Licensed jobs in North Carolina

North Carolina: 11 occupations, 11 licensing agencies. For each one: the board, the main credential, its training, application fee and renewal cycle, from the boards' own pages.

Last checked November 8, 2026 · 32 official sources

On this page

Occupations we cover in North Carolina
Licensing boards
Moving to North Carolina with a license
Check a license
Sources

Occupations we cover in North Carolina

North Carolina licenses 11 of the 11 occupations below at the state level. Electricians have the most levels here (10 credentials); each occupation page covers every level.

Occupation	Main license	Board	Training or experience	Application fee	Renewal
Cosmetologist	Cosmetologist 3 credentials in all	NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners	Training 1,500 clock hours¹	$49¹	Every 3 years²
Notary public	Notary Public 2 credentials in all	North Carolina Secretary of State	Training 6 clock hours⁵	$50⁵	Every 5 years⁶
Registered nurse (RN)	Registered Nurse – single-state license (valid only in North Carolina) 2 credentials in all	NCBON	–	$75⁷	Every 2 years⁷
Insurance agent	Insurance producer license (resident) 3 credentials in all	North Carolina Department of Insurance	–	$50¹¹	–
Plumber	Private Educational Institution Plumbing Technician 8 credentials in all	North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors	Experience 3,000 hours¹³	$75¹³	Every year¹⁴
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)	Nurse Aide I (listed on the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry; "CNA" is not the NC title) 3 credentials in all	DHSR	Training 75 clock hours¹⁶	–	Every 24 months¹⁷
Electrician	Intermediate (I) electrical contracting license 10 credentials in all	NCBEEC	–	$150²⁰	Every year²¹
Security guard	Unarmed Security Guard Registration 3 credentials in all	PPS	Training 16 clock hours²³	$30²³	Every year²⁴
Massage therapist	Massage and Bodywork Therapy Establishment License 2 credentials in all	BMBT	–	$20²⁶	Every 2 years²⁷
Real estate agent	Provisional Broker (broker license on provisional status) 4 credentials in all	NCREC	Training 75 clock hours²⁸	$105²⁹	Every year²⁹
General contractor	Unlimited License 3 credentials in all	NCLBGC	–	$125³¹	Expires every January 1; invalid 60 days later if not renewed³²

Licensing boards

11 agencies issue the North Carolina licenses we cover:

NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC): electricians
North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors: plumbers
North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC): real estate agents
NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners: cosmetologists
NC Board of Nursing (NCBON): registered nurses and nursing assistants
North Carolina Department of Insurance: insurance agents
Private Protective Services Board (PPS): security guards
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC): general contractors
North Carolina Secretary of State: notaries
North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry (DHSR): nursing assistants
NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy (BMBT): massage therapists

Moving to North Carolina with a license

For cosmetologists, the North Carolina board names the states whose licenses it accepts. The boards for notaries, plumbers, security guards and massage therapists publish no transfer route, so you apply as a new applicant. Conditions, fees and forms are on each occupation page.

Occupation	Routes the board publishes
Cosmetologist	License by endorsement, Military service members and spouses and Exam waiver³⁴
Notary public	No reciprocity route⁵
Registered nurse (RN)	License by endorsement, Temporary license or permit, Interstate compact privilege and Military service members and spouses⁸⁹¹⁰
Insurance agent	Exam waiver¹²
Plumber	No reciprocity route¹⁵
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)	License by endorsement¹⁸¹⁹
Electrician	Exam score transfer²²
Security guard	No reciprocity route²⁵
Massage therapist	–
Real estate agent	Exam waiver and Military service members and spouses³⁰²⁹
General contractor	Reciprocity agreements, Military service members and spouses and Temporary license or permit³¹

Check a license

Every board above runs its own license search. The North Carolina license lookup page lists them in one place, with the links to report an unlicensed or problem provider.

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

21 NCAC 14 Cosmetic Art Examiners (full chapter)NC Office of Administrative HearingsChecked November 7, 2026
G.S. Chapter 88B Cosmetic ArtNorth Carolina General AssemblyChecked November 7, 2026
Individuals Licensed in another StateNC Board of Cosmetic Art ExaminersChecked November 7, 2026
Out of State GraduatesNC Board of Cosmetic Art ExaminersChecked November 7, 2026
Initial Application for North Carolina Notary PublicNorth Carolina Department of the Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
18 NCAC 07 Notary Public Division rulesNorth Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, NC Administrative CodeChecked November 7, 2026
G.S. Chapter 90 Article 9A Nursing Practice ActNorth Carolina General AssemblyChecked November 7, 2026
21 NCAC 36 Board of Nursing rules (full chapter)NC Office of Administrative Hearings (NC Administrative Code)Checked November 7, 2026
G.S. Chapter 90 Article 9G Nurse Licensure CompactNorth Carolina General AssemblyChecked November 7, 2026
G.S. Chapter 93BNorth Carolina General AssemblyChecked November 7, 2026
N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 58 Article 33 (Licensing of Insurance Producers, Limited Representatives, and…North Carolina General AssemblyDated June 11, 2026Checked November 8, 2026
North Carolina Residents License Requirements chartNC Department of InsuranceDated December 2, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
21 NCAC 50 (full chapter)NC Office of Administrative Hearings (NC Administrative Code)Checked November 7, 2026
License RenewalState Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
Applicant InformationState Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
Education RequirementsNC DHHS Division of Health Service RegulationDated January 29, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
Nurse Aide I RenewalNC DHHS Division of Health Service RegulationDated January 29, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
Reciprocity ApplicationNC DHHS Division of Health Service RegulationChecked November 7, 2026
Reciprocity Application FAQNC DHHS Division of Health Service RegulationChecked November 7, 2026
Fees & ServicesNC State Board of Examiners of Electrical ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
LicensingNC State Board of Examiners of Electrical ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
NASCLANC State Board of Examiners of Electrical ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
14B NCAC 16 (Private Protective Services Board) full chapterNorth Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, Rules DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
N.C.G.S. Chapter 74C, Private Protective ServicesNorth Carolina General AssemblyChecked November 7, 2026
Frequently Asked QuestionsNorth Carolina Department of Public Safety, Private Protective Services BoardChecked November 7, 2026
Establishment application processNorth Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork TherapyChecked November 7, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions - EstablishmentsNorth Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork TherapyChecked November 8, 2026
Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina (application booklet)North Carolina Real Estate CommissionChecked November 6, 2026
21 NCAC 58A Real Estate Brokers (subchapter A rules)North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings (NC Administrative Code)Checked November 6, 2026
Apply for a Broker LicenseNorth Carolina Real Estate CommissionChecked November 6, 2026
21 NCAC 12 Licensing Board for General Contractors - chapter rulesNorth Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings (North Carolina Administrative Code)Checked November 6, 2026
4 2023 laws and regs (purchasing laws and regulations summary)North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (2023 booklet "Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina", hosted on the City of Hendersonville website)Checked November 6, 2026