NC Electrician License Guide | Electrical Contractors in NC

To become an electrician in North Carolina, you must have a valid, active license issued by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC). Much like the classifications for general contractors in North Carolina, the state recognizes three main classifications for electricians: Unlimited, Intermediate, and Limited. There are also seven specialty classifications for electricians that require additional examination and licensing from the state.

North Carolina Electrical License Reciprocity

North Carolina maintains reciprocity for electricians with the following states:

If you live in any of these states and want to work as an electrician in North Carolina, you still have to get approval from NCBEEC first, but you will not have to take the equivalent state exam. Each state may also have additional requirements or restrictions for reciprocity, such as only allowing reciprocity for certain classifications; be sure to see the appropriate page on the Reciprocity page of NCBEEC’s website for more details.

North Carolina Electrical Unlimited License Requirements

An Unlimited license is the highest classification an electrician can obtain in North Carolina. Per Chapter 87, Article 4 of North Carolina’s General Statutes, you are “permitted to engage in any electrical contracting project regardless of value” with this license. To apply for an Unlimited license, you must first apply to sit the exam and meet the following requirements set in the North Carolina General Statute:

Be at least 18 years old;
Pay the $90 exam fee, in the form of check or money order made payable to the NCBEEC;
Submit at least two letters from different individuals who can attest to your “good character”:
Have at least five years of experience, four of which must be primary experience (or experience in which you are personally doing the electrical work), as an electrician;
And submit at least two letters from different individuals who can verify your experience.

Once your application is approved, you can then take your Unlimited electrical license exam. After passing the exam, you must:

Submit a completed license application to the NCBEEC;
Pay the $180 license fee;
And have “a bonding ability statement or a line of credit letter issued by a bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association” in excess of $130,000.

The NCBEEC will then review your application and, upon approval, you will be licensed as an Unlimited electrician in North Carolina.

North Carolina Electrical Intermediate License Requirements

In North Carolina, an Intermediate license is the second classification an electrician can acquire. Chapter 87, Article 4 of the state’s General Statutes explains that with this license, you can “engage in a single electrical contracting project of a value, as established by the Board, not in excess of two hundred thousand dollars.” To get your Intermediate license, you must first submit an application to take the corresponding exam and meet the following requirements as dictated by the same General Statute as above:

Be at least 18 years old;
Pay the $90 exam fee, in the form of check or money order made payable to the NCBEEC;
Submit at least two letters from different individuals who can attest to your “good character”;
And have at least four years of experience as an electrician.

If your application gets approved, you can then sit the Intermediate licensing exam. Upon passing, you must then submit the following to the NCBEEC to apply for your license:

A completed license application;
The $130 license fee;
And a bonding ability statement or line of credit letter in excess of $50,000.

Next, the NCBEEC will review your application. Once they approve it, you will officially be licensed as an Intermediate electrician in the state of North Carolina.

North Carolina Electrical Limited License Requirements

A Limited license is the lowest classification an electrical contractor can attain in North Carolina. According to the same General Statute that defines the other two licenses, a Limited license allows you to “engage in a single electrical contracting project of a value not in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) and on which the equipment or installation in the contract is rated at not more than 600 volts.” To earn a Limited electrician license, you must first submit an application to take the exam and meet the following qualifications:

Be at least 18 years old;
Pay the $90 exam fee, in the form of check or money order made payable to the NCBEEC;
Submit at least two letters from different individuals who can attest to your “good character”;
And have at least two years of hands-on experience as an electrician.

Once the NCBEEC approves your application, you can take the license exam. If you pass, you can then submit your results, along with the $85 and your completed license application, to the NCBEEC. After they approve your application, you will receive your Limited electrician license.

North Carolina Electrical License Exams

The North Carolina electrical licensing exams are offered through PSI Exams. The exams for Unlimited, Intermediate, and Limited licenses are similar. All of them are open-book, but only allow applicants to use the 2017 National Electrical Code and the 2013 edition of the National Fire Alarm Code. Each exam is made up of 100 multiple-choice questions, which you have six hours to complete. No matter which classification you’re applying for, you will be tested on the following areas:

Bonding and grounding;
Overcurrent protection;
Wiring methods and terminations;
Boxes and fitting;
Service entrance and equipment;
Motors and control wiring;
Special occupancies and hazardous locations;
Load calculations;
Appliances, equipment, and lighting;
General definitions and installation requirements;
And laws, rules, basic business practices, and practical applications.

You must get at least 70 questions correct to pass. You will take the exam on a computer and receive your results immediately upon completion. After passing, you must submit your results, along with your completed license application and fee, to the NCBEEC for approval.

If you do not pass the exam, you can take it again in three months. If you fail an exam for the same classification three times, you must complete 16 hours of classroom education before you can retake it, per the NCBEEC’s policy. Whether or not you pass, you can review your exam one time in the year after taking it for a $25 fee.

For more information on testing locations, scheduling your exam, and sample questions, please see the Electrical Contractors Examination Candidate Information Bulletin for North Carolina.

