1. (a) All applicants for licensure or examination shall submit an application, setting forth the information required in G.S. 87-21 and the rules of this Chapter, on a form available on the Board website, http://www.nclicensing.org. or at the Board office. The application shall require the following information:

   1. (1) Licensure and exam type requested;
   2. (2) Last name, first name, and middle name of applicant;
   3. (3) Date of application;
   4. (4) Social Security Number;
   5. (5) Date of Birth;
   6. (6) Mailing address;
   7. (7) Telephone numbers;
   8. (8) Email address;
   9. (9) Applicant's dated signature;
   10. (10) Any tax documents evidencing experience as an employee of a licensed contractor;
   11. (11) Experience description including number of hours of experience claimed and whether the experience involved maintenance, installation, or repair;
   12. (12) Experience verification with notarized signature of current or former employers;
   13. (13) Exam fee (credit card, check, or money order);
   14. (14) Whether the applicant has ever been charged or convicted of a crime and description of the same;
   15. (15) Whether the applicant is incarcerated, paroled, or on probation;
   16. (16) Signed authorization for a criminal background check;
   17. (17) License type and number if applicant holds other licenses issued by Board;
   18. (18) Whether the applicant requests to take the examination outside of North Carolina;
   19. (19) Signed authorization for release of social security number to the United State Social Security Administration for purposes of verification of social security number; and
   20. (20) If applicable, any military or military spouse experience claimed.
2. (b) Applicants for a plumbing or heating examination shall present evidence when submitting an application to establish completion of two years of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which a license is sought, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Applicants for a fuel piping examination shall present evidence when submitting an application to establish completion of one year of experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of fuel piping, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Up to one-half of the experience may be in academic or technical training related to the field of endeavor for which examination is requested. The Board shall prorate part-time work of less than 40 hours per week or part-time academic work of less than 15 semester or quarter hours.
3. (c) The Board shall issue a license certificate bearing the license number assigned to the qualifying individual.
4. (d) Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractors shall meet experience requirements in accordance with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) examination criteria.

5. (e) Applicants for examination or licensure in the Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician classification shall submit evidence adequate to establish that the applicant has either:

   1. (1) 4000 hours of experience in inspection and testing of previously installed fire sprinkler systems, consistent with NFPA-25: Standard for the Inspection Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems of the National Fire Protection Association, adopted by the North Carolina Building Code, which is hereby incorporated by reference, including all subsequent editions and amendments, as a full-time employee of a Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor or fire insurance underwriting organization. The document may be accessed free of charge at http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/;
   2. (2) 4000 hours of experience as a full-time employee of a hospital, manufacturing, government, or university facility under direct supervision of Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor or a Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician involved in inspection and testing of previously installed fire sprinkler systems, consistent with NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems of the National Fire Protection Association, which is hereby incorporated by reference, including all subsequent editions and amendments. The document may be accessed free of charge at http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/;
   3. (3) 4000 hours of experience in installation of fire sprinkler systems as a full-time employee of a Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor; or
   4. (4) a combination of 4000 hours of experience in any of the categories listed in this Paragraph.
6. (f) Applicants for licensure in the Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor classification shall meet experience requirements in accordance with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) or the Academy Certification Exams (ACE) certification criteria.
7. (g) Applicants for initial licensure in the Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician classification shall submit evidence of 2000 hours experience at the place for which license is sought as a full-time maintenance employee in facility maintenance with experience in periodic maintenance of fire protection systems, as described in Rule .0515 of this Chapter. Applicants who have held a Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician license previously are not required to demonstrate experience in addition to the experience at the time of initial licensure, but shall submit a new application if relocating to a new location.
8. (h) Applicants for licensure in the Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor classification shall hold an active Plumbing Class I or Class II Contractor license issued by the Board for a minimum of two years and shall document attendance at a 16-hour course approved by the Board pursuant to the Rules in this Chapter covering NFPA 13D: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One-and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, which is hereby incorporated by reference, including all subsequent editions and amendments. The document may be accessed free of charge at http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/. Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractors shall maintain a Plumbing Contractor license as a condition of renewal of the Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor license.
9. (i) Applicants for Licensure as a plumbing or heating Class I technician shall present evidence adequate to establish 3000 hours of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which a technician license is sought, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Applicants for a license as a plumbing or heating Class II technician shall present evidence adequate to establish 2500 hours of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which a technician license is sought, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Applicants for a license as a fuel piping Class I technician shall present evidence adequate to establish 1500 hours of experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of fuel piping, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Applicants for a license as a fuel piping Class II technician shall present evidence adequate to establish 1500 hours of experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of fuel piping, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Up to one-half of the experience may be in academic or technical training related to the field of endeavor for which the examination is requested.
10. (j) Applicants for a Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor license shall present evidence at the time of application to establish 1500 hours of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of plumbing systems, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Up to one-half of the experience may be in academic or technical training related to the field of endeavor for which examination is requested. The Board shall prorate part-time work of fewer than 40 hours per week or part-time academic work of less than 15 semester or quarter hours.
11. (k) In lieu of the requirements of Paragraph (j) of this Rule, applicants for a Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor License who present a current active License from the North Carolina Irrigation Contractor Licensing Board may take the examination, provided the applicant demonstrates that he or she holds certification as a Backflow Inspector from one of the municipalities in North Carolina, or demonstrates 500 hours of experience in the maintenance, service, or repair of components of plumbing systems.
12. (l) Applicants for license based on completion of an apprenticeship program as described in G.S. 93B-8.6(b) shall meet the same experience and training requirements for the category of license sought as is set forth in this Rule.
13. (m) Applicants for licensure as a Limited Plumbing Water Heater Replacement Contractor shall present evidence at the time of application to establish that they have held a heating or fuel piping technician or contractor license for a minimum of two years, are in good standing with the Board, and has attended and completed a 6-hour course approved by the Board that covers North Carolina State Residential Plumbing codes requirements, sizing, and installation techniques that relate to the replacement of existing potable water heaters.

History Note: Authority G.S. 87-18; 87-21(b);
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. September 29, 1977;
Amended Eff. January 1, 2004; July 1, 2003; August 1, 2002; July 1, 1998; September 1, 1994;
November 1, 1993; April 1, 1991; May 1, 1990;
Temporary Amendment Eff. August 31, 2004;
Amended Eff. April 1, 2014; July 3, 2012; January 1, 2010; June 1, 2006; March 1, 2005;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. August 22, 2015;
Amended Eff. June 1, 2026; October 1, 2024; July 1, 2020; April 1, 2018.