What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document issued by an insurance company that verifies a vendor or subcontractor has active insurance coverage. General contractors and property managers require COIs to confirm vendors carry adequate general liability, workers compensation, and other required policies before allowing them on a job site.

How does VendorShield automate COI tracking?

VendorShield uses AI to analyze uploaded COI PDFs instantly. It extracts policy details including coverage types, limits, effective dates, and insurer information. The system automatically scores each COI for risk, flags coverage gaps against your requirements, and sends alerts before policies expire.

Can vendors upload their own COIs?

Yes. VendorShield provides each vendor with a self-serve portal link. Vendors can upload their COIs directly without needing an account. This eliminates the back-and-forth email chains that typically slow down compliance.

How much does VendorShield cost?

VendorShield starts at $499/month for the Starter plan (up to 25 vendors). The Pro plan is $799/month with unlimited vendors and custom compliance rules. Enterprise pricing is custom with multi-organization support, SSO, and dedicated support. All plans include a 14-day free trial.

What types of businesses use VendorShield?

VendorShield is built for general contractors, construction firms, property management companies, and any business that needs to track vendor insurance compliance. If you manage subcontractors or third-party vendors who must carry insurance, VendorShield automates the entire process.

All states

NCStatewide GC license required

North Carolina Contractor License & Insurance Requirements

North Carolina requires a NCLBGC license for any contracting where the cost of the undertaking is $30,000 or more. Three license tiers: Limited (≤$750,000), Intermediate (≤$1.5M), Unlimited (no cap). Five classifications: Building, Residential, Highway, Public Utilities, Specialty.

License threshold

$30,000 (combined cost of the undertaking) per NCGS §87-1

WC trigger

3+ employees (NCGS §97-2)

Bond

No license bond required statewide. Project bid bonds required by public owners.

Authority

Verify license

License authority: North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC) — license verification portal.

Workers' comp posture

North Carolina General Statute §97-2 requires WC for employers with three or more employees. Construction follows the same threshold. Sole-proprietor and corporate-officer exclusions exist but must be filed with the NCIC. Out-of-state subs need NC on the WC policy schedule.

Common public-bid insurance minimums

These are limits commonly required on NC public-works prequalification. They are NOT a state-mandated minimum — verify against your specific procurement spec or contract.

General Liability

$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate (typical NCDOT + UNC + state spec)

Workers' Comp

Statutory + $500K-$1M Employer's Liability

Auto Liability

$1M combined single limit

North Carolina state-specific quirks

Three license tiers (Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited) cap the project value a contractor can perform — verify the tier matches the project value.
Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are separately licensed by the NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors and the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.
Sub-contracted work over $30K still requires NCLBGC license for the SUB, not just the GC.
NC requires a 'qualifier' (an individual who passed the exam) attached to the licensee — qualifier turnover is a flag.
Three-employee threshold is one of the highest in the country; many small NC subs operate WC-exempt legitimately.

3 pitfalls every NC GC misses

Sub at the wrong tier

A Limited-class sub cannot legally undertake a $1M project. NCLBGC tier verification is essential — pull the licensee record before bidding.

Qualifier not on file

The license rides on a qualifier (an individual who passed the exam). When the qualifier leaves, the license suspends. Verify the qualifier name + status, not just the company.

Trade subs under separate boards

Plumbing and electrical subs hold licenses with different boards. NCLBGC search alone won't show their license — pull the trade-board record separately.

Automate North Carolina sub vetting

VendorShield checks every COI for North Carolina compliance — license currency against North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC), WC posture, public-bid limit minimums, and 3 state-specific pitfalls flagged at intake. No more manual statute lookups.

Start free 14-day trial

Frequently asked questions

What's the project value threshold for needing a North Carolina GC license?

$30,000 (combined labor + materials, single project) per NCGS §87-1. Below that, a state license isn't required for general contracting. Trade work (electrical, plumbing) is licensed separately regardless of value.

What are the North Carolina license tiers?

Limited (≤$750K per project, $1.5M aggregate), Intermediate (≤$1.5M / $3M), Unlimited (no cap). Verify the tier matches the project value before contracting.

How many employees trigger workers' comp in North Carolina?

Three or more regular employees per NCGS §97-2. Construction follows the same threshold. Many small NC subs are legitimately WC-exempt — capture a sole-prop affidavit.

How do I verify a North Carolina contractor license?

Use the NCLBGC Public Search at portal.nclbgc.org/Public/Search. Confirm class, tier, status, qualifier name, and any disciplinary history.

Are NC plumbers and electricians searched at the same place as GCs?

No. NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing/Heating/Fire-Sprinkler and NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors maintain separate license databases.

Other states

CACalifornia TXTexas FLFlorida NYNew York GAGeorgia ILIllinois

Reference data current as of 2026-06-04. This page is informational and is not legal advice. Always verify with the linked state authority before relying on a number for procurement, prequalification, or legal use.