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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

Commercial Contractor Exams
Residential Builders and Residential Specialty Exams
NASCLA Exams
State Business & Law Exam
National Exams
Commercial Contractor Exams Residential Builders and Residential Specialty Exams NASCLA Exams State Business & Law Exam National Exams

Construction Work Regulated?

Both general and mechanical work over $5,000 is regulated at the state level.

Residential general work over $5,000 and residential specialty work over $200 also require a state license/registration. All license classifications require licensure prior to bidding.

All asbestos abatement work is regulated by the state, except work that qualifies for residential exemption.

Highway construction requires prequalification by the Department of Transportation before bidding.

Who Regulates Construction?

Prequalification information for highway contracts may be obtained from:

South Carolina Department of Transportation
955 Park Street
Post Office Box 191
Columbia, SC 29202-0191
(803) 737-1200
https://www.scdot.org

Residential only contractors may obtain licensing information from:

South Carolina Residential Builders Commission
Post Office Box 11329
Columbia, SC 29211-1329
(803) 896-4696/Fax (803) 896-4814
https://www.llr.sc.gov/res

Licensing information for asbestos abatement contractors may be obtained from:

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Bureau of Air Quality
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-4289
https://www.scdhec.gov

General and mechanical contractors for commercial and residential projects may obtain licensing information from:

South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board
Post Office Box 11329
Columbia, SC 29211-1329
(803) 896-4686/Fax (803) 896-4814
https://www.llr.sc.gov/db

Requirements?

Highway Prequalification:
Highway contracts require a performance/indemnity bond equal to 100% of the contract value and a payment bond equal to 100% of the contract value. Prequalification is based on experience, responsibility record and equipment. Prequalification is good for 12 months. No prequalification fees. No general contractor license, financial statements, and no bidding limits are required for highway prequalification.

General & Mechanical Contractors:
Applicants are required to complete a technical exam, as well as a South Carolina Business Management & Law exam and show 2 years work experience out of the last 5 years. Some classifications do not require a technical examination but require the South Carolina Business Management & Law exam. Applicants are also required to present a financial statement or surety bond.

Financial statement requirements for General Contractor applicants are listed below:

Group / Net Worth / Financial Statement Requirements

1 / $10,000 / Owner-prepared financial statement with affidavit of accuracy, Doc#172

2 / $40,000 / Owner-prepared financial statement with affidavit of accuracy, Doc#172

3 / $100,000 / Financial statement compiled by a licensed certified public accountant or public accountant

4 / $175,000 / Financial statement compiled by a licensed certified public accountant or public accountant

5 $250,000 / Financial statement audited by a licensed certified public accountant or public accountant

For each renewal period, Groups 1-4 shall submit an owner prepared financial statement with an affidavit of accuracy. Mechanical and general licensees in group 5, upon renewal, shall submit a reviewed statement prepared by a licensed CPA or PA and include all notes and disclosures.

Financial statement requirements for Mechanical Contractor applicants are listed below:

Group / Net Worth / Financial Statement Requirements

1 / $3,500 / Owner-prepared financial statement with affidavit of accuracy, Doc #172

2 / $10,000 / Owner-prepared financial statement with affidavit of accuracy, Doc #172

3 / $20,000 / Financial statement compiled by a licensed certified public accountant or public accountant

4 / $40,000 / Financial statement compiled by a licensed certified public accountant or public accountant

5 / $200,000 / Financial statement audited by a licensed certified public accountant or public accountant


A surety bond may be submitted in lieu of the net worth requirements above. The amount of the bond is 2 times the net worth requirement. A bond form may be found on the South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board website and must be completed by the bonding company along with the application.

Surety bond requirements for general contractor applicants are listed below:

Group / Surety Bond Amount Requirement

1 / $20,000

2 / $80,000

3 / $200,000

4 / $350,000

5 / $500,000

Surety bond requirements for mechanical contractor applicants are listed below:

Group / Surety Bond Amount Requirement

1 / $7,000

2 / $20,000

3 / $40,000

4 / $80,000

5 / $400,000

Applications for general and mechanical contractor's renewals expire October 31st, during odd numbered years for mechanical contractors and even numbered years for general contractors. General/Mechanical contractors may engage in residential construction.

The fees are described below:

Biennial License / Initial Fee Renewal Fee / Exam Fee

Mechanical Contractors / $350 / $135 / $60-$75
General Contractors / $350 / $135 / $60-$116

Burglar Alarm License:
Applicants must furnish proof of a policy of comprehensive general liability measures providing a minimum of bodily injury, death and property damage liability insurance, along with a 10 year criminal background report. Applicants must pass 2 written exams and take the Level 1 training course with the National Training School (NTS). Licenses are good for 2 years and expire July 31st on the even number years.


