South Carolina Contractor License (SC) Education, Exam Prep, Books

The first step to obtain your contractor license in South Carolina is to determine the type of license you need. You must then pass two exams and go through the process established by the SC Contractors Licensing Board.  

Candidates are required to pass two examinations: business & law, and the trade.  Applications for commercial licensure can be obtained by calling 1-803-896-4686 and for residential licensure by calling 1-803-896-4696.  Examinations can be scheduled through PSI by calling 1-800-733-9267. Please select the license/examination that you are interested in.

By allowing @Home Prep to be the chosen provider for your South Carolina exam prep courses, continuing education credits and other courses, students know their training is approved at both state and industry level. 

Once you have passed the exam you will need to submit the following to the SC Licensing Board:

• Initial Application 
• PSI exam score sheet(s)
• Financial Statement or Surety Bond (See Financial Statement/Surety Bond Requirements)
• License Fee 
• If you have registered your corporation, partnership, or LLC with the SC Secretary of State’s office, attach a copy of the certificate (optional)

South Carolina Residential Contractor licenses renew on July 1 of each even-numbered year.  

The licensing fee for the Residential Contractor license is $80 for 12 months or less. 

It is  $160 for 12 months or more. The licensing fee is due after passing the exam. The licensing fee for both General Contractor licenses is $350.

After obtaining your Contractor’s Licensing Board license, be aware that cities and/or counties in which you plan to work may require additional licensing and/or permitting. Each city/county has its own rules, regulations, and fees. If you are uncertain if a location is in the city or county, you can contact the local city/county to confirm which permit and/or license is needed.

Per South Carolina state law, a general handyman does not need a license to perform basic repair and maintenance tasks for homeowners. However, one does need to register with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. This allows you to work in carpentry, drywalling, floor covering, masonry, concrete, wallpaper, painting, sidings, insulation, and roofing.

According to South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation,  all applicants must pass a technical exam (when required), a business management/law exam and be able to document 2 years of experience within the last 5 years for the classification(s) of work in which you are applying.

South Carolina requires a general or mechanical contractors license for residential general work over $5,000. Residential specialty work over $200 also requires a state license.

As with most states, the average processing time for South Carolina General Contractors License applications is approximately 3-4 weeks. This is just an average and it can be more or less depending on a number of factors. Submitting completed paperwork is one way to ensure a faster turnaround time.

South Carolina has General Contractor’s Exam waivers with Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Utah. South Carolina also has Residential Contractor’s reciprocal agreements with Alabama, North Carolina and Utah. However, all contractors are still required to take the SC Code of Laws Take Home Exam.