Moving to North Carolina as a residential contractor: every state's rule

1. 1Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. North Carolina Residential Contractor examination, administered by PSI after the Board issues an eligibility letter: 90 questions, 210 minutes, open book, 70% to pass. Covers site work and foundations, concrete, masonry, carpentry, associated trades and energy conservation, roofing, estimating and plan reading, OSHA safety, licensing and business law, and wind, coastal and erosion control requirements. One examination is required for each classification sought (21 NCAC 12A .0403)..
2. 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($79). $79 per examination attempt, paid to PSI when the examination is scheduled; nonrefundable..
3. 3Application fee. Pay the application fee ($75). Nonrefundable application fee set by the limitation requested: $75 for a limited license, $100 for an intermediate license and $125 for an unlimited license (G.S. 87-10(a1); 21 NCAC 12A .0304(a)). The amount shown is the limited-license fee..
4. 4Financial responsibility. Show financial responsibility of at least $17,000. Evidence of financial responsibility for the entity that will hold the license. Current assets must exceed current liabilities by at least $17,000 for a limited license (or total net worth of at least $80,000), $75,000 for an intermediate license, or $150,000 for an unlimited license. A limited-license applicant may use the balance sheet in the online application; intermediate and unlimited applicants must show the figure in an agreed-upon procedures report or an audited financial statement prepared by a CPA or independent accountant. Statements must be no more than twelve months old and conform to GAAP (21 NCAC 12A .0204). The amount shown is the limited-license working capital figure..
5. 5Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($175,000) (if applicable). Optional alternative to the working capital or net worth figure: a continuous surety bond of $175,000 for a limited license, $500,000 for an intermediate license or $1,000,000 for an unlimited license, from a surety authorized in North Carolina and rated Superior or Excellent by A.M. Best. Proof is filed with the application and with every annual renewal (21 NCAC 12A .0204(e)). The Board has no other bond or insurance requirement for the license itself..
6. 6Background check. Complete a background check. Criminal background check through the third-party vendor the Board names, paid directly to the vendor; the Board does not publish the vendor's charge. Every qualifier submits to the check, along with the sole proprietor, the president of a corporation, all managers and members of an LLC, or all partners of a partnership (21 NCAC 12A .0303(b))..
7. 7Business license. Obtain a business license. The license is issued to a specific legal entity, so the individual, corporation, LLC or partnership that will contract must be formed and, for a corporation or LLC, registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State (a certificate of authority for one organized in another state) before the license is issued (G.S. 87-10.1)..
8. 8Other. Certified copies of court records for any criminal convictions of the applicant or its qualifiers, and disclosure of any disciplinary history with this Board or any other licensing agency (21 NCAC 12A .0303(a))..

Published fees on this path total $154, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.