21 NCAC 50 .0306. APPLICATIONS: ISSUANCE OF LICENSE

(a)  All applicants for licensure or examination shall file an application in the Board office on a form available on the Board website or by contacting the Board office.

(b)  Applicants for a plumbing or heating examination shall present evidence at the time of application to establish two years of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which a license is sought, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Applicants for a fuel piping examination shall present evidence at the time of application to establish one year of experience in the installation, maintenance, service or repair of fuel piping, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Up to one-half of the experience may be in academic or technical training related to the field of endeavor for which examination is requested.  The Board shall prorate part-time work of less than 40 hours per week or part-time academic work of less than 15 semester or quarter hours.

(c)  The Board shall issue a license certificate bearing the license number assigned to the qualifying individual.

(d)  Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractors shall meet experience requirements in accordance with NICET examination criteria.

(e)  Applicants for examination or licensure in the Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician classification shall submit evidence adequate to establish that the applicant has either:

(1)           4000 hours of experience involved in inspection and testing of previously installed fire sprinkler systems, consistent with NFPA-25, Standard for the Inspection Testing as Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems of the National Fire Protection Association, adopted by the North Carolina Building Code, which is hereby incorporated by reference including all subsequent editions and amendments to the document as a full-time employee of a Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor or fire insurance underwriting organization;

(2)           4000 hours of experience involved in inspection and testing of previously installed fire sprinkler systems, consistent with NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, which is hereby incorporated by reference including all subsequent editions and amendments.  The document can be accessed free of charge at http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/;

(3)           4000 hours of experience involved in installation of fire sprinkler systems as a full-time employee of a Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor; or

(4)           a combination of 4000 hours of experience in any of the categories listed in this Paragraph.

(f)  Applicants for licensure in the Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor classification shall meet experience requirements in accordance with NICET certification criteria.

(g)  Applicants for initial licensure in the Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician classification must submit evidence of 2000 hours experience at the place for which license is sought as a full-time maintenance employee in facility maintenance with exposure to periodic maintenance of fire protection systems as described in Rule .0515 of this Chapter. Applicants who have held Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician license previously  are not required to demonstrate experience in addition to the experience at the time of initial licensure, but shall submit a new application if relocating to a new location.

(h)  Applicants for licensure in the Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor classification must hold an active Plumbing Class I or Class II Contractor license issued by this Board for a minimum of two years and must document attendance at a 16 hour course approved by the Board pursuant to the Rules in this Chapter covering NFPA 13D: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One-and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, which is hereby incorporated by reference including all subsequent editions and amendments. The document can be accessed free of charge at http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/.  Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractors must maintain a Plumbing Contractor license as a condition of renewal of the Residential Fire sprinkler Installation Contractor license.

(i)  Applicants for a license as a plumbing or heating technician shall present evidence adequate to establish 3000 hours of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service or repair of plumbing or heating systems related to the category for which a technician license is sought, whether or not a license was required for the work performed. Applicants for a license as a fuel piping technician shall present evidence adequate to establish 1500 hours of experience in the installation, maintenance, service or repair of fuel piping, whether or not a license was required for the work performed.  Up to one-half of the experience may be in academic or technical training related to the field of endeavor for which the examination is requested.

(j)  Applicants for a Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor license shall present evidence at the time of application to establish 1500 hours of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service or repair of plumbing systems, whether or not a license was required for the work performed.  Up to one-half of the experience may be in academic or technical training related to the field of endeavor for which examination is requested.  The Board shall prorate part-time work of fewer than 40 hours per week or part-time academic work of less than 15 semester or quarter hours.

(k)  In lieu of the requirements of Paragraph (j) of this Rule, applicants for a Restricted Limited Plumbing Contractor License who present a current active License from the North Carolina Irrigation Contractor Licensing Board may take the examination, provided the applicant demonstrates that he or she holds certification as a Backflow Inspector from one of the municipalities in North Carolina, or demonstrates 500 hours of experience in the maintenance, service or repair of components of plumbing systems.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 87-18; 87-21(b);

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Readopted Eff. September 29, 1977;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2004; July 1, 2003; August 1, 2002; July 1, 1998; September 1, 1994;

November 1, 1993; April 1, 1991; May 1, 1990;

Temporary Amendment Eff. August 31, 2004;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2014; July 3, 2012; January 1, 2010; June 1, 2006; March 1, 2005.