North Carolina Fire Sprinkler Contractor Exam Prep: Mock
Practice Test & NFPA Code Rationales
This specialized technical preparation resource provides a comprehensive mock
practice test, verified answers, and detailed regulatory rationales tailored specifically to
the North Carolina Fire Sprinkler Contractor licensing examination. It delivers deep-dive
coverage of the North Carolina State Building Code, NFPA 13 installation criteria, NFPA
25 inspection and testing procedures, and the state business and law requirements.
Contractors and code enforcement officials will master critical hydraulic safety
parameters, pipe sizing metrics, and municipal water connection codes to ensure a
passing score on their proctored licensing tracking pathway.
SECTION 1: NORTH CAROLINA LICENSING LAW &
REGULATIONS (Questions 1–40)
1. Which state board oversees the licensing of fire sprinkler contractors in North
Carolina?
A) State Fire Marshal
B) State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
C) Department of Labor
D) Building Code Council
Rationale: The North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire
Sprinkler Contractors oversees licensing under G.S. 87-21.
2. What is the passing grade required for the North Carolina Fire Sprinkler
Contractor exam?
,A) 60
B) 65
C) *70*
D) 75
Rationale: 21 NCAC 50 .0305 requires a grade of 70 on a 100-point scale to pass the
examination.
3. How many distinct fire sprinkler license classifications exist in North Carolina?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
Rationale: North Carolina has five fire sprinkler classifications: Fire Sprinkler Installation,
Fire Sprinkler Inspection, Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation, Limited Fire Sprinkler
Maintenance Technician, and Residential Fire Sprinkler Design Contractor.
4. Which NICET certification is required as a prerequisite for a Fire Sprinkler
Installation Contractor license in NC?
A) NICET Level I in any field
B) NICET Level II in Water-Based Systems
C) NICET certification for Automated Sprinkler System Layout
D) No NICET certification required
Rationale: Under 21 NCAC 50 .0301(c), applicants must submit evidence of current NICET
certification for Automated Sprinkler System Layout.
5. What examination must a Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor applicant pass in
North Carolina?
A) The technical examination only
B) The business and law part of the Board-administered examination
C) Both business/law and technical examinations
D) A practical field test only
Rationale: Applicants with current NICET certification in Automatic Sprinkler System
Layout must pass the business and law part of the examination.
6. What happens if a NC fire sprinkler contractor's NICET certification lapses?
A) Nothing; once licensed, NICET is no longer needed
B) They must maintain NICET certification as a condition of license renewal
,C) They receive a one-year grace period
D) They can substitute continuing education
Rationale: Under 21 NCAC 50 .0301, contractors who obtain a license based on NICET
certification must maintain such certification as a condition of license renewal.
7. Which NC General Statute governs the licensing of fire sprinkler contractors?
A) G.S. 87-25
B) G.S. 87-21
C) G.S. 87-18
D) G.S. 93B-8
Rationale: G.S. 87-21 prescribes competence standards, administers examinations, and
issues certificates of license for fire sprinkler contractors.
8. A Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor applicant in NC must submit evidence of
which certification?
A) NICET Level II in Water-Based Systems
B) NICET Level III in Inspection and Testing of Water-based Fire Systems
C) NICET Level I in any field
D) No certification required
Rationale: Under 21 NCAC 50 .0301(e), applicants for Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor
licensure must submit evidence of Level III certification in Inspection and Testing of Water-
based Fire Systems.
9. What is the application fee for the Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation
Contractor license?
A) $50
B) $100
C) ***$150***
D) $200
Rationale: The application fee for the Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor
license is $150.
10. A licensee in NC shall only be listed on how many contractor licenses at any
given time?
A) Two
B) Three
C) One
D) Unlimited
, Rationale: Under NC Administrative Code, a licensee shall only be listed on one contractor
license at any given time, whether issued in the name of the individual or a firm.
11. Which NC regulation specifies the passing grade for contractor examinations?
A) 21 NCAC 50 .0301
B) *21 NCAC 50 .0305*
C) 21 NCAC 50 .0306
D) 21 NCAC 50 .0519
Rationale: 21 NCAC 50 .0305 specifically addresses the passing grade requirement for
Board-administered examinations.
12. How many hours of experience are required for Fire Sprinkler Inspection
Contractor licensure in NC?
A) 2,000 hours
B) 3,000 hours
C) 4,000 hours
D) 6,000 hours
Rationale: 21 NCAC 50 .0306 requires 4,000 hours of experience in inspection and testing
of previously installed fire sprinkler systems, consistent with NFPA-25.
13. What license classification is available for installing multipurpose fire sprinkler
systems in one- and two-family dwellings in NC?
A) Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor
B) Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor
C) Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician
D) Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor
Rationale: The Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor license allows installation
of multipurpose fire sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings per NFPA 13D.
14. Which NFPA standard governs the installation of multipurpose fire sprinkler
systems for residential occupancies in NC?
A) NFPA 13
B) NFPA 13D
C) NFPA 13R
D) NFPA 25
Rationale: Residential fire sprinkler systems for one- and two-family dwellings are
governed by NFPA 13D.
