COQB - Code Enforcement Officials

Code Enforcement Officials (CEO) are certified inspectors employed by city, county, and state government to ensure buildings and related structures are sound and safe for occupancy.

All applicants must have a CEO ID online record established with the NC Code Officials Qualification Board in order to progress through these steps.

There are three (3) main steps to certification.

Apply online - All applications are reviewed by staff to determine if education and experience provided matches the Trade and Level certification. Applicants are notified by email to login and read staff's decision letter in the applicant's online account.
Enroll in Board Standard Certificate Course - After staff determines the Trade(s) and Level(s), applicants must successfully complete the mandatory Law and Administration AND Technical course, pass the End-of-Course Test, and complete any supervised training to become eligible for the State Exam. Applicants are notified by email to login and read staff's exam eligibility letter in the applicant's online account.
Register for State Exam - All State Exams are currently administered by a 3rd party testing agency. READ THE PSI SERVICES, LLC CANDIDATE INFORMATION BULLETIN for specific instructions about how to register, what reference materials may be used, etc. After passing the State Exam the applicant may apply for a Standard Certificate! If a candidate fails the State Exam they may schedule an Exam Review at no cost within 30 days.

Contact: Terri Tart, Certification Administrator, terri.tart@ncdoi.gov

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions!

How do I become an NC Code Enforcement Official?

If you are NOT already employed by a government jurisdiction then you may apply for a Pre-Qualification (PQ) Review. Local government hiring managers often ask for evidence of Pre-Qualification when inspector positions are advertised.

Pre-Qualification allows applicants to take the Board courses and the State examination prior to becoming employed as a CEO. Applicants must meet at least one of the education and experience requirements listed in the Board’s statutes and rules. A PQ applicant may apply for any Trade and Level I, II or III with supporting documents for increased levels of education, experience and/or licenses.

1. Apply online, select your education or experience and pay the $20.00 application fee. Staff will review your application and supporting documentation and make a determination.

2. If approved, applicants may then complete Board courses required by the certificate trade and level taught through the NC Community College System. All applicants must complete the Board's "Law and Administration" course. After the successful completion of the Board course(s), staff will determine the PQ applicant's eligibility to register for the State Examination.

3. Candidates may only register to take the State exam administered by a third party vendor AFTER staff approval.

A letter will be mailed to each applicant stating that he or she has met the requirements for Pre-Qualification. Upon employment as a CEO, a Standard Certificate may be issued and be mailed to the applicant.

Pre-Qualification Application Process Flowchart

If you ARE ALREADY employed by a government jurisdiction, you may apply for Probationary or Standard Certificate(s) with a Certificate of Employment for the Trade(s): Fire, Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, or Residential Changeout Inspector.

Read the applicable bulletin below for the technical area you are interested in.

How do I become a North Carolina Fire Inspector?

**NOTE** If you intend to use IFSAC or DOD accreditation to document your education and experience you will need to include a copy of your DOD certification record or IFSAC verification. Applicants must request verification themselves using the form.

How do I become a North Carolina Building Inspector?

How do I become a North Carolina Electrical Inspector?

How do I become a North Carolina Mechanical Inspector?

How do I become a North Carolina Plumbing Inspector?

How do I become a North Carolina Residential Changeout Inspector?

This is a new multi-trade certificate for residential appliance changeouts that requires successful completion of the Board course to pre-qualify BEFORE applying for either the Probationary or Standard Certificate. Once employed by a local government, during the 6-month supervised probationary period, field training on a variety of appliance changeouts must be documented on the Performance Log.

Use the system log-in to enter a new application to become a Code Enforcement Official. If you have ever submitted an application or completed a standard course, you were assigned an ID # in the COQB system and are a returning user.

Use the links below for online application and course schedules:

Online Application

Course Schedules

Military Service Members and Spouses: Session Law 2014-67 was enacted to enhance the effectiveness of Occupational Licensing of Military Service members, veterans and spouses. Please see the linked information sheet regarding military occupational specialties that may be credited toward experience and education requirements needed for certification as a code official.

