NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
North Carolina issues no state license to an individual electrician. Work for an employer and you need none from the state. What North Carolina licenses is the contractor, meaning the business that holds the job. Take work in your own name, bid a job or pull a permit, and that contractor license is the one that applies to you. Cities can still license the trade themselves.
The question here isn't which license you qualify for. It's whether you take the work in your own name. Work as an employee and North Carolina requires nothing of you. Bid a job or pull a permit and one of the ten here becomes yours.
What North Carolina licenses
Both answers come directly from the state licensing authority.
| Limited | 3,000 hours on the job |
|---|---|
| Unlimited | 9,000 hours on the job |
| The exam fee | $125 |
We use the state's published licensing requirements throughout this page. If the state doesn't publish a requirement, we don't guess.
In North Carolina the license belongs to the contracting business, not to the electrician it employs. Working as an employee needs nothing of your own. One of the classes below becomes yours the day you start taking work in your own name.
Each license class below has its own experience requirements, fees and exam rules. Start with the class you're working toward: everything below depends on it. We use the state's official license names, so you'll see the same terms on its forms.
The experience requirements for each license are quoted below exactly as the state publishes them. The licensing authority decides whether your experience qualifies, so keep your own record from day one and make sure your employer can verify your hours.
If your license requires an exam, the exam name and its fee are listed under that license class. The licensing authority and the testing company are often different organizations, so the exam fee is often paid to the testing company. That's why the exam fee may appear in the candidate bulletin instead of the fee schedule.
Each license class below lists the fees the state publishes for it. Renewal varies by class too, so check the renewal period and fee for the class you are working toward rather than for the trade as a whole.
There are ten license levels here, and each is a separate license. The hours below are totals for each license, not additional hours on top of the last one. The hours here are on-the-job hours, not classroom hours.
Unlimited
At least 9,000 hours of experience, of which at least 8,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both. The application must also carry written statements from at least two persons attesting to the applicant's ability to supervise and direct all electrical wiring or electrical installation work done by an electrical contracting business in the unlimited classification.2
Intermediate
At least 5,750 hours of experience, of which at least 5,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both.2
Limited
At least 3,000 hours of experience, of which at least 2,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both.2
Special Restricted: Single Family Detached Residential Dwelling (SP-SFD)
At least 3,000 hours of experience, of which at least 2,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both.2
Special Restricted: Fire Alarm / Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV)
At least 3,000 hours of experience, of which at least 2,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both. An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the low voltage field.2
Special Restricted: Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning (SP-PH)
At least 3,000 hours of experience, of which at least 2,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both. An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the plumbing, heating, or air conditioning field, and the application must verify that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for, a firm primarily engaged in that lawful business in this State.2
Special Restricted: Groundwater Pump (SP-WP)
At least 3,000 hours of experience, of which at least 2,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both. An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the ground water pump field, and the application must verify that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for, a firm primarily engaged in that lawful business in this State.2
Special Restricted: Electric Sign (SP-ES)
At least 3,000 hours of experience, of which at least 2,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both. An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the electric sign field, and the application must verify that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for, a firm primarily engaged in that lawful business in this State.2
Special Restricted: Elevator (SP-EL)
At least 3,000 hours of experience, of which at least 2,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both. An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the elevator field, and the application must verify that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for, a firm primarily engaged in that lawful business in this State.2
Special Restricted: Swimming Pool (SP-SP)
At least 3,000 hours of experience, of which at least 2,000 hours shall be primary experience; the balance may be primary, secondary or both. An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the swimming pool field, and the application must verify that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for, a firm primarily engaged in that lawful business in this State.2
87 registered apprenticeships train North Carolina electricians. People who finished one recently left at a median of $24.00 an hour.
See every program and what they payAmong the electricians on a payroll in North Carolina, half earn more than $27.31 an hour and half earn less. The federal wage survey puts the annual figure at $56,800.3
These figures cover every experience level, from first-year apprentices to workers with decades on the job, so this is not what an apprentice earns. The survey counts 21,640 of these jobs. Self-employed workers are not included in the survey.3
The yearly figure assumes 2,080 paid hours, which is full time with no long gaps. Actual earnings can be lower where work is interrupted or seasonal.
Figures from the federal wage survey for May 2025, read 2026-08-16. The survey’s state file is a spreadsheet in a zip, not a web page.
These credentials apply if you plan to take work in your own name. Each is issued to the business itself rather than to any one person.
Not published for any class here: classroom hours or an application fee.
Held by the business · issued by the state
9,000 hours on the job.2 $200 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $200, with 8 hours of approved continuing education.4
Held by the business · issued by the state
5,750 hours on the job.2 $150 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $150, with 8 hours of approved continuing education.4
Held by the business · issued by the state
3,000 hours on the job.2 $100 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $100, with 8 hours of approved continuing education.4
Held by the business · issued by the state
3,000 hours on the job.2 $100 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $100, with 8 hours of approved continuing education.4
Held by the business · issued by the state
3,000 hours on the job.2 $100 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $100, with 4 hours of approved continuing education.4
Held by the business · issued by the state
3,000 hours on the job.2 $100 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $100, with 4 hours of approved continuing education.4
NCBEEC doesn't list states that recognize it.
Held by the business · issued by the state
3,000 hours on the job.2 $100 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $100, with 4 hours of approved continuing education.4
NCBEEC doesn't list states that recognize it.
