Home / Licensing / South Carolina
South Carolina contractor license (LLR)Requirements, cost, exam
South Carolina licenses general contractors through the SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR). You need a South Carolina general or mechanical contractor license for any commercial job where the total cost of construction is more than $10,000.1
South Carolina · general contractor
State license required
- Experience
- At least 2 years of work experience within the past 5 years in the classification you want, shown on a Work Experience Affidavit.2
- Exam
- You must pass the South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam through PSI, plus a technical exam for most classifications (for example Wood Frame Structures, Roofing, Electrical, Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Heating).2
- Bond
- No surety bond is required if you show the minimum net worth or working capital for your group on a financial statement.3
- Insurance
- South Carolina does not require general or mechanical contractors to carry liability insurance as a condition of the Contractor's Licensing Board license.1
- Fees
- Initial license fee is $350 for a general or mechanical contractor license.4
- Renewal
- Licenses renew every two years on October 31.5
How do you get a South Carolina contractor license?
Check that you need a license
You need a South Carolina general or mechanical contractor license for any commercial job where the total cost of construction is more than $10,000.1
Meet the experience rule
At least 2 years of work experience within the past 5 years in the classification you want, shown on a Work Experience Affidavit.2
Pass the exam
You must pass the South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam through PSI, plus a technical exam for most classifications (for example Wood Frame Structures, Roofing, Electrical, Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Heating).2
What's on the examFile the bond and insurance
No surety bond is required if you show the minimum net worth or working capital for your group on a financial statement. South Carolina does not require general or mechanical contractors to carry liability insurance as a condition of the Contractor's Licensing Board license.3
South Carolina bond and insurance rulesGet the license, then renew$350
Licenses renew every two years on October 31.5
Renewal and CE
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC licenses in South Carolina
Which license class do you need in South Carolina?
The Contractor's Licensing Board issues General Contractor licenses (Building, plus subclassifications such as Wood Frame Structures, Roofing, Masonry, Concrete, Grading, Swimming Pools and Water and Sewer Lines) and Mechanical Contractor licenses (Air Conditioning, Heating, Electrical, Plumbing, Refrigeration, Packaged Equipment, Process Piping and Lightning Protection).2
Does South Carolina have license reciprocity?
South Carolina has technical exam waiver agreements with a list of other states for specific classifications.2
Do you need workers' comp?
Workers' compensation insurance is required if you regularly employ four or more employees in South Carolina.6
South Carolina insurance and bondsSources
- SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR): who needs a license (scstatehouse.gov, 2026-10-27)
- SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR): experience (llr.sc.gov, 2026-10-27)
- SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR): bond (llr.sc.gov, 2026-10-27)
- SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR): fees (llr.sc.gov, 2026-10-27)
- SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR): renewal (llr.sc.gov, 2026-10-27)
- SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR): workers' comp (scstatehouse.gov, 2026-10-27)
- SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR): Clb (llr.sc.gov, 2026-10-27)
- SC Contractors' Licensing Board (LLR): Clb general (llr.sc.gov, 2026-10-27)
- SC Residential Builders Commission (LLR) (llr.sc.gov, 2026-10-27)