South Carolina Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

South Carolina does not issue a standalone solar contractor license. Solar PV installation is regulated as electrical work under S.C. Code §40-11 and is administered by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) Contractors Licensing Board. Any solar business must hold an Electrical Contractor license and employ a Master Electrician as the qualifying party. Residential one- and two-family solar work additionally falls under the Residential Specialty Contractor program. Solar thermal water heating requires a South Carolina Master Plumber license. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the industry standard but is voluntary in South Carolina.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (SCCLB) pursuant to 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

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No South Carolina residency requirement.

Good moral character

LLR reviews criminal history under S.C. Code §40-1-110.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Required Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate four years of practical electrical experience under a licensed electrical contractor with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

LLR experience affidavits signed by South Carolina Master Electricians
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (counts as experience)

Education substitution

Electrical engineering or technology degree counts toward experience.

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to LLR). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

South Carolina Electrical Contractor Trade Examination — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 70%
South Carolina Business Management Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 per part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken individually.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

No state minimum, but $500K CGL is the de facto industry standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under S.C. Code §42 for any business with four or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

LLR requires a financial statement showing positive net worth. The monetary group is set based on net worth.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$215
Examination	$160
Initial license	$215
Renewal (every 2 years)	$215

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the South Carolina Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $215. LLR electrical contractor licenses renew every two years.

Continuing education: No state CE requirement.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by South Carolina for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Georgia	Trade exam waived	Limited LLR–GA reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) for active electrical contractors.
North Carolina	Trade exam waived	Limited LLR–NCBEEC reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Limited LLR–TBLC reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

LLR maintains limited electrical reciprocity (electrical only; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with several southeastern states.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Document four years of electrical experience. Compile experience affidavits and payroll records.
Prepare a financial statement. Required for the contractor license monetary group.
Submit the LLR application. File with the application fee.
Pass the trade and business exams at 70%. Both administered by PSI.
File the certificate of insurance. $500K CGL is the industry standard.
Receive the Electrical Contractor license. LLR issues the credential after exam pass.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each SC jurisdiction requires local permits.

Recommended References

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
S.C. Code §40-11 — State of South Carolina. Statutory framework.
PSI South Carolina Electrical Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a South Carolina Solar application.

Skipping the financial statement

LLR will not set a monetary group without it.

Confusing residential with commercial scope

Residential one- and two-family work falls under a different specialty program.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory for any business with four or more employees.

Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing

Solar hot water requires the Master Plumber license.

Missing local permits

State licensure does not exempt you from city/county permits.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with SCCLB:

☐ Four years of documented electrical experience
☐ Financial statement showing positive net worth
☐ LLR Electrical Contractor application
☐ Pass trade and business exams at 70%+
☐ $500K commercial general liability insurance (recommended)
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project

Other South Carolina Trade Licenses

If the Solar license is not the right fit, the following published South Carolina trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does South Carolina have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the LLR Electrical Contractor license.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in South Carolina.

How is the monetary group set?

LLR sets the monetary group based on the financial statement and the requested classification.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a South Carolina Master Plumber license.

Does South Carolina reciprocate?

Yes. LLR maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-17 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-15