North Carolina electrical contractors need to get a license and a surety bond�keep reading to find out how to get yours.
Getting licensed
North Carolina electrical contractors’ licenses are issued by the state’s Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. Contractors are licensed by classification:
- Limited classification�Can work on projects valued at no more than $50,000 and 600 volts
- Intermediate classification�Can work on projects valued at no more than $130,000
- Unlimited Classification�Can work on any project regardless of value
On the application, contractor applicants must list one or more qualified individuals, those who have taken the required exam and passed, and those who are authorized to perform electrical contracting work under the licensee. The application asks for other general business information, such as the address, DBA, and phone numbers, and licensure carries an annual fee as well:
- Limited license�$85
- Intermediate license�$130
- Unlimited license�$180
North Carolina practices reciprocity with several states, so electrical contractors from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Virginia can fill out a reciprocity application instead.
North Carolina electrical contractors that let their license lapse for more than a year need to reactivate it, which they can do by filing for reactivation and completing 16 hours of continuing education.
Why do electrical contractors need a bond?
Like any contracting profession, working as an electrical contractor can be risky business. To protect the state and the Board from liability, licensees get a surety bond. By getting the bond, contractors promise to assume liability when a customer suffers financial damage as a result of their illegal business practices. This means that if work is not performed as contracted, or an electrical contractor breaks a law while working on a project, the customer can file a claim on the contractor’s surety bond. If the claim is proven and paid out, the contractor must reimburse the surety.
Licensees with an intermediate or unlimited classification are subject to the surety bond requirement:
The cost of these surety bonds varies depending on a review of the applicant’s financial history. Ready to get a North Carolina electrical contractor’s bond? Get the licensing process started by getting in touch with Single Source Insurance today!