North Carolina Plumbing License: How to Become a Certified Plumber in NC

How do I get a plumbing license in North Carolina?

You need a plumber’s license to legally perform plumbing-related services in North Carolina, and you can get a few different types of licenses. 

Unlike some states, North Carolina doesn’t offer licensing at the Journeyman and Master Plumber levels. Their more universal licenses make it easier to work across different states, but they’re harder to earn.

North Carolina offers 6 types of plumbing licenses—3 contractor and 3 technician:

• Plumbing Class 1 Contractor (P-1): Plumbers can work on residential, commercial, or industrial piping systems
• Plumbing Class 2 Contractor (P-2): Plumbers can work on piping systems in only residential single-family buildings
• Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor (RLP): Plumbers can work on exterior building plumbing pipings and systems
• Plumbing Technician: Plumbers can work on potable water and drain/waste/vent piping systems, but they must be a sublicensee of a P-1, P-2, or RLP contractor
• State & Local Government Technician – Plumbing (SLGT-P): Employees of the state or a local government can work on plumbing piping systems
• Private Educational Institution Technician – Plumbing (PEIT-P): Employees of a private educational institution can work on plumbing piping systems

Plumbers must go through the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors to obtain any of these licenses. 

READ MORE: Plumbing industry statistics and trends to know for 2024 (and beyond)

Steps to get a plumbing license in North Carolina

Here’s an overview of the process of getting a plumber’s license in North Carolina:

1. Earn a plumbing or HVAC diploma or certificate from a school or accumulate the necessary on-site hours as an apprentice with a plumbing company or licensed contractor.
2. Apply for the examination for the specific plumber’s license you want.
3. Obtain a background check.
4. Send in your completed application with all required documentation, signatures, and fees.
5. Schedule, take, and pass your plumbing exam.
6. Submit the Licensing Activation form and fee to obtain your license

Most plumbers in North Carolina start as plumber’s helpers. Plumber’s helpers are entry-level apprentices in the field and don’t require any licensing to get started. However, a certified plumber will oversee any work and show them the ropes. This is how brand-new plumbers can acquire the necessary on-site experience to qualify for licensing examinations.

North Carolina plumbing license requirements

Each North Carolina plumbing license has different requirements. Here’s what you’ll need before you obtain each one:

Plumbing P-1 & P-2 requirements

You must pass the Plumbing Contractor examination to obtain a P-1 or P-2 contracting license. Before taking the exam, you must have 2 years (4,000 hours) of on-site full-time experience installing, maintaining, servicing, or repairing plumbing-related systems. Half of those hours (2,000) can be in an academic or technical training setting directly relevant to the licensing and examination you’ve requested.

A great way to obtain those hours of experience and training is by going to school. Colleges and technical trade schools in North Carolina can train you on plumbing codes and best practices, helping you earn a degree and certificates. Plus, they’ll connect you with plumbers in the communities to help you get full-time on-site experience.

Plumbing technician requirements

Applicants must have 18 months (3,000 hours) of full-time on-site experience installing, maintaining, servicing, or repairing plumbing-related systems to take the Plumbing & Heating Technician examination.

Plumbing RLP requirements

To qualify for the Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor examination, you must have 9 months (1,500 hours) of full-time experience installing, maintaining, servicing, or repairing plumbing systems. Half of those hours (750) can be in an academic or technical training setting. 

Plumbing SLGT-P requirements

Applicants must have 18 months (3,000 hours) of full-time on-site experience installing, maintaining, servicing, or repairing plumbing or heating systems before taking the State & Local Government Technician examination. P-1 Plumbers qualify for this license without examination.

Plumbing PEIT-P requirements

Applicants must have 18 months (3,000 hours) of full-time on-site experience installing, maintaining, servicing, or repairing plumbing or heating systems before taking the Private Educational Institution Technician examination. P-1 Plumbers qualify for this license without examination.

Military experience substitute

Some forms of military experience can be used towards your required examination hours. You’ll need a DD214 form (noting your plumbing experience in the military) and sworn statements from your direct supervisors detailing your experience. However, you’ll still have to take the North Carolina plumbing examination and pay the fees to receive your plumbing license.

North Carolina plumbing exam information

Once your application is approved, you’ll be notified of your eligibility to take the plumbing license exam. Once you’ve been notified, you have 90 days to take the exam.

The exams are administered in seven locations across North Carolina—Asheville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greenville, and Wilmington.

Plumbing contractors must complete a technical exam within 4 hours long and an additional business law exam within 1.5 hours. However, contractors with an active license are not required to take the business and law exam. Both the plumbing technicians and the State & Local plumbing technician have 4 hours to complete the technical exam as well with no requirements for the business law exam.

READ MORE: How to start a plumbing business: 11 steps to get up and running

How much does it cost to get a plumbing license in North Carolina?

Getting a plumbing license in North Carolina is a low-cost way to start your tradesperson career. From the get-go, you’ll get paid (instead of paying) to learn the skills you need. 

