StateLicensed

Electrician License Requirements in North Carolina

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
4000 hrs
Upfront cost
$190
Exam
Limited Electrical Contracting License Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Examination applicants must be at least 18 years old and submit written statements from at least two people attesting to their good character (N.C. Admin. Code .0201). The Board's application materials and its dedicated Criminal History page confirm the Board may conduct a formal criminal or disciplinary history check as part of the application. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 4000 hours of training. North Carolina does not issue a separate statewide 'journeyman electrician' license — journeyman/apprentice experience only counts toward one of the Board's 10 Electrical Contractor license classifications, and the Limited classification (the lowest, first-independent-work tier, capped at $60,000 per project / 600 volts) is recorded here as the primary path. Limited requires at least 2 creditable years of experience (2,000 hours = 1 creditable year), of which at least 1 year must be 'primary' hands-on experience; the balance may be primary or secondary (e.g. approved apprenticeship training). Intermediate requires 4 years (2.5 primary) and Unlimited requires 5 years (4 primary) — noted here as the higher tiers. 'hours' above (4,000) reflects the 2-creditable-year minimum at the 2,000-hours-per-year conversion the Board uses; it is a converted figure, not a directly published hour count. [1]

  3. 3

    Limited Electrical Contracting License Examination

    Pass the Limited Electrical Contracting License Examination. N.C. Admin. Code rule .0209 (current codified rule) sets the application/examination fee at $90 for all classifications, with a $25 fee to review a failed exam and a $60 refund if an application isn't duly filed. A Board-published 2023 Examination Application Checklist PDF instead lists an 'Exam Fee of $125.00' — per PROMPT.md source rule to prefer the current statute/rule over other board documents where they disagree, $90 (the codified rule figure) is used here; both figures are recorded for transparency. Passing grade is 70 out of 100. Fee recorded as null here to avoid double-counting the same charge twice in this record's upfront-cost total: the $90 is a combined application/examination fee and is already counted under the application fee. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors with the $90 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors issues your Limited Electrical Contractor License for North Carolina.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $90
License fee [2] $100
Renewal fee [2] $100
Limited Electrical Contracting License Examination [1] None specified
Late renewal administrative fee [2] $25

The $90 figure is the combined application/examination fee (N.C. Admin. Code .0209). Once licensed, the Limited classification costs $100/year (license fee and renewal fee are the same annual amount since the license is renewed yearly, not a separate one-time issuance charge). A $25 administrative fee applies to renewals received after the license's 1-year expiration date.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

All licenses issued by the Board expire 1 year after issuance and must be renewed annually. No continuing-education hour requirement was found on the Board's licensing page for renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Under G.S. 87-50, the Board may grant a license of the same/equivalent classification without written examination to electrical contractors already licensed by another state. NC has entered bilateral reciprocal licensing agreements (not a formal interstate compact administered by a compact commission, so compacts is left []) with: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. NC also participates in the NASCLA reciprocal licensing program for contractors holding the NASCLA national exam credential.

36 state-approved training providers in North Carolina — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $90
  • $100
Total$190

Frequently asked questions

Does North Carolina have a separate journeyman electrician license?

No. North Carolina licenses electrical contractors directly, in 10 classifications (Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited, and 7 special-restricted categories). There is no separate statewide 'journeyman' credential — journeyman-level work experience instead counts toward qualifying for one of these contractor license classifications.

What is the entry-level (Limited) license and what does it require?

The Limited license lets the holder take on a single electrical contracting project up to $60,000 in value at 600 volts or less. It requires at least 2 creditable years of experience (at least 1 year of primary hands-on experience), passing a written/computer-based exam with a 70/100 minimum score, and costs $100/year.

Is a background check required?

The Board may conduct a formal criminal or disciplinary history check as part of the application, and applicants must submit two character references.

Does North Carolina have reciprocity with other states?

Yes, for electrical contractors already licensed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or West Virginia, NC may grant an equivalent license without a written exam. NC also participates in the NASCLA reciprocal licensing program.

How long is a North Carolina electrical contractor license valid?

Licenses expire 1 year after issuance and must be renewed annually; a $25 administrative fee applies to late renewals.

Sources

  1. [1] ncbeec.org/section-0200/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] ncbeec.org/licensing/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] ncbeec.org/reciprocity/ — accessed 2026-07-11