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OSFM »   Licensing & Cert. »   Code Officials Qualification Board (COQB) »   COQB - Code Enforcement Officials

COQB - Code Enforcement Officials

Applying for a Probationary or Standard Certification

There are three (3) main steps to achieving these type of certifications. 

STEP 1. Apply online and Create a CEO ID account within the NC Code Officials Qualification Board online portal in order to begin the certificate application process.

  • Your application and supporting documents are reviewed by staff to determine if the education and experience you claim satisfies the requirements of the Trade and Level certification requested.
  • You will be notified by email to login to your online account and read the decision letter.
  • Your online record documents will include staff approval letters issued for a specific Trade and Level Standard Certificate.
  • Probationary certificates are only valid for three (3) years and may not be renewed or extended.
  • Many applicants must also document additional supervised training during the probationary period.
  • A Designated Technical Supervisor (DTS) may be required for Probationary employment - DTS FORM
  • A Letter of Technical Supervision may be required for Standard certificate application - List of Inspections Completed FORM
  • Standard Certificates must be renewed annually and require six (6) hours of Continuing Education per Trade.

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

STEP 2. Enroll in Board Standard Certificate Course

  • ALL applicants for a Standard Certificate must successfully complete the Board mandatory Law and Administration course and the Technical course by passing these End-of-Course tests with a score of 70.
  • A list of scheduled NC Community College Sponsored Board courses is available through the Find A Class link.
  • After required courses and OJT training is completed, exam eligibility can be issued.
  • You will be notified by email to login to your online account.
  • Your online record documents will include your exam eligibility letter(s) issued for a specific Trade and Level Standard Certificate(s).

         Need assistance? Contact: Beth Williams, Education Coordinator, beth.williams@ncdoi.gov 

STEP 3. Register for State Exam

  • Before you can register and pay to take the exam, your eligibility must be electronically transmitted from NCDOI staff to PSI Services, LLC.
  • Data transfers nightly from NCDOI to PSI Services, LLC.
  • Before testing read the Candidate Information Bulletin for specific instructions about how to register, what reference books may be used and other materials permitted or prohibited for each exam offered by the testing center. 
    • The Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB) contains all instructions needed to register for the exam through the PSI Services, LLC web site www.psiexams.com. 
    • Use the Dedicated Phone number 855‐807‐3991 to schedule exams, ask questions, etc.  
  • After passing the State Exam the applicant may apply for a Standard Certificate.
  • A "Certificate of Employment" form must be completed and submitted. To download the fillable form click on the button below.

         Certificate of Employment Form

         Show NC Code Enforcement Employer List - J number

Applying for Pre-Qualification

If you are NOT already employed by a government jurisdiction then you may apply for Pre-Qualification for a Trade and Level.

Local government hiring managers often ask for evidence of Pre-Qualification when inspector positions are advertised.

  • Pre-Qualification guides applicants to take the appropriate Board course and State examination needed to qualify for a specific Trade and Level certification 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.
  • Application for any Trade and Level 1, 2 or 3 must include relevant supporting documentation.

To apply online for pre-qualification, click on the "Begin Application Process" button.

Begin Application Process

ICC Comity 

Staff works diligently to assure that all out-of-state applicants meet the same minimum education and experience requirements as NC Code Enforcement Officials.

ICC Comity Table Memo

ICC Comity Table

NC Certificate

Required ICC Certificate Minimum Number of Years of Inspection Experience
Level I Residential and Commercial 2 yrs on at least two Level I projects
Level II Residential and Commercial 4 yrs on at least two Level II projects
Level III Residential and Commercial & Plans Examiner OR 5 yrs on at least two Level II projects
Level III Residential and Commercial 8 yrs on at least two Level III projects

Read the bulletin below for the Trade you are interested in.

  • How do I become a North Carolina Fire Inspector?

    • **NOTE** If you intend to use IFSAC accredited certification from DOD or any other IFSAC accredited entity to document your education and experience, you will need to include a copy of that agency's certification record or IFSAC verification. Applicants must request verification themselves using the IFSAC verification request 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? (Coming Soon)

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

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my CEO ID LOGIN?

Your CEO ID LOGIN requires a Username and Password.

Your Username is your CEO ID # not a certificate number.

You can look up your CEO ID # through the CEO Directory. Enter your name and select other fields to narrow the search. Your CEO ID # (Username) will be in the first column.

Once you have your CEO ID # Username, then select Forgotten Password and enter it here. If you have established Security Questions 1 & 2 then enter the answers and the system will generate a new temporary password for you. Once logged into the system you can change this. If you never set up Security Questions, then you will need to contact staff.

What is Pre-Qualification?

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

Pre-Qualification guides applicants to take the appropriate Board course and State examination needed to qualify for a specific Trade and Level certification 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. Application for any Trade and Level 1, 2 or 3 must include relevant supporting documentation.

