{
  "url": "https://scopeofcover.com/requirements/nc/workers-comp-three-employees",
  "title": "North Carolina Workers' Comp: Employee Threshold for Coverage",
  "template": "requirements",
  "published": "2026-10-05",
  "updated": "2026-10-05",
  "last_verified": "2026-10-05",
  "answer": "In North Carolina, businesses must carry workers' compensation insurance once they regularly employ a certain number of people. Scope of Cover found that the general requirement is triggered by having three or more employees. For employers in activities involving radiation, the threshold is just one employee. Corporate officers are counted toward this total, but they can choose to exclude themselves from coverage benefits. Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are not automatically counted but can elect to be covered.",
  "editor": {
    "name": "Eric Dawson",
    "title": "Editor"
  },
  "publisher": "scopeofcover.com",
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-act-citation",
      "statement": "The North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act is found in Chapter 97 of the North Carolina General Statutes.",
      "value": "Chapter 97",
      "unit": "of the North Carolina General Statutes",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "A business covered by the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act, Chapter 97 of the North Carolina General Statutes, is required by law to obtain workers’ compensation insurance or qualify as a self-insured employer.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-threshold-general",
      "statement": "Businesses employing three or more employees on a regular basis are generally covered by the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act.",
      "value": 3,
      "unit": "employees",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "In general, all businesses employing three or more employees on a regular basis are covered by the Act.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-exemption-citation",
      "statement": "Exemptions from the provisions of the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act are set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-13.",
      "value": "§97-13",
      "unit": "N.C. Gen. Stat.",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "Certain groups are exempt from the provisions of the Act, and these exemptions are set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-13.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-radiation-coverage-threshold",
      "statement": "Employers of one or more employees in activities involving the use or presence of radiation are required to have workers' compensation coverage.",
      "value": 1,
      "unit": "employee",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "Employers of one or more employees who are employed in activities which involve the use or presence of radiation are required to have coverage.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-corporate-officers-counted",
      "statement": "Corporate officers are counted when determining if a corporation has three or more employees for workers' compensation purposes.",
      "value": "Corporate officers",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "Corporate officers are counted in determining whether the corporation has three or more employees.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-corporate-officers-exclusion",
      "statement": "Corporate officers can specifically exclude themselves from coverage under a workers' compensation policy.",
      "value": "exclude themselves",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "However, corporate officers may specifically exclude themselves from coverage under a workers' compensation policy.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-sole-proprietors-partners-llc-not-auto-counted",
      "statement": "Sole proprietors, partners, and members of limited liability companies are not automatically counted as employees for workers' compensation coverage.",
      "value": "not automatically counted",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "Sole proprietors, partners, and members of limited liability companies are not automatically counted as employees, but they may elect to include coverage for themselves under their workers' compensation policy.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-sole-proprietors-partners-llc-election",
      "statement": "Sole proprietors, partners, and members of limited liability companies may elect to include coverage for themselves under their workers' compensation policy.",
      "value": "elect to include coverage",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "Sole proprietors, partners, and members of limited liability companies are not automatically counted as employees, but they may elect to include coverage for themselves under their workers' compensation policy.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-occupational-accident-insurance-definition",
      "statement": "Occupational accident insurance is a separate form of insurance and is not a lawful substitute for workers' compensation coverage under the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act.",
      "value": "separate form of insurance",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "Occupational accident insurance is a separate form of insurance, and it is not a lawful substitute for workers’ compensation coverage under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-trucking-owner-operators-coverage",
      "statement": "North Carolina law requires workers' compensation coverage for certain trucking owner/operators, even if they are considered independent contractors.",
      "value": "certain trucking owner/operators",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "North Carolina law requires that workers’ compensation coverage be in place to cover certain trucking owner/operators, even if the operator is deemed to be an independent contractor.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "nc-wc-motor-carrier-liability-independent-contractor-exception",
      "statement": "A motor carrier employer is not liable for workplace injuries of an independent contractor who is individually licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and personally operates the vehicle.",
      "value": "not liable",
      "as_of": "2026-10-02",
      "jurisdiction": "NC",
      "source_url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "quote": "A motor carrier employer is not liable for the workplace injuries suffered by an independent contractor who is: 1) individually licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and 2) personally operates the vehicle.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "North Carolina Industrial Commission: Employer insurance requirements",
      "url": "https://www.ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html",
      "publisher": "North Carolina Industrial Commission",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    }
  ],
  "license": "CC BY 4.0. Attribute to Scope of Cover (https://scopeofcover.com/)."
}