North Carolina Electrical License Renewal Requirements

According to Chapter 87, Article 4 of the General Statutes, you must renew your electrician’s license each year, no matter your classification, in North Carolina. All licenses expire one year after the date they were first issued. You will receive a notice either via email or in the mail to remind you 30 to 60 days before your license expires. If you do not renew your license on time, you will be subject to a $25 administrative fee.

In addition, electricians of all classifications must take continuing education each year; Limited, Intermediate, and Unlimited license-holders must take eight hours every year in order to remain qualified and successfully renew their license. If you take more than the required amount of education in a single year, you may be able to count it toward the following year’s requirement.

Electrician Apprenticeship Requirements

You do not need to work as an apprentice to become an electrician in North Carolina; you just need the required amount of practical experience in the field. However, pursuing an apprenticeship is a great way to get that experience, learn both the theoretical and practical facets of the trade, and make valuable professional connections, all while earning a living. According to Section .0200 of Chapter 87 of the state’s General Statutes, working as an apprentice counts as secondary experience, or “working experience gained while engaged in work or training that is related to the installation of electrical wiring and equipment governed by the National Electrical Code.”

If your apprenticeship is approved by the North Carolina Department of Labor, you can earn 100% of your secondary experience this way. 2,000 hours is equivalent to one year of secondary experience; depending on the classification you’re pursuing, you can use this experience to meet the minimum requirement for licensure.

North Carolina Electrical Apprentice Jobs

Searching for an electrical apprenticeship in North Carolina is much like looking for any other job. You can always use traditional job-hunting websites, such as Indeed and Monster, to find opportunities in your area. You may also want to look into building trade unions in North Carolina — like I.B.E.W. Local Union 379, IBEW Local Union 553, and Asheville Electrical JATC — as they may have apprenticeships available.

You should also peruse the ApprenticeshipNC website in your search. They partner with the U.S. Department of Labor to help connect interested individuals with apprenticeships in North Carolina. They maintain a list of open apprenticeship opportunities and offer assistance through local NCWorks Career Centers and Career & Technical Education counselors, where you can get more specialized advice.

