South Carolina General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (SCCLB), housed within the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), licenses general and building contractors statewide under SC Code Title 40 Chapter 11. Any construction project valued at $5,000 or more must be performed by a licensed contractor. South Carolina assigns each license to one of five financial groups — Group I (up to $100,000) through Group V (unlimited) — based on the applicant's working capital or net worth. Each classification (Building, Highway, Public Utility, Specialty) requires its own PSI trade examination plus the SC Business Management and Law exam, both passed at 70%.

Regulatory Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (SCCLB), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under South Carolina Code of Laws Title 40 Chapter 11 (Contractor's Licensing Act). The South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board sits within the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) and licenses general and building contractors statewide. The Board administers Title 40 Chapter 11, sets financial group limits (Group I–V), approves PSI examinations, and conducts disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://www.llr.sc.gov/contractors/
Address: Synergy Business Park, Kingstree Building, 110 Centerview Drive, Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: (803) 896-4686

The Eligibility Audit

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No South Carolina residency requirement; out-of-state applicants must designate a registered agent in SC.

Good moral character

The Board reviews moral character on every qualifying party. Felony convictions, prior license revocations, and unresolved consumer complaints in any state are evaluated individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application. The Board may request court records and supporting documentation.

Disqualifying conditions

Construction fraud or contracting without a license in any state
Felony theft, embezzlement, or financial crimes within the past ten years
Prior contractor license revocation by another jurisdiction

Experience and Education Standards

A minimum of two years of practical construction experience for the qualifying party in the classification applied for, demonstrated through verified employment, project supervision, or ownership must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

SCCLB Experience Verification Form signed by each prior employer or supervising contractor
W-2 statements, 1099 records, or payroll documentation covering the qualifying period
Project list with addresses, contract values, and owner contact information
Notarized affidavits from licensed contractors who supervised the work

Education substitution

A four-year construction-related degree (construction management, civil engineering, building science) may substitute for one year of the experience requirement at Board discretion.

The Exam Syllabus

Testing is handled by PSI Services LLC under contract to SC LLR. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

SC Business Management and Law Examination — 50 questions, 140 minutes, passing score 70%
PSI SC Trade Examination — Building (BD), Highway (HG), Public Utility, or Specialty classification — 115 questions, 330 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $110 per PSI exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually after a 30-day waiting period by paying a new $110 fee. Each application remains valid for one year; passing one part does not expire while the other is pursued within that window.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

SCCLB does not impose a state-level general liability minimum. Most South Carolina commercial owners and public projects contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in South Carolina under SC Code Title 42 for any business with four or more employees (including part-time and family members).

Additional financial requirements

Required for every applicant and tied to the requested group: Group I up to $100,000 (working capital $10,000), Group II up to $200,000 ($25,000), Group III up to $700,000 ($50,000), Group IV up to $1,500,000 ($100,000), Group V unlimited ($150,000+). Statements above Group I must be CPA-reviewed; Groups IV and V require an audited statement.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$220
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$200

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The South Carolina General Contractor License (Group I–V) runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $200. South Carolina general contractor licenses renew on a fixed two-year cycle ending November 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: No continuing education required for general contractors at this time.

Downloadable Asset

2026 South Carolina General Contractor License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, South Carolina recognizes the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
North Carolina	Trade exam waived for active NC general contractors	Bilateral SCCLB–NCLBGC reciprocity for active license holders in good standing for at least one year. The SC Business Management and Law exam is still required.
Georgia	Trade exam waived for active GA general contractors	Bilateral SCCLB–Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors reciprocity for active license holders in good standing.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived for active TN contractors	Bilateral SCCLB–Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors reciprocity for active general contractors at the equivalent monetary classification.

South Carolina accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for the commercial general building (BD) trade exam portion. The SC Business Management and Law exam is always required, even with NASCLA or bilateral reciprocity.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares General Contractor license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Application Roadmap

Choose classification and financial group. Building (BD), Highway (HG), Public Utility, or Specialty. Group I–V is set by working capital or net worth, which determines the per-project monetary limit.
Document the qualifying party experience. Two years of practical experience in the classification, verified by prior employers and project records.
Prepare the financial statement. Compile a financial statement matching the requested group; CPA-reviewed for Groups II–III, audited for Groups IV–V.
Submit the SCCLB application. File with the application fee, qualifying party designation, financial statement, experience documentation, and registered agent information for out-of-state entities.
Pass the PSI examinations at 70%. Both the SC Business Management and Law exam and the trade exam for the chosen classification must be passed at 70% or better.
Provide insurance certificates. Workers' compensation for any business with four or more employees; liability coverage as required by project owners.
Receive the SCCLB license. The Board issues the license after exams and documentation are complete. Licenses renew every two years on the November 30 cycle.

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — South Carolina edition — NASCLA. Primary reference for the SC Business Management and Law exam. Open-book at the PSI test center.
International Building Code (current SC-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Primary technical reference for the BD trade examination.
SC Code of Laws Title 40 Chapter 11 — State of South Carolina. Licensing law. Free download from the SC Statehouse website.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to SCCLB:

☐ SCCLB application with $200 fee and qualifying party designation
☐ Experience verification covering two years in the classification
☐ Financial statement matching the requested group (CPA-reviewed for Group II+, audited for Group IV–V)
☐ PSI SC Business Management and Law exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ PSI SC Trade exam (or NASCLA for BD) pass certificate at 70%+
☐ Workers' compensation certificate for any business with four or more employees
☐ Registered agent designation for out-of-state entities

Where Applications Stall

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost South Carolina General Contractor applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Choosing the wrong financial group

A Group I contractor who bids a $150,000 project is operating outside the licensed scope. Upgrading mid-cycle requires a new financial statement and Board approval.

Confusing the qualifying party with the owner

The qualifying party must be a full-time employee, owner, partner, or officer of the business. Borrowed qualifiers are explicitly prohibited and trigger license revocation.

Submitting an unreviewed financial statement

Groups II and III require CPA-reviewed statements; Groups IV and V require audited statements. Self-prepared balance sheets are rejected at intake.

Skipping the SC Business Management and Law exam

Reciprocity and NASCLA waive only the trade portion. The SC-specific business and law exam is always required.

Missing the workers compensation threshold

South Carolina requires workers' compensation at four or more employees, including part-time and family members. The threshold is lower than many applicants expect.

Other South Carolina Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these South Carolina licensing guides:

Common Questions

When do I need a South Carolina general contractor license?

Any construction project valued at $5,000 or more requires an SCCLB license under SC Code §40-11-20. Projects below $5,000 do not require a state license but must still comply with local building codes and permitting.

What are the South Carolina contractor groups?

Group I up to $100,000 per project, Group II up to $200,000, Group III up to $700,000, Group IV up to $1,500,000, and Group V unlimited. Each tier requires progressively higher working capital or net worth, verified by financial statement.

Does South Carolina accept the NASCLA exam?

Yes for the commercial general building (BD) trade portion. The SC Business Management and Law exam must still be passed separately.

Which states reciprocate with South Carolina?

North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee maintain bilateral reciprocity for active general contractors in good standing. The SC Business Management and Law exam is always required.

How often does the South Carolina contractor license renew?

Every two years on November 30. There is no continuing education requirement for general contractors, though late renewal carries a penalty fee.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-06-11 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-09