N.D. Cent. Code § 43-07-09

Within fifteen days from the date of application, the registrar may investigate and determine each applicant's eligibility to act in the capacity of a contractor as provided in section 43-07-04.1, and no license may be issued to such applicant until the registrar receives all documentation necessary to obtain a license and the appropriate fee. The license issued on an original application entitles the licensee to act as a contractor within this state, subject to the limitations of such license, until the expiration of the then current contractor year ending March first, except that an initial license issued to a licensee in January or February is valid until March first of the subsequent year.