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Q: Who needs a South Carolina contractor license?
A license is required for residential building over $200 and commercial building over $5000.
At least one-year experience verification signed by a residential builder or general contractor is required.
Q: Is the NASCLA Accredited Commercial Contractor license accepted in South Carolina?
Yes!
When you pass the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors, you will be listed in the NASCLA National Examination Database. You will then have this information available for the following states which accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination: AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, NV, NC, OR, SC, TN, UT, US Virgin Islands, VA, and WV.
You may also need to take each states’ specific business/law/project management exam in addition to the NASCLA exam.
Q: What are the steps to get a Residential Builder License in South Carolina?
To become licensed as a home builder in South Carolina, you are required to:
- Step One – File a written application as required by the Commission.
- Step Two – Submit a certified check, required application documents, and a cashiers check or money order for $100 for the application fee.
- Step Three – Select a previous supervisor (must be licensed residential builder) to submit an affidavit showing proof of at least one year actual building experience.
- Step Four – Pass an examination given by PSI
- Step Five – Pay a $160 license fee (certified check or money order) and provide proper financial responsibility.
Q: What experience do I need to have in order to become a South Carolina Residential Builder?
You must have one year of hands on experience in building. The experience must have been gained within the preceding five (5) years of application. If you do not have one year of experience supervised by a licensed builder/contractor/other professional engaged in residential building construction within the preceding five (5) year period, a Commission appearance will be required for experience review.
Once the Commission has received your application, an affidavit to verify the one year of work experience will be sent to the individual(s) you listed on your application as your previous supervisor(s). Your supervisor is required to fill in the affidavit and mail the completed form to the Commission. Whomever you designate as supervisor must be a licensed residential builder, licensed general contractor, or other appropriately licensed professional engaged in residential building construction.
Q: Does the one year of experience need to have occurred within South Carolina?
No, the experience can be from anywhere.
Q: Does a college degree waive the experience requirement?
It will be taken into consideration, but no, a Commission appearance will be required for experience review.
Q: How do I get my General Commercial Contractor License in South Carolina?
- Step One – Send your Examination Registration Form to PSI along with the correct payment for the examination.
- Step Two – After approval by PSI, you will be sent a Registration Confirmation Notice advising you of the 1-year eligibility to take the examination.
- Step Three – Prepare for the examination by using the examination outline in the Candidate Information Bulletin and the suggested study materials that cover the outline topics.
- Step Four – Be sure to take proper identification with you to your scheduled examination appointment.
- Final Step – Upon passing the examination, you may then submit your commercial license application to the SC Contractors’ Licensing Board.
Q: Who is a qualifying party?
The qualifying party is the individual who has been issued a certificate to qualify an entity for a license by passing the examination in a license classification or subclassification.
Q: Who is a primary qualifying party?
The primary qualifying party is a qualifying party employed full time in a responsible management position with the licensed entity who has been designated by the licensee as the principal individual responsible for directing or reviewing work performed by the licensee in a particular license classification or subclassification.
Q: Which exam do I need to complete to get licensed as a South Carolina Residential Builder?
You must complete either the South Carolina Residential Builder exam OR National Commercial Building Contractor Examination (NASCLA) AND the South Carolina Residential Business Management and Law exam.
Q: What is the fee for the licensing exam?
Residential Exam & Business Management & Law:
One portion: $75.00
Two Portions: $90.00
Q: Do I need to take the South Carolina exam if I am licensed in another state?
If you are licensed in any of the states with which South Carolina has an Exam Waiver Agreement you do not have to take the trades portion of the exam, however, you will still be required to pass the Business & Law portion.
States with Exam Waiver Agreements:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- North Carolina
- SC Contractors Licensing Board
- Utah
- NASCLA National Contractors Exam is also accepted
Q: Is the exam open book?
Yes, the exam is open book, and all of the books listed on the PSI Candidate Bulletin can be brought to the exam with you for reference. If you need to purchase the books, we have a complete package available for sale that includes the exam prep course and all of the PSI references.
Q: Which exams do I need to complete to get licensed as a South Carolina General Contractor?
National Commercial Building Contractor Examination (NASCLA)and the Business Management and Law Exam
Q: What is the fee for the licensing exam?
NASCLA: $106.00
Business Management & Law: $75.00
The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program is designed to help participating states by providing one trades licensing examination that is accepted by all participating jurisdictions.
The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program is NOT a nationally recognized license. Contractors will still have to meet additional state licensure requirements within each participating state to obtain their licenses.
