SECTION .0200 - EXAMINATIONS

.0201. REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EXAMINATION APPLICANTS.
.0202. EXPERIENCE.
.0203. EXAMINATION SCOPE.
.0204. WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS.
.0205. MINIMUM PASSING GRADE.
.0206. REGULAR SEMI-ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS.
.0207. APPLICATION FOR REGULAR SEMI-ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS
.0208. SPECIALLY ARRANGED EXAMINATIONS.
.0209. FEES.
.0210. APPLICATIONS DULY FILED.
.0211. WAITING PERIOD BETWEEN EXAMINATIONS.

.0201. REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EXAMINATION APPLICANTS

(a) To take an examination in any electrical contracting license classification, the applicant must:

(1) be at least 18 years of age;

(2) submit the required duly filed application as defined in Rule .0210;

(3) submit with the application written statements from at least two persons attesting to the applicant's good character; and

(4) meet any other requirements set out in Paragraph (b) of this Rule.

(b) Examination applicants must meet the following requirements for the specified license classifications:

(1) Limited classification. An applicant must have at least four years of experience, as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least two years shall be primary experience.  The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both.

(2) Intermediate classification. An applicant must have at least six years of experience as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least four years shall be primary experience. The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both.

(3) Unlimited classification. An applicant must:

(A) have at least seven years of experience, as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least five years shall be primary experience. The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both.

(B) submit with the application written statements from at least two persons, who are knowledgeable of the applicant's electrical experience, attesting to the applicant's ability to supervise and direct all electrical wiring or electrical installation work done by an electrical contracting business in the unlimited classification.

(4) Single family detached residential dwelling (SP-SFD) classification. An applicant must have at least four years of experience, as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least two years shall be primary experience. The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both.

(5) Special restricted fire alarm/low voltage (SP-FA/LV) classification. An applicant must have at least three years of experience,  as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least two years shall be primary experience.   The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both.  An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the low voltage field.

(6) Special restricted elevator (SP-EL) classification. An applicant must:

(A) have at least four years of experience, as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least two and one-half years shall be primary experience.   The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both.  An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the elevator field.

(B) include on the application information verifying that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or is regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for a firm that is primarily engaged in, a lawful elevator business in this State.

(7) Special restricted plumbing and heating (SP-PH) classification. An applicant must:

(A) have at least three years of experience,  as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least two years shall be primary experience. The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both.  An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the plumbing, heating or air conditioning field.

(B) include on the application information verifying that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or is regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for a firm that is primarily engaged in, a lawful plumbing, heating or air conditioning business in this State.

(8) Special restricted ground water pump (SP-WP) classification. An applicant must:

(A) have at least two years of experience,  as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least one year shall be primary experience. The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both. An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the ground water pump field, and

(B) include on the application information verifying that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or is regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for a firm that is primarily engaged in, a lawful ground water pump business in this State.

(9) Special restricted electric sign (SP-ES) classification. An applicant must:

(A) have at least two years of experience,  as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least one year shall be primary experience. The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both. An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the electric sign field, and

(B) include on the application information verifying that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or is regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for a firm that is primarily engaged in, a lawful electric sign business in this State.

(10) Special restricted swimming pool (SP-SP) classification. An applicant must:

(A) have at least two years of experience,  as defined in Rule .0202 of this Section, of which at least one year shall be primary experience.   The balance of experience may be primary, secondary or both.  An applicant in this classification may also receive creditable experience for service in any of the capacities listed in Rule .0202 that the applicant gained in the swimming pool field, and

(B) include on the application information verifying that the applicant is primarily engaged in, or is regularly employed by and will be the listed qualified individual for a firm that is primarily engaged in, a lawful swimming pool business in this State.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4; 87-44;
Eff. October 1, 1988; Amended Eff. January 1, 2010; March 1, 1999; February 1, 1990.

