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North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing · checked 2026-10-20
North Carolina Plumber License Requirements
Statewide plumbing contractor licenses in two classes under G.S. 87-21. Plumbing Contractor, Class I: up to 2 years of experience at most, plus an exam.
- 1P-II · Plumbing Contractor, Class II up to 2 years
- 2P-I · Plumbing Contractor, Class I up to 2 years
License levels in North Carolina
The North Carolina path has 2 steps on this page: Plumbing Contractor, Class II and Plumbing Contractor, Class I. The source states the time in years.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-II Plumbing Contractor, Class II | 2 years (most the board may require) | — | up to 2 years | Yes | Not printed |
| P-I Plumbing Contractor, Class I | 2 years (most the board may require) | — | up to 2 years | Yes | Not printed |
Plumbing Contractor, Class II (P-II)
Any experience the Board requires may not exceed two years, and up to half may be academic or technical coursework. Ten years of continuous licensure in good standing counts as experience for Class II. G.S. 87-21(b)(3). Scope: plumbing in single-family detached residential dwellings. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 87-21.
Plumbing Contractor, Class I (P-I)
The same two-year ceiling on required experience; a two-part exam (business and law, and technical). G.S. 87-21(b)(3) and (b)(6). Scope: plumbing in all structures. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 87-21.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Plumbing Contractor, Class II and Plumbing Contractor, Class I. The source does not print a pass mark. The exam has a business and law part and a technical part and is offered at least twice a year. A failed applicant waits 90 days to retest; failed parts can be retaken within six months.
Fees
The North Carolina source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. The statute leaves the annual license fee to the Board; the only amount printed is a $10 fee to assign a license number.
Reciprocity
The North Carolina sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina is unusual: its statute caps how much experience the board may demand (up to 2 years for the plumbing contractor, class i) rather than setting a floor, so it is left out of the shortest-to-longest ranking on this site.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Texas · Florida · Illinois · Ohio. All states side by side: Plumber license requirements by state.
Other trades in North Carolina
- Electrician: Unlimited Electrical Contractor: up to 4.5 years of experience at most, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Heating Group No. 1: up to 2 years of experience at most, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Unlimited license: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: North Carolina trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the plumber license in North Carolina?
North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Statewide plumbing contractor licenses in two classes under G.S. 87-21.
How long does it take to qualify for the Plumbing Contractor, Class I in North Carolina?
up to 2 years by this site's count. The same two-year ceiling on required experience; a two-part exam (business and law, and technical). G.S. 87-21(b)(3) and (b)(6).
Does North Carolina have plumber license reciprocity?
The North Carolina sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors | 2026-10-20 |
| P-II requirements | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 87-21 | 2026-10-20 |
| P-I requirements | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 87-21 | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 87-21 | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the North Carolina source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.