The NASCLA Accredited exam benefits contractors who need licenses in multiple states. If your business will expand into any of the participating states, you will save time and money by passing the NASCLA exam.
By passing the NASCLA exam, you will avoid having to take multiple trades exams in other states. You will still need to pass a Business & Law exam in each of the States (except Arkansas). Arkansas will accept the NASCLA Accredited exam as both the Trades and Business/Law.
The NASCLA exam is accepted in AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, US Virgin Islands, VA, & WV. For your convenience we have included links below to our FAQ pages for each of these states to help you find further information.
- Alabama Builder FAQs
- Arizona Contractor FAQs
- Arkansas Contractor FAQs
- Florida Contractor FAQs
- Georgia Contractor FAQs
- Louisiana Contractor FAQs
- Mississippi Contractor FAQs
- Nevada Contractor FAQs
- North Carolina Contractor FAQs
- Oregon Contractor FAQs
- South Carolina Contractor FAQs
- Tennessee Contractor FAQs
- Utah Contractor FAQs
- Virginia Contractor FAQs
- West Virginia Contractor FAQS
Yes. Effective November 1, 2016, applicants must get pre-approval from the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) to take the NASCLA exam.
Applicants can apply for approval online at ned.nascla.org. Once approved, the individual’s name will be forwarded from NASCLA to PSI. PSI will then send the applicant an email with information about how to schedule their exam.
All of these books can be found in our book store. Click Here to take a look!
- ICC A117.1 – 2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
- BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2013 or 2018 Edition
- Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016 Edition
- Code of Federal Regulations -29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), with latest available amendments
- Construction Jobsite Management, 4th Edition, 2017
- Construction Project Management, 4th Edition, 2014
- NASCLA Contractors’ Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic, 12th or 13th Edition
- Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Pre-Cast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
- Green Building Fundamentals, 2nd Edition, 2011
- Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
- Technical Digest No. 9 –Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
- International Building Code, 2015 or 2018 Edition
- ACI 318-14 (2014): Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
- Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning -Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, 2003
- Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, 8th Edition, 2015
- Pipe and Excavation Contracting, 2011 Edition
- Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 9th Edition, 2014
- Roofing Construction and Estimating, 1995 Edition
- Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices, 2011
- SDI (Steel Deck Institute) Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, 3rd Edition, 2016
- The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition, 2018
For more information, view the PSI Candidate Bulletin.
References may be highlighted, underlined, and/or indexed (tabbed with permanent stick tabs), however they may NOT otherwise be written in or marked in any way. Temporary tabs, such as Post-It notes, are not allowed and must be removed from the reference before the exam will begin.
There are 115 questions and you must get 81 answers correct. You will have 330 minutes to complete the exam. The subjects covered in the exam are listed below, however, the questions are taken at random from a large pool of questions making sure that all contractors are taking a different exam.
Subject Areas and # of Questions:
- General Requirements: 25 questions
- Site Construction: 15 questions
- Concrete: 6 questions
- Masonry: 4 questions
- Metals: 6 questions
- Wood: 5 questions
- Thermal and Moisture Protection: 5 questions
- Doors, Windows, and Glazing: 4 questions
- Finishes: 5 questions
- Mechanical and Plumbing Systems: 6 questions
- Electrical Systems: 3 questions
- Procurement and Contracting Requirements: 31 questions
The exam is based on information found in the reference materials we have listed above as well as trade knowledge or general industry practices. Except for Code books, you may base your answers on later editions of references as they become available. For Code questions, the examinations will be based only on the edition of the Code book listed on the candidate bulletin.
The NASCLA exam is an open book exam. All of the books listed on the candidate bulletin may be brought into and used during the exam. Books will not be provided to you at the exam center. If you are in need of books, we offer all of the references listed on the Candidate Bulletin for sale in our Bookstore, or in our complete NASCLA Prep Package
Our NASCLA Exam Prep course is designed to help you maximize your study time.
The first set of lessons will walk you through study and test taking tips.
The remainder of the lessons are devoted to each book on the Candidate Bulletin. Each of these lessons help you get to know the layout of the books and key information that can be found within. Each book has a quiz dedicated solely to the material in that book.
Finally, you will find the practice test at the end of the course. This practice test consists of a pool of over 1,000 questions, to help you practice taking an exam as well as determine which areas you need to brush up on further.
That question is almost entirely up to you!
There are 16 hours of videos, which walk you through each reference allowed in the exam. There are also over 1,000 practice questions, to help you gauge your knowledge and practice using your references in an exam-like setting.
We recommend going through the entire course at least once. After that it is up to you. Some may want to go through the whole course multiple times. You might also find yourself taking note of particular topics you would like to devote more time to, and just going back later to study those areas.
