South Carolina Licensing Overview

  • Virtually every aspect of Construction, Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Contracting in South Carolina is regulated at the State Level.
  • Residential classifications are required to pass a Business Law examination in addition to a trade exam and may obtain licensing information from the Residential Builders Commission in Columbia, SC. Pre-Approval for Residential Classifications is required.
  • General and Mechanical classifications are required to pass a Business Law examination in addition to a trade exam and may obtain licensing information from the South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board in Columbia, SC.
  • Many reciprocity agreements are in place between South Carolina and other states for several classifications.
  • For additional licensing requirements including experience, financial and bonding requirements, exam information and reciprocity, please select the License link below.

South Carolina Residential

Residential

South Carolina Residential Building Contractor

  • The South Carolina Residential Building license covers the construction, repair, improvement, or reimprovement of a residential building or structure which is not over three floors in height and which does not have more than sixteen units in any single apartment building.
  • All Residential Licenses require passing and exam and include Building, Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC.
  The South Carolina Residential licensing board permits Residential contractors to do the Electrical, HVAC or Plumbing work on a Residential Building: unless the city or county has a WRITTEN ordinance that states otherwise.  It MUST be in writing.  

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Residential Building Contractor training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

South Carolina Commercial

Commercial

South Carolina GC Unlimited with Business and Law - NASCLA Accredited

The Building Construction (Commercial) - NASCLA Accredited contractor will include commercial, industrial, institutional, modular, and all other types of building construction, including residential structures. This license classification includes all work under the sub-classifications of Wood Frame Stuctures-Class II, Interior Renovation, Masonry, Pre-engineered Metal Buildings, General Roofing, and Structural Shapes. Licensees under this classification may perform ancillary work, including grading, associated with the building or structure which the licensee has engaged to construct.
Commercial

South Carolina Limited Building Contractor

The South Carolina General Contractor Limited license covers construction or remodeling on commercial or residential buildings no more than three stories in height and $350,000.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Limited Building Contractor training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

South Carolina Business and Law

Business and Law

South Carolina Business Law (Electrical or HVAC)

This license cannot stand-alone; it must be combined with a electrical contractor's license of some type.

All Electrical Trade Contractors are required by the state to pass this exam in addition to their trade exam in order to obtain a license.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Business Law (Electrical or HVAC) training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Business and Law

South Carolina Business Law (Plumbing)

The South Carolina Commercial Business Law license cannot stand-alone; it must be combined with a commercial contractor's license of some type.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Business Law (Plumbing) training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Business and Law

South Carolina Business Law (Residential)

This license cannot stand-alone; it must be combined with a residential contractor's license of some type.

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We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Business Law (Residential) training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

South Carolina Electrical

Electrical

NASCLA National Electrical Contractor/Master Electrician (SC)

The National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) has partnered with several industry stakeholders to create one nationally recognized accredited trade examination for electricians. Through administering state agencies, NASCLA offers (3) different open book electrical trade examinations through the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program. They are Electrical Contractors (Master/Unlimited Electricians), Journeyman Electricians and Residential Electrical Contractors (Residential Electricians).

Electrical

South Carolina Electrician

The South Carolina Electrician license covers the installation, alteration, or repair of wiring-related electrical material and equipment used in the generating, transmitting, or utilization of electrical energy less than six hundred volts, including all overhead electrical wiring on public rights-of-way for signs and street decorations and all underground electrical distribution systems of less than six hundred volts serving private properties.

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Electrical

South Carolina Public Utilities-Electrical

The holder of this license may perform only work limited to line construction, including distribution systems, and their allied work, for public and private companies; installation, maintenance repair of all high voltage cable splicing and pulling wire for all systems in excess of 2,400 volts; traffic signal and highway lighting installation, maintenance and repair.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Public Utilities-Electrical training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

South Carolina NASCLA

NASCLA

NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor

The NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor Exam eliminates the trade examination only for the participating state agencies. Once you have passed an exam within the NASCLA Accredited Examination Program, contractors will still have to meet additional state licensure requirements within each participating state to obtain their license, as well as passing the state specific Business Law exam.

South Carolina HVAC and Mechanical

HVAC and Mechanical

South Carolina Air Conditioning

The South Carolina Air Conditioning license covers the installation, replacement, alteration, and repair of air conditioning equipment and systems which consist of a number of components necessary to produce conditioned air for environmental heating or cooling, or both, within buildings. Hot water or steam heating systems or components are not included under this classification.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Air Conditioning training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

HVAC and Mechanical

South Carolina Heating

The South Carolina Heating license covers the installation, replacement, alteration, and repair of heating equipment and systems in buildings which require the use of high or low pressure steam vapor or hot water including all piping, ducts, and mechanical equipment within, adjacent to, or connected with a building and the installation of necessary gas lines if any of this equipment is gas-fired.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Heating training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

HVAC and Mechanical

South Carolina HVAC-Packaged Equipment

The South Carolina HVAC Packaged Equipment license covers the installation, replacement, alteration, or repair of air conditioning equipment and systems which consist of a number of components necessary to produce conditioned air for environmental heating or cooling, or both.

