South Carolina Contractor's License Exam Prep Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's on the South Carolina Business Law exams?

  Commercial Business Law is a 50-question, open-book exam covering business management, estimating and bidding, contracts and agreements, project management, insurance and bonding, safety recordkeeping, labor law, financial management, tax law, liens, and environmental regulations. You need 70% (35 correct answers) to pass, in 125 minutes. It's required for every South Carolina Commercial Contractor license applicant.

  Residential Business Law is also a 50-question, open-book exam covering the same general topics plus licensing laws and rules. You need 68% (34 correct answers) to pass, in 120 minutes. It's required for Residential Builder, Residential HVAC, Residential Plumbing, and Residential Electrical applicants.

• Does passing my exam automatically give me a contractor license?

  No. Passing your exam satisfies only the examination portion of licensing.

  You'll also need to submit a license application to the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (or Residential Builders Commission), and general/mechanical contractor applicants must document at least 2 years of commercial experience within the last 5 years in the classification sought, via an experience affidavit submitted after passing the required exams.

• Do I need separate exams for Highway and Paving work?

  It depends on which sub-classifications you're licensed in.

  Each Highway/Paving sub-classification (Concrete, Concrete Paving, Asphalt Paving, and Grading) has its own standalone exam, and a license in just one only requires passing that one exam. South Carolina's Highway classification specifically requires passing the Bridges, Concrete Paving, Asphalt Paving, and Grading exams together, so confirm which classification you're pursuing before you register.

• What's on the South Carolina Construction Contractor exams?

  Limited Builder is an 80-question, open-book exam covering sitework, concrete, masonry, metals, carpentry, thermal and moisture protection, doors and windows, finishes, safety, and general code/plan reading/estimating. You need 70% (56 correct answers) to pass, in 300 minutes. It covers commercial or residential buildings up to 3 stories.

  Residential Builder is a 110-question, open-book exam covering general building construction, residential electrical, residential HVAC, and residential plumbing. You need 70% (77 correct answers) to pass, in 360 minutes. It covers one-, two-, or multi-family residences up to 3 stories and/or 16 units per building.

  Unlimited Building uses the 115-question NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam instead of a state-specific exam, with no size or height cap. See the next question for its full breakdown.

• What's on the South Carolina NASCLA Unlimited Builder Exam?

  It's a 115-question, open-book exam covering general requirements, site construction, concrete, masonry, metals, wood, thermal and moisture protection, doors/windows/glazing, finishes, mechanical and plumbing systems, electrical systems, and procurement and contracting requirements. You need 70% (81 correct answers) to pass, in 330 minutes.

  The exam is NASCLA accredited and accepted by multiple other states, which can save you from retesting if you plan to get licensed elsewhere.

• What's on the South Carolina electrical exams (Commercial Electrician and Residential Electrical)?

  Commercial Electrician is an 80-question, open-book exam covering general electrical knowledge, services/feeders/branch circuits, grounding and bonding, conductors and cables, raceways and boxes, special occupancies, electrical power, motors, low voltage, lighting, illuminated signs, fire detection/alarm systems, and safety. You need 70% (56 correct answers) to pass, in 300 minutes.

  Residential Electrical is a 60-question, open-book exam covering general electrical knowledge, services/feeders/branch circuits, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, conductors and cables, raceways and boxes, lighting, specialty applications, and safety. You need 73.3% (44 correct answers) to pass, in 180 minutes.

  Applicants for either classification can alternately take the corresponding NASCLA-accredited exam. See the next question for those breakdowns.

• What's on the NASCLA electrical exams (Residential and Master/Unlimited)?

  NASCLA Residential Electrical Contractor is a 100-question, open-book exam covering theory, personal jobsite safety, project design/estimating/measurement, grounding and bonding, special systems and special equipment installations, tools and equipment, circuit protection and installation, wiring methods and practices, equipment for general use, and energy efficiency/management. You need 70% (70 correct answers) to pass, in 270 minutes.

  NASCLA Master/Unlimited Electrical is also a 100-question, open-book exam, covering general code requirements, project design and management, safety, electrical theory and principles, wiring and protection, wiring methods and materials, equipment for general use, special occupancies/equipment/conditions, and communication systems. You need 75% (75 correct answers) to pass, in 270 minutes.

  Both are NASCLA accredited and accepted by South Carolina and other state agencies in place of the state-specific trade exam.

• How do South Carolina contractor and electrical exams work?

  Registration and scheduling: South Carolina's state-specific Business Law, Construction, and Electrical exams are administered by PSI. Once the Board or Commission approves your application, you'll register directly with PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com/sccon. The NASCLA exams (Unlimited Builder, Residential Electrical, and Master/Unlimited Electrical) work differently: you apply and pay an application fee directly through NASCLA at ned.nascla.org, then schedule your exam with PSI once that application is approved.

  What you can bring: South Carolina's contractor and electrical exams are open book. You may bring approved reference materials, but check the current candidate bulletin for exactly which editions and how they may be marked before you register.

  That's why our reference books come pre-tabbed and pre-highlighted. They arrive exam-ready, so you can spend your exam finding answers instead of searching for them.