*Initial License Fee / Additional Qualifying Party Certificate / *Renewal fee / Registered employees / *Branch office

$200 / $10 / $200 / N/A / $50

*Includes one Qualifying Party

Fire Alarm License: Applicants must pass 2 written exams and take the Level 1 training course with the National Training School (NTS) or take the Level II training course from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET).

Initial License Fee / Renewal Fee / Additional Qualifying Party Certificate / branch office

$200 / $200 / $10 / N/A

Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems License: Applicants must pass a NICET Level Ill or IV and keep the NICET Certificate current in "Fire Protection Engineering Technology Automatic Sprinkler System Layout" and show proof of comprehensive general liability insurance providing a minimum coverages of $100,000. Biennial license expires July 31st of even numbered years.

*Initial License Fee / *Renewal Fee / Additional Qualifying Party Certificate / *Branch Office

$200 / $200 / $50 / $100

*Includes one Qualifying Party

Home Builders, Residential Contractors and Inspectors:
Applicants for a Residential Builders license must submit to a credit report and an affidavit attesting to 1 year's experience working under the supervision of a licensed builder or general contractor in order to become exam eligible. Once exam eligible, applicants must pass the South Carolina Residential Builders exam and the Business and Law exam, both administered by PSI. Finally, applicants must submit a $15,000 license bond.

Applicants for a Residential Electrical, Residential HVAC or Residential Plumbers license must submit to a credit report and an affidavit attesting to 1 year's experience working under the supervision of a licensed builder, Electrician, HVAC Installer or Plumber respectively in order to become exam eligible for the applicable trade. Once exam eligible, applicants must pass the appropriate trade exam and Business Management and Law exam, both administered by PSI. Finally, a $10,000 license bond is required if applicants undertake projects exceeding the cost of $5,000 in materials and labor.

Applicants for a Residential Specialty Contractor registration may only register in 3 classifications and must submit a reference letter with respect to each classification. There is no testing required but applicants must submit to a credit report. Finally, a $5,000 license bond is required if applicants undertake projects exceeding the cost of $5,000 in materials and labor.

Applicants for a Home Inspectors license must provide an affidavit from a licensed home inspector, residential builder, general contractor, engineer or architect attesting to 1 year's experience as a home inspector or provide evidence of having completed a formal course of training or study in home inspection approved by the Commission. Applicants must then pass the South Carolina Home Inspectors exam and Business and Law exam administered by PSI.

Firms seeking to practice residential building, residential specialty contracting or home inspecting may apply for a Certificate of Authorization (COA), which requires a designated resident licensee in responsible charge of each principal or branch office to supervise the work performed. Finally, the firm must submit a $15,000 license bond. All licenses and registrations issued by the Residential Builders Commission, except for COA's are renewed biennially.

License Type / Application fees / License Renewal Renewal Reinstatement

Residential Builder License (RBB) / $100 / $160 / $160 / $50 / $260

*Certificate of authorization (COA) / N/A / $100 / $100 / N/A / N/A

Residential Specialty Contractor Electrical License (RBE) / $100 / $160 / $160 / $50 / $260

Residential Specialty Contractor HVAC License (RBH) / $100 / $160 / $160 / $50 / $260

Residential Home Inspector License (RBI) / $80 / N/A / $160 / $10 / $190

Residential Specialty Contractor Plumbing License (RBP) / $100 / $160 / $160 / $50 / $260

Residential Specialty Contractor Registration (RBS) / N/A / $100 / $100 / $20 / $140

*Renews Annually

Asbestos Licensing:
All licenses are issued and restricted based on the training qualifications of the applicants. All SC DHEC licenses are valid for 1 ye.ar from the examination date on the training document, except for contractors, group and facility
0 & M licenses which may be valid for 1 year from the issued date on the license.

License Type / License Fee
Contractor / $100
Air Sampler / $100
Consultant/Building Inspector / $100
Consultant/Management Planner / $100
Consultant/Project Designer / $100
Supervisor (AHERA) / $50
Worker (AHERA) / $10
Group / $25 Minimum
(fee per person):
up to 10 people / +$2.50 per person
11 to 20 people / +$5.00 per person
21 to 50 people / +$7.50 per person
51 to 90 people / $500 maximum
91 persons or more

Facility O & M / Same as group fee

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board has reciprocity/exam waiver agreements with Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Utah for selected classes.
Residential builder's reciprocal agreements exist with Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and Utah.