In North Carolina, there are several types of plumbing licenses that individuals can obtain. Here is a list of the different types of plumbing licenses in North Carolina and a brief description of each:
- Limited Plumbing Contractor (Class I) – This license allows individuals to install and maintain plumbing systems in single-family dwellings, apartments, and small commercial buildings.
- Intermediate Plumbing Contractor (Class II) – This license allows individuals to install and maintain plumbing systems in all types of buildings, including large commercial buildings and industrial facilities.
- Unlimited Plumbing Contractor (Class III) – This license allows individuals to perform all plumbing work, including the design and installation of complex plumbing systems.
- Residential Plumbing Contractor – This license allows individuals to perform plumbing work in single-family dwellings and small residential buildings.
- Journeyman Plumber – This license allows individuals to work as an apprentice under a licensed plumber and perform plumbing work under their supervision.
The most common type of plumbing license in North Carolina is the Limited Plumbing Contractor (Class I) license. This license allows individuals to install and maintain plumbing systems in single-family dwellings, apartments, and small commercial buildings. Many plumbing professionals in North Carolina work in residential and small-scale commercial plumbing, which makes the Class I license the most commonly sought-after type of plumbing license. However, the demand for Intermediate and Unlimited Plumbing Contractors has been growing due to the increasing number of large commercial and industrial facilities in the state.
The Intermediate Plumbing Contractor (Class II) license allows individuals to perform plumbing work in all types of buildings, including large commercial buildings and industrial facilities.
In other words, the Class II license holders have a broader scope of work than Class I license holders, and they can work on more complex plumbing systems. This includes larger diameter piping, more complex drainage systems, more elaborate water supply systems, and more advanced HVAC systems. To obtain a Class II license, individuals must meet more rigorous education and experience requirements and pass a more comprehensive licensing exam.
To obtain a plumbing license in North Carolina, individuals must meet certain educational and experiential requirements and pass a licensing exam. Additionally, license holders are required to maintain continuing education credits to keep their license current.