South Carolina Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)

How South Carolina licenses contractors

LLR's Contractors Licensing Board handles commercial licenses (Group 1-5 monetary limits) while the Residential Builders Commission issues residential builder and specialty contractor licenses. PSI administers trade exams plus the South Carolina Business & Law module; NASCLA satisfies the Building exam.

Expect 150-mph wind maps, coastal flood zones, high humidity mold remediation, and UV-rotted roofing. Exams cover FEMA coastal detailing, erosion control, and termite treatment.

Official source: South Carolina Contractor Licensing Board

South Carolina contractor license types

Group limits range from $17,500 (Group 1) to unlimited (Group 5). Financial statements or surety bonds prove working capital; residential builders must carry $100k liability and $100k property damage insurance.

What's on the South Carolina contractor exam

PSI centers operate in Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and via remote proctoring.

What South Carolina exam questions emphasize

• International Building/Residential Codes with SC amendments
• Wind uplift, flood-resistant design, and seismic detailing
• Lien law (Title 29) and prompt-pay requirements
• OSHA coastal/hurricane cleanup safety

Exam-day logistics

• Bring two IDs, authorization letter, and the listed references
• NASCLA transcripts must be sent directly to LLR
• Scores print immediately; upload financial statements and insurance to activate the license

Trade-specific exam guides

If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the South Carolina general contractor classification, the dedicated trade hub will get you to the right code book and exam structure faster.

• General contractor exam guide — IBC/IRC, NASCLA acceptance, and Business & Law.
• Electrical contractor exam guide — NEC (NFPA 70) calculations and grounding/bonding.
• Plumbing contractor exam guide — IPC/UPC drainage sizing, venting, and backflow.
• HVAC contractor exam guide — IMC ventilation, refrigerant management, and load calcs.

South Carolina code books & approved references (2026)

Always confirm the exact editions and tab rules in your candidate bulletin before exam day. Editions can change between license cycles.

• International Building Code 2018
• International Residential Code 2018
• NASCLA Business, Law & Project Management - SC Edition
• South Carolina lien law (Title 29)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926

Fees & timeline for the South Carolina contractor license

• $350 application fee for commercial licenses
• $100 license fee per classification plus $10 research fee
• $76 PSI exam fee (trade) and $76 Business & Law fee
• Financial statement or surety bond costs based on group limit
• $100k liability and property damage insurance for residential builders

Use the All States hub for budgeting; confirm current fees with LLR.

South Carolina Business & Law focus

The South Carolina Business & Law exam covers licensing statutes, lien law, unemployment insurance, and OSHA.

• Know Title 40 licensing rules and disciplinary actions
• Understand lien notice and foreclosure timelines under Title 29
• Register with the Department of Revenue and Department of Employment & Workforce
• Maintain general liability, workers-comp, and excavation safety plans

Practice with our national Business & Law exam hub for cross-state baseline rules.

A focused 4-week study plan for the South Carolina exam

Because expect 150-mph wind maps, coastal flood zones, high humidity mold remediation, and UV-rotted roofing, this four-week outline targets what South Carolina field inspectors and your licensing board exam items actually test—not generic national prep.

1. Week 1 — Map the exam. Pull your current candidate bulletin, list every reference, and confirm the modules you have to pass. Start a one-page error log. Spend extra time on: International Building/Residential Codes with SC amendments.
2. Week 2 — Code book navigation. Drill open-book lookups (or memorisation drills if your module is closed-book) until you can find any answer in under 60 seconds. Anchor practice around: Wind uplift, flood-resistant design, and seismic detailing.
3. Week 3 — Business & Law. The South Carolina Business & Law exam covers licensing statutes, lien law, unemployment insurance, and OSHA. Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
4. Week 4 — Full simulations. PSI centers operate in Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and via remote proctoring. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.