section .0300 - examinations

21 NCAC 50 .0301             QUALIFICATIONS DETERMINED BY EXAMINATION

(a)  In order to determine the qualifications of an applicant, the Board shall provide a written or computer-based examination in the following categories:

(1)           Plumbing Contracting, Class I

(2)           Plumbing Contracting, Class II

(3)           Heating, Group No. l - Contracting, Class I

(4)           Heating, Group No. 1 - Contracting, Class II

(5)           Heating, Group No. 2 - Contracting, Class I

(6)           Heating, Group No. 3 - Contracting, Class I

(7)           Heating, Group No. 3 - Contracting, Class II

(8)           Fuel Piping Contractor

(9)           Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor

(10)         Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor

(11)         Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor

(12)         Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor

(13)         Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician

(14)         Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician

(15)         Plumbing Technician

(16)         Heating Group No. 1 Technician

(17)         Heating Group No. 2 Technician

(18)         Heating Group No. 3 Technician

(19)         Fuel Piping Technician

(20)         Private Educational Institution Plumbing Technician

(21)         Private Educational Institution Heating Group 1 Technician

(22)         Private Educational Institution Heating Group 2 Technician

(23)         Private Educational Institution Heating Group 3 Technician

(24)         Residential Fire Sprinkler Design Contractor

(b)  Each person being examined by the Board for a contractor license other than a Fire Sprinkler Installation or Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor license shall be required to pass both the business and law part and the technical part of the examination required by G.S. 87-21(b).

(c)  Applicants for licensure as a Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor shall submit evidence of current certification by the National Institute for Certification of Engineering Technologies (NICET) for Automated Sprinkler System Layout as the prerequisite for licensure. Applicants for licensure as a Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor shall pass the business and law part of the exam administered by the Board. Persons licensed based upon NICET certification shall maintain such certification as a condition of license renewal.

(d)  Applicants for licensure in the Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician classification shall pass the technical examination offered by the Board. The Board shall accept the results of NICET examination resulting in Level II Certification in "Inspection and Testing of Water-based Systems" by NICET. Persons who obtain license as a Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician based on NICET certification shall maintain such certification as a condition of license renewal.

(e)  Applicants for licensure as a Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor shall submit evidence of Level III certification in "Inspection and Testing of Water-based Fire Systems" by NICET in lieu of the technical part of the Board-administered examination. Applicants for licensure as a Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor shall also pass the business and law part of the examination administered by the Board. Contractors who obtain license by NICET certification shall maintain such certification thereafter as a condition of license renewal.

(f)  Applicants for a license in the Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician classification shall obtain a license based on maintenance experience, education, and job classification set forth in Rule .0306 and pass a test administered by the Board.

(g)  Applicants for a license as a Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor shall obtain a license based on experience set forth in Rule .0306 and shall pass the technical part of the Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor examination.

(h)  Applicants for a license as a Plumbing, Heating, or Fuel Piping Technician shall obtain a license based on experience set forth in Rule .0306 of this Section and shall pass the Class I technical and Board laws and rules parts of the Board-administered examination related to the category for which a technician license is sought.

(i)  Applicants who hold an active Plumbing, Heating, or Fuel Piping Technician license obtained by examination may obtain the Plumbing, Heating or Fuel Piping Contractor license in the same category by meeting the experience requirement listed in Rule .0306 of this Section for the specific contractor license sought and passage of only the business portion of the examination.

(j)  Applicants for a license as a Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor shall obtain a license based on experience set forth in Rule .0306 of this Section and shall be required to pass both the business and law part and the technical parts of the Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor examination.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 87-18; 87-21(a); 87-21(b);

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Readopted Eff. September 29, 1977;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1991; May 1, 1989; August 1, 1982;

Temporary Amendment Eff. September 15, 1997;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2005; January 1, 2004; July 1, 2003; August 1, 2002; July 1, 1998;

Emergency Amendment Eff. December 5, 2005;

Emergency Amendment Expired February 13, 2006;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2014; July 3, 2012; January 1, 2010; May 1, 2006;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. August 22, 2015;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2020.