Held by the business · issued by the state
3,000 hours on the job.2 $100 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $100, with 4 hours of approved continuing education.4
NCBEEC doesn't list states that recognize it.
Held by the business · issued by the state
3,000 hours on the job.2 $100 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $100, with 4 hours of approved continuing education.4
NCBEEC doesn't list states that recognize it.
Held by the business · issued by the state
3,000 hours on the job.2 $100 for the license itself.2 $125 to take the exam.2 PSI Services LLC administers the exam.5 You renew this every year, for $100, with 4 hours of approved continuing education.4
NCBEEC doesn't list states that recognize it.
PSI Services LLC administers every exam listed on this page. The exam provider sets the exam content, publishes the study material and sets retake fees. Use the official exam names below when you look for study material, application instructions or retake information. Exam fees are listed with each class above.
The NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors issues all contractor credentials covered on this page.
NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors1
NCBEEC doesn't list who certifies the worker or where that sits.
North Carolina publishes a list of the states whose licenses it recognizes, class by class, and the lists are below. It does not publish the other direction: whether another state recognizes a license from North Carolina is that state's decision. Moving to North Carolina? Contact NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors and ask whether your current license will be recognized. Leaving? Contact the licensing authority in the state where you plan to work.
Unlimited: North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Intermediate: North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Limited: North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Special Restricted: Single Family Detached Residential Dwelling (SP-SFD): North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Special Restricted: Fire Alarm / Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV): North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Special Restricted: Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning (SP-PH): North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Special Restricted: Groundwater Pump (SP-WP): North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Special Restricted: Electric Sign (SP-ES): North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Special Restricted: Elevator (SP-EL): North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Special Restricted: Swimming Pool (SP-SP): North Carolina accepts a license toward it from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia6
Unlimited: accepted the other way by Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia7
Intermediate: accepted the other way by South Carolina8
Limited: accepted the other way by South Carolina8
Special Restricted: Single Family Detached Residential Dwelling (SP-SFD): accepted the other way by South Carolina8
Special Restricted: Fire Alarm / Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV): accepted the other way by Mississippi9
North Carolina issues no state license to an individual electrician. Work for an employer and you need none from the state. What North Carolina licenses is the contractor, meaning the business that holds the job. Take work in your own name, bid a job or pull a permit, and that contractor license is the one that applies to you. Cities can still license the trade themselves.
Not as a number for a person: the on-the-job hours here belong to contractor licenses. North Carolina licenses no individual electrician at all. Several states on these pages state the requirement in years instead, and turning years into hours needs a working week nobody publishes. So this page prints what was published. The experience wording with each class is where the answer is.
The middle half of the electricians on a payroll in North Carolina earn between $22.63 and $29.77 an hour, and half of all of them earn more than $27.31. These are straight-time figures, before any overtime, at every experience level, counted by the federal wage survey in May 2025. Self-employed workers are not included in them.3
The top tenth of electricians on a payroll in North Carolina earn above $36.09 an hour, which over a 2,080-hour year comes to more than $75,060. Those are straight-time figures: overtime pay is outside them, and so are self-employed workers. The federal wage survey counts what the top tenth earn above, not how many reach any figure past it.3
The state publishes these: $200 to be issued Unlimited, $150 to be issued Intermediate, $100 to be issued Limited, $100 to be issued Special Restricted: Single Family Detached Residential Dwelling (SP-SFD), $100 to be issued Special Restricted: Fire Alarm / Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV), $100 to be issued Special Restricted: Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning (SP-PH), $100 to be issued Special Restricted: Groundwater Pump (SP-WP), $100 to be issued Special Restricted: Electric Sign (SP-ES), $100 to be issued Special Restricted: Elevator (SP-EL) and $100 to be issued Special Restricted: Swimming Pool (SP-SP). Each is per class, not per trade. None of them is the exam: where a vendor administers the exam, that fee is the vendor's and lives in its own bulletin.
Yes, for some. North Carolina recognizes a license toward Unlimited from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, Intermediate from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, Limited from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, Special Restricted: Single Family Detached Residential Dwelling (SP-SFD) from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, Special Restricted: Fire Alarm / Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, Special Restricted: Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning (SP-PH) from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, Special Restricted: Groundwater Pump (SP-WP) from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, Special Restricted: Electric Sign (SP-ES) from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, Special Restricted: Elevator (SP-EL) from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia and Special Restricted: Swimming Pool (SP-SP) from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. This is the inbound direction only, and it says nothing about taking a license from here somewhere else. The conditions attached, such as how long you have held yours, are published by the state rather than in the list.
There is no national answer. Any page that gives you one is averaging states whose requirements differ by thousands of hours. Licensing is set state by state, and in some states city by city, so the honest version of this question has a place in it. What is the same everywhere is the shape: you learn on the job, the hours that count are the ones somebody signs for, and the clock starts the day the work does.
Yes, and that is the ordinary way in. These trades are learned at work rather than before it, which is why boards mostly require time on the job. What you cannot skip is the paperwork: the hours that count are the ones somebody signs for, so the question to ask an employer is who signs, not whether they will train you.
No. Boards set a minimum age, not a maximum. No board on these pages sets an upper limit, and where age shows up at all it is a floor. The real question at 30 is money: an apprenticeship pays you while you learn and school charges you while you learn. That difference usually decides it.
None of the boards on these pages publishes a pass rate. The useful question is who administers the exam: that organization sells the reference material for it and sets what a retake costs.