North Carolina Electrical Contractor Licenses, Explained

Who licenses electricians in North Carolina

Electrical contracting in North Carolina is licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. The board's licensing page describes the license as one issued to a business entity through a qualified individual, the person who passed the exam and qualifies the company.

The license is for contracting, meaning the business offering to do electrical work. Henderson County's permit FAQ requires trade work, including electrical, to be done by appropriately licensed contractors regardless of value, except as exempted by G.S. 87-1, 87-21 and 87-43.

That makes electrical licensing stricter than general contracting, where state law sets a value threshold before a license is needed.

Short answer: the table below runs from $60,000 (Limited) up to $150,000 (Intermediate), according to 21 NCAC 18B .0303; G.S. 87-43.3. These are published government figures; labor and materials for the job come from a written quote. Check the current figure with the issuing office before you budget.

The classes

G.S. 87-43.3 sets the classifications. A limited license covers a single project of a value the board establishes, on equipment rated at not more than 1,000 volts. An intermediate license covers a higher single project value, and an unlimited license covers any project regardless of value. Special restricted classifications cover a specific phase of electrical contracting of a special, limited nature.

The board's rule, 21 NCAC 18B .0303, puts the limited single-project value at not more than $60,000 and the intermediate at not more than $150,000.

The board's licensing page lists ten classifications in total.

How project value is counted

The rule counts the value of all electrical wiring, materials, equipment, fixtures, devices and installation in the project, including items furnished by others. So if you buy the EV charger, generator or fixtures yourself, their value still counts toward the electrician's license limit.

For nearly every single-family job, the limited class is enough. For a large new house, a commercial building or a big solar and battery system, ask whether the contractor's class covers the total.

A contractor cannot split one project into pieces to stay under a limit.

Annual fees

The board's licensing page lists annual license fees by class: $100 for limited, $150 for intermediate and $200 for unlimited. These are the contractor's costs, not yours, but they show the license is a renewable annual credential that can lapse.

Check that the license is active, not just that it once existed.

The board's site has a license search by name or number.

Employees and supervision

Henderson County's FAQ says being an employee of a licensed contractor does not let a person do work outside the employer's business, and that a licensed contractor may not let an employee do licensed work not directly under the contractor's control.

In practice, the electrician who shows up may not be the license holder, which is normal. What matters is that the work is under a licensed company's permit and supervision.

Ask who the qualified individual is and whether that person or a supervisor will be on site.

What the license does and does not tell you

A license means the company's qualified individual passed the board's exam and the company maintains its standing with the board. It does not promise good workmanship, fair prices or timely service. It does give you a place to complain: the board can investigate licensees.

Combine a license check with ordinary diligence: references, reviews, a clear written contract, and proof of insurance. A company that is reluctant to give its license number in writing is a company to pass on.

Unlicensed electrical contracting is a violation of state law. If someone offers to do the work cheaper without a permit or license, the savings come with the risks of no inspection, no recourse through the board, and possible problems with insurance and resale.

If you are a homeowner considering doing your own work under a homeowner exemption, read the statute and ask Henderson County first. The county's FAQ names the exemptions in G.S. 87-1, 87-21 and 87-43; it does not describe their limits for you, so confirm what applies before you start.

The board's licensing page also lists continuing education requirements for license renewal. Ask how the company keeps its electricians current on code changes.

Filing a complaint

If a licensed electrical contractor does work that fails inspection and will not correct it, abandons a job, or acts improperly, the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors accepts complaints. Keep your contract, payment records, permit number, inspection results and photos. The board's process concerns the license holder's conduct; disputes over money may also need small claims court or other remedies. Henderson County Permits & Inspections can tell you the status of the permit and inspections on your address, which is often the first piece of evidence a complaint needs.

Checking a license before you hire

Get the company's legal name and license number in writing, look it up on the board's site, and confirm the classification covers your project. Then confirm the permit is pulled in that company's name.

Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation. Those are separate from the license.

Use the quote form or call the number on this page to reach independent licensed electricians in Henderson County.

Sources: NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors: Licensing (license scope and classification); N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-43.3, Classification of electrical contracting licenses; 21 NCAC 18B .0303, Electrical installation, project and project value limitation; Henderson County, NC Permits & Inspections: Frequently-Asked Questions. Checked 2026-11-04.