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South Carolina trade licenses
Electrician, Plumber, HVAC and General contractor credentials in South Carolina, from the issuing board's page or the statute: who issues each one, the levels, the time it takes and the exam.
| Trade | Issued by | Top credential | Time to top | Exam | Fees printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board | Mechanical contractor, Electrical classification | 2 years | Yes | Yes |
| Plumber | South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board | Mechanical contractor, Plumbing classification | 2 years | Yes | Yes |
| HVAC | South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board | Mechanical contractor, Air Conditioning or Heating classification | 2 years | Yes | Yes |
| General contractor | South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board | General contractor (Groups 1 to 5) | 2 years | Yes | Yes |
Electrician in South Carolina
South Carolina licenses electrical contracting as a mechanical contractor classification (Electrical) for jobs over $10,000. The license goes to the business, which names a qualifying party; the board's pages read describe no separate state license for individual electrical workers. Master electrician and master plumber certifications from MASC or CAGC can qualify a person as qualifying party. Mechanical contractor, Electrical classification: 2 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Mechanical contractor, Electrical classification — 2 years, exam, initial license $350. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: The qualifying party submits at least two years of work experience within the past five years, passes the technical exam for the classification and the South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam (70% on each, S.C. Code § 40-11-230), and the business files an acceptable financial statement or a surety bond for its license group. Mechanical license groups set the largest single job: Group 1 up to $35,000 ($7,000 net worth or $3,500 working capital), Group 2 $100,000, Group 3 $200,000, Group 4 $400,000 and Group 5 unlimited ($300,000 net worth or $200,000 working capital); a surety bond of the same amount can replace the financial statement.
South Carolina electrician details · Electrician in every state
Plumber in South Carolina
South Carolina licenses plumbing contracting as a mechanical contractor classification (Plumbing) for jobs over $10,000. The license goes to the business, which names a qualifying party; the board's pages read describe no separate state license for individual plumbing workers. Master electrician and master plumber certifications from MASC or CAGC can qualify a person as qualifying party. Mechanical contractor, Plumbing classification: 2 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Mechanical contractor, Plumbing classification — 2 years, exam, initial license $350. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: The qualifying party submits at least two years of work experience within the past five years, passes the technical exam for the classification and the South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam (70% on each, S.C. Code § 40-11-230), and the business files an acceptable financial statement or a surety bond for its license group. Mechanical license groups set the largest single job: Group 1 up to $35,000 ($7,000 net worth or $3,500 working capital), Group 2 $100,000, Group 3 $200,000, Group 4 $400,000 and Group 5 unlimited ($300,000 net worth or $200,000 working capital); a surety bond of the same amount can replace the financial statement.
South Carolina plumber details · Plumber in every state
HVAC in South Carolina
South Carolina licenses heating and air conditioning contracting as a mechanical contractor classification (Air Conditioning and Heating) for jobs over $10,000. The license goes to the business, which names a qualifying party; the board's pages read describe no separate state license for individual heating and air conditioning workers. Master electrician and master plumber certifications from MASC or CAGC can qualify a person as qualifying party. Mechanical contractor, Air Conditioning or Heating classification: 2 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Mechanical contractor, Air Conditioning or Heating classification — 2 years, exam, initial license $350. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: The qualifying party submits at least two years of work experience within the past five years, passes the technical exam for the classification and the South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam (70% on each, S.C. Code § 40-11-230), and the business files an acceptable financial statement or a surety bond for its license group. Mechanical license groups set the largest single job: Group 1 up to $35,000 ($7,000 net worth or $3,500 working capital), Group 2 $100,000, Group 3 $200,000, Group 4 $400,000 and Group 5 unlimited ($300,000 net worth or $200,000 working capital); a surety bond of the same amount can replace the financial statement.
South Carolina HVAC details · HVAC in every state
General contractor in South Carolina
South Carolina licenses general contracting for jobs over $10,000. The license goes to the business, which names a qualifying party; its license group sets the largest job it may take. General contractor (Groups 1 to 5): 2 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
General contractor (Groups 1 to 5) — 2 years, exam, initial license $350. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: The qualifying party submits at least two years of work experience within the past five years and passes the technical exam and the South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam (70% on each). Groups 1 to 3 need the limited building or unlimited general contractor exam; Groups 4 and 5 need the unlimited exam. Group limits and net worth: Group 1 up to $100,000 per job ($20,000 net worth or $10,000 working capital), Group 2 $400,000, Group 3 $1,000,000, Group 4 $3,000,000, Group 5 unlimited ($350,000 or $250,000); a surety bond of the same amount can replace the financial statement.
South Carolina general contractor details · General contractor in every state
Moving to or from South Carolina
Electrician: no route is named in the source, and Alabama lists South Carolina in return. Plumber: no route is named in the source. HVAC: no route is named in the source. General contractor: no route is named in the source. Conditions differ by board, so read the state page for each trade before relying on a partner list.
Nearby and comparable: Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Delaware. Guides: how long each state takes · license or registration.
General information from the South Carolina sources on 2026-10-21, not legal advice. Each board is the authority; confirm before applying.