Authorities Having Jurisdictions (AHJs) and NC Community Colleges offering COQB Standard Certificate Courses

This interactive GIS map provides users with locations (blue dots) and contact information for 500 NC local government AHJs responsible for issuing building and fire permits and performing inspections for residential and commercial construction. City and Town corporate boundaries are shown in gray. Clicking on certain map features results in pop-up information boxes with contact information. Enter an address and the map will zoom to the individual parcel level. Users may select an aerial imagery layer using the icons in the upper left corner.

How do I register for the State Exam?

Your eligibility to sit for any State Exam must be electronically transmitted from NCDOI staff to PSI Services, LLC before you can register and pay to take the exam. Your online record documents will include staff approval letters issued for the Trade and Level Standard Certificate. Data transfers nightly from NCDOI to PSI Services, LLC.

The Candidate Information Bulletin for PSI (CIB) contains all instructions needed to register for the exam through the PSI Services, LLC web site www.psiexams.com.

The CIB also lists the reference books and other materials permitted or prohibited for each exam offered by the test center.

Use the NCCOQB Dedicated Phone number 855‐807‐3991 to schedule exams, ask questions, etc.

State Exam Information

Pre-Qualification Application Process Flowchart

State Exam Process and Criteria

Chapter 3 Links to General Statutes for printing and inserting into your Administrative Code Book

General Statutes Pertaining to Code Enforcement Officials (with NCGS 160D)

Approved Tabs for State Exam

Register Here

Exam Reviews

Only candidates who do not pass an exam are eligible to review their exam within 30 days of the exam date. To schedule an exam review, contact PSI directly, per the directions in the Candidate Information Bulletin.

The exam review allows candidates to submit written challenges to exam questions. The vendor provides weekly reports the NCDOI staff of exam challenges. Challenges are routed to the Code Consultants / Subject Matter Experts for review and determination. Sometimes credit is provided and exam scores are adjusted.

Currently there are seven testing centers in North Carolina. Additional sites can be added if needed. They are located in the following cities:

