2025 N.C. State Fair Apprentice Contests

ApprenticeshipNC, the State Apprenticeship Agency, will partner with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to host the 2025 N.C. State Fair Apprentice Contests October 20-24, 2025. These contests are an opportunity for Masonry, Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC/R Registered Apprentices and Carpentry Pre-Apprentices from across the state to test their skills and knowledge, win prizes, and make lasting connections with fellow tradespeople.

Contest Dates:

Monday, October 20, 2025: Masonry Apprentice Contest

Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Electrical Apprentice Contest

Thursday, October 23, 2025: Carpentry Pre-Apprentice Contest

Friday, October 24, 2025: HVAC/R Apprentice Contest

Friday, October 24, 2025: Plumber Apprentice Contest

Contest Information: N.C. State Fair Apprentice Contests Webpage

Apprentice Contest Registration: 8:00 a.m. August 1, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. September 5, 2025

The Registration link will go live on August 1, 2025. It will be accessible via this page and the State Fair website. 

• Contestants MUST have an active program enrollment in a Registered Apprenticeship or Pre-Apprenticeship Registered through ApprenticeshipNC.
• Their program completion dates in our system (NC RAN) cannot fall before the contest date. 
  • To confirm your apprentices/pre-apprentices are active on our system and their estimated program completion dates are correct, please consult their information in NC RAN or contact your ANC Consultant.
    • Please do this before registering them in the contests. We will require apprentice program enrollment (PE) numbers on the entry form. 
  • Apprentices CANNOT register themselves for these contests. They must be entered by their employer, instructor, or program sponsor.
  • For the electrical contest specifically, we will require employers to list how many on-the-job learning hours the apprentices will have by the contest date. They must have completed 4001 to compete.

Substitute W9 Forms
The State of North Carolina will require submission of a NC Substitute W-9 prior to making any payment of $600 or greater or any payment that results in a total of $600 or more during one calendar year from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to any individual or entity. To view the form, click here.

Photo Release and Liability Forms
All contestants must sign a photo release and liability form.

• Apprentices/pre-apprentices who are 18+ will sign this form at the contests.
• Apprentices/pre-apprentices who are under 18 require a parent and instructor signature on the form.
  • If your contestant is younger than 18, please download and have them, their parent/legal guardian, and instructor read and sign this form. 

For registration or contest questions, please contact the ApprenticeshipNC Communications Assistant Margaret Spainhour at spainhourm@nccommunitycolleges.edu. 

About ApprenticeshipNC: Recognized by the Office of Apprenticeship to act on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor, ApprenticeshipNC is the State Apprenticeship Agency authorized to register apprenticeship programs tailored to meet employers’ needs.