South Carolina Contractor License Courses, Classes & Exam Prep

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Overview & Benefits

Preparing for the contractor’s exam in South Carolina

If you’re in the process of launching your very own contracting business, you’ve come to the right place. At Contractor Training Center, we prepare you for this exciting process. Our goal is to ensure that you have all the tools necessary to attain your contractor's license and to assist your company with the training needed to help your business grow.

Every credible contractor needs a contractor license in SC before they can perform work on someone’s property. Just like any state, there are requirements that you must meet before you’re legally able to perform work. The requirements are based on the license classification you are applying for. The most important one is having a valid South Carolina contractor license.

At Contractor Training Center, our experienced and knowledgeable team of trained professionals will teach you everything you need to know about this process. We support you so that you’ll have your license as quickly and efficiently as possible. We help prepare you with the necessary exam prep tools including resources, books, and assistance from us!

The benefits of having a contractors license in South Carolina

One of the main reasons the state of South Carolina board for contractors requires a contractor’s license is it keeps scam artists away from tricking people. When unlicensed individuals conduct work, it compromises the quality of the work. Worse yet, it can threaten the safety of homeowners. Before you can get out there and work, you will need a license for many reasons.

Gives You Credibility

Having a license increases your credibility, allowing you to build trust with your clients. There are other ways you can gain their trust, but this is a big part of establishing yourself and your business, especially if you're working with new customers.

Gives You A Higher Earning Potential

Consequently, there are larger projects that you can't perform without a contractor's license. With one, you can take on big assignments, get more jobs, and increase your profit. More times than not, clients will pay a higher price to a licensed contractor as opposed to unlicensed handymen.

Here are two main benefits of having a contractor’s license:

  1. A license gives you credibility. Clients are more likely to hire a licensed contractor as opposed to an unlicensed handyman.
  2. A license gives you a higher earning potential. This is what it’s all about right? You want to provide quality services while making a good profit. Having a license will open doors and attract more leads to your business.

These two reasons alone benefit business owners greatly. Moreover, there are larger projects that require a contractor’s license in the state of South Carolina. If you can earn a higher income, why not take it? Having a license opens doors all around you.

What You Can Expect

Get a strong start in building your career

Did you know that for any residential building project costing over $200, the contractor needs to have a license to be able to legally conduct work in South Carolina?  For commercial projects, costs exceeding $5,000 require a license as well. This makes it difficult for contractors to offer their services without restriction. 

Obtaining a South Carolina contractor license can be a difficult, tedious process. However, we make this process as stress-free for you as possible. We walk you through every step of getting your SC contractor’s license. We do this keeping in mind the different types of exams available and necessary resources to pass the exam you select.

Get in touch with us today to get started!

Exam Preparation

What you'll need to prepare for the exam

With Contractor Training Center, it has never been easier to meet the general contracting requirements in the state of South Carolina. We help you from start to finish to ensure you obtain your license.

You will need our prep course as well as the necessary books and tabs to pass these OPEN BOOK exams. The advantage of a live class or a webinar is the opportunity to ask questions and hear the questions from other students. Most people get more out of this interactive environment. When you chose a live class or a webinar, we also give you the pre-recorded class. This way, if you were fuzzy on anything the instructor said, then you have something to refer back to. We give you the material for 60 days and will extend this upon request at no charge. You can go through the material as many times as you like. It comes with the tabbing and highlighting instructions and also tons of practice questions. We will teach you techniques that help you find answers quickly and efficiently and also how to get to all of the easier questions first and bank extra time for the harder questions. We get people through these exams.

What exam should I take?

The South Carolina contractor license exam that you need to take depends on the license that you need. Do you need a residential license or a commercial one? What type of work do you plan on completing?

Before you can obtain your contractor’s license, you must pass the South Carolina Business, Law, and Project Management exam. This is in addition to the technical exam for the designated area you’re applying for. These exams differ depending on if you’re a residential or a commercial contractor.

License Requirements

How to get a contractor’s license in South Carolina

The general requirements to get a South Carolina contractor's license are in detail on this page. Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible for you. We will walk you through the process of fulfilling your goal of being a licensed contractor. As long as you meet the requirements, you’ll be able to perform work in the beautiful state of South Carolina.

There are two different contracting boards in South Carolina that are run through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. There is the Contractor’s Licensing Board that handle Commercial licenses, and the Residential Building Commission that handles Residential Builder Licenses. The rules are similar with a few exceptions.

Residential contractor license

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to become a licensed builder for residential projects in the state of South Carolina:

1. File a written application

First things first! The Commission requires a written application. You must send this to them prior to being eligible to take the exams. This is where many contractors struggle and procrastinate and lose momentum right out of the gate. At Contractor Training Center we offer our Application Fulfillment Service to help you past this hurdle. We will set up a Dropbox with you and put the correct documents in front of you along with a checklist of the requirements. You will still need to fill them out as this is your information and we don’t know it. We will answer all of your questions as you fill in all of the required information. Once everything is ready, we will review for accuracy and suggest editing where necessary. We save people time and frustration. You have one year from application submission to complete the entire process.

2. Submit a certified check

You can send a money order or cashier’s check along with your written application. The application fee is $100.

3. Submit an Affidavit

This affidavit needs to show proof of at least one year of experience working under the supervision of a licensed contractor.