.0202. EXPERIENCE

(a) Primary. As used in this Chapter, primary experience means working experience gained by the applicant while engaged directly in the installation of electrical wiring and equipment governed by the National Electrical Code or work activities directly related thereto. Examples of the capacity in which a person may work in gaining primary experience and the percentages for creditable primary experience are as follows:

In calculating accumulative primary experience, a total of 2,000 hours shall equal one creditable year. The total number of creditable years shall be calculated by dividing the total hours of primary experience by 2,000. Example: Applicant has worked in primary capacity for a total of 7,200 hours of primary experience.

1. journeyman electrician or electrician mechanic, both meaning the same: 100%   
   

2. electrical foreman:    100%   
   

3. electrical general foreman:    100%   
   

4. electrical superintendent: 100%   
   

5. electrical general superintendent: 100%   
   

6. estimator for licensed electrical contractor: 100 %  
   

7. electrical inspector recognized as such by the State Department of Insurance: 100 %  
   

8. time spent by a professional engineer who is responsible for follow-up project supervision, beyond the point of delivery, in electrical engineering,  design, or consulting: 100%   
   

9. full-time instructor teaching National Electrical Code, NFPA 72 and related electrical courses at a college, university, community college, technical institute, high school or vocational school: 50%

10. maintenance journeyman electrician or electrician mechanic employed in a full-time electrical maintenance department: 100%

11. time actually spent in electrical maintenance by a maintenance journeyman electrician or electrician mechanic regularly employed in other than a full-time electrical maintenance department: 100%

12. military person holding an electrician rating or rank of at least E-4 who is engaged in land based electrical installations similar or equivalent to work performed by an electrical contractor: 100%

13. time actually spent in part-time or incidental work in any primary experience category:    100%

14. time actually spent installing or maintaining fire alarm/low voltage systems; 100%

15. time as a holder of NICET certification on NFPA 72 Level I, II or III; 50%

16. time as a holder of NICET certification on NFPA 72 Level IV; 100%

7,200  = 3.6 years creditable primary work experience
2,000

(b) Secondary. As used in this Chapter, secondary experience means working experience gained while engaged in work or training that is related to the installation of electrical wiring and equipment governed by the National Electrical Code. Examples of the type of work or training in which a person may engage to gain creditable secondary experience and the percentages for creditable secondary experience are as follows:

1. apprentice electrician training in an apprentice program approved by the North Carolina Department of Labor: 100%   
   
2. time spent as an apprentice electrician or helper other than as described in subparagraph (1) and (3) of this paragraph: 80%   
   
3. time actually spent in electrical maintenance by a maintenance apprentice or electrician helper regularly employed in other than a full-time electrical maintenance department: 80%   
   
4. student satisfactorily completing National Electrical Code and related electrical courses at a college, university, community college, technical institute, high school or vocational school: 50%   
   
5. time spent by a professional engineer who is not responsible for follow-up project supervision, beyond the point of delivery, in electrical engineering, design, or consulting: 50%   
   
6. electrical construction design under the supervision of a professional engineer: 50%   
7. sales representative for an electrical wholesaler, distributor, or manufacturer: 20%   
   
8. appliance service and repair: 20%   
   
9. electric utility lineman: and 10%   
   
10. electric utility serviceman: 20%
    

In calculating accumulative secondary experience, a total of 2,000 hours shall equal one creditable year.  The total number of creditable years shall be calculated by applying the percentage for creditable secondary experience and dividing the remainder hours by 2,000.  Example:  Applicant has 1,000 hours of work experience as a helper or regular apprentice and 2,200 hours of experience while enrolled in an approved apprentice training program: 1,000 hours at 80 percent = 800 hours secondary experience; 2,200 hours at 100 percent = 2,200 hours secondary experience;

2,200 + 800  = 1.5 years of creditable secondary experience
     2,000

(c) Other Experience. The Board shall approve other experience that it finds to be equivalent or similar to the primary or secondary experience defined in this Rule.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4;
Eff. October 1, 1988; Amended Eff. January 1, 2010; March 1, 1999.

