Plumber licensing in South Carolina

Scope of work

South Carolina licenses plumbing contractors on two tracks. Commercial plumbing work above the state threshold is licensed through the Contractor's Licensing Board (CLB) Mechanical classification. Residential plumbing over $500 is licensed through the Residential Builders Commission (RBC) as a Residential Specialty Contractor (Plumbing). Source: SC CLB (https://llr.sc.gov/clb/); SC RBC (https://llr.sc.gov/res/licensure.aspx).

Commercial Track (CLB Mechanical-Plumbing). The company qualifier must pass the South Carolina Business and Law exam and the plumbing technical exam, both administered by PSI Services with a minimum score of 70 percent per section. The CLB assigns each licensee to a license group based on reviewed financial statements; the group determines the maximum single-project size. Applicants who do not meet the net-worth threshold for a desired group may post a surety bond equal to twice the minimum net worth for that group. Source: SC CLB (https://llr.sc.gov/clb/).

Residential Track (RBC Residential Specialty — Plumbing). Applicants must pass a plumbing technical exam and the SC Business Management exam. Source: SC RBC Examination Information (https://llr.sc.gov/res/exam.aspx).

Exam Waivers

The RBC recognizes exam-waiver agreements for Residential Plumbing with North Carolina and Mississippi; applicants currently licensed in a reciprocal state may be exempted from the technical exam. The Business Management exam is generally still required. Source: SC RBC (https://www.llr.sc.gov/res/licensure.aspx).

Bond

Specialty mechanical contractors (including plumbing) are subject to a $10,000 bond at the specialty level under CLB rules. Source: SC CLB (https://llr.sc.gov/clb/).

Fees

Biennial CLB renewal fee is $220. Verify current application and exam fees on the LLR board page before remitting. Source: SC LLR Continuing Education (https://llr.sc.gov/bcc/bcce.aspx).

Renewal and CE

CLB licenses renew biennially; the reporting period is July 1 through June 30 of each odd-numbered year. Per SC Code of Regulations 8-150, 24 hours of approved continuing education are required per 2-year cycle for CLB mechanical specialty licensees. Hours do not carry forward. RBC Residential Specialty contractors are not currently required to complete CE to renew; confirm current RBC CE status before renewal. Source: SC LLR Continuing Education (https://llr.sc.gov/bcc/bcce.aspx).

Municipal layer

Local building departments issue permits and may require additional registration. Medical-gas and backflow-prevention work may have additional certification layers. Confirm each jurisdiction where you pull permits.