North Carolina General Contractor
North Carolina Continuing Education Requirements
Everything NC licensed general contractors need to know about the annual 8-hour Continuing Education requirement — Board rules, deadlines, formats, and how to knock it out in one day.
Quick Facts
What Every North Carolina GC Needs to Know
Set by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC). Same rules every year — what changes is how easy it is to fit them into your schedule.
8 hrs
Required Annually
2 + 6
Mandatory + Electives
Jan – Nov
CE Year (no Dec)
$0
Penalty if Missed
Beyond catch-up + state fees
🎓 8 hours every year keeps your license active — a 2-hour mandatory class plus 6 hours of electives, all due by November 30 (there are no classes in December). NCCA is the only provider that lets you complete all 8 hours in one stop.
The 8-hour requirement is split into two buckets: a 2-hour mandatory class set each year by the NCLBGC (Board policy updates, code changes, enforcement priorities) plus 6 hours of approved electives from any approved provider on any topic that helps your business — construction law, change orders, profit management, subcontractor management, etc.
Official Sources
Where to Verify the Rules Yourself
NC Contractor Academy is a Board-approved provider serving licensed North Carolina general contractors with continuing education, NASCLA exam prep, and professional development built for the realities of running a construction business.
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NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC)
The official source for CE rules, approved providers, license renewal, and license lookup.
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PSI Examination Service Centers
Where you sit for the NC General Contractor and NC Residential Contractor exams. Schedule via PSI after NCLBGC application approval.
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NC General Statutes Chapter 87
The state law that defines NC contractor licensing categories, scope, and CE requirements.
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NCCA — Your Approved Provider
We're listed in the NCLBGC's directory of approved CE providers. Every certificate of completion includes our provider ID for audit verification.
How It Works
How Your Annual 8 Hours Break Down
Every NC licensed General Contractor needs 8 hours of Continuing Education each year. Here's exactly what counts.
Continuing Education Year
Runs January 1 through November 30 annually. Plan accordingly.
No December Classes
No Continuing Education classes are held in December — late registrants regularly miss the deadline.
Board-Approved Provider Required
Hours only count if completed through a provider approved by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC).
Best Value · Most Popular
CE Full Compliance Bundles — Knock Out All 8 Hours In One Day
The all-in-one option ($245). Each Full Compliance Bundle includes the mandatory 2-hour NC Board class PLUS 3 Board-approved 2-hour electives — your full annual NC Continuing Education compliance in a single purchase. Saves $55 vs. buying all 4 classes individually.
Full ComplianceFULL 8 HOURSCE Full Compliance Bundle
Construction Law Full Compliance Bundle
Full ComplianceFULL 8 HOURSCE Full Compliance Bundle
New & Small Business Success Full Compliance Bundle
Full ComplianceFULL 8 HOURSCE Full Compliance Bundle
Profit Protection Full Compliance Bundle
Full ComplianceFULL 8 HOURSCE Full Compliance Bundle
Jesus in Construction Full Compliance Bundle
Already Done the Mandatory?
CE Elective Bundles — 3 Topic-Focused Electives
Already taken your 2-hour mandatory class? A CE Elective Bundle ($200) packages 3 Board-approved 2-hour electives (6 CE hours) on a single topic — saves $25 vs. buying the same 3 electives individually. 12 themed bundles to pick from.
Or Pick & Choose Individual Classes
Individual North Carolina CE Electives — 2 Hours Each
$75 each. Need a few specific elective hours? Pick from 24 Board-approved 2-hour electives. Mix and match across construction law, change orders, profit management, subcontractor management, and more.
Individual CE Class
Thriving as a GC in an Inflationary Era
Individual CE Class
The Billion Dollar Contractor
Individual CE Class
The Million Dollar Project Manager
Individual CE Class
Stop Working for Free: Plugging the Money Leaks
Individual CE Class
Managing Owner Expectations
Individual CE Class
Hire Right Build Right
Individual CE Class
Subcontractor Management That Works
Individual CE Class
Master Documenting: Building a Strong Legal Defense
Just the Mandatory
The 2-Hour North Carolina Mandatory CE Class — Standalone
If you've already done your 6 elective hours through other providers, you can take just the mandatory 2-hour class from us to complete your annual 8 hours.
2-Hour Mandatory · Standalone
North Carolina Board Mandatory CE Class
The 2-hour class every NC GC must take each year — set by the NC Board.
- NC Board policy updates for the current year
- Code changes and enforcement priorities
- NCLBGC required content — satisfies the 2-hour mandatory portion
- Same content whether you take it as part of a Full Compliance Bundle or standalone
Live Class Schedule
Pick Your Date
Click any highlighted date to see available bundles. Filter by format (Live Zoom / eLearning) above.
Or Pick by Location
CE Available Online — Statewide North Carolina
Live online classes for NC contractors statewide — Zoom and self-paced eLearning, no travel required.
Don't see your city? Online classes serve every NC contractor statewide.
Common Questions
About the 8-Hour Requirement
What happens if I miss the November 30 deadline?
Your license can be flagged as non-compliant by the NCLBGC. Re-establishing compliance typically requires completing your hours plus any state penalty. Don't wait — there are no December classes to bail you out.
Can I roll over hours from one year to the next?
No. The 8-hour requirement resets every January 1.
Can the 6 elective hours be on any topic?
Any topic, as long as the class is approved by the NCLBGC. Common electives include construction law, change orders, project management, profit management, and subcontractor management.
Do online classes count?
Yes — both live Zoom and self-paced eLearning count, as long as the provider is Board-approved (we are).
How do I know NCCA is Board-approved?
NCCA is registered with the NCLBGC as an approved CE provider. Look for our provider ID on every certificate of completion. If you ever get audited, you can confirm directly with the Board.
I'm pursuing my commercial license — does NASCLA prep count for CE?
NASCLA exam prep doesn't count toward your annual CE requirement — they're separate tracks. You'll still need 8 hours of approved CE each year. See our NASCLA Exam Prep page for details on the commercial path.
Don't wait until November
Get Your 8 Hours Knocked Out
Pick a Full Compliance Bundle, pick a date, finish your annual requirement in one day.