.0203. EXAMINATION SCOPE

(a) General. In addition to the examination subjects specified in G.S. 87-42, qualifying examinations for each license classification shall include permit and inspection requirements, business practices and the North Carolina statutes and rules applicable to electrical contracting.

(b) Variation in Scope. The examinations for each license classification shall be based on a level of technical and practical knowledge concerning the safe and proper installation of electrical work and equipment that corresponds to the electrical contracting work authorized under each license classification.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4;
Eff. October 1, 1988; Amended Eff. March 1, 1999; April 1, 1993.

.0204. WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS

(a)  All qualifying examinations administered by the Board for each license classification shall be written or computer-based examinations and must be taken by the approved applicant.

(b)  Approved applicants shall be provided a notice of examination eligibility that shall be valid for a period of three months and for a single administration of the qualifying examination.  Upon receipt of a notice of examination eligibility from the Board, the applicant shall schedule  the examination by contacting the Board or the authorized testing service.  The applicant will be scheduled for the examination and will be notified of the date, time and place.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4;
Eff. October 1, 1988;
Temporary Amended Eff. August 31, 2001.
Amended Eff. January 1, 2006; July 18, 2002.

.0205. MINIMUM PASSING GRADE

A minimum grade of 75 is required for passing any qualifying examination administered by the Board for any class of electrical contracting license.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4;
Eff. October 1, 1988.

.0206. REGULAR SEMI-ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS

The executive director is authorized to arrange for regular examinations to be administered by the Board or the Board’s authorized computer testing service.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4;
Eff. October 1, 1988; Amended Eff. April 1, 1993;
Temporary Amended Eff. August 31, 2001.
Amended Eff. July 18, 2002 .

.0207. APPLICATION FOR REGULAR SEMI-ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS

(a)  To be eligible for consideration, applications for regular examinations must be filed with the Board on a form furnished by the Board.

(b)  The Board's staff shall determine whether applications are filed in accordance with Rule .0210 of this Section, process all applications, and return all applications not duly filed.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4;
Eff. October 1, 1988; Amended Eff. February 1, 1996;
Temporary Amended Eff. August 31, 2001.
Amended Eff. July 18, 2002 .

.0208. SPECIALLY ARRANGED EXAMINATIONS

(a)  Specially-arranged examinations are examinations given in the Board's office or elsewhere at a time other than during a regular examination period.

(b)  Provided the conditions of this Rule are met, the Board's staff may accept applications for specially-arranged examinations, to expedite verification of references and qualifications of applicants, and to arrange for such applicants to take a specially-arranged examination if the staff finds that a specially-arranged examination is justified. The Board shall consider and act on applications at the request of the application review committee or on written appeal of an applicant.

(c)  An out-of-state electrical contractor shall mean a person, partnership, firm or corporation currently operating an electrical contracting business in accordance with the laws of his or its home state, outside the State of North Carolina . The Board shall give specially-arranged examinations on a reciprocal basis for out-of-state electrical contractors whose circumstances require that they be licensed prior to the time when a regular examination is scheduled and when such contractors are not eligible for a license pursuant to G.S. 87-50 because no reciprocal licensing agreement exists.  An out-of-state electrical contractor's need to bid or otherwise offer to engage in a specific North Carolina project, the time‑table for which will not permit waiting until the next examination period, may constitute circumstances reasonably justifying the scheduling of a specially-arranged examination for the individual representing such out-of-state electrical contractor.

 (1)  To be eligible to take a specially-arranged examination, the individual applying to become qualified must file with the Board an application, together with the following:

 (A)  Information satisfactorily verifying that the out-of-state electrical contractor which the individual represents is engaged in a lawful electrical contracting business in its home state.  If the out-of-state electrical contractor is required to be, and is, licensed in its home state as an electrical contractor, this information must include written verification that the licensing agency of such state will grant the same specially-arranged privilege to North Carolina electrical contractors.

