North Carolina Plumbing License Requirements
North Carolina doesn't license individual plumbers. Plumbing contractors need a state license from the NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Some cities license plumbers.
Contractor only · By BrazeJobs Team · Updated
License tiers
| Apprentice | No state license |
| Journeyman | No state license |
| Master | No state license |
| Contractor | Plumbing Class I (unrestricted), Class II (residential) |
Requirements
| Contractor experience | 2 years (4,000 hours) |
| Exam | State exam |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Continuing education | None (eliminated 2012) |
| Local license | Workers may need local license |
| Board | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors |
Exam
| Exam provider | Board-administered |
| Time | Plumbing contractor: 4 hours + Business and Law 1.5 hours |
| Bulletin date | 2017-03 |
State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors gives its own exams.
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | State Apprenticeship Agency (ApprenticeshipNC (NC Community College System)) |
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026
- Source: nccommunitycolleges.edu · checked November 6, 2026
Plumbing code
| Code in force | 2015 IPC with state amendments (as 2018 NC Plumbing Code) |
| Next edition | 2024 NC State Building Code: adopted, start date not set |
2024 NC State Building Code adopted; effective date not set (S.L. 2025-2). 2018 NC codes effective Jan 1, 2019.
- Source: ncosfm.gov · checked November 5, 2026