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.
The NC Code Officials Qualification Board certifies city and county inspectors who enforce the NC State Building Code. Inspection certificates are issued in the following areas: Building, Electrical, Fire Prevention, Mechanical, and Plumbing. Each certificate is further subdivided into one of three levels: Level I, II, and III.
CEO - Pre-Qualification (PQ) Application Process
The pre-qualification review allows an applicant interested in becoming employed as a city or county inspector to take the Standard Inspection courses and the State examination prior to becoming employed as a code enforcement official. However, the applicant must meet at least one of the experience requirements listed in the Board’s Rules and Regulations. A PQ applicant is not required to start at Level I, but to start at Level II or III, the applicant must document increased levels of education, licenses, and experience.
PQ applicants must complete a Pre-Qualification Application and return it with a $20.00 application fee. If the applicant meets the education or experience requirements, he or she must then complete community college courses in the certificate area and level. Applicants must also complete the "Law and Administration" course
Board Rule 11 NCAC 08.0706 lists the experience requirements in Sections .0706(d) through .0706(r) and will be helpful when completing the Pre-Qualification Application.
After the required standard courses have been completed the PQ applicant's eligibility to register for the State Examination will be determined by staff. State exams are administered by PSI, Inc. The names of successful applicants will be presented to the NC Code Officials Qualification Board at its quarterly meeting. A letter will be mailed to each applicant stating that he or she has met the requirements for Pre-Qualification. Upon employment as a code enforcement official, a Standard Certificate will be mailed to the applicant.
Pre-Qualification Application Process Flowchart
Individuals seeking to become certified as Building, Fire, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing CEOs to perform inspections for city, county or state agencies should read the applicable "How do I become an inspector…" bulletins below for the technical area they are interested in.
How do I become a North Carolina Building Inspector?
How do I become a North Carolina Fire 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?
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 our system and are a returning user. Please contact staff to obtain your password.
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 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.
Individuals interested in certification as Code Enforcement Officials (CEOs) in NC must successfully complete mandatory courses offered by the NC Community College System. All applicants for certification must pass the Law and Administration course as well as the Board’s Standard Course for the Trade Type and Level sought - such as Building, Level 1 (single-family residential and small business).
Use the online application and course schedule links listed below:
All state exams are administered by an independent testing firm PSI Services, LLC.
In order to register and pay to take the exam, candidates for examination must first be pre-approved by the COQB staff:
- You must complete and submit an application to create a personal record through the COQB Information Management System "SYSTEM LOG-IN"
- You must successfully complete the standard courses required for the area and level of the exam and have these results applied to your record.
- COQB staff must determine that your education and experience meets the qualification requirements stated in the Board rules for the area and level for which you have applied. NOTE: staff review of your application may result in requests for additional information. Your application will be placed on hold until you provide sufficient documentation at which time you may resubmit the application.
- Your eligibility determination must be applied to your record by COQB staff.
Once your COQB record includes your eligibility to take the exam, this information is automatically sent to PSI Services, LLC via a daily data transfer.
The Candidate Information Bulletin (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.
State Exam Information
Pre-Qualification Application Process Flowchart
Candidate Information Bulletin for PSI
State Exam Process and Criteria
Links to General Statutes for printing and inserting into your Administrative Code Book
All candidates who do not pass an exam are eligible to review their exam within 30 days of the exam date. To schedule this exam, contact PSI. The North Carolina Department of Insurance staff will review all exam question challenges. Please contact Kathy Williams regarding this process.
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 |
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)
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)
*Password for CEO list is: Albemarle
Code Enforcement - Inspection Forms
NC Division of Child Development/Early Education- Inspection Forms
Building Inspection (Education E & Institutional I-4) Form
Building Inspection (Residential R-4) Form
Existing Building Code Inspection Form
Design Professionals Inspection Form
Licensed Architect or Engineer System or Element Inspections Request Form
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