4. Pass the exam

This is the most important part of the process and where we will help you the most. Before obtaining your South Carolina contractor’s license, you need to pass two examinations given by PSI. First,  you must pass the SC Business Law exam to make sure that you understand the laws of operating a business in the state of South Carolina. Then you must pass the technical exam for Residential Builder to show that you have the skills and knowledge to perform the work of a licensed contractor. We have the prep class, the approved set of books and the tabs needed to pass this OPEN BOOK exam. Tabbing and Highlighting the books is allowed and part of our curriculum. We will also teach you techniques to ensure that you can find the answers quickly and efficiently.  Check out the examination outline in the Candidate Information Bulletin. This will give you a general idea of what you need to study to be well prepared for the examination.

5. Pay the license fee

Yes, there is another fee that you will need to pay. These fees are pro-rated so you pay a $160 license fee if the license is issued between July 1st and June 30th on an even-numbered year. This is because license renewals are done every other year on even numbered years. They accept certified checks or money orders.

For more information on obtaining your residential contractor’s license, get in touch with the SC Residential Builders Commission by clicking here.

Commercial contractor license

Now, here are the steps you’ll need to take if you need to obtain a commercial license:

1. Send the registration form

You will begin this process by mailing the exam registration form and payment to PSI. Payment can be sent in a cashiers check or money order. Once you get approval from PSI, you’ll receive a registration confirmation notice. This makes you eligible to take the Business Law exam.

2. Prepare for the exam

We have the prep class, the approved set of books and the tabs needed to pass this OPEN BOOK exam. Tabbing and Highlighting the books is allowed and part of our curriculum. We will also teach you techniques to ensure that you can find the answers quickly and efficiently Check out the examination outline in the Candidate Information Bulletin. This will give you a general idea of what you need to study to be well prepared for the examination.

3. Arrive at your appointment

When ready, you’ll arrive at your scheduled exam appointment. Be sure to take proper identification with you to be accessed permission into the test.

4. Submit your license application

Congratulations, you passed! You will now need to send your commercial license application to the SC Contractors Licensing Board.

This is where many contractors struggle and procrastinate and lose momentum. At Contractor Training Center we offer our Application Fulfillment Service to help you past this hurdle. We will set up a Dropbox with you and put the correct documents in front of you along with a checklist of the requirements. You will still need to fill them out as this is your information and we don’t know it. We will answer all of your questions as you fill in all of the required information. Once everything is ready, we will review for accuracy and suggest editing where necessary. We save people time and frustration. You have one year from application submission to complete the process and get your license.

Visit the following address for more information regarding a General Contractors license: llr.state.sc.us/POL/Contractors

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the contractor licensing process.

Will a contractor license from South Carolina be accepted when moving to another state?

Yes, there is the possibility that a license will be granted without needing another exam in a new state. This is for builders who are in good standing within their previous state(s). It will depend on whether the Commissions deem the exams to be similar.

how long is my license valid?

Contractors need to renew their license every two years

Is contractor continued education required in South Carolina

No, it is not required.

Is NASCLA-Accredited commercial contractor license required in South Carolina

Yes! When you pass the NASCLA Accredited for Commercial General Building Contractors Examination your name will be in the National Examination Database for NASCLA. This information will be available in the following states that accept NASCLA Accredited Exams: •    Alabama - Commercial only •    Arizona - Commercial only •    Arkansas - Commercial and Residential - No Business Law exam required •    Florida - Commercial and Residential •    Georgia - Commercial and Residential •    Louisiana - Commercial and Residential •    Mississippi - Commercial and Residential •    Nevada - Commercial only •    North Carolina - Commercial and Residential - No Business Law exam required •    Oregon - Commercial and Residential •    South Carolina - Commercial and Residential •    Tennessee - Commercial only •    US Virgin Islands - Commercial and Residential •    Utah - Commercial and Residential •    Virginia - Commercial only •    West Virginia - Commercial and Residential

Where can I get the books?
Who is required to hold a license from the state licensing board for residential and general contractors?

Any individual who plans on completing residential projects exceeding $200 or commercial projects exceeding $5,000.

How can I obtain a state license?

You can obtain a contractor license in SC by passing two different exams: The technical examination relating to your designated area and the Business, Law, and Project Management exam.

Can a business have more than one qualifying agent?

Yes, they can. However, keep in mind that all agents are responsible for handling day to day operations.

where do I take the exams?

Exams are administered through PSI Exam Services. You can sign up for the exam once you are approved.

What are the required fees for a license

Application fees depend on how long you apply for the license to be valid, and what year you are applying in.

Fees range from $175-$350 for commercial licenses.

The application fee is $100 for residential applications, with an $80 or $160 Home Builder License fee due after the exam; fees depend on whether the application is processed during an odd or even year, as they expire every two years.

Need help finding the right course for you?

Contractors Training Center is ready to get you started on this exciting process. Getting your general contractor's license in South Carolina has never been easier when you let us help. We guarantee to save you much of the trouble, stress, and hassle you’ll experience throughout this process.

We also offer helpful guidance on how to operate your future contracting business. In fact, our resources can be continuously referenced throughout your career. We have trained specialists in all aspects of this industry such as employment law, project management, estimating and bidding, environmental issues, banking options, tax information and more.

We have helped over 30,000 contractors get their license and we look forward to helping you!

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