Read the bulletin below for the Trade you are interested in.

How do I become a North Carolina Fire Inspector?

  • **NOTE** If you intend to use IFSAC accredited certification from DOD or any other IFSAC accredited entity to document your education and experience, you will need to include a copy of that agency's certification record or IFSAC verification. Applicants must request verification themselves using the IFSAC verification request 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 (RCI)?

  • 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. (NOTE: the RCI certificate application does not appear until you have a passing End-of-Course grade).
  • You may preview the course orientation here: RCI.
  • 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.

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.

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.

Military Service Members and Spouses?

Anyone that has served in the military has demonstrated attention to detail, a sense of commitment to serve others and successfully complete education and training needed to perform a job critical to an organizational mission. These qualities are exactly what it takes to be a building code official working for a local government! Most service men and women are planning to live somewhere in particular and then find a job. Many remain near their last post because that is where their friends are and have connections to the community. There are hundreds of North Carolina counties and cities that employ building code enforcement officials certified by the NC Code Officials Qualification Board. Salaries are competitive with other construction industry job depending upon the number and level of certifications attained and years of experience.

Even if you do not already have construction industry experience, you may be hired by a local government with probationary certification for three (3) years during which time you will get supervised On-the-Job-Training (OJT) and attend mandatory Board courses taught through the NC Community College System.

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.

What do I need to take the State Exam?
  • Chapter 3 Links to General Statutes for printing and inserting into your NC Administrative Code and Policies book
  • General Statutes Pertaining to Code Enforcement Officials (with NCGS 160D)
  • Approved Tabs for State Exam
  • State Exam Process and Criteria
What if I fail the State Exam?

If you fail an exam, you may schedule an exam review within 30 days of the exam date. Contact PSI directly per the directions in the Candidate Information Bulletin using the Dedicated Phone number 855‐807‐3991.

The exam review process allows you to view questions you answered incorrectly and to submit written challenges to specific exam questions. These challenges are routed to the Code Consultants / Subject Matter Experts for review and determination. Correct answers are not provided. Sometimes credit is provided and exam scores are adjusted.

How do I renew Standard Certificate(s)?

All Standard Certificates on active status expire annually on June 30. The renewal period is between May 1 and June 30 for the following Fiscal Year. Each Standard Certificate requires 6 hours of Continuing Education (CE) and payment of a $10 fee that may be paid online.

Either a CEO or an AHJ Primary Contact can renew certificates.

Probationary Certificates are valid for 3 years and may not be renewed.

Use the CEO ID LOGIN to manage existing certifications, verify CE credits, pay renewal fees, or submit new applications. 

Certificates may be placed on inactive status when not employed or performing code enforcement for a jurisdiction. Inactive certificates do not have to meet CE or pay a renewal fee. However, additional CE is required to return an inactive certificate to active status depending upon the duration. See NC Gen. Stat. 143-151.13A and 11 NCAC 08 .0714.

To re-activate inactive status certificates, CEOs must submit a current Certificate of Employment.

AHJs: Use the system log-in to manage the people and certifications linked to your jurisdiction, pay renewal fees, and submit Certificate of Employment (COE) forms for new employees.

Your Jurisdiction (J###) is your user name

How to print an invoice and pay for renewals

What is inactive status?

Certificates may be placed on inactive status when not employed or performing code enforcement for a jurisdiction.

Inactive certificates do not have to meet CE or pay a renewal fee.

However, additional CE is required to return an inactive certificate to active status depending upon the duration. To re-activate inactive status certificates, CEOs must submit a current Certificate of Employment.

See NC Gen. Stat. 143-151.13A and 11 NCAC 08 .0714.

What types of Inspection Forms are available?

School Electrical / Fire

  • Electrical Inspection Form
  • Fire Inspection Form

NC Division of Child Development/Early Education

  • Fire Inspection Form
  • Building Inspection (Education E & Institutional I-4) Form
  • Building Inspection (Residential R-4) Form
  • Existing Building Code Inspection Form

Design Professionals

  • Licensed Architect or Engineer System or Element Inspections Request Form

Related Content

Code Education
File a complaint against a Code Enforcement Official (CEO)
Code Book Sales
COQB - Board Members
Code Officials Login

Code Officials Qualification Board (COQB)

  • COQB - Code Enforcement Officials
  • COQB - Board Members
  • COQB - Board Statutes and Rules
  • COQB - Certificate Renewal Requirements
  • COQB - Continuing Education
  • COQB - Inspector Marketplace
  • COQB - Instructor
  • COQB - Meeting Dates
  • COQB - Scheduling an Exam
  • COQB - Sponsors
  • COQB - Staff Contact Information
  • COQB - Standard Certificate
  • Code Official Log In

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