(B)  Information satisfactorily verifying the need for a North Carolina license prior to the next examination period.

(C)  The specially-arranged application-examination fee as prescribed in Rule .0209 of this Section.

(D)  Information satisfactorily verifying that the applicant for the examination has met all the minimum requirements applicable to the classification involved as prescribed in Rules .0201, .0202 and .0210 of this Section.

(2)  The Board's staff shall approve the application if the out-of-state electrical contractor is required to be, and is, licensed in its home state as an electrical contractor and if the licensing agency in that state has committed itself in writing to grant to electrical contractors licensed by North Carolina the same privilege which the applicant is requesting from the Board.

(3)  The applicant shall take the examination for the classification of license involved, and at such special time and place as mutually agreed upon by the Board's staff and the applicant.

(4)  Specially-arranged examinations shall be graded promptly, and immediately thereafter the applicant shall be notified of the results.  If the applicant passes, the out-of-state electrical contractor which he represents will be eligible to apply for a license based upon his qualifications and, upon meeting all of the other license requirements applicable to the license classification involved, as prescribed in Section .0400 of this Subchapter, a license shall be issued to the out-of-state electrical contractor with him indicated thereon as the qualified individual.  If the applicant fails the examination, he will be required to wait the normally-required six-month waiting period between examinations before being eligible to take another specially-arranged examination.  However, if he meets all of the other requirements and wishes to apply to take another specially-arranged examination in a classification lower than the classification of his failed examination, or to apply to take a regular examination during the next examination period, the normally-required six-month waiting period shall not apply.

(d)  A North Carolina electrical contractor shall mean a person, partnership, firm or corporation licensed by the Board to engage or offer to engage in the business of electrical contracting within the state of North Carolina . The Board shall give a specially-arranged examination for a North Carolina electrical contractor whose circumstances require that it be licensed in a classification higher than its current license prior to the time when a regular examination is scheduled. A North Carolina electrical contractor's need to bid or otherwise offer to engage in a specific electrical contracting project having a value exceeding the limitations of such contractor's current license, the time-table for which will not permit waiting until the next regular examination period, may constitute circumstances reasonably justifying the scheduling of a specially-arranged examination for the individual representing such North Carolina electrical contractor.

(1)  To be eligible to take a specially-arranged examination, the individual applying to become qualified must file with the Board an application, together with the following:

 (A)  Information satisfactorily verifying the need to have the license upgraded prior to the next regular examination period.

(B)  The specially-arranged application-examination fee as prescribed in Rule .0209 of this Section.

(C)  Information satisfactorily verifying that the applicant for the examination has met all the minimum requirements applicable to the classification involved as prescribed in Rules .0201, .0202 and .0210 of this Section.

(2)  When an application for a specially-arranged examination is received, the Board's staff shall determine if the applicant is the duly authorized representative of an electrical contractor licensed by the Board and, if so, shall approve the application.

(3)  The applicant shall take the examination for the classification of license involved, at such time and place as mutually agreed upon by the Board's staff and the applicant.

(4)  Specially-arranged examinations shall be graded promptly, and immediately thereafter the applicant shall be notified of the results.  If the applicant passes, the electrical contractor which he represents will be eligible to apply to have its license upgraded based upon the passing applicant's qualification and, upon meeting all of the other license requirements applicable to the license classification involved, as prescribed in Section .0400 of this Subchapter, a new license shall be issued to the electrical contractor with him indicated thereon as the qualified individual.  If the applicant fails the examination, he will be required to wait the normally-required six-month waiting period between examinations before being eligible to take another specially-arranged examination.  However, if he meets all of the other requirements and wishes to apply to take another specially-arranged examination in a classification lower than the classification of his failed examination, or to apply to take a regular examination during the next examination period, the normally-required six-month waiting period shall not apply.

