing license with an out-of-state license?
Sometimes, case by case. Under G.S. 87-21(g) the board may license an out-of-state contractor in "the same or equivalent classification without written examination" after reviewing the other state's experience and exam requirements. Applicants under the state's occupational licensing law pay a $30 application fee and the $150 annual fee (exam application).
Starting your own plumbing company in North Carolina
- Add qualifiers cheaply: a second or later qualifier on the same company pays $75 a year, and technicians listed under your license pay $75 (21 NCAC 50 .1102).
- Lapses are expensive: a license expired up to three years needs back fees plus a processing fee; after three years you retest (renewal).
- Taxes: sales and use tax on fixtures and materials and entity filing are in North Carolina contractor taxes and licensing.
- Business setup: entity, trucks, pricing and first customers are in how to start a plumbing business.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours do you need for a plumbing license in North Carolina?
A plumbing contractor license, Class I or Class II, requires 4,000 hours of on-site experience, up to half of which can come from related coursework. A Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor license needs 1,500 hours, and technician licenses need 3,000 (Class I) or 2,500 (Class II).
Does North Carolina have a journeyman plumber license?
Not under that name. The board issues plumbing contractor licenses and Plumbing, Heating and Fuel Piping Technician licenses for people working under a licensed contractor. Technician licenses take 2,500 or 3,000 hours of experience.
What is the difference between Class I and Class II plumbing in NC?
Under G.S. 87-21, Class I covers plumbing in all structures, while Class II covers plumbing in single-family detached residential dwellings only. Both require 4,000 hours of experience and a separate exam application.
How much does a plumbing license cost in North Carolina?
The annual contractor license fee is $150, and $75 for technicians listed under a contractor or for a second qualifier. The 2026 exam application lists $100 per exam, while the board's FAQ lists a $150 exam application fee, so confirm the current amount.
When do North Carolina plumbing licenses expire?
Every license issued by the board expires December 31 each year, with no grace period. Renewing late increases the fee by $25. A license expired for more than three years requires re-examination.
Can I unclog drains without a license in North Carolina?
Yes. G.S. 87-21(c) exempts people who clean plumbing drains, along with minor repairs or replacements that don't change the energy source, fuel type, or the routing or sizing of venting or piping.
Related
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- North Carolina Contractor Taxes and Licensing: RMI Sales Tax, Licenses and Income TaxNorth Carolina taxes repair, maintenance and installation labor on real property. RMI vs. capital improvement, Form E-589CI, licenses and 3.99% tax.
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- Plumbing Software That Catches the 2 a.m. Call and Gets You Paid for ItPlumbing software that catches the 2 a.m. burst-pipe call, books the plumber, quotes flat-rate or T&M, marks up parts right and keeps QuickBooks clean.
- Plumbing Answering Service That Gets the Water Off and the Plumber BookedAn after-hours answering service for plumbers that walks callers to the shutoff valve, sorts true emergencies from drips and books the plumber on the spot.
- Pipe Size CalculatorRule-of-thumb water pipe size calculator: add the fixtures running at once, pick copper, PEX or PVC, and see the smallest size under the velocity limit.
- Bookkeeping for Plumbers: QuickBooks, Parts Markup and Getting PaidQuickBooks for plumbers: track supply-house bills by job, mark up parts right, handle sales tax on materials and collect from property managers on time.
Sources
- NC Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors — Home (checked October 24, 2026)
- NC PHFS Board — Applicant information (license types, experience) (checked October 24, 2026)
- NC PHFS Board — FAQ (checked October 24, 2026)
- NC PHFS Board — License renewal (checked October 24, 2026)
- 21 NCAC 50 .1102 — License fees (checked October 24, 2026)
- NC PHFS Board — Contractor exam application (2026-01) (checked October 24, 2026)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-21 — Classes and exemptions (checked October 24, 2026)
Change log
- : Page published. License types, hours, exam, fees, renewal, exemptions and reciprocity verified against the board and G.S. 87-21.