Practice Test & NFPA Code Rationales
This specialized technical preparation resource provides a comprehensive mock
practice test, verified answers, and detailed regulatory rationales tailored specifically to
the North Carolina Fire Sprinkler Contractor licensing examination. It delivers deep-dive
coverage of the North Carolina State Building Code, NFPA 13 installation criteria, NFPA
25 inspection and testing procedures, and the state business and law requirements.
Contractors and code enforcement officials will master critical hydraulic safety
parameters, pipe sizing metrics, and municipal water connection codes to ensure a
passing score on their proctored licensing tracking pathway.
SECTION 1: NORTH CAROLINA LICENSING LAW &
REGULATIONS (Questions 1–40)
1. Which state board oversees the licensing of fire sprinkler contractors in North
Carolina?
A) State Fire Marshal
B) State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
C) Department of Labor
D) Building Code Council
Rationale: The North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire
Sprinkler Contractors oversees licensing under G.S. 87-21.
2. What is the passing grade required for the North Carolina Fire Sprinkler
Contractor exam?
,A) 60
B) 65
C) *70*
D) 75
Rationale: 21 NCAC 50 .0305 requires a grade of 70 on a 100-point scale to pass the
examination.
3. How many distinct fire sprinkler license classifications exist in North Carolina?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
Rationale: North Carolina has five fire sprinkler classifications: Fire Sprinkler Installation,
Fire Sprinkler Inspection, Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation, Limited Fire Sprinkler
Maintenance Technician, and Residential Fire Sprinkler Design Contractor.
4. Which NICET certification is required as a prerequisite for a Fire Sprinkler
Installation Contractor license in NC?
A) NICET Level I in any field
B) NICET Level II in Water-Based Systems
C) NICET certification for Automated Sprinkler System Layout
D) No NICET certification required
Rationale: Under 21 NCAC 50 .0301(c), applicants must submit evidence of current NICET
certification for Automated Sprinkler System Layout.
5. What examination must a Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor applicant pass in
North Carolina?
A) The technical examination only
B) The business and law part of the Board-administered examination
C) Both business/law and technical examinations
D) A practical field test only
Rationale: Applicants with current NICET certification in Automatic Sprinkler System
Layout must pass the business and law part of the examination.
6. What happens if a NC fire sprinkler contractor's NICET certification lapses?
A) Nothing; once licensed, NICET is no longer needed
B) They must maintain NICET certification as a condition of license renewal
,C) They receive a one-year grace period
D) They can substitute continuing education
Rationale: Under 21 NCAC 50 .0301, contractors who obtain a license based on NICET
certification must maintain such certification as a condition of license renewal.
7. Which NC General Statute governs the licensing of fire sprinkler contractors?
A) G.S. 87-25
B) G.S. 87-21
C) G.S. 87-18
D) G.S. 93B-8
Rationale: G.S. 87-21 prescribes competence standards, administers examinations, and
issues certificates of license for fire sprinkler contractors.
8. A Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor applicant in NC must submit evidence of
which certification?
A) NICET Level II in Water-Based Systems
B) NICET Level III in Inspection and Testing of Water-based Fire Systems
C) NICET Level I in any field
D) No certification required
Rationale: Under 21 NCAC 50 .0301(e), applicants for Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor
licensure must submit evidence of Level III certification in Inspection and Testing of Water-
based Fire Systems.
9. What is the application fee for the Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation
Contractor license?
A) $50
B) $100
C) ***$150***
D) $200
Rationale: The application fee for the Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor
license is $150.
10. A licensee in NC shall only be listed on how many contractor licenses at any
given time?
A) Two
B) Three
C) One
D) Unlimited
, Rationale: Under NC Administrative Code, a licensee shall only be listed on one contractor
license at any given time, whether issued in the name of the individual or a firm.
11. Which NC regulation specifies the passing grade for contractor examinations?
A) 21 NCAC 50 .0301
B) *21 NCAC 50 .0305*
C) 21 NCAC 50 .0306
D) 21 NCAC 50 .0519
Rationale: 21 NCAC 50 .0305 specifically addresses the passing grade requirement for
Board-administered examinations.
12. How many hours of experience are required for Fire Sprinkler Inspection
Contractor licensure in NC?
A) 2,000 hours
B) 3,000 hours
C) 4,000 hours
D) 6,000 hours
Rationale: 21 NCAC 50 .0306 requires 4,000 hours of experience in inspection and testing
of previously installed fire sprinkler systems, consistent with NFPA-25.
13. What license classification is available for installing multipurpose fire sprinkler
systems in one- and two-family dwellings in NC?
A) Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor
B) Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor
C) Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician
D) Fire Sprinkler Inspection Contractor
Rationale: The Residential Fire Sprinkler Installation Contractor license allows installation
of multipurpose fire sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings per NFPA 13D.
14. Which NFPA standard governs the installation of multipurpose fire sprinkler
systems for residential occupancies in NC?
A) NFPA 13
B) NFPA 13D
C) NFPA 13R
D) NFPA 25
Rationale: Residential fire sprinkler systems for one- and two-family dwellings are
governed by NFPA 13D.
