Painter (Contractor) / North Carolina
2026 data North Carolina board official source

North Carolina Painter (Contractor) License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Commercial and residential painting contractor.

What the North Carolina data shows for Painter (Contractor)s

To practice as a painter (contractor) in North Carolina, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on a state-approved exam. The regulation sits under North Carolina's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Experience/Apprenticeship".

Budget $150 to get started on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in North Carolina, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

North Carolina evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

C+
Licensing Ease Score
62/100
Painter (Contractor) · North Carolina

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training A+
None required
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$150
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in North Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Experience/Apprenticeship
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$150
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Not Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Painter (Contractor) All North Carolina licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with North Carolina licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Painter (Contractor) in North Carolina? ▼
North Carolina requires, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $150.
How do I get certified as a Painter (Contractor) in North Carolina? ▼
To become a licensed painter (contractor) in North Carolina, you must meet the state's requirements. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the North Carolina licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Painter (Contractor) license to North Carolina from another state? ▼
Out-of-state painter (contractor) credentials get a case-by-case review in North Carolina rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the North Carolina licensing board.
Does North Carolina require a background check for Painter (Contractor) licensing? ▼
No statewide background-check mandate applies to painter (contractor) licensing in North Carolina at this time - individual employers may still run their own screening.

Related Guides

What to do with this painter (contractor) license

Painter (Contractor) in North Carolina is one requirement row in a painter (contractor)-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the North Carolina licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.