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South Carolina mechanical license: classifications and groups
South Carolina licenses mechanical contracting on jobs over $10,000 through the Contractor's Licensing Board. A license names one or more classifications (what work) and a group (how large a job), and goes to the business through a qualifying party who passes the exams.
- 1AC · Air Conditioning Air conditioning equipment and systems
- 2HT · Heating Installation
- 3PK · Packaged Equipment Packaged units up to 25 tons cooling and
- 4RG · Refrigeration Installation
The classes
| Class | What it covers |
|---|---|
| AC Air Conditioning | Air conditioning equipment and systems; includes Packaged Equipment and Refrigeration. Hot water or steam heating is excluded. |
| HT Heating | Installation, replacement, alteration and repair of heating equipment and systems using steam, vapor or hot water, including boilers and the gas lines they need. |
| PK Packaged Equipment | Packaged units up to 25 tons cooling and 500,000 BTU/hr heating per unit, plus ventilation and kitchen exhaust systems. |
| RG Refrigeration | Installation, replacement, alteration and repair of refrigeration equipment and systems, excluding comfort air conditioning. |
| PB Plumbing | Installation, replacement, alteration and repair of all plumbing, generally within property lines. |
| EL Electrical | Electrical wiring work under 600 volts, including fire alarm systems; a contract containing electrical work above 50 volts must be performed by a contractor licensed in this classification or a licensed public electrical utility contractor. |
| 1P / 2P Pressure and Process Piping | Piping that circulates, transports, holds or processes gas, vapor, fluid or liquid; boilers and potable water piping are excluded. |
| LP Lightning Protection | Installation, replacement, alteration or repair of lightning protection conductors. |
License groups: the largest job allowed
| Group | Largest bid or job | Net worth | or working capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $35,000 | $7,000 | $3,500 |
| 2 | $100,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| 3 | $200,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 |
| 4 | $400,000 | $60,000 | $40,000 |
| 5 | Unlimited | $300,000 | $200,000 |
How to qualify
An individual becomes a certified qualifying party by scoring 70 percent or better on the technical exam for each classification and on the exam of South Carolina law on general and mechanical contracting; an exam may be taken twice in twelve months and then once every six months (S.C. Code § 40-11-230(A)). To be designated a business's primary qualifying party, the certificate holder also files an affidavit of at least two years of full-time work in the classification within the previous five years (§ 40-11-230(B)).
Fees printed by the board: Initial license $350; Biennial renewal $135; Late fee, renewed November 1 to 30 $100; Late fee, renewed December 1 to 31 $150; Late fee, renewed January 1 to 31 $200; Reinstatement $350.
Renewal
Licenses may be renewed biennially (S.C. Code § 40-11-250(A)); the board's fee page says mechanical contractor licenses expire October 31 of every odd-numbered year. A renewal not postmarked by the expiration date lapses the license; a lapsed license can be renewed within 90 days with late fees, and after that the business applies again as new (§ 40-11-250(B)). The contractor licensing statute (Title 40, Chapter 11) sets no continuing education for contractors.
The board's classification list (revised January 2025) shows Packaged Equipment and Refrigeration both inside Air Conditioning and as separate classifications.
Master electrician and master plumber certifications from MASC or CAGC can qualify a person as qualifying party, per the board page used for the South Carolina HVAC record on this site.
The rest of the South Carolina path
Mechanical contractor, Air Conditioning or Heating classification: 2 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam. The South Carolina HVAC license requirements page has the levels, exam and reciprocity as read from the board.
Questions
When do you need a mechanical license in South Carolina?
For mechanical contracting where the total cost of construction is more than $10,000 (S.C. Code § 40-11-30). Cities and counties may add their own licensing or permits.
What does the group number mean on a South Carolina mechanical license?
It sets the largest single job: Group 1 up to $35,000, Group 2 $100,000, Group 3 $200,000, Group 4 $400,000 and Group 5 unlimited, each with its own net worth or working capital minimum.
Does the South Carolina mechanical license require continuing education?
The contractor licensing statute (Title 40, Chapter 11) sets no continuing education for contractors; the license renews every two years for $135, and mechanical licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| §§ 40-11-30, 40-11-230, 40-11-250, 40-11-260(B), 40-11-262, 40-11-410 (text as amended by 2023 Act No. 69; read 2026-10-25) | S.C. Code of Laws Title 40, Chapter 11 (Contractors), current code on scstatehouse.gov | 2026-10-25 |
| Mechanical classification codes; AC includes PK and RG | SC LLR, Classification abbreviations (revised 01/2025) | 2026-10-25 |
| $350 initial license, $135 biennial renewal, late fees, reinstatement, October 31 odd-year expiry | SC LLR Contractor's Licensing Board, Fees | 2026-10-25 |
This page summarises the South Carolina sources as read on 2026-10-25. Classes, fees and rules change; verify with South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board, Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) before applying. General information, not legal advice.