If you are thinking of settling down in the he lovely state of North Carolina as a contractor, you should know that you will need to apply for a North Carolina contractor license.

Any projects with projected costs at more than $30,000 means you'll have to get your North Carolina contractor license from the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Aside from the general contractor license, contractors dealing with plumbing, electrical, heating and fire sprinkler must also get a North Carolina contractor license.

Basic North Carolina contractor license application requirements:

* For a person, a North Carolina contractor license will suffice. This means he or she will have to take the exam and pass it to qualify for the North Carolina contractor license.

* For a partnership or corporation, they must register with the North Carolina Secretary of State and attach the registration with their application to the Board.

* You must provide proof of financial responsibility on the application. The Board has a quota that gives a limited, intermediate, or unlimited North Carolina contractor license equivalent to the company's working capital. (Working capital is computed as current assets minus current liabilities.)

* Three letters of reference, which are less than six months old, should be attached to your North Carolina contractor license application.

The Board issues different types of North Carolina contractor license. One must pass the exam to get their North Carolina contractor license. Among these types of license are building, residential, highway, public utilities and specialty license.

The specialty contractor licenses include:

* Water and sewer lines

* Water purification and sewage disposal

* Grading and excavating, Metal erection

* Asbestos, Insulation, Roofing

* Electrical (ahead of point of delivery), Communications, Fuel distribution

* Boring and tunneling, Concrete construction, Interior construction

* Marine construction, Masonry construction, Railroad construction, Swimming pools

Other North Carolina contractor license requirements are reserved for the specialty contractor that is why it is important to specify what type of license you are applying for.

As for companies seeking for a North Carolina contractor license, the working capital needed to operate the business is as follows - for the limited license, a working capital of $17,000 is required for a project that costs less than $350,000, an intermediate license needs a working capital of $75,000 for a project that costs less than $700,000 and if you want an unlimited North Carolina contractor license, you will need a $150,000 working capital. With that amount, you can operate no matter how high the project cost is.

North Carolina contractor license fees

The North Carolina contractor license application fee ranges from $50 to $75 and this amount is nonrefundable. The exam fee is from 75$ to $150 depending on the type of license you are applying for.

You may be required to get other certificates to support your business so take note of the scope of your contractor work so you can complete all the papers needed prior to opening shop.

All contractor licenses have a one-year validity regardless of what type: limited, intermediate or unlimited.

After getting your North Carolina contractor license

Armed with your license, you are now ready to present your services to the consumers of North Carolina. Remember to display your certificates and licenses inside your office. Also mention your affiliation with North Carolina Contractors Licensing Board. You've earned your profession and you should be proud of it.