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HVAC and Mechanical

South Carolina Refrigeration

The South Carolina Refrigeration license covers the installation, replacement, alteration, and repair of refrigeration equipment and systems used for processing, storage, and display of food products and other perishable commodities and commercial, industrial, and manufacturing processes requiring refrigeration, excluding comfort air conditioning.

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HVAC and Mechanical

South Carolina Residential HVAC

This license limits you to work on residential systems only. It covers Air Conditioning, and Heat Pump Equipment, LP & Natural Gas, including piping, Fuel Oil appliances and piping, ductwork & other associated trades.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Residential HVAC training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

South Carolina Plumbing

Plumbing

South Carolina Plumbing

The South Carolina Plumber license includes the installation, replacement, alteration, and repair of all plumbing including solar water heating when performed solely within property lines and not on public easements or rights-of-way except to make connections to water meters or sewer taps as allowed by the utility owner; and the installation, alteration, and repair of all piping, fixtures, and appliances related to water supply, including pressure vessels and tanks, and excluding municipal or related water supply systems; venting and sanitary drainage systems for all fluid and semi-fluid and organic wastes; roof leaders; water-conditioning equipment; piping and equipment for swimming pools; and installation of a system of pipes, fittings, fixtures, drains, and all necessary component parts upon the premises or in a building to supply water to buildings and to convey sewage or other waste products from buildings.

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We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Plumbing training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Plumbing

South Carolina Residential Plumbing License

This license covers all plumbing work on residential structures consisting of sixteen units or less, and not exceeding 3-stories in height.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Residential Plumbing License training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

South Carolina Low Voltage and Fire

Low Voltage and Fire

South Carolina Burglar Alarm

The South Carolina Burglar Alarms license covers the design, installation, service, maintenance, or alteration of burglar alarm systems, and heat and smoke sensors installed within burglar alarm systems. A burglar alarm system detects intrusion, burglary, and breaking and entering but does not include health care signaling devices.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Burglar Alarm training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Low Voltage and Fire

South Carolina Fire Alarm

The South Carolina Burglar Alarms license covers individuals that design, install, service, maintain, or alter fire alarm systems.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Fire Alarm training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

South Carolina Specialty Trades

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Asphalt Paving Contractor

The South Carolina Asphalt Paving license covers asphalt paving, repairs and rehabilitation of streets, roads, highways, parking lots, airport runways and aprons, concrete including, but not limited to, curbs, gutters, and concrete or asphalt paving of storm sewers, and includes paving with sealers, geo-textile fabrics, slurry seals, and surface treatments incidental thereto. This license also includes work under the sub-classification of Grading.//

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Asphalt Paving Contractor training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Boiler Installation

The South Carolina Boiler Installation license covers those who are qualified to install, repair, and service boilers and boiler piping including the boiler auxiliary equipment, controls, and actuated machinery and dryer rolls.

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Specialty Trades

South Carolina Bridges

The South Carolina Bridges license covers bridge construction and repairs, railroad trestles and overpasses, and work under the subclassifications of Boring and Tunneling, Concrete, Marine, and Railroad Lines.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Bridges training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Concrete

The South Carolina Concrete license covers all work in connection with concrete forming and placing; assembling of forms, molds, slipforms and pans; centering, trenching, excavating, backfill, and grading in connection with concrete construction; construction of sidewalks, driveways, curbs, medians, and barrier walls; and installing of embedded items essential to or comprising an integral part of concrete or concrete construction including reinforcing elements and accessories including, but not limited to, concrete chimneys, floors, piers, and foundations when using concrete rebar and other materials common to the concrete industry. This license does not include the General Contractor-Highway- Bridge license or the construction of streets, roads, parking lots, and highways.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Concrete training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Concrete Paving

The South Carolina Concrete Paving license covers the construction, rehabilitation and repair of concrete streets, roads, highways, driveways, parking lots, airport runways and aprons, and concrete work incidental thereto including, but not limited to, sidewalks, curbs, medians, and barrier walls. This license also includes work under the subclassification of Grading.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Concrete Paving training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina General Roofing

The South General Roofing license covers the installation and repair of roofs and roof decking on commercial, industrial, and institutional structures requiring materials that form a water-tight and weather-resistant surface. This license is limited to shingles, clay and concrete tile, slate, wood-shake roofing, metal roofing, and asphalt-rolled roofing.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina General Roofing training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Glass and Glazing

The South Carolina Glass and Glazing license covers commercial, residential, industrial, institutional, modular, and all other types of glass and glazing construction. The construction is limited to selection, cutting, assembling, and installing all makes and kinds of glass for windows, sash and doors, metal frames, ornamental decorations, mirrors, and tub and shower enclosures.