We recommend for you to spend as much time with the course as is necessary to really get to know your reference materials, and be comfortable finding answers with the texts–this will ensure your success on the exam!
The following states allow NASCLA accreditation for residential contractors: AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, Virgin Islands, WV.
Q: Is contractor continuing education required in South Carolina?
There are no continuing education credits needed at this time.
Q: When do I need to renew my South Carolina Residential Builders License?
Residential Builders Licenses is renewable every 2 years, before June 30 of each even year (2020, 2022, 2024, etc).
Q: Is there a late fee?
There will be a late fee for all renewals received after June 30. Your license will lapse on June 30 if you do not renew it. Your license may remain inactive for up to three years before being required to reapply and retest per S.C. Code Ann. § 40-59-230(A).
Q: How do I renew my Residential Builders License?
Go online to the SC E-service Site. You will need a credit card, your user ID and password, and your current email address on file with the Commission.
Q: How do I renew my General Contractors License?
For the 2020-2022 renewal period:
You must submit the appropriate Financial Statement, Surety Bond or Surety Bond Continuation Certificate prior to accessing the online renewal software. Failure to submit the required financial documentation or bond, in addition to the renewal application, will result in your license not being renewed.
You can submit this information via the Document Submission portal using your User ID and Password.
If you are adding a new Surety Bond for this renewal cycle, you must mail the original to the Board.
Q: What fees are associated with renewing a South Carolina General Contractor’s License?
General Contractor’s Licenses renewed on or before October 31, 2020: Fee is $135.
2020-2022 GC Renewal / Late Fees:
Postmarked 11/01/20 – 11/30/20: Late Fee $100 + Renewal Fee $135 = $235
Postmarked 12/01/20 – 12/31/20: Late Fee $150 + Renewal Fee $135 = $285
Postmarked 01/01/21 – 01/31/21: Late Fee $200 + Renewal Fee $135 = $335
You may begin immediately! Simply click the Login button in the upper right-hand corner on your desktop or in the upper-right menu on mobile. Once you’ve entered your login and password, you will be taken to your courses. Follow the instructions and enjoy!
Our courses are available online 24/7 and you are able to log in and log out at any time during the course. If you are going to be away from your computer for more than 10-15 minutes, simply log out. When you log back in, you will be able to re-enter the lesson you were last in.
Continuing education requirements vary by state. Each course lists a minimum number of credit hours required to complete the course.
Each course lists the total amount of hours for the course. However, we cover materials quickly and many contractors like to re-watch materials. In other words, this question really depends on your learning style. We recommend that you go through the course as many times as you need to be comfortable with the material and any applicable reference books. The more familiar you are with the materials, the better you will do on your exam!
We allow up to 6 months for you to complete the courses. During the six months you have unlimited, 24/7 access. If you need additional time, please contact our offices to arrange an extension (please note: a fee may apply).
This varies depending on whether the course is continuing education or exam prep.
There are no quizzes for continuing education courses in Michigan. All other states with continuing education require quizzes to check completion progress.
In exam prep courses there will be a short quiz at the end of each lesson and there is also a longer practice test at the end of each course. These quizzes and tests will help you practice taking an exam and identify areas you may wish to study more.
Practice tests are just that: for practice. You will have the opportunity to retake the practice tests until you do pass. The practice tests are there to help you get used to the process of using your reference materials and finding the correct answers during an exam. If you don’t pass on the first try, take the time to note what sections of the material you need to review.
You are able to review the lessons and quizzes at any time during the six months you’ll have access to the courses.
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Synergy Business Park; Kingstree Building
110 Centerview Dr.
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-4986
Contact.CLB@llr.sc.gov
https://www.llr.sc.gov/clb/
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Synergy Business Park; Kingstree Building
110 Centerview Dr.
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-4986
Contact.RLB@llr.sc.gov
https://llr.sc.gov/res/
National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies
23309 North 17th Drive, Building 1, Suite 110,
Phoenix, Arizona 85027
(623) 587-9354
info@nascla.org
https://www.nascla.org/
Contact PSI for information regarding the South Carolina Contractors exams
PSI Services
3210 East Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89121
https://psiexams.com/
We have a tutoring program designed to help you get one-on-one time with a licensed instructor. With this program you will get answers to questions you are still struggling with and advice on how to study for and pass your exams. Visit our Career Plus Services page to get more information.
We have a licensing application consultant who can help you navigate the ins and outs of state licensing regulations. Visit our Career Plus Services page to get more information.