Search for a plumbing company needing apprentices—pretty much all of them do. As an apprentice, you’ll work with licensed contractors in the field to learn the skills you need to become a successful plumber. While you won’t make much as an apprentice (expect anywhere between $13-24/hr), you’ll learn valuable skills that’ll help you earn your licensing and begin making a healthy income. Plus, you have to find a way to get the hours for your licensing certification—and at least you get paid while doing it.

Some apprenticeships cost money, but this will be taken from your wages to ensure you still make money instead of losing it during your learning phase.

Another way to earn at least half of your required hours is by attending a vocational school or community college. They provide programs that you can use to earn better-paying jobs with plumbing companies. 

These schools offer diplomas and certificate programs for aspiring plumbers:

• Cape Fear Community College (Burgaw, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, and Wilmington)
• Cleveland Community College (Shelby)
• Fayetteville Technical Community College (Fayetteville)
• Forsyth Technical Community College (Winston-Salem)
• Guilford Technical Community College (Jamestown)
• Pamlico Community College (Grantsboro)
• Wake Technical Community College (Raleigh)

 The total cost for these programs varies based on the number of course credit hours required as well as additional costs like books and other supplies, transportation, food and housing, etc. 

North Carolina residents across the state pay $76 per credit hour, and non-residents pay $268 per credit hour up to a maximum tuition of 16 total credit hours each semester. 

This means a resident of North Carolina would pay a maximum of $1,216 per semester ($76 x 16) while a non-resident would pay a maximum of $4,288 per semester ($268 x 16) for this kind of formal education.

Once you’ve accumulated the required academic and on-site hours, it’s time to apply for your plumbing contracting license. You must pay a $100 fee to apply to take the contractor’s examination. After you pass the test, you’ll need to pay a $150 license activation fee to obtain your license. 

If you decide to apply to be a plumbing technician, you’ll have to pay a $100 examination fee and a $75 license activation fee ($150 for the State & Local Government Technician license). 

READ MORE: How to price plumbing jobs: An easy formula to create fast estimates

Do I need to renew my plumber license? 

Yes, you need to renew your plumber license in North Carolina every year to stay eligible as a certified plumber. If you currently hold an active license, you can renew your license online. If you renew an older license, you must submit your completed paperwork and payment to the Board Office. All licenses cost $150 to renew, but a late renewal will cost you an extra $25 late fee. 

Unlike in some other states, continuing education is no longer required by the North Carolina State Board for you to renew your plumbing license. Still, it’s a good idea for plumbing professionals to regularly take courses relevant to their work to stay up to date on current code, best practices, and emerging technologies.

If the Board finds you violating any laws, rules, or codes during the design or installation of plumbing-related systems, they may require you to complete approved courses to renew your license. Here’s a list of courses (including board-approved disciplinary classes) plumbers can take to sharpen their skills.

What happens if my plumber license expires?

First, check if your plumber’s license has expired. You can use the Verify License Search on the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors’ website to find out.

You can search via your classification type and license number or through a company name, first name, last name, or address.

If your plumber license has expired, you have a few options. Any license expired in 2020 or earlier can’t be renewed online or via mail—you’ll need to reapply and take the exam to reinstate your license. 

If you obtained a plumber’s license in 2021, you can renew your license and pay the associated fees here. However, if your license expired in 2021 and you are renewing before December 31, 2024, you will have to pay $150 for every year that you did not previously pay. You can see the details in the application form here.

Does my North Carolina plumbing license work in any other states?

No, North Carolina does not have reciprocity agreements with other states. Any one looking to become a licensed plumber in NC must go through the process set out by the state licensing board.

Licensed plumbing and HVAC contractors can bypass the technical exam with a Technical Examination Waiver, but are still required to take the business law exam.

There is also an exception for former military personnel and their spouses. Former military members can use service experience for their license requirements, while spouses with a valid plumbing license in another state can use that experience for their licensing requirements as well.

READ MORE: The 40 best plumbing tools for all jobs (with prices)

Does a plumbing license in North Carolina increase your earning potential?

Does having a plumbing license in North Carolina increase your earnings potential? You bet it does. And even if it didn’t, you wouldn’t be legally allowed to perform work without one.

According to the data compiled in our Plumber Salary Guide, Apprentice Plumbers make an average of $36,526 per year while Master Plumbers make $66,479—that’s an 82% wage increase. While North Carolina has different licensing than Master and Journeyman Plumbers, you can expect the wage jump to be similar with P-1 and P-2 licensing.

Negotiate the right price the first time, and you won’t have to have another interview with another company. Go with your gut or try to throw out a highball number, and you might just lose out on a quality job. Our guides help meet you in the middle to help you earn what you deserve.

See for yourself. Check out any of our salary guides to find out exactly how much you should be making based on your location and experience.

Originally published in July 2022. Last updated on October 11, 2024.