Electrical Trade Schools in North Carolina

There are dozens of different electrical trade programs all over the state of North Carolina where you can pursue an education in this trade. All of the following institutions are two-year, public colleges that are part of the North Carolina Community College System. Per the North Carolina Legislature, each of these colleges charges $76 per credit hour for in-state students. Each school may charge its own additional fees and the state legislature may change tuition rates at their discretion and without notice.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College – Certificate & Degree
- (828)-398-7900
- 340 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801
Bladen Community College – Certificate & Degree
- (910)-879-5500
- 7418 NC Hwy 41W, Dublin, NC 28332
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
- Caldwell
  - (828)-726-2200
  - 2855 Hickory Blvd, Hudson, NC 28638
- Watauga
  - (828)-297-3811
  - 372 Community College Drive, PO Box 3318, Boone, NC 28607
Cape Fear Community College
- Phone number for all locations: (910)-362-7000
- Castle Hayne
  - 4500 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne North Carolina 28429
- Wilmington
  - 411 N. Front St., Wilmington, NC 28401
Catawba Valley Community College
- (828)-327-7000
- 2550 US Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28602
Central Carolina Community College
- Lillington
  - (910)-893-9101
  - 1075 E. Cornelius Harnett Blvd., Lillington, NC 27546-7672
- Pittsboro
  - (919)-542-6495
  - 764 West Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312-8822
- Sanford
  - (919)-775-5401
  - 1105 Kelly Dr., Sanford, NC 27330-9840
Central Piedmont Community College
- Phone number for all locations: (704)-330-2722
- Charlotte:
  - Cato Campus: 8120 Grier Rd, Charlotte, NC 28215
  - Central Campus: 1141 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28235
  - Harper Campus: 315 W Hebron St, Charlotte, NC 28273
  - Harris Campus: 3210 Cpcc Harris Campus Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208
- Huntersville:
  - 11930 Verhoeff Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078
- Matthews:
  - 2800 Campus Ridge Rd, Matthews, NC 28105
Cleveland Community College
- (704)-669-6000
- 137 S. Post Rd, Shelby, NC 28152
Coastal Carolina Community College
- (910)-455-1221
- 444 Western Boulevard, Jacksonville, NC 28546
Durham Technical Community College
- (919)-536-7200
- 1637 East Lawson Street, Durham, NC 27703
Edgecombe Community College
- Phone number for all locations: (252) 823-5166
- Rocky Mount
  - 225 Tarboro St., Rocky Mount, NC 27801
- Tarboro
  - 2009 W. Wilson St., Tarboro, NC 27886
Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Fayetteville
  - (910)-678-8400
  - 2201 Hull Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28303
- Spring Lake
  - (910)-678-1000
  - 171 Laketree Blvd., Spring Lake, NC 28390
Forsyth Technical Community College
- (336)-723-0371
- 2100 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC
Gaston College
- Belmont
  - (704)-825-3737
  - 7220 Wilkinson Blvd., Belmont, NC 28012
- Dallas
  - (704)-922-6200
  - 201 Highway U.S. 321 S, Dallas, NC 28034
- Lincolnton
  - (704)-748-5200
  - 511 S. Aspen Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092
Guilford Technical Community College
- Phone number for all locations: (336)-334-4822
- Colfax
  - 7908 Leabourne Rd, Colfax, NC 27235
- High Point
  - 901 S. Main St., High Point, NC 27260
- Greensboro
  - 3505 E Wendover Ave, Greensboro, NC 27405
- Jamestown
  - 601 E. Main Street, Jamestown, NC 27282
Haywood Community College
- (828)-627-2821
- 185 Freedlander Dr., Clyde, NC 28721
Isothermal Community College
- Columbus
  - (828)-894-3092
  - 1255 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722
- Rutherfordton
  - (828)-286-2218
  - 134 Maple Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
- Spindale
  - (828)-286-3636
  - 286 ICC Loop Road, Spindale, NC 28160
James Sprunt Community College – Certificate & Degree
- (910)-296-2400
- 133 James Sprunt Drive, Kenansville, NC 28349
Martin Community College – Certificate & Degree
- Williamston
  - (252)-792-1521
  - 1161 Kehukee Park Road, Williamston, NC 27892
- Windsor
  - (252)-794-4861
  - 409 Granville St., Windsor, NC 27983
McDowell Technical Community College
- (828)-652-6021
- 54 College Drive, Marion, NC 28752
Mitchell Community College
- Mooresville
  - (704)-663-1923
  - 219 N. Academy Street, Mooresville, NC 28115
- Statesville
  - (704)-878-3200
  - 500 W. Broad Street, Statesville, NC 28677
Montgomery Community College
- (910)-898-9600
- 1011 Page Street, Troy, NC 27371
Nash Community College – Certificate, Diploma, & Degree
- (252)-443-4011
- 522 N. Old Carriage Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Pamlico Community College
- (252)-249-1851
- 5049 NC 306 Hwy S. Grantsboro, NC 28529
Piedmont Community College
- Roxboro
  - (336)-599-1181
  - 1715 College Drive, Roxboro, NC 27573
- Yanceyville
  - (336)-694-5707
  - 331 Piedmont Drive, Yanceyville, NC
Pitt Community College
- (252)-493-7200
- 1986 Pitt Tech Road, Winterville, NC 28590
Randolph Community College – Certificate/Diploma & Degree
- (336)-633-0200
- 629 Industrial Park Avenue, Asheboro, NC 27205
Richmond Community College – Certificate & Diploma
- (910)-410-1700
- 1042 West Hamlet Avenue, Hamlet, NC 28345
Robeson Community College – Certificate & Diploma
- (910)-272-3700
- 5160 Fayetteville Road, Lumberton, NC 28360
Rockingham Community College
- (336)-342-4261
- 215 Wrenn Memorial Rd., Wentworth, NC 27375
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- Phone number for all locations: (704)-216-7222
- Concord
  - 1531 Trinity Church Rd., Concord, N.C. 28027
- Kannapolis
  - 399 Biotechnology Ln., Kannapolis, N.C. 28081
- Salisbury
  - 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd., S., Salisbury, N.C. 28146
South Piedmont Community College
- Monroe
  - (704)-290-5100
  - 4209 Old Charlotte Highway, Monroe, NC 28110
- Polkton
  - (704)-272-5300
  - 680 US 74, Polkton, NC 28135
Surry Community College
- (336)-386-8121
- 630 South Main Street, Dobson, NC 27017
Tri-County Community College
- (828)-8307-6810
- 21 Campus Circle, Murphy, NC 28906
Vance-Granville Community College
- Creedmoor
  - (919)-528-4737
  - 1547 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor, NC 27522
- Henderson
  - (252)-492-2061
  - 200 Community College Road, Henderson, NC 27537
- Louisburg
  - (919)-496-1567
  - 8100 N. C. 56 Highway, Louisburg, NC 27549
- Warrenton
  - (252)-257-1900
  - 210 West Ridgeway Street, Warrenton, NC 27589
Wake Technical Community College – Certificate & Degree
- Cary
  - (919)-335-1000
  - 3434 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary, North Carolina 27518
- Raleigh
  - Scott Northern Wake Campus
    - (919)-532-5502
    - 6600 Louisburg Road, Raleigh, NC 27616
  - Southern Wake Campus
    - (919)-866-5000
    - 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh, NC 27603
Wilson Community College
- (252)-291-1195
- 902 Herring Avenue, Wilson, NC 27893

North Carolina Professional License Search

The North Carolina Board Examiners of Electrical Contractors maintains a free search tool that allows you to look up the credentials of a licensed electrician. The Verify License Search tool can be found on their website.

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For More License and Career Guides

To find out how to become an Electrical Contractor in another state, start here.

For information on other trades in North Carolina, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:

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