Although I admittedly don't have much experience in commercial drone licensing (and a little out of Levelset's area of expertise), I can try to provide some general information to point you in the right direction.
Under federal laws, you must first obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate issued by the FAA. Once the Certificate is acquired, you'll also need to register the drone with the FAADroneZone registry.
In addition to that, as far as the state level is concerned, North Carolina requires the passage of the NC Dept of Transportation Unmanned Aircraft System Operator's Knowledge Test to apply for a state permit.
Hope this helps get you started! Good luck!
NOTE. The information presented here is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be construed nor relied upon as such. Furthermore, this posting does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, seek the counsel of a licensed, local attorney.See More...See More...