City/State	Address	Driving Directions
Asheville, NC	1306-C Patton Avenue	From I-40 take exit 44, Smokey Park Highway (US 19/ 23), turn left. Proceed North/East approx 3 miles (the test center is in a multi-building complex between Haywood Rd and Druid). Turn right onto Haywood Rd at intersection of Patton (19/23) and Haywood Rd (Swannanoa Cleaners on right.) Proceed approximately 0.2 miles and turn left onto Parkwood. Follow building #?s to 1306, approx. 5th building complex on right, past the BB&T bank. From I-240 exit 3A to 19/23 (Patton Ave) and proceed South approx 2 miles (the test center is in a multi-building complex between Druid and Haywood Rd). Take a left onto Druid (Burger King is on the left), then first right. Proceed (past post office) through stop sign and take first left into parking lot of building #1306.
Charlotte, NC	5701 Westpark Drive, STE 202	Test Center is located at: Tyvola Executive Park One - From I-77S towards Columbia, exit Tyvola Road (Exit #5). Turn left at Tyvola Road. Make a right at Westpark Dr. From I-77N, exit Tyvola Road (Exit #5). Bear right at Tyvola Road. Turn right at Westpark Dr.
Fayetteville, NC	3724 Sycamore Dairy Rd., Ste 128, Arbor Alley Bldg	From the N, take I-95 S. Merge onto US 301/I-95 Business Rte S towards Fayetteville/Fort Bragg/Pope AFB. Turn right onto NC-210/NC-24 Grove St. which becomes Rowan St. From Rowan St., turn right onto Bragg Blvd. Turn left onto Sycamore Dairy Rd. From the S, take I-95 N to Exit 46 and enter NC 87 (MLK). Take the MLK to the Bragg Blvd exit. Turn left on Bragg Blvd. When you get to the traffic light at McDonald's, bear left onto Sycamore Dairy Rd. Turn into the Arbor Alley strip mall. From the NW, take NC-87 S to NC-24 E/Bragg Blvd. Continue on NC-24 E/Bragg Blvd beyond the intersection with Hwy 401 Bypass. Turn right onto Bargain St and proceed to Sycamore Dairy Rd. From the SW, take US 401 N and turn left onto 401 Bypass (Skibo Road). Turn right onto Legend Ave; turn left onto Sycamore Dairy Road. PSI is located at the far back end of the Arbor Alley strip mall. The strip mall is located in between the State ABC store and Pricillas.
Greenville, NC	2404 South Charles Blvd, Suite B	Test Center is located at: Charles Center From the South, proceed North on State Highway 11, and merge to the right onto Greenville Blvd SE (US 264/State 43). Turn right on Charles Blvd. From the East, proceed West on US 264 and turn left onto Greenville Blvd SE. Turn left on Charles Blvd. From the West, proceed East on US 264. Turn right on Memorial Drive. Turn left on Greenville Blvd. Turn right on Charles Blvd.
Raleigh, NC	5711 Six Forks Road, Suite 208	From I-440, exit 8, Six Forks Road and proceed North. Turn left on Loft Lane, then right into the first driveway.
Wilmington, NC	311 Judge's Rd., Suite 8D	Test Center is located at: Judge's Road Business Park When Interstate 40 ends, it merges with State Highway 132 (College Road). Exit Market Street (Highway 17) and proceed northeast toward Jacksonville, approximately one mile. Turn left at Judge's Road. As you approach Judge's Road Business Park, you will see a dozen brick buildings housing industrial units. Turn left into the Business Park and proceed to the third aisle. Turn right down the aisle for Building 8. Suite 8D is on the left. Overflow parking is available on the street.
Winston-Salem, NC	1540 Westbrook Plaza Dr., Suite 103	From Bypass Interstate 40, exit 189, Stratford Road proceed north (left) approximately 100 yards. Turn left on Westbrook Plaza Drive. Turn left at four way stop, continuing on to Westbrook Plaza Drive. Go through next traffic light. The test center is approximately 1/4 mile past the light and on your lef

Renew your certification

Active and Inactive CEOs: Use the system log-in to manage existing certifications, check on Continuing Education credits, pay renewal fees, and submit new applications. (Log in as a returning user – your ID # is your username)

AHJs: Use the system log-in to manage the people and certifications linked to your jurisdiction, pay renewal fees, and submit certificate of employment forms for new employees. (Log in as a returning user – your jurisdiction J# is your user name)

To re-activate CEO certificates that have been placed on Inactive status, CEOs must submit a current Certificate of Employment Form.

CE Sponsors and Instructors: Use system log-in to submit new courses, schedule approved courses, and manage instructors for approved courses. (Log in as a returning user – your S# or I# is your user name)

How to verify CE credits

How to print an invoice and pay for renewals

Inspector Marketplace

For NC Code Officials* interested in secondary employment with short-staffed AHJs - Part-Time, Contract
(*note: CEOs are advised to get permission from their primary employment AHJ before subscribing)

CEO List

*Password for CEO list is: Albemarle

Inspection Forms

Inspector Open Mic

2021-2-12 password JxDY2MGK

2021-2-19 Password: jEF3SEyM

N. C. 1st Responder COVID Registry (Chiefs and Fire Marshals Only)

COQB - Code Enforcement Officials

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions!

If you are NOT already employed by a government jurisdiction then you may apply for a Pre-Qualification (PQ) Review. Local government hiring managers often ask for evidence of Pre-Qualification when inspector positions are advertised.

Use the NCCOQB Dedicated Phone number 855‐807‐3991 to schedule exams, ask questions, etc.

State Exam Information

Code Enforcement - Inspection Forms

NC Division of Child Development/Early Education- Inspection Forms

Design Professionals Inspection Form

Inspector Open Mic

Related Content

North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal