North Carolina has over 13,000 plumbers, many of whom work in the central Piedmont region. It’s a great place for professionals in this field. But before you can work, you’ll need to get your NC plumbers license, which requires documenting your experience and training and passing an exam.
If you want to be a plumber in North Carolina, read on to learn more about:
All plumbers must have a license issued by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Follow these four steps to get your North Carolina plumbing license:
Each of these allows North Carolina plumbers to pursue a specific scope of work:
Additionally, specific plumbing licenses are available for technicians at private education institutions and state or local government technicians.
Along with your application, you’ll need to submit the following documents:
After the state licensing board approves your North Carolina plumber license application, you’ll receive instructions on scheduling your licensing exam. You must take the exam within 30 days of your application’s approval.
The number and length of exams you must take depends on the type of license you are applying for:
You may use approved reference materials during the open-book exam. The exams are administered on-site at Asheville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greenville and Wilmington testing centers. You’ll receive the results at the testing location on the day of your exam.
Within 45 days of passing the exam, you must submit a license activation form along with a check or money order for the appropriate licensing fee:
You must fulfill specific work experience requirements to apply for your North Carolina plumber license:
You must have two years (4,000 hours) of hands-on experience in plumbing systems installation, maintenance, service or repair. You may substitute directly related academic or technical training for up to one-half (2,000 hours) of the experience requirement.
You must have nine months (1,500 hours) of hands-on experience in plumbing systems installation, maintenance, service or repair. You may substitute directly related academic or technical training for up to one-half (750 hours) of the experience requirement.
You must have 18 months (3,000 hours) of hands-on experience in plumbing systems installation, maintenance, service or repair.
Once you receive your license, you may want to get plumber insurance to help protect your work. The following list includes the types of North Carolina business insurance available for licensed plumbers.
According to the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, employers in this state must have workers’ compensation insurance if they have three or more employees. If you or one of your employees gets hurt on the job, this type of insurance can help cover lost wages, medical costs and more.
General liability insurance can help cover certain types of accidents, like damage to a client’s property or a third-party injury.
If someone damages or steals your work gear, tools and equipment insurance can help cover repairs or replacements.
If you drive for work, commercial auto insurance can help provide coverage for accident-related costs, such as property damage and medical bills.
Commercial property insurance can help provide coverage for damage or vandalism to a property you own or rent, along with any inventory or equipment stored there.
Licenses expire each year on December 31. There are no continuing education requirements. To renew your license, submit a renewal form along with the appropriate renewal fee:
North Carolina’s State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors does not have reciprocity agreements with any other state. Regardless of past experience or licensure in other locations, you must meet North Carolina’s requirements and pass the necessary exam(s) to obtain a plumbing license in this state.
The State Board does allow one exception for applicants with a current residential plumbing contractor license in South Carolina pursuing a P-II license in North Carolina. These individuals may apply for a waiver that exempts them from taking the technical portion of the exam. They must still meet all other licensing requirements.
Whether you need small business insurance or self-employed plumber insurance, NEXT can help you find the right coverage to protect your professional work.
Apply online, get a quote and obtain a certificate of insurance in under 10 minutes from any computer or mobile device.
If you have questions, our licensed, U.S.-based insurance professionals are available to help.
Ashley Henshaw was a contributing writer at NEXT. She specializes in small business topics, covering everything from insurance and branding to web hosting and cryptocurrency.
Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, AOL City's Best, Citysearch, USA Today, The San Francisco Chronicle and Livestrong.
