In North Carolina, you are required to apply to the NC General Contractor Licensing Board to be approved to take the examination. Applications can be submitted online at www.NCLBGC.org. [1] Create an account to begin your application. Once your application is approved, you will have 120 days to schedule and take your exam with PSI Exam Services. Application approvals can take just a couple of weeks for a Limited License, or months for an Unlimited License.
You will need to provide the following information to complete your application:
- Social Security Number for examinees and qualifiers, and any tax identification numbers for business applicants (Corporations, LLCs, etc.)
- Applicant’s contact details
- Business name under which the license will operate (if applicable)
- The type of license you are applying for (Building, Residential, Highway, Public Utility, or Specialty Contractor)
- Information about the criminal history of the applicant or qualifier. If applicable, certified copies of court records regarding all crimes the applicant or qualifier has been convicted of
- Information about any disciplinary history with the NC General Contractor Board, or any other occupational licensing, registration, or certification agency for the applicant or qualifier, if applicable
- Background check and fees paid to third-party vendors identified by the Board. Background checks are required for the qualifier of all new applications and any qualifier being added to an existing license. For businesses, the following must also undergo a background check in addition to the qualifier: Sole proprietors – the sole proprietor; Corporations – the President; LLCs – all managers and members; Partnerships – all partners
- Application fees, determined by level of license: $75 for Limited, $100 for Intermediate, and $125 for Unlimited
- Financial information is determined by level of license limitation. Read here for more information about NC contractor license financial requirements and costs.
- Character references are no longer required as part of the application
After your application has been approved, you’ll need to prepare for your exam. This includes purchasing the correct books for your specific exam, appropriately tabbing and highlighting the books allowed during your exam, and studying the correct information for the books that are not allowed during your exam.
Learn more about the North Carolina General Contractor licensing process by watching our 90-second video here. If you’re ready to start preparing for your exam, the right tools can help you feel more confident as test day approaches. We offer exam preparation resources, including Study Guides, Live Seminars, Home Study courses, and all the books you need to help set yourself up for first-time success.