Electrician license
North Carolina electrician license
North Carolina licenses electrical contracting businesses, not individual journeymen. Each license is held through a qualified individual who passed the Board's exam, and that person supervises the electrical work. This page covers Limited (L) Electrical Contracting License, Intermediate (I) Electrical Contracting License, Unlimited (U) Electrical Contracting License and Special Restricted Single Family Detached Residential Dwelling (SP-SFD) License. Local licensing in Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) is covered below.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited (L) Electrical Contracting License | 3,000 hours | 100 questions, 2020 NEC | $100 a year |
| Intermediate (I) Electrical Contracting License | 5,750 hours | 100 questions, 2020 NEC | $150 a year |
| Unlimited (U) Electrical Contracting License | 9,000 hours | 100 questions, 2020 NEC | $200 a year |
| Special Restricted Single Family Detached Residential Dwelling (SP-SFD) License | 3,000 hours | 40 questions | $100 a year |
How to get each North Carolina license
Limited (L) Electrical Contracting License
Requirements. Be 18, give two character references, and have 3,000 hours of experience, at least 2,000 of them primary (hands-on electrical installation). The license covers single projects up to $60,000 at not more than 600 volts.
Experience. 3,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 360 minutes (6 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2020 NEC, NFPA 72 (2013) and the NASCLA business guide (North Carolina electrical edition). |
| Exam fee | $125 exam application fee, paid to the Board |
| Official bulletin | NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (PSI, July 2026) |
Fees. $100 a year.
Sources: 21 NCAC 18B .0201, Requirements for all examination applicants; NCBEEC, Licensing; NCBEEC, Examinations; NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (PSI, July 2026); 21 NCAC 18B .0204, Examinations.
Intermediate (I) Electrical Contracting License
Requirements. Be 18, give two character references, and have 5,750 hours of experience, at least 5,000 of them primary. The license covers single projects up to $150,000. A statement of bonding ability is needed to activate it.
Experience. 5,750 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 360 minutes (6 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2020 NEC, NFPA 72 (2013) and the NASCLA business guide (North Carolina electrical edition). |
| Exam fee | $125 exam application fee, paid to the Board |
| Official bulletin | NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (PSI, July 2026) |
Fees. $150 a year.
Sources: 21 NCAC 18B .0201, Requirements for all examination applicants; NCBEEC, Licensing; NCBEEC, Examinations; NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (PSI, July 2026); 21 NCAC 18B .0204, Examinations.
Unlimited (U) Electrical Contracting License
Requirements. Be 18, give two character references, have 9,000 hours of experience (at least 8,000 primary), and give two statements from people who know your work attesting that you can supervise an unlimited electrical contracting business. The license covers any project regardless of value.
Experience. 9,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 360 minutes (6 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2020 NEC, NFPA 72 (2013) and the NASCLA business guide (North Carolina electrical edition). |
| Exam fee | $125 exam application fee, paid to the Board |
| Official bulletin | NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (PSI, July 2026) |
Fees. $200 a year.
Sources: 21 NCAC 18B .0201, Requirements for all examination applicants; NCBEEC, Licensing; NCBEEC, Examinations; NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (PSI, July 2026); 21 NCAC 18B .0204, Examinations.
Special Restricted Single Family Detached Residential Dwelling (SP-SFD) License
Requirements. Be 18, give two character references, and have 3,000 hours of experience, at least 2,000 of them primary. The license is limited to single-family detached homes.
Experience. 3,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | 40 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | $125 exam application fee, paid to the Board |
| Official bulletin | NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (PSI, July 2026) |
Fees. $100 a year.
Sources: 21 NCAC 18B .0201, Requirements for all examination applicants; NCBEEC, Licensing; NCBEEC, Examinations; 21 NCAC 18B .0204, Examinations.
Local electrician licenses in North Carolina
Mecklenburg County (Charlotte): No local electrician license; electrical contracting needs the state NCBEEC license
Mecklenburg County does not issue its own electrician license. Its code office points to the state law requiring an NCBEEC license for electrical contracting; a homeowner may wire a home they will live in. Issued by Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement. Official page.
Source: Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, Electrical Information for Homeowners.
Practice for the exam
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test with 2026 and 2023 NEC versions has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the North Carolina exam outline.
How to apply
Send the Board the application for examination from the exam handbook with the $125 fee and employer statements proving your experience. Once approved you have 90 days to book and take the exam with PSI; after passing, file a license application with the license fee. Apply on the official site.
Sources: NCBEEC, Examinations; NCBEEC, Licensing.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every year: a license expires one year after the date it was issued. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | 8 hours each year for unlimited, intermediate, limited and SP-SFD qualified individuals (all 8 in a classroom, or 4 classroom and 4 online); 4 hours for the other special restricted licenses. |
Sources: NCBEEC, Licensing; NCBEEC, Continuing Education.
Reciprocity with other states
The Board has reciprocal agreements, licensing without the written exam, with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Source: NCBEEC, Reciprocity.
Look up a North Carolina electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official NCBEEC Verify License Search.
Good to know
Experience is counted at 2,000 hours to a creditable year. Primary experience includes work as a journeyman electrician or foreman; time in a North Carolina Department of Labor approved apprenticeship counts as secondary experience.
If you fail, you must wait 3 months before taking the same exam again.
Sources: 21 NCAC 18B .0202, Experience; NCBEEC, Examinations.
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in North Carolina?
North Carolina licenses electrical contracting businesses, not individual journeymen. Each license is held through a qualified individual who passed the Board's exam, and that person supervises the electrical work.
Does North Carolina accept electrician licenses from other states?
The Board has reciprocal agreements, licensing without the written exam, with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
How often does a North Carolina electrician license renew?
Every year: a license expires one year after the date it was issued. Continuing education: 8 hours each year for unlimited, intermediate, limited and SP-SFD qualified individuals (all 8 in a classroom, or 4 classroom and 4 online); 4 hours for the other special restricted licenses.
How do I look up an electrician license in North Carolina?
Use the official NCBEEC Verify License Search at https://arls-public.ncbeec.org/Public/Search
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from North Carolina's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- NCBEEC, Licensing, opened November 11, 2026
- NCBEEC, Examinations, opened November 11, 2026
- 21 NCAC 18B .0201, Requirements for all examination applicants, opened November 11, 2026
- 21 NCAC 18B .0204, Examinations, opened November 11, 2026
- NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (PSI, July 2026), opened November 11, 2026
- NCBEEC, Continuing Education, opened November 11, 2026
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-43, Electrical contracting defined; licenses, opened November 11, 2026
- NCBEEC, Reciprocity, opened November 11, 2026
- NCBEEC Verify License Search, opened November 11, 2026
- Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, Electrical Information for Homeowners, opened November 11, 2026
- 21 NCAC 18B .0202, Experience, opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.