(e)  For the purposes of this Subsection, the loss of a listed qualified individual shall mean a currently-licensed electrical contractor being left without a listed qualified individual regularly on active duty in its electrical contracting principal or separate place of business. The Board shall give a specially-arranged examination for an electrical contractor which has lost its listed qualified individual to have another representative take a specially-arranged examination for the purposes of maintaining continuity of such electrical contractor's business.  To be eligible to take a specially-arranged examination, the individual applying to become qualified must file with the Board an application, together with the following:

(1)  Information satisfactorily verifying the electrical contractor's need for a representative to take a specially-arranged examination before the next regular examination period.

(2)  The specially-arranged application-examination fee as prescribed in Rule .0209 of this Section.

(3)     Information satisfactorily verifying that the applicant for the examination has met all the minimum requirements applicable to the classification involved as prescribed in Rules .0201, .0202 and .0210 of this Section.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4; 87-44;
Eff. October 1, 1988; Amended Eff. August 1, 1999; February 1, 1990;
Temporary Amended Eff. August 31, 2001.
Amended Eff. July 18, 2002 .

.0209. FEES

(a)  The examination fee for regular qualifying examinations is ninety dollars ($90.00) for all classifications. 

(b)  The examination fee for a specially-arranged qualifying examination is two-hundred dollars ($200.00) for all classifications. 

(c)  The fee for a supervised review of a failed examination with the Board or staff assistance is twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for all classifications.

(d)  The examination fees for regular or specially-arranged examinations in all classifications and the fees for examination reviews may be in the form of cash, check, money order, Visa  or Mastercard made payable to the Board and must accompany the respective applications when filed with the Board.

(e)  Examination fees received with applications filed for qualifying examinations shall be retained by the Board unless:

(1) an application is not filed as prescribed in Rule .0210 of this Section, in which case the examination fee shall be returned; or

(2) the applicant does not take the examination during the examination period applied for and files with the Board a written request for a refund, setting out extenuating circumstances.  The Board shall refund the examination fee if it finds extenuating circumstances.

(f)  Examination review fees are non-refundable unless the applicant does not take the review and files with the Board a written request for a refund, setting out extenuating circumstance.  The Board shall refund the fee if it finds extenuating circumstances.

(g)  Any fee retained by the Board shall not be creditable toward the payment of any future application of examination fee or the fee for an examination review.

(h)  Extenuating circumstances for the purposes of Paragraphs (e)(2) and (f) of this Rule shall be the applicant's illness, bodily injury or  death, or death of the applicant's spouse, child, parent or sibling, or a breakdown of the applicant's transportation to the designated site of the examination or examination review.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4; 87-44;
Eff. October 1, 1988; Amended Eff. June 30, 2000; May 1, 1998; July 1, 1989;
Temporary Amended Eff. August 31, 2001; Amended Eff. January 1, 2008; December 4, 2002.

.0210. APPLICATIONS DULY FILED

Examinations applications shall be considered as duly filed when the applicant has filed an application with the Board, on a form provided by the Board, together with the examination fee as prescribed in Rule .0209 of this Section and information sufficient to establish the minimum examination requirements applicable to the classification involved.  By filing his application with the Board an applicant authorizes the Board or the Board's staff to verify, in any manner the Board or staff deems necessary and appropriate, the information submitted on or in support of his application.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4; 87-44;
Eff. October 1, 1988;
Temporary Amended Eff. August 31, 2001.
Amended Eff. July 18, 2002 .

.0211. WAITING PERIOD BETWEEN EXAMINATIONS

(a) A person who fails a regular qualifying examination must wait before being eligible to take another regular examination in the same classification.  The waiting period depends on the score on the failed examination, as follows:

(b)  A person who fails an examination in the same license classification three times must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 hours classroom education on the electrical code provided by a board-approved continuing education sponsor before retaking the examination.
(c) A person shall be considered a new applicant each time he applies to take an examination and must file an application on the standard application form and pay the required examination fee.

Statutory Authority G.S. 87-42; 87-43.3; 87-43.4;
Eff. October 1, 1988;
Amended Eff. January 1, 2006.