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Plumber
Governing Authority
North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
Official website →Yes
State Licensed?
8,000
Apprentice Hours
7
License Levels
Varies
Total Fees
None
CE Hours
NC State Plumbing Code (2024 codes effective July 1, 2025)
Code Version
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Get the Roadmap — $20Apprentice Registration Fee
$35
Apprentice registration fee
Journeyman License Fee
$80
Journeyman plumber license fee
Master Plumber License Fee
$120
Master plumber license fee
Exam Fee
$75-$150
Varies by classification; plus PSI exam fee; background check required from approved provider
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
Apprenticeship Program
8,000
Total Hours
4 yrs
Duration
576
Classroom Hours
7,424
OJT Hours
Registered Apprenticeship Program Required
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Experience Required
Registration required; no prior experience
No exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
Technician: 18 months / 3,000 hours on-site full-time in installation, maintenance, service, or repair; Fuel Piping Technician: 9 months / 1,500 hours
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
Contractor: 2 years / 4,000 hours on-site full-time experience; up to half (2,000 hours / 45 quarter hours / 30 semester hours) may be academic/technical training
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
PSI
Plumbing Code Version
NC State Plumbing Code (2024 codes effective July 1, 2025)
Open Book Exam
Passing Score
70%
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Overall licensing difficulty: 29/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
Not sure if you need a plumber license? Check whether your state requires one.
North Carolina has 3% below average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
North Carolina has average plumbers density relative to population.
North Carolina ranks #33 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Apprentice registration fee | $35 |
Journeyman License Journeyman plumber license fee | $80 |
Master License Master plumber license fee | $120 |
Exam Fee Varies by classification; plus PSI exam fee; background check required from approved provider | $75-$150 |
Total Initial Fees Varies by classification — $75-$150 application range plus exam fees | Varies |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedAnnual (2026 renewal forms available; multi-year renewal form also available)
Renewal Period
—
CE Hours Required
—
Renewal Fee
No CE Requirement
Regulatory Board
Annual renewal
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedDoes Not Accept Out-of-State Licenses
Transfer Type
Endorsement
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Most states require plumbers to pass the local exam or apply for endorsement when transferring an out-of-state license. Requirements vary by state.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare North Carolina with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
North Carolina's Board oversees plumbing alongside heating and fire sprinkler contractors, with tiered plumbing contractor classifications.
NC uses 'Technician' instead of 'Journeyman' and 'Contractor' instead of 'Master' — different terminology from most states
Board offers 28 different license qualifications across plumbing, heating, fuel piping, and fire sprinkler
Class I (PT-I/P-I) = all buildings (commercial, residential, industrial); Class II (PT-II/P-II) = single-family detached residential only
Technician requires 18 months / 3,000 hours (shorter than most states' journeyman requirements)
Contractor requires only 2 years / 4,000 hours — up to half can be academic
2024 codes effective July 1, 2025 — February 15, 2026 update on new NC State Building Code effective dates
Open-book exams via PSI (7 testing centers across NC)
Military experience credit available
No reciprocity except Technical Exam Waiver with South Carolina (B&L exam still required)
NASCLA Accredited Examination accepted for some classifications
Also oversees heating and fire sprinkler contractors
Plumber Schools in North Carolina
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Plumber requirements in North Carolina verified against North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-24
Accessed 2026-03-06