North Carolina Electrician License Requirements

Official classification: Electrical Contractor License (Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited / Special Restricted) · Issued by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC).

⚡ ElectricianNC ✔ Verified 2026-06-17

License types

Limited (L) — Single electrical project up to $60,000; equipment rated no more than 600 volts
Intermediate (I) — Single electrical project up to $150,000
Unlimited (U) — Any electrical contracting project regardless of value
Special Restricted (SP) — Limited phases of work: Single-Family Dwelling, Fire Alarm/Low-Voltage, Plumbing-Heating-AC, Swimming Pool, Groundwater Pump, Electric Sign, Elevator

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Experience requirement varies by classification and is evaluated by the Board from the application; the qualified individual must pass the corresponding exam. The Board does not publish a single fixed hours figure for all classes.
Application fee	$125 (application & exam, all classifications)
License fee	$100 Limited / $150 Intermediate / $200 Unlimited / $100 Special Restricted
Renewal fee	Same as annual license fee; $25 late renewal admin fee
Renewal period	Annual (license expires 1 year after date of issuance)
Continuing education	None required by the Board
Bond required	No surety bond required, but a statement of bonding ability is required to activate a license in the Intermediate and Unlimited classifications.
Liability insurance	Not mandated by the Board
Property damage	Not mandated by the Board
Workers' comp	Not enforced by the Board; required under NC labor law if you have 3+ employees
Background check	Not a published Board requirement for the standard application.
Credit requirement	No working-capital/net-worth requirement; only a statement of bonding ability for Intermediate/Unlimited.
Reciprocity	None
Processing time	Variable; applicant self-schedules the exam at a PSI testing center.

Exams

Electrical contracting examination (per classification)

Provider: PSI
Passing: Not publicly disclosed
Fee: $125 application & exam fee (all classifications); $25 exam review

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-17 — always confirm current requirements directly with the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) before applying. This is not legal advice.