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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

Commercial Contractor Exams
Residential Builders and Residential Specialty Exams
State Business & Law Exam
State Commercial General Building Exam
National Exams
Commercial Contractor Exams Residential Builders and Residential Specialty Exams State Business & Law Exam State Commercial General Building 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
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
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
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
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.