General Contractor License Requirements in North Carolina
| Licensing Authority | North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC) |
| License Type | General Contractor (Building/Residential) — Limited, Intermediate, or Unlimited |
| Experience Required | No specific years-of-experience requirement — competence is demonstrated through the exam and financial standing. Must be at least 18 years old. |
| Exam Required | Yes — Trade Exam (Building or Residential) + Business & Law Exam |
| Bond Required | No |
| Insurance | General liability: recommended. Workers comp: required with employees |
| Continuing Education | 8 hours every year |
| Processing Time | 1-2 months (2-3 week review + 30-day hold) |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $75 |
| Exam Fee | $79 |
| Intermediate application | $100 |
| Unlimited application | $125 |
| Est. Initial Total | $379 |
Renewal: $75 every 1 year
Exam Requirements
Trade Exam (Building or Residential)
90 questions200 minutesPass: 70%
Construction methodsBuilding codesEstimatingProject management
Business & Law Exam
Pass: 70%
NC construction lawContractsBusiness managementLicensing regulations
Exam provider: PSI
License Tiers
Limited
Projects up to $500,000. Requires $17,000 working capital or $175,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
Intermediate
Projects up to $1,000,000. Requires $75,000 working capital or $500,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
Unlimited
No project cap. Requires $150,000 working capital or $1,000,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
License Reciprocity
This state has reciprocity agreements with 7 states. You may be able to skip the trade exam if you hold a valid license from one of these states.
south carolinaExam waiver; must pass NC Business & Law exam
tennesseeExam waiver; must pass NC Business & Law exam
louisianaExam waiver; must pass NC Business & Law exam
georgiaExam waiver; must pass NC Business & Law exam
mississippiExam waiver; must pass NC Business & Law exam
alabamaExam waiver; must pass NC Business & Law exam
floridaExam waiver; must pass NC Business & Law exam
Notes
- License required for projects $30,000+ (residential) or $40,000+ (commercial)
- NASCLA Accredited Exam accepted
- Fees shown are for Limited tier — Intermediate and Unlimited tiers cost more
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a general contractor license in North Carolina?
Yes, North Carolina requires a statewide general contractor license through the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.
How much does a general contractor license cost in North Carolina?
The estimated initial cost is $154, including application, exam, and license fees.
Data last verified: 2026-04-02 | Source: NCLBGC