Difference between a NC Building Contractor and Residential Contractor Licenses

Let us start off our topic with as to what a contractor is and how can one become a contractor. General contractors are one of, if not the most, important component of any construction project. Contractors are being hired by engineering and architectural firms in order to manage and supervise the construction projects such as for residential buildings, commercial buildings, and many other structures, they are the ones who manage and coordinate everything that happens on the site so that they can complete the task at hand. This is why contractors must be responsible, capable, and dependable but at the same time have all the necessary qualifications. 

Certification and Licensing

Most general contractors have a bachelor or associate’s degree in management, construction science, or architecture. And some may even have a degree in engineering, be it one of its many fields such as mechanical, chemical, industrial, electrical, and civil engineering. Although it is not really a requirement to take after graduation, aspiring contractors would most often pursue having the certification, as being a certified construction manager. 

Although having a certification is great at attracting employers, but contractors need to have the appropriate licenses provided by the state so that they can practice their profession. General contractors must apply for this licenses, each state has its own mechanisms though all require proof of experience on the job, citizenship or proof of legal residency, a general contractor exam, and some application fees.

But there here is a commonly asked question. What license should one get; a residential contractor or an Nc Building Contractor license To recap, the building contractor license classification deals with all the types of building construction tasks, these are all the types of residential, industrial, commercial, institutional building construction. On the contrary a residential contractor license deals with the construction of residential structures that require strict compliance with the residential building code.

It is no doubt that the building contractor license is the stronger one of the two, it enables contractors to handle residential and commercial construction  projects, however the contractors exam is much more difficult as it will involve broader topics and deeper knowledge in subjects like post tensioning, pre stressing, steel joists, and etc. So if you add all these up, this means more time to study, and more contractors license study books to buy and read.

The residential contractor license however is much more specific, thus it’s a has a slightly easier exam than the building contractor license. If you don’t see yourself or intend to take on commercial building projects, so it’s much more convenient for you to opt for a residential contractor license. Discover more about residential contractor here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction#Residential_construction.