Residential Swimming Pool Contractors
The construction, service, and repair of residential swimming pools was added to the General Contractors-Specialty Swimming Pools classification on May 19, 2023. A General Contractor License with the Swimming Pools classification or a Residential Home Builder license from the S.C. Residential Builders Commission is now required to construct, service, or repair any residential pool when the total cost of construction meets the statutory cost threshold for licensure ($10,000).
On July 20, 2023, the Contractor's Licensing Board authorized the issuance of Temporary General Contractor's Licenses with the Swimming Pools Classification to qualifying builders who were actively engaged in the business of installing, servicing, or repairing residential pools in South Carolina prior to May 19, 2023. These temporary licenses were intended to allow individuals and entities who were lawfully installing, servicing, or repairing residential pools without a license prior to the enactment of the licensure requirement to maintain their business operations and meet pre-existing contractual obligations while providing them a reasonable opportunity to comply with the examination requirements for active licensure. Applications for Temporary General Contractor's Licenses with the Swimming Pools Classification were accepted from August 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023. All temporary licenses expired on June 30, 2024. Permanent licenses must now be obtained as noted in the following section.
As a prerequisite to licensure, applicants must designate a Primary Qualifying Party (PQP) for the Swimming Pools classification, who has been designated by the applicant as the principal individual responsible for directing or reviewing work performed by the applicant.
To apply for licensure, the PQP must pass: (1) the PSI Swimming Pools exam and (2) the Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractor's exam. There are no preauthorization's required to schedule the exams (see Registering for Exams below).
Registering to take the PSI examinations: You must pass the PSI- SWIMMING POOLS EXAM and the PSI- SC BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND LAW FOR COMMERCIAL CONTRACTORS EXAM. Registering for PSI exams:
To register for the exam, contact PSI at (855) 746-8173 to "schedule the S.C. Commercial Contractors exam"; or register online at PSI Exams website as follows:
- Select: VIEW AVAILABLE TESTS
- Select: SC Commercial Contractor
- Select: LOGIN/REGISTER to create an account
- Select your exams on this page and "Continue Booking"
- Download the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for information on the exam content for each specific exam, books, study materials, and seminar resources.
- Direct all exam questions (i.e. locations, dates, study materials, special accommodations, etc.) to PSI at (855) 746-8173
- You will receive your exam results the same day to be submitted with your application
After the exams have been passed, submit the following:
- General and Mechanical Contractor's Initial Application, Doc. 165.
- Primary Qualifying Party/Qualifying Party Initial Application, Doc. 168; the PQP must show at least 2 years of work experience performed within the past 5 years on Doc. 167 (attached to this application).
- PSI Swimming Pools exam PASS sheet
- PSI S.C. Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractor's exam PASS sheet
- Financial Statement or Surety Bond (see Doc. 165 to select a Group $ limitation)
- Verification to conduct business in SC from the SC Secretary of State - (803) 734-2158 (not required of Sole Proprietorships).
- $350 Licensure Fee (if application emailed or faxed, a payment link will be emailed to you)
- Licenses expire October 31st of each even-numbered year