What is the complete name of the Board? North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors What is the Board's physical address; what is the Board's mailing address, and which should I use for courier service? 3739 National Drive, Suite 225, Raleigh, NC 27612 is the physical address and should be used for courier service; P. O. Box 17187, Raleigh, NC 27619 is the mailing address. How can I obtain a license application? Can I pay by credit card? Application packages may be obtained by sending a personal check, money order or cashier's check for $15.00 made payable to the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, to P. O. Box 17187, Raleigh, NC 27619. Please note that cash and credit cards are not accepted. Applications may be purchased at the Board office for $13.00. The office is located at 3739 National Drive, Suite 225, Raleigh, NC 27612; office hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please note that cash and credit cards are not accepted. What information comes with the application package? An application form and instructions, information for all 21 exams, state requirements and a copy of the Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina are included. Do I need a license prior to bidding on a project? If the project costs $30,000 or more, you will need a license before submitting a bid (GS 87-1). How many licenses can an examinee qualify? A person may serve as a qualifier for no more than 2 licenses. [NCAC Title 21; Chapter 12, .0205(b)]. How will I know which classification to choose? Refer to NCAC Article 1, Section .0200 and .0202 for the licensing requirements including classifications and descriptions for each. Does the copy of the corporate charter or the certificate of authority have to be a certified copy? No. Can I build my own house without a license? If the land is in your name and the home is solely to be occupied by you and your family for 12 months after completion, you may build your own home without a license. Refer to GS 87-1. How do I know when or if I am required to hold a license to practice general contracting? North Carolina General Statute 87-1 defines the practice of general contracting; refer to NCGS 87-1 to determine whether these requirements apply in your case. Does the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors license subcontractors? No, generally speaking, subcontractors work under the supervision of a prime or general contractor. Can I take an exam without applying for a license? No Does the Board reciprocate with other states? The Board has an examination waiver agreement with South Carolina and Tennessee. When is the next list of applicants going before the Board? Board members receive a list of new applicants the first week of each month except in the month of December. When is the filing deadline for the monthly Board list? Each month members of the Licensing Board review and approve a list of all applicants (not required to take and pass an examination) who have fulfilled the requirements for a North Carolina general contractors license. All general contractors licenses expire December 31 each calendar year and normally are not issued during the month of December. To be eligible for consideration, applications must be filed in a timely manner and in complete order. Applications should be submitted the first week of any month prior to the month members of the Licensing Board review and approve(for example--first week of June for July review/approval). After review and approval by members of the Licensing Board, a license to practice general contracting will be issued on the applicable date for the applicant. The postmark shown on applications, materials and mail received by this office is not the actual and official filing date for the application. How do I increase my license limitation? Contact the Board office and request an 'increase application' form. (Your license must be active and renewed.) Complete the increase form and send the form, including an audited financial statement with an unqualified opinion, a classified balance sheet and accompanying notes to the financial statement, with appropriate fee to the Licensing Board. The audit must be prepared by a certified public accountant or an independent accountant who is engaged in the public practice of accountancy. (See NCAC Title 21; Chapter 12.0204 [a-f] for eligibility requirements.) Can you send me a form so I can change my address? Can I give you my new address over the phone? Can I fax the address change to your office? Change of address information must be provided to the Board in writing within 30 days from the date of the change [NCAC Title 21; Chapter 12.0505]. We do not have a specific form to be used for an address change, and they are not accepted over the phone. All address changes must be on company letterhead and signed by the president or owner. Be sure to list the license number and the exact name of the licensee. You may fax an address change to 919 571-4703. What do I need to do to transfer my license? Licenses are not transferable. "...Any person or firm or corporation..." engaging in the practice of general contracting must hold a general contractor's license. The holder of an individual license may not allow a partnership or corporation to use that individual license for any reason (GS 87-1). Do I have to sign the certification on the renewal application since I am the person who took the exam as well as the licensee? The signature of each examinee is required; the renewal will be returned if a signature is missing. When does my license expire? All licenses issued by this Board expire on December 31 of each year. How much are the renewal fees for each limitation? The Limited license is $75; an Intermediate license is $100; an Unlimited license is $125. Please explain "principal due in the next 12 months?" Principal due in the next 12 months is the amount of payment (less interest or other costs such as insurance) that you will pay within the next 12 months. For example, if you owe on your vehicles or real estate for the next 10 years, the principal that will be paid in the next 12 months is a current liability. The remaining 9 years will be considered a long term liability. The company has a license, but we want to add additional employees. How can we get other responsible managing employees of the company scheduled to take examinations? Call the Board's office (919 571-4183) and request an exam form. Can I transfer my license to another entity? No, only exams can be transferred. When I reapply, do I have to submit the references again? Yes Is the application and financial information considered public information? Yes, everything submitted with the application may be considered a public record according to General Statutes, Chapter 132-1 and following, and may be subject to disclosure to the public upon request. Social Security numbers and trade secrets are not disclosed to the public. In lieu of an audit, can I submit a review or compilation? If applying for an Intermediate or Unlimited Limitation, an audited financial statement with an unqualified opinion, a classified balance sheet and accompanying notes to the financial statement must be submitted. The audit must be prepared by a certified public accountant or an independent accountant who is engaged in the public practice of accountancy. (See NCAC Title 21; Chapter 12.0204 [a-f] for eligibility requirements.) Can a parent company's financial information be submitted for a subsidiary's application? No, the financial information or financial statements must be solely on the entity applying for a license. How does someone file charges against a general contractor? Any person may prefer charges or file a complaint against a general contractor. Complaints must be properly completed on forms (sample for licensed contractor, sample for unlicensed contractor) provided by the Board, signed and returned to the Board office. All complaints received by the Board office are reviewed and assigned to a field investigator for an investigation. Once a complaint is received, written notice of the complaint and the charges are then forwarded to the licensee or general contractor for a response. Following a preliminary review of the complaint the investigator may gather additional evidence by making an inspection of the construction project or the work in question. Field investigators also may interview the Respondent contractor, fact witnesses or other individuals who are familiar with the case. When an investigation is completed the case is forwarded to the Board's Review Committee, which then determines whether probable cause exists to recommend that the case be presented to the full Board for a disciplinary hearing. The Board may impose discipline by revoking or suspending the license of the general contractor based on a finding of gross negligence, incompetence, misconduct, or willful violations of the licensing laws. If the general contractor (Respondent) is not licensed to practice general contracting, the Board may only seek entry of a permanent injunction against the contractor in Superior Court. The Board's disciplinary statutes, which describe these procedures, are found at North Carolina General Statutes 87-11(a), 87-13 and 87-13.1. For questions concerning complaints or to request a complaint form, please call the Board’s Violations & Complaints Section at (919) 571-4189. Return to top of page