How to get an electrician license in North Carolina
Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for North Carolina, pulled from official NC sources and checked October 23, 2026.
- Licensing body: North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC)
- State journeyman license: No (NCBEEC issues electrical contracting licenses held by a 'qualified individual'. We found no state journeyman license on the board's site; local rules may apply.)
- Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited Electrical Contractor (qualified individual): Limited: 2 years (1 primary). Intermediate: 4 years (2.5 primary). Unlimited: 5 years (4 primary) plus two statements attesting to supervisory ability. 2,000 hours = one creditable year. Must be 18+ with two good-character statements.
- Exam: open book, via PSI (scheduled after board approval)
- Code edition: Exam study list: NEC 2020 Edition.
License types in North Carolina
- Limited (projects up to $60,000, 600 V)
- Intermediate (projects up to $150,000)
- Unlimited
- Special Restricted: SP-SFD, SP-FA/LV, SP-PH, SP-SP, SP-WP, SP-ES, SP-EL
Requirements by license
Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited Electrical Contractor (qualified individual)
| Experience | Limited: 2 years (1 primary). Intermediate: 4 years (2.5 primary). Unlimited: 5 years (4 primary) plus two statements attesting to supervisory ability. 2,000 hours = one creditable year. Must be 18+ with two good-character statements.Source: ncbeec.org · as of October 23, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Exam | PSI (scheduled after board approval). Open book. Limited/Intermediate/Unlimited: 100 multiple-choice questions, 6 hours, 70 to pass. Bring NEC, NFPA 72 and NASCLA NC business book.Source: ncbeec.org · as of October 23, 2026 |
| Fees |
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| Renewal | Every year. Licenses expire 1 year after issuance. Renewal application and fee are due 30 days before expiration; $25 late fee after expiration. Notices go out about 60 days before.Source: ncbeec.org · as of October 23, 2026 · Also ncbeec.org |
| CE to renew | 8 hours per each annual license period
At least half must be in-person classroom. Special Restricted licenses need 4 hours. Extra hours may carry forward. Source: ncbeec.org · as of October 23, 2026 |
Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)
What we couldn't confirm yet
We only publish what we can tie to an official source. These items are still open, so check them with the board:
- Whether any NC jurisdiction licenses journeyman electricians (none found at state level).
- Complete current list of NC reciprocity states (board page showed AL, FL, GA plus a TX page).
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FAQ
Does North Carolina have a state journeyman electrician license?
No. NCBEEC issues electrical contracting licenses held by a 'qualified individual'. We found no state journeyman license on the board's site; local rules may apply. North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) licenses electrical contractors.
Is the North Carolina electrician exam open book?
Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited Electrical Contractor (qualified individual): open book (PSI (scheduled after board approval)).
How often do you renew in North Carolina?
Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited Electrical Contractor (qualified individual): Every year; 8 hours of CE per each annual license period.
Does North Carolina have electrician license reciprocity?
NCBEEC has formal reciprocal agreements with several states (its page lists Alabama, Florida and Georgia, and it has a separate Texas reciprocity page). Reciprocity waives the written exam, but you apply and pay fees.
Already licensed? See North Carolina electrician license renewal & CE requirements.