Do I have to take the North Carolina master plumber exam if I'm licensed in South Carolina?

The trade exam is waived, but North Carolina requires a law or code exam.

What does it cost to get a North Carolina master plumber license from South Carolina?

Published fees on this path total $300, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my South Carolina work hours count in North Carolina?

Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward North Carolina's eligibility requirements.

How long does the application take?

The board's published or typical processing time is about 42 days.

Does it work the other way, from North Carolina to South Carolina?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from North Carolina to South Carolina, the mechanism is experience credit.

South Carolina to North Carolina: master plumber license reciprocity

Endorsement· Board reviewVerified September 16, 2026· 7 sources

North Carolina has a specific endorsement rule for South Carolina master plumbers.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Technical examination waiver agreement with South Carolina (plumbing contractors)

The board reviews your out-of-state credentials case by case. Some exam is usually still required, often only a law or code exam.

The Board's Applicant Information page states that North Carolina's only technical-examination waiver is with South Carolina and that it covers plumbing and HVAC contractors, but that applicants must still pass the North Carolina business law exam. The Board expressly says this is not license reciprocity: the applicant completes the North Carolina contractor application, documents the 4,000 hours North Carolina requires, pays the examination fee, submits the background report, and sits the NC Business and Law section. South Carolina is also one of the five Neighbor State License Recognition Act states; an applicant who has established North Carolina residence and has held the SC license at least one year may instead seek licensure without either NC exam under G.S. 93B-15.3.

Mechanism is Endorsement, not Reciprocity, because the Board's own page says there are no license reciprocity agreements and that only the technical section is waived. HVAC extract of the same packet listed SC HVAC mappings only.

At a glance

Trade exam: Waived
Law / code exam: Required
Out-of-state hours: Count toward eligibility
Typical processing: About 42 days
Agreement: Active

What you must already have

Your South Carolina license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
Your South Carolina license must be active and in good standing.
You must document at least 4,000 hours of qualifying work experience.North Carolina's 4,000-hour experience requirement still applies in full

What you'll do to get licensed in North Carolina

1Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($150). Fee, eligibility details, and processing steps are not published in a form we can list here. Please see the sources on this page to find out more..
2Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. North Carolina Business and Law examination; the South Carolina waiver does not excuse this section.
3License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($150). Fee, eligibility details, and processing steps are not published in a form we can list here. Please see the sources on this page to find out more..
4Background check. Complete a background check. Nationwide criminal background report from the Board's approved provider.
5Other. Check the SC Technical Exam Waiver box on Form PHFP-1 and have the South Carolina licensing board email License Verification to the NC Board.

Published fees on this path total $300, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

What you'll need to buy or arrange

Exam preparation

Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.

Exam fee · $150
Law / code exam

How North Carolina licenses master plumbers

North Carolina master plumber · “Plumbing Contractor (Class I or Class II)”

Statewide license

Verified September 16, 2026· 6 sources

Issued by North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors

North Carolina has no license titled master plumber. Its highest plumbing credential is the person-held Plumbing Contractor license issued by the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors under G.S. The individual who passes the two-part examination (technical plus business and law) is the licensee, may list the license in a firm name, and pays an annual license fee after activation. A first-time applicant needs 4,000 hours of on-site plumbing experience (up to half academic or technical training), and out-of-state hours are accepted. The Board states it has no license reciprocity with any state; the only technical-exam waiver is with South Carolina (NC business-law exam still required). North Carolina residents licensed in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia or West Virginia may seek licensure without examination under the Neighbor State License Recognition Act (G.S. 93B-15.3). Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor (1,500 hours, 2-inch and smaller exterior water/sewer/irrigation backflow) is a narrower contracting class, not a master equivalent.

Moving to North Carolina Leaving North Carolina

Common questions

Do I have to take the North Carolina master plumber exam if I'm licensed in South Carolina?: The trade exam is waived, but North Carolina requires a law or code exam.
What does it cost to get a North Carolina master plumber license from South Carolina?: Published fees on this path total $300, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my South Carolina work hours count in North Carolina?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward North Carolina's eligibility requirements.
How long does the application take?: The board's published or typical processing time is about 42 days.
Does it work the other way, from North Carolina to South Carolina?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from North Carolina to South Carolina, the mechanism is experience credit.

Sources

N.C.G.S. 87-21 - Definitions; contractors licensed by Board; examination; posting license · N.C.G.S. 87-21(a), (b), (g) · North Carolina General Assembly · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
N.C.G.S. 93B-15.3 - Licensure recognition for individuals licensed in neighboring states · N.C.G.S. 93B-15.3 (S.L. 2025-61) · North Carolina General Assembly · Statute · verified September 16, 2026
NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors - Applicant Information · North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
Application Packet for Persons Applying for Plumbing, Heating or Fuel Piping Contractor License (Form PHFP-1, 2026-06) · G.S. 87-21(g) · North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors · Form · verified September 16, 2026
Exam Information 2026 - exam durations · North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
License Definitions - Contractor (2026-06) · North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
Neighbor State License Recognition for North Carolina Residents (Board checklist) · G.S. 93B-15.3 · North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors · Form · verified September 16, 2026

Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.

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