Re: NC license
a person becomes a qualified individual by passing the test and meeting the other requirements. One does not ever have to turn that into a licence. One who has a licence can deactivate the licence and go back to being a qualified individual.
A qualified individual may not enguage in electrical work. A licence is needed for that. but a qualified individual does not need to pay an anual fee.
To stay qualified however continuing ed cources are still required.
A licencee can be a one man shop or a company, but needs at least one qualified individual to work for that company full time running the electrical work.
Where I work, I do not own the company, but I have a UL and the owner has a L. I am listed as the qualified individual for our UL licence. He is listed as another qualified individual.