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Specialty Trades

South Carolina Grading

The South Carolina Grading license covers the soil preparation and rehabilitation of streets, roads, highways, railroad beds, building sites, parking lots, and storm sewers.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Grading training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Lightning Protection

The South Carolina Lightning Protection license covers the installation, replacement, alteration, or repair of necessary lightning protection conduction, cables, rods, points, anchors, fastening devices, labels, ground clamps, braces, and all related component parts necessary for a complete lightning protection system.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Lightning Protection training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Marine

The South Carolina Marine license covers all water activities to construct seawalls, bulkheads, docks, piers, wharves, and other water structures including, but not limited to, pile driving, boat slips, and boardwalks. Licensees under this classification may perform ancillary work including fill and grading. This license does not include building structures, such as houses.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Marine training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Pipelines Contractor

The South Carolina Pipelines license covers the construction, installation, alteration, maintenance, and repair of systems for the transmission or distribution of petroleum fuels, petroleum distillates, natural gas, chemicals, and slurries through pipeline from one station to another including all excavating, trenching, backfilling and installation of booster stations and equipment and installation and replacement of tanks connected to the system. This license does not include the piping and tanks for the dispensing of any petroleum product at retail.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Pipelines Contractor training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings

The South Carolina Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings license covers the construction of pre-engineered metal buildings not exceeding forty feet in width with no single structural span exceeding forty feet in length, and consisting of no more than a concrete floor slab, metal frame, metal roof, metal sidewalls, and building insulation.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Pressure & Process Piping

This license covers the installation, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of a system of piping, tubing, vessels, containers, pumps, apparatus, and appurtenances in connection with pressure piping used for circulation, transporting, holding, or processing of gas, vapor, fluid, liquid, semi-liquid, or any combination of these.

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Specialty Trades

South Carolina Specialty Roofing

The South Carolina Specialty Roofing license covers the installation and repair of roofs and roof decking on commercial, industrial, and institutional structures requiring materials that form a water-tight and weather-resistant surface. This license includes all work under the General Roofing license and other types of roofing not specifically included in the general roofing license.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Specialty Roofing training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Structural Framing

The South Carolina Structural Framing license covers the installation, repair, or alteration of metal or composite structural members for buildings or structures, including riveting, welding, and rigging. This license also includes work under the Structural Shapes License.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Structural Framing training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Swimming Pools

The South Carolina Swimming Pools license covers the construction, service, and repair of all commercial and institutional swimming pools and spas, including concrete, gunite, plastic, vinyl-lined, and fiberglass pools and spas; pool decks, walkways, tiling, and coping; and the installation of all equipment, including pumps, filters, and chemical feeders, water and gas service lines from the point of service to the pool equipment, wiring from the pool equipment to the first readily accessible disconnect, pool piping, fittings, backflow prevention devices, waste lines, and other integral parts of a swimming pool or spa.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Swimming Pools training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Water and Sewer Lines

The South Carolina Water and Sewer Lines license covers the construction work on water mains, water service lines, water storage tanks, sewer mains, sewer lines, lift stations, pumping stations and appurtenances to water storage tanks, lift stations, pumping stations, pavement patching, backfill, and erosion control as a part of construction, and which includes connection at the building of all lines to the appropriate lines contained in commercial structures, installation and repair of a project involving manholes, the laying of pipe for storm drains and sewer mains, all necessary connections, and excavation and backfilling, and concrete work incidental thereto.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Water and Sewer Lines training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.

Specialty Trades

South Carolina Water and Sewer Plants

The South Carolina Water and Sewer Plants license covers all classifications and subclassifications necessary for the construction of water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities.

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Specialty Trades

South Carolina Wood Frame Structures

The South Carolina Wood Frame Structures license covers framing, roofing, siding, or flooring for wood-framed structures in excess of five thousand feet used for housing livestock, storage, or processing, when such structures are not used for habitation or office facilities.

We offer custom training options for the South Carolina Wood Frame Structures training built around your schedule. Find out now what options we have available.