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The scope of work that you’ll be able to contract with a North Carolina plumbing license is vast. This type of license can be used for contracting work on the systems of pipes, fixtures, and any apparatus that carries water to or sewage away from buildings and properties.

Before you bid or contract any plumbing work in the state of North Carolina, you must obtain either a Class 1 or Class 2 NC plumbing license first. For residential work in single-family detached dwellings, you’ll need a Class 1 license. If you’ll be contracting residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial plumbing work, you will need a Class 1 plumbing license.

Education and Experience

In order to be approved to take the tests for your license, you’ll first need 4,000 hours of full-time experience in the field, which is the equivalent of two years. This should include experience in the maintenance, installation, service, or repair of plumbing systems. 

It’s important to note that the systems must be related to the category (Category 1 or Category 2) for which you are preparing to get your license. Up to half of those 4,000 hours can be acquired through category-related academic or technical training.

You will need to fill out and submit an application before you can sit for your exams, and the state will inform you when you can schedule a testing date. 

Preparing for Your North Carolina Plumbing License Exams

There are two exams that contractors must pass before becoming licensed in the state: the Business and Law exam and the Plumbing exam.

The North Carolina Business and Law Exam

There are 40 questions on this exam, and you must get a minimum of 70% of them correct. You will have 90 minutes to complete this test, and it is open book. Topics range from liens and bonds to subcontractors’ pay requirements, erosion, and sedimentation control.

The North Carolina Plumbing Exam

This exam also requires you to pass with at least 70% of the questions, and you will have four hours to complete it. Just like the Business and Law exam, the Plumbing exam is open book.

How to Study for the North Carolina Plumbing License Exams

It’s important for you to note that while both tests are open book, there are some references that can be tabbed and accessed during the tests and others that cannot. 

It’s strongly recommended that you take part in an online test prep course that will give you access to all the information you’ll need to pass the tests and earn your North Carolina plumbing license.

You will need to be familiar with:

• Building codes and policies
• Residential plumbing codes
• Fuel gas codes
• Administrative codes and policies
• NC Board laws and rules for plumbing, heating, and sprinklers
• Much more

Be as prepared as possible for passing the two tests by signing up with RocketCert. We offer several different study bundles that pertain to the Category 1 or Category 2 license. 

You deserve the best chance at passing your North Carolina plumber’s